Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 66

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
By R. Joseph

**Beyond Logic.**

Leilani.

“Or what?” Kael’s voice cut through the tense air, his posture shifting as he stepped closer. I instinctively retreated, taking a step back, my heart racing. I chose to ignore him, my thoughts swirling with dread.

In that moment, I was acutely aware of how vulnerable I felt, trapped like a mouse in a cage surrounded by these three twisted minds. The very thought of being cornered in such a claustrophobic space sent shivers down my spine. Memories I had long buried began to claw their way to the surface, and I found myself trembling, my body betraying me.

My lips quivered as I struggled to form words, but before I could muster a response, Caelum stepped forward, his fingers brushing delicately against my cheek. The sensation sent an electric jolt through me, and I couldn’t help but feel exposed under his penetrating gaze. He drawled, his tone a mix of mockery and curiosity, “You’re Frostclaw, Inc.’s leading engineer?”

A part of me wanted to confirm it, to end this ridiculous charade. Yet another part of me screamed to push him away and storm out of this suffocating situation. My tongue felt heavy, glued to the roof of my mouth, as my knees threatened to buckle beneath me, a cocktail of exhaustion and anxiety coursing through my veins. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing fervently for this nightmare to end.

But, as fate would have it, my silent prayer went unanswered.

“Are you really just going to ignore us?” Caelum persisted, shaking my shoulder gently, as if trying to rouse me from a stupor.

Behind him, Zevran growled in warning, “Caelum!” But his brother, ever the provocateur, seemed only more encouraged by the reprimand.

With a comical tilt of his head, Caelum watched me, a grin spreading across his face that was both infuriating and unsettling. “You can bully Chalice, but you can’t even handle a little scolding?”

And just like that, something inside me snapped.

A surge of rage ignited, propelling my chin upwards to meet his gaze with a glacial stare of my own. For a fleeting moment, I saw his smile falter, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he regained his composure, a new grin splitting his face.

“Ha!” he laughed, the sound grating on my nerves, “…what’s this sudden boldness? Is it because we mentioned Chalice? You must despise her!”

“I don’t,” I retorted sharply, my voice trembling with barely contained fury. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and let you slander me!”

Kael scoffed derisively, pushing his way through the narrow space between his brothers to stand directly in front of me. His eyes were like daggers, piercing through the tension. “Like you bullied her tonight!”

“Is that what she told you?” I shot back, my heart racing.

“She doesn’t need to tell us anything for us to know you’re nothing but a venomous snake who revels in inflicting pain on her twin sister!” Zevran’s voice was low, filled with disdain.

I let out a dark chuckle, the sound mocking. “Really?”

But they remained unfazed. Caelum continued, his voice dripping with venom, “You know, we haven’t forgiven you for murdering our child in cold blood. And as if that wasn’t enough, you decide to bully Chalice tonight… not to mention coming for us too!”

“You snatched all our investors right under our noses. I don’t care if you’re suddenly the lead engineer or just a bed warmer; that’s not how business is conducted!”

The insult cut deep.

It hurt like a vicious slap.

My fists clenched tightly as a wave of fury washed over me, my vision clouding with red as I spat, “First off, I had nothing to do with your imaginary child. Secondly, I didn’t bully Chalice tonight or any other night, and I have no idea why she would tell you that… but yes, I did steal your investors. And I would do it again in a heartbeat if it keeps you three on edge!”

“Leilani!”

“This is my karma for all the times you’ve hurt me in the past. And trust me, you fools, I’m far from done with you. I won’t stop until you’re begging for scraps, pleading for mercy that you will never receive!”

Their eyes darkened, a primal growl escaping their throats, but Kael stepped closer, his fingers wrapping around my neck, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Did you just call our child ‘imaginary’?”

“Yeah!” I shot back, a smirk forming on my lips despite the pain radiating from the back of my head. “Because that’s precisely what it is!”

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