Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 92

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

Damn those carnations.

Leilani.

My heart was doing somersaults and backflips, a chaotic whirlwind of emotions as I watched him rise, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made the world around us fade into a blur. He rounded my table with a deliberate slowness, each step bringing him closer, until he stood right in front of me, a mere breath away.

I couldn’t help but notice the way he licked his bottom lip, his dark eyes fixated on my own lips, and for a moment, words escaped me. I felt a rush of warmth as he leaned in, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was soft, but it was his eyes that spoke volumes—filled with a tenderness that seemed almost foreign.

He drawled, “I’ve always wanted to apologize to you, but I didn’t know how to go about it.”

What was with these men and their incessant apologies?

What the hell was suddenly wrong with them?

A wave of confusion washed over me, and I felt an almost uncontrollable urge to reach out and check his forehead, to see if he was running a fever. But I restrained myself, biting down on my lip instead, trying to process the bizarre situation unfolding before me.

“I want to apologize on behalf of my brothers for hurting you the way they did… and for speaking to you the way I did later on at the hospital. I shouldn’t have tried to force you to see things my own way. We’re different, and that’s what makes us unique.”

His words hung in the air, and I frowned, my eyes narrowing into slits as I crossed my arms defensively across my chest. What planet had he just fallen from?

Those words sounded so rehearsed, so generic, like they were being forced out through clenched teeth. I couldn’t help but mutter, “Where’s this heading to?”

“Huh?”

“What are you trying to say?” I snapped, my politeness evaporating in an instant—hell, he didn’t even deserve my courtesy. “Where’s this conversation headed?”

I watched him as he scratched his neck, his gaze drifting away from mine, suddenly unable to hold my stare. He whispered, “I want us to become friends. I’m tired of fighting with you all the time… and I hope you forgive me for all I’ve done to you because I’ve forgiven you too for all you did.”

His words froze me for a split second. I was caught in a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of whether to be furious or appalled by his audacity. My frown deepened as he smirked, taking my hand and placing the accursed bouquet into my palm.

In that moment, a flood of memories crashed over me like a tidal wave. Visions of betrayal, harsh words, and mistreatment rushed through my mind—this was not just a fleeting moment of hurt; it had been years of pain. It made my chest tighten painfully.

I couldn’t forget how I had always been invisible to them. How their minions had bullied me under their watchful eyes since I was fourteen. How Chalice would cry out for something trivial, and I would be the one punished for it…

Fueled by rage, I yanked my hand from his grip and slammed the bouquet onto the floor. “No.”

Zevran’s face paled. “Leilani!”

“No!” I repeated, my voice ringing out strong and defiant, even as the memories threatened to tear me apart from the inside. I wiped my hands on my skirt, as if the very flowers were tainted, and then I added, “I don’t want to be friends with you or anyone.”

A flicker of irritation crossed his features before it vanished just as quickly. He snorted, “Why are you being so stubborn?” But when I refused to respond, he continued, “It’s not like you didn’t hurt us too. You did. And I don’t even hold it against you anymore!”

His words, though I had intended to remain silent, were too ridiculous to ignore. I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I retorted, “Yeah right, maybe soon you’ll say that I physically abused you too. That I hurt you and lied against you… and what else? What other lie can you spin?”

His expression hardened, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I had struck a nerve.

Goddess, if I have, grant me more cutting words to strike deeper!

He growled, “You did worse than that, but I’ll let it slide because I’m trying so hard to forgive you. Don’t make it impossible!”

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