Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.

Leilani.

I woke up feeling better than I’ve ever felt in my entire life, but it wasn’t because of the beautiful snow falling outside, or the shiny colorful lights adorning the streets, or the large bouquet of pink roses now resting on my kitchen counter that’d been sent to me by Jarek,

It was because of the damn wedding package I’ve managed to finally put together!

A smile spread across my face as I sipped my coffee, but I didn’t miss the way Maya’s eyes followed my movements like a hawk stalking its prey.

Slowly, she set her cup down, drew in a deep breath and whispered; "I rejected Gavin."

For the first few seconds, I didn’t react. It felt as though my brain and body froze up as soon as I heard her words. Looking at her again, I noticed the redness around her puffy eyes and the way she couldn’t stop biting on her lower lip even when it drew blood.

I sighed. "I’m so sorry!"

Which was true. I really was sorry.

"I used to want to get to know him. A few times, I had lunch with him and tried to see things from his perspective. But recently, I got to remember the details of what he’d done to you and I rejected him because of it."

"Maya—"

"He’s a violent man, Leilani. He hurt you terribly and I do not care if he’d done them because he was trying to save Chalice from you; But DV is DV!"

When she talked, her voice shook, and something about her words, something about the emotions thick in her voice made my heart want to dissolve into a puddle. I rose from my favourite red sofa, rounded the table and pulled her into a hug.

And as soon as my arms wrapped around her body, she let herself go. She cried so loudly that the sound of her tears began to make my chest hurt, and I could only hug her because truth be told, there was nothing else I could do.

I could never advise her to try to talk things out with Gavin knowing fully well that he would’ve killed me in a heartbeat some years back if only Chalice cried harder.

And while I loved Maya so much, my love for her could never allow me to watch her be with a man as stupid and mean as Gavin.

I do not know for how long I stayed there hugging her until the doorbell rang. I stilled, pulled away slightly from Maya and whispered; "I need to answer that, okay?"

She hiccuped and glanced away. "Okay."

"Stay put!"

I then rose to my feet and walked over to the door, but as soon as I peeped into the door’s peephole, rage surged through my veins. I opened the door quickly, stepped out and immediately shut it behind me.

"What?" I spat, glaring at the man who stood before me. The man who at some point I used to look up to with so much love and respect until I realized how much of a dunce he was. "What are you doing here, Gavin?"

"Leilani, please we need to talk." He rasped out, and it wasn’t until then that I realized how disheveled he looked. How broken... how devastated.

Goddess, I almost laughed.

I almost reveled in his sorry state— scratch that, I did. "About what?" I seethed, smiling when his eyes fell on me pitifully.

"About you. About me... about everything I did to you in the past." He said quickly. His eyes met mine for a very brief second before he glanced away to look at the floor.

He drawled; "Last night, Maya rejected me...but throughout the night, it wasn’t the rejection that I thought about. All I could think about were the things I did to you."

"Gavi—"

"All I could think about were the times I hurt you. I know you had been a difficult child growing up..." I rolled my eyes, "...but it doesn’t excuse the things I did to you. They were borderline horrible! And I am here to say sorry!"

For a long moment, I simply stood there, watching him and wondering if a meteor had fallen on his head on his way here.

My chest felt tight suddenly, and it wasn’t because I understood him... or pitied him... or any other shit that was possible. It was because I hated that he felt he could walk up to me whenever he wanted to... because he felt I was so weak, so soft that I could easily forgive him if he threw the right apology at me.

My hands balled into fists as I watched him, and what annoyed me even further was when he had the audacity to look sad. To look at me expectantly, as if expecting me to say the words: ’I forgive you!’

I shrugged; "Do you return a chocolate to the store after taking a bite?"

He frowned. "No."

"Do you return your McDonald’s paper bag to them after eating the burger, and suddenly realising that it wasn’t tasty enough?"

His eyes narrowed at me. "No."

"So why the hell do you think you can walk up to me and I would listen? What makes you think that after everything... after the scars, the emotional and physical trauma... that you’ve caused me, I will forgive you?"

He gulped. "Leilani."

"Would you even be here right now asking for this if you didn’t fall out with Maya? Will you ’suddenly realize’ how horrible your actions were if your mate, who—fuck the moon goddess— is my friend, didn’t call out your bullshit on them?"

"I was blind and stupid," he rushed out sadly, "I am your brother and I should’ve protected you!" He cried, but I could only feel irritated.

And disgusted.

And any other nasty feeling that is possible at this point...

I shrugged. "Well, I’m glad that you didn’t. Maybe then I would’ve remained in your dysfunctional family, and I would’ve still been that pathetic little loser who tried too desperately to be loved by you."

At my words, his face crumpled. He stumbled closer as if to touch me but before his hands could graze my skin, I stepped back and warned him; "Please don’t."

His eyes widened.

"And please don’t come here ever again, because if you do, I’ll have someone throw you out." I said, and when I saw the disbelief in his eyes, I smiled darkly and added; "I know that you may not believe that, but I’d really love for you to try. I’d love for you to return here after I’ve warned you, then maybe like your father, you’ll get to see what happens when I’m dared."

"So you mean you’ll never forgive me?" He asked suddenly, causing me to freeze for a second, and now looking at him... he looked miserable which—goddess forgive me— made me happier than it should.

I shook my head. "No. So now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to return to what I was doing. Also, when you get home, ask Chalice if I really killed grandma. Make sure you’re thorough with your questioning too. Have a nice day!"

Before I turned around, I heard Gavin gasp. His eyes widened in surprise and he began to speak. But I didn’t wait to hear what he had to say, I simply walked into my house and slammed my door in his face.

To make my stance clear, I immediately dialed the number of my said security from the company and asked him to see Gavin off my property ASAP, and I watched through the video intercom as he was literally dragged off my porch.

But that wasn’t all that made me happy. What made me happier was the fact that I’d given him something to think about, and I hope that his pillow turns ice cold as he tosses and turns in his bed tonight.