Chapter 16- Poisoned Truths
"Leo..."
A faint voice drifted from the entrance.
Leonard turned.
It was his younger sister-Amaya.
She stood frozen in her school uniform, clearly stunned by the scene before her.
Leonard was still holding Aurora. But as Aurora regained her senses, she gently pulled away from his arms. Without a word, she returned to the balcony, pressing a hand against her chest.
Was that really her just now? What had she been thinking?
Had she even been thinking at all?
Amaya rushed toward Leonard and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
She'd always been like this-clingy, ever since they were kids.
She loved being around him, always craved his attention.
It had turned into a habit she never outgrew.
A reflex. If anything, it had only gotten worse.
She never grew out of it. If anything, it only got worse.
She was the definition of a brat-and everyone let her get away with it. Including Leonard.
"Mom said you came back," Amaya sniffled. "I ran here, only to find you trying to kiss some random girl. You didn't even ask about me! I asked Mom if you said anything, and she just stayed quiet. Why do you hate me so much?"
She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Amaya-"
"Amaya, seriously?!" she snapped, cutting him off.
Leonard sighed and gently peeled her arms off him.
"You've been gone for years, and now you just show up like this," she said, voice cracking. "And the worst part? You didn't even try to find me..."
Leonard shook his head, his voice quiet.
"It's hard to believe you're sixteen. I never said I hated you, okay?"
"Then why did you come here and not even ask about me?"
"It was sudden. I didn't plan it," he muttered. He wasn't even supposed to be here.
Sh?t.
If he had taken that doll home...
He would've kissed her. Hell, he would've done more.
"You're not going anywhere. And if you try to leave, I'll go with you."
She wrapped her arms around him again-tighter this time. Clinging.
Leonard exhaled sharply, the air heavy between them.
"Maya, wait. Maya."
He peeled her off, jaw clenched.
"What happened to Maya bear?"
Silence.
That name. He hadn't said it in years. Didn't dare.
"Is your dad home?" he asked, voice suddenly hard.
"No. He's on a trip again. I'm always left alone. Even Mom doesn't care."
Of course.
"Fine. I'll stay. Now leave."
Her face lit up. "Really?"
"Yes." His eyes didn't flinch. "Leave."
She grinned, threw her arms around him one last time, and left slowly-shooting Aurora a smug glance as she passed.
Click.
Leonard locked the door.
Aurora turned. Her thoughts spinning.
He was coming toward her.
Why?!
"What?!" she snapped, backing away.
He kept coming. Silent. Intentional.
"No!" Her hand flew up. "Don't even try. I don't know how you pulled it off the first time, but I swear, it won't happen again."
The wind teased her red hair-almost too gently for the storm building between them.
"What did I do the first time?" he asked, closing the gap. "What made you give in?"
"Leonard, stop! I told you-I'm not like the rest!"
He laughed, low and bitter.
"Not like the rest," he echoed, eyes narrowed. "Right."
"This is why you brought me here, isn't it?" Her voice was sharp, accusing.
"And you followed me." His voice was darker. "Didn't you?"
Her breath caught.
"Tell me," he said slowly, venom curling in every syllable, "are you really any different from 'the rest'-for following me here?"
Each word hit like a slap. She stood frozen.
Why did she come?
Why was her body betraying her every time he got close?
"What's wrong now?" he sneered. "Cat got your tongue? Say something, Aurora."
Her name.
It sounded like a weapon in his mouth. It was the first time she heard him say her name.
"I only came for the project," she spat. "If we had time till Tuesday like we were supposed to, I wouldn't have come. So don't even think-"
"That you're like the rest?" he cut in, smirking cruelly.
A mocking laugh followed, low and dangerous.
"Then why'd you let me touch you?" he asked, voice like ice. "If my sister hadn't shown up, I would've kissed you. And more."
Her glare could've burned through stone.
"Just admit it," he hissed. "You were playing hard to get. Wanted it-but not right away. Isn't that the game?"
She shoved past him, disgust twisting her face-
-but he grabbed her arm and yanked her back hard.
His grip was firm. Unyielding.
"It's the truth, isn't it, Aurora?"
He dragged out her name, full of venom and something deeper-something dangerous.
What did she do to him?
Why did he look at her like that?
"You better let go of me," she warned, her voice cold enough to kill.
"Auri!" Charlene's voice echoed from downstairs.
She struggled, twisting out of his grip-but he didn't move.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
He stared at her, jaw flexing-then finally released her. No resistance.
She tore away and started packing fast, every movement filled with fury.
Leonard just stood there. Breathing. Burning. Consumed by a storm of emotions he couldn't name.
Coming back to this house was a mistake.
And for who?
She yanked her bag over her shoulder and stormed out, the door slamming behind her like a gunshot.
"Leo!" Charlene's voice rang out as Aurora rushed down the stairs. Her anger was evident.
"Leo!"
"Auri what's wrong." She asked slowly, but Aurora stayed quiet, breathing sharply.
Upstairs, Leonard clenched his jaw. He shut the door with more force than needed and made his way down, shoulders tense.
"What?!" he snapped, already irritated.
Charlene stood at the foot of the stairs, arms folded. "Drop her home."
He scoffed. "She can go herself."
"Be gentle for once," Charlene said, then turned to Aurora. "Isn't that right, honey?"
"It's fine," Aurora said plainly. "I'll call my driver."
"No. You're not calling anyone," Charlene said firmly. "Leo will drop you."
Leonard frowned. "As if I even know where she lives."
Charlene smiled faintly-too calm for his liking. "You don't have to. I already spoke to her mom earlier. Hold on."
She turned toward the kitchen, grabbed her phone, and tapped a few things. Then her voice came again-cool, commanding.
"I just sent the address to your car's system. The GPS will lock the route when you start it. Just follow the path."
"Mom." Leonard called, frustrated
Charlene didn't even look up. "It's synced. Go."
Leonard muttered something under his breath and walked out.
"And maybe use the ride to fix that attitude of yours." Charlene said.
Charlene gave Aurora a soft pat on the arm. "Don't mind him. Just... rest your head. It's late."
Aurora nodded, offering a fake smile, then followed him out into the night.
Charlene stood frozen as the front door closed behind Aurora and Leonard. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"Did they have a fight or something?" she muttered under her breath.
Suddenly, footsteps thundered down the stairs.
"Leo!!!" Amaya's voice cracked as she bolted toward the door.
Charlene spun around, intercepting her just in time.
"No-no, Maya, don't!" she gasped, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter. "He's coming back. He's comi-"
"You said the same thing years ago!" Amaya screamed, pushing against her mother. "But he left and never came back!"
Tears streamed freely down her face. "He was the only one who had time for me! Because you and Dad were always too busy 'making money for us'-but you sent him away! You kicked him out!"
Her voice broke. "And now you're letting him go again?!"
"Leo!!!" she screamed again, struggling harder.
"Baby, please," Charlene whispered, bringing her down gently to the floor. "I promise he's coming back. He just wants to drop Auri home. That's all."
"Liar!!!" Amaya wailed, fists hitting her mother's arms, her small frame shaking. "No!!!"
Charlene held her tight, rocking her softly.
Hidden behind the hallway wall, two maids stood watching.
"Is she sick?" one whispered. "What kind of brattiness is this? Is she a child?"
"She's spoiled," the other replied flatly. "Even her friends treat her like a princess. I've seen how they act when they come here. I don't know how they deal with her without snapping."
Back on the floor, Charlene held Amaya close as her daughter's fight began to fade.
"He's the only one who ever cared about me..." she whispered, exhausted. "Because of Dad, he left me here with you-always on stupid trips... And now... he doesn't even call me Maya Bear anymore."
Her voice cracked, soft and slurring.
"All because of Dad... and you..."
"I hate you... both..." Her eyes fluttered. "I... hate you..."
Her body slackened in Charlene's arms, limp and breathing shallowly.
Charlene's grip tightened.
"I know, baby," she whispered, tears forming in her own eyes. "I know."
---
Leonard started the car with a sharp movement. The dashboard lit up-GPS locked in.
Charlene's voice echoed in his head: "The route is loaded. Just follow it, Leo."
The house disappeared in the rearview mirror, swallowed by January's bleakness.
---
The silence in the car was heavy, but not empty. It was charged.
Outside, the world blurred in shades of grey-the kind of cold that sank into your skin and sat in your chest. The streets were wet from earlier rain, glistening under the streetlights. Trees stood stripped and black, branches clawing at the dark sky.
Inside, the heater hummed softly, pushing back the chill.
Neither of them spoke.
Aurora stared out the window, her reflection faint and tired against the glass. Her breath left soft clouds on the window every few minutes. A quiet shiver passed through her, and Leonard, without looking, turned the heat up.
The road curved. Mist curled in the air ahead, caught in the headlights like ghost smoke.
Her hand shifted slightly on the seat between them.
His fingers brushed hers.
She didn't move.
He didn't pull away.
Somewhere in the distance, the GPS whispered a cold, digital:
"Turn left in 500 feet."
The car obeyed.
So did the silence.
And yet-something inside them had already started veering off-course.
To be continued...
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