Chapter 50- Phonecall
Kiara was still in shock.
A deep one.
The kind that makes your head buzz and your chest feel hollow at the same time.
Leonard wasn't here. Aurora wasn't here either.
Which could only mean one thing, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
They were together.
Her thoughts spiraled, crashing into each other. She couldn't think straight anymore.
Elara pushed herself up from where she'd been sitting earlier with Xander.
Elara walked over, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Kiara's stiff posture. "Hey... are you okay?" Elara asked. "What's wrong with you?"
Kiara barely heard her. "No... no, this can't be happening," she muttered under her breath. "No. This can't be happening. All my efforts... no, no..."
Her voice was shaky, almost broken.
Before Elara could say anything else, Kiara turned and walked away, slow, absentminded, like she wasn't even aware of where she was going.
Elara blinked, confused, then shrugged it off. "Okay... that was weird," she muttered.
She went back to Xander, wrapped an arm around him, and sighed. "Alright, buddy. Let's go."
Xander groaned something unintelligible as she helped him up and guided him away.
Kiara kept walking.
People bumped into her, once, twice, but she barely reacted. Apologies floated around her, laughter, music, noise.
None of it registered.
Her mind was too loud.
Someone bumped into her again, harder this time. She lost her balance.
She didn't even try to stop herself.
She fell back into a chair, landing heavily, just sitting there as if her body had finally given up.
Her fingers dug into her purse, clutching it tightly like it was the only solid thing keeping her grounded. "No... no..." she whispered again. "This can't be happening."
Her chest burned.
"She won again," Kiara muttered bitterly. "He went back to her. He always goes back to her."
Her jaw tightened. "Why her?" she whispered. "Why is it always her?"
Suddenly, someone burped loudly beside her.
Kiara flinched and turned her head.
Sean was sitting next to her, drink in hand, clearly tipsy. His eyes were unfocused, his voice slurred with frustration.
"Wow..." he muttered. "She didn't come. I came all the way here just to see her, and she didn't even show up."
Kiara didn't respond.
She just stared ahead, her eyes dark, filled with something messy and hard to name.
Anger. Hurt. Jealousy.
Maybe all of it at once.
The music kept playing. The party kept going.
But for Kiara, everything had already fallen apart.
Tiffany and Amelia stood a little away from the crowd, drinks in hand, eyes fixed on Kiara.
They didn't need to ask what was wrong.
Leonard didn't show up.
And somehow, almost laughably, Aurora didn't either.
Tiffany leaned closer to Amelia, lowering her voice, lips curling into a slow, mean smile. "Look at her face," She murmured.
"That's the look of someone whose whole plan just collapsed."
Amelia snorted softly. "I swear, I called it. She really thought he'd show up just because she dressed like that?"
They both laughed quietly.
"And the best part?" Tiffany added. "Aurora isn't even here. No entrance. No drama. No competition. And still, Leonard didn't come."
Amelia shook her head, mock pity flashing across her face. "That's got to hurt. Imagine doing all that, spending all that money, stealing attention... just for the main character to not even bother showing up."
Tiffany took a slow sip of her drink. "He didn't come for Kimberly either," she said.
"Did you see her earlier? She looked like she was about to lose it."
"Oh, definitely," Amelia replied. "Two girls dressed for war, and the man they're fighting over didn't even step on the battlefield."
They glanced back at Kiara again.
"She looks like she just realized something," Tiffany said softly.
Amelia smirked. "Yeah. That Leonard doesn't chase noise. And Aurora doesn't need to show up to win."
Tiffany laughed under her breath. "It's funny, isn't it? The quieter she stays, the more powerful she becomes."
"And the louder the others get," Amelia added, "the more invisible they look."
They clinked their glasses lightly.
"Valentine's Day is brutal," Tiffany said.
"Especially when reality hits this hard."
Amelia nodded. "And the night's not even over yet."
Both of them turned back to the party, already looking for the next thing to gossip about, while Kiara remained frozen in her seat, unraveling piece by piece.
[RAVEN MANSION - 10 MINUTES LATER]
The gates slid open smoothly, letting the car in.
Elara stepped out first, then rounded the car to Xander who immediately came out and leaned heavily against her side, his arm slung lazily around her shoulders.
He wasn't fully drunk anymore, water to the face had done its job, but he was still loose, unfocused, heavy.
They walked into the mansion together.
The moment Elara lifted her head, she froze.
Gemma and Melvin were seated in the living room.
Not relaxed. Not chatting. Just... sitting.
Gemma shot up the instant she saw them.
Her eyes went straight to Xander, narrowing.
"He got drunk?" she said. "Seriously, Xander?"
Xander blinked slowly, squinting. "Wow... Auntie Gem," he muttered. "Nice to see you too."
Elara forced a light laugh. "He's fine. Just tipsy. Nothing dramatic."
Melvin stood as well, his voice calmer but no less serious. "Did anything go wrong at the party?"
"No," Elara replied quickly. "Everything was good. We spent time with everyone. It was fun, actually."
She paused, then added with a small smile, eyes flicking to Gemma, "We just had to leave early because of Auntie's curfew."
Gemma closed her eyes briefly, exhaling.
"Go upstairs," she said. "Both of you. Freshen up."
Elara hesitated.
Xander shifted his weight, his eyes clearer now, but he stayed quiet.
Elara studied Gemma's face. The tight jaw. The forced calm. She knew that look.
"Is everything okay?" Elara asked softly. "You only look like this when something's wrong... with Aurora."
Gemma's lips curved into a quick smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Everything's fine, darling. Aurora is fine. Everyone is fine."
Elara's stomach tightened. "Did something happen to Rora?"
"No," Gemma replied too fast. "Nothing happened. She's just resting."
Melvin stepped in, firm. "You two should go upstairs now."
Elara nodded slowly. "Okay..."
She turned, guiding Xander toward the stairs. They were halfway up when Gemma spoke again.
"Lara," she said gently but firmly. "Don't go to Aurora's room tonight. She needs rest. No disturbances."
That did it.
Elara paused for half a second, suspicion flashing across her face, but she didn't argue. She only nodded.
"Okay."
She continued upstairs, Xander mumbling something incoherent as she dragged him along.
Downstairs, Gemma sank back into her seat, exhaustion washing over her.
Melvin sat beside her, rubbing his face with his hands.
"I have a bad feeling, Melvin," Gemma whispered. "Something big is coming. I can feel it."
Melvin leaned back, staring ahead. "Then we prepare."
Gemma looked at him.
"We always knew this time would come," he added quietly.
The room fell silent again. Heavy.
Leonardo sat alone in the dark villa, the Black Room.
Screens covered the walls, security feeds, encrypted maps, scrolling data, names and locations blinking in cold blue light.
It reflected sharply in his eyes, turning them almost inhuman as his fingers moved across the keyboard with practiced precision.
He was searching as always.
Leonardo cross-checked timelines, party attendance, movement logs. Absences stood out to him the way blood stood out on white marble.
Leonard Grande didn't miss events. Not this one.
Aurora's absence was worse. The brat really tried to kill herself. The guts.
His jaw tightened slightly as he leaned back in his chair, eyes never leaving the screens.
Somewhere between the lines of data, something felt... off. A thread that didn't belong.
Then, without warning, a name surfaced.
Thorne.
His fingers stilled.
Mr. Thorne. He remembered he owes that bàstard a favour.
The memory came sharp and unwelcome, a hand on Aurora's shoulder, lingering too long, a look that had crossed a line.
But aside from that, something else came to his mind. Something he already put together before.
Roland Chappelle suddenly quit his job and left the country then Thorne showed up, acting all creepy. Always hovering around Noelle.
All Elites has always been quick to replace teachers, but this was too quick, way too quick.
Pre-planned. Strategic.
He exhaled slowly and opened a private file, typing a name in without emotion.
He closed the file just as quickly as he opened it, pushing the thought aside.
Not yet.
But one thing's for sure. A blue print, a bottom line.
Aurora.
She's the target, Zane is still out there, still wants her. He hasn't given up. The coward is hiding but his eyes are everywhere.
It made him smirk.
Whatever was happening, would reveal itself.
And when it did, Leonard would be ready.
He always was.
Aurora tried to open her eyes, but the world felt heavy, unreal. Her memories from last night came in shards, pictures flickering behind her eyelids.
First, her standing at the pool, oversized hoodie. Then, the plunge, bubbles rising, burning in her throat.
And the hand, reaching for her, yanking her up out of the water. The splash, the cold shock, the weight pressing down.
And the fragrance. Dior Sauvage Elixir. His voice scolding her, harsh yet familiar. The memory ended in blackout.
Aurora wanted to sit up, to breathe, to process, but she couldn't. Her body felt like it belonged to someone else. She wasn't sure if she should feel tired, angry, weak, or just close her eyes and drift back into oblivion.
The door creaked open slowly. Gemma's head peeped in first, her expression soft, cautious.
Behind her, Melvin followed, holding a bouquet of roses. Aurora always loved roses, her favourite thing about them are the thorns that prick her, the pain.
Aurora tried again to lift herself, and Gemma rushed to her side, helping her sit up.
Snapping her fingers sharply, Gemma had Nanny Mira fetch the tray of breakfast waiting outside. Mira returned, placing it gently in Gemma's hands.
Gemma sat next to Aurora, who rested lazily against the headboard. "I brought your breakfast," she said softly, patting Aurora's head. "How are you feeling?"
Mira dismissed the other maids waiting outside. They left quietly, leaving the room calm. Gemma smiled at Aurora, and from the other side of the bed, she leaned close, patting her head, giving her a gentle kiss on the hair.
Aurora barely responded, her head resting lazily on the pillow. Melvin sat on the other side of the bed, pecking her hair and showing her some gifts, trying to lift her spirits.
Moments later, Elara and Xander entered. Elara wore cute pajamas and a headband; Xander was dressed for college, looking sharp as ever.
"Roraaa!" Elara whined, hugging Aurora sideways on the bed. Nanny Mira stepped aside.
"Uncle and Aunty won't tell me what's wrong with you, but I know something happened. You're fine, right?" Elara pouted, hugging her tighter.
Aurora groaned weakly, "The affection is cringe. Back off."
Xander gently patted Aurora's head. "I have to go to class now," he said. Then, looking at Gemma, he added, "Elara doesn't have class today, isn't that... suspicious?"
Elara smacked him lightly, saying, "I'm not lying. I don't have class today."
Gemma shushed them, turning her attention to feeding Aurora before the breakfast grew cold.
Xander gave Aurora a pointed look. "You have some explaining to do when I get back," He said, then left.
Melvin, trying to lighten the mood, presented more gifts, his calm presence soothing, at least a little.
Aurora took it all in quietly, her mind still spinning from last night, the memories still raw but slowly settling.
She couldn't forget anything else from last night, but not that cologne.
Not him.
By noon, Aurora's parents had been convinced to leave for work. Gemma had wanted to stay with Aurora, and Melvin had been hesitant too, but Aurora had insisted.
"Go," she had told them firmly. "Elara's here. She can take care of me." And of course, today she had no classes, which meant Oma could come visit.
Gemma and Melvin had finally agreed, though their eyes were full of worry as they left the room.
Elara settled next to Aurora on the bed, her posture gentle, attentive. Aurora's skin was pale, her body still weak, but her mind was spiraling, replaying last night in fragments.
She could still hear his voice in her head, the scolding, the sharp edge, the way he'd yanked her from the pool.
After a long pause, Aurora finally asked, her voice quiet, almost hesitant. "Lara... what exactly happened last night?"
Elara blinked, looking at her with careful concern. "I... I don't know, Rora. I came home to see Auntie Gemma and Uncle Melvin, and that's it. I wasn't here. I was at the party. I didn't see anything."
Aurora exhaled, letting the sound linger in the room like a small weight being released. She studied the ceiling for a moment, then asked again, softer this time. "Did anyone else come home last night? Did Mom or Dad... talk about anyone coming?"
Elara shook her head. "No. Nothing. Why? What happened?"
Aurora waved her off, barely moving her hand. "Forget it. I don't want to talk about it."
The soft rustle of the door opening broke the moment. Oma stepped in, and the sight of Aurora pale and fragile made hee freeze mid-step. Panic flooded her features.
"Girl... what happened?" Oma exclaimed, rushing to her side. "This is not a 'I'm not happy I woke up' kind of look. You did something. What did you do, girl? Please... tell me. Were you triggered?"
Elara, sitting quietly on the bed, furrowed her brow. "Oma... what are you talking about?"
Aurora lifted a hand, stopping him before he could speak.
"Girl... what did you do?" Oma tried again, his voice shaking slightly with worry.
And then it clicked for Elara. Her eyes widened, realization dawning.
"Yesterday... it was Valentine's Day. And it's your late friend Ginny's birthday. That... that triggers you. Did you... did you try to-?" Her voice trailed off in shock.
Aurora let out a long, tired sigh. Oma's face fell, a mixture of sadness and anger flooding his expression.
"Why?" Oma whispered, her voice thick with pain. "When will this guilt leave you, Auri?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Aurora murmured, closing her eyes.
Oma's expression softened slightly. "Thank God your parents were able to save you. But... how did you even try?"
Aurora replied casually, almost offhandedly: "The beautiful pool."
Both Oma and Elara gasped, their faces mirroring shock and worry.
"That's it. I'm going downstairs to make you spaghetti," Oma said after a long moment of shock, her voice quieter now, resigned.
Elara immediately followed her.
Aurora was left alone, her mind spinning.
Her thoughts returned to him. If he came... her parents obviously saw him save her.
And yet, he hadn't called. Not a single text. Not even a check-in. Even after saving her. Why? Her heart clenched. Her chest ached.
Alone with her thoughts, Aurora let herself sink back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling.
The questions kept echoing in her mind, unanswered and sharp, like tiny knives.
She was still battling with her thoughts when her phone rang.
Who the hell would be calling her?
She grabbed her phone from the side table. Private number. Her heart skipped, thinking it might be him.
But still, she didn't pick up. She hung up.
She didn't answer these kinds of calls.
Even if it was him. He deserved the hang-up for not calling her ever since.
The call came again. She hung up again.
Again. And again.
It came once more, and she exhaled, finally answering. Already so upset.
"Finally decided to pick up... Noelle."
The world paused. She froze. Feeling more empty headed this time.
Deep. Commanding. Claiming.
Her heart skipped. Her throat jumped.
"... ... Ren..."
"You are in big trouble for that stunt you pulled last night," Leonard's voice came.
"...Ren..." That's all she could manage to say.
Hallucination. Maybe she's hallucinating.
"I'll be there again, as usual, but I wanna hear it from your mouth. Move those lips and say it, Noelle."
He can't just call and start acting like Zade Meadows. After snubbing for days.
But, still his voice through the phone, it just...
She's the same person who waited and now...
She couldn't think. She opened her mouth, and nothing came out.
"Say something, Noelle," His voice pressed again, firm and deep.
"Do you want me there?" He asked, low, intense.
The world paused. Her heart stopped.
"Yes..."