Camilla's POVI sat beside Lucien on the bench, his defeated expression mirroring my own turmoil.Inside, I was screaming.Everything was crashing down around me.My family.My friends.My sense of security.Dad's anger, Mom's constant worries, and my Augustine's and Carly's frequent fights had already frayed my nerves.Now, Lucien's meltdown threatened to unravel our tight-knit group.Rosaline's anger, Krisdana's manipulation, and Lucien's heartbreak—each a thread pulled loose, threatening to snap.I felt like I was drowning, unable to save anyone, including myself."Camilla, I'm sorry," Lucien whispered, his voice barely audible.My heart ached for him, for us, for everything."Lucien, stop," I said firmly. "This isn't your fault."But he shook his head, guilt etched on his face.I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close."We'll get through this," I whispered.Together.We had to.For each other.For our sanity.But as I glanced around, I wondered:Would it be enough?Or would
Emma's POVI stood at the head of the table, surveying the dinner setup. Everything was perfect, but the atmosphere was far from it. My triplets, Camilla, Rosaline, and Lucien, sat in their usual spots, each radiating distinct energies.Rosaline's icy demeanor pierced through me. Her eyes seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, her jaw clenched in a tight line. Lucien's sadness tugged at my heartstrings. His usual bright smile was nowhere to be found, replaced by a somber expression. Camilla appeared lost in thought, her gaze drifting off into the distance.Gabe, my partner, stood at the window, his back to the room. His siblings, Augustine and Carly, exchanged venomous glances. The tension between them was palpable, their animosity infectious. April, Gabe's sis, looked scared, her eyes darting between her feuding siblings."Dinner's ready," I announced, trying to sound cheerful despite the heavy atmosphere.Gabe turned, his expression guarded. Augustine and Carly continued their si
Emma's POVCamilla's soft voice cut through the strained silence."I have something to say," she announced, her eyes scanning the table.The room fell quieter, as if everyone held their breath. April's eyes widened, Augustine's brow furrowed, and Lucien's tears paused mid-stream. Rosaline's gaze snapped to Camilla, interest sparking in her icy demeanor.Gabe's expression turned wary, his anger still simmering from the argument with Carly. Carly herself looked down, her submission still evident.Just as Camilla opened her mouth to speak, a fork clattered onto the plate. The sound echoed through the silence like a bell, making everyone jump.Everyone's eyes turned to the culprit, Lucien. His face flushed, and he apologized in a whisper, "Sorry.""Camilla took a deep breath and continued, her voice steady."I've been noticing some things... and I think we need to talk about it."The table leaned in, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. What would Camilla reveal?April's voice cut throu
Emma's POVRosaline's icy facade shattered, her eyes blazing with fury. But what stunned me was her target – Lucien, her brother."Can you just stop sobbing loudly in my ear? It's becoming annoying!" Rosaline shouted, her voice piercing.Lucien, taken aback, didn't respond. He quietly wiped away his tears, his eyes cast downward.I felt like I'd entered a nightmare. Rosaline, always composed, was yelling at her brother. The tension had reached a boiling point."Rosaline, stop," I intervened, trying to calm her. "What's wrong?"But Rosaline wouldn't be silenced. "He's always crying, always so weak. It's pathetic." Her words cut deep, Lucien's eyes welling up with fresh tears.Gabe's expression darkened, his anger redirected at Rosaline. "That's enough, Rosaline. Apologize.""April's eyes widened, shocked by Rosaline's outburst. Camilla's gaze turned thoughtful, as if piecing together a puzzle. Carly watched, her expression guarded.Lucien's silence was heartbreaking. He didn't defend h
Gabe's POVI trudged down the hallway, exhaustion weighing me down. The family dinner had been a disaster. Rosaline's outburst still echoed in my mind.As Alpha, I couldn't show weakness. But as a father, I felt helpless. My family was fracturing, and I didn't know how to mend it.I stopped outside Rosaline's room, taking a deep breath. Time to put on my Alpha face.I knocked softly, and Rosaline's muffled voice bid me enter.I opened the door to find Rosaline sitting on her bed, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Camilla was nowhere to be seen, but I sensed she'd been here recently."Hey, kiddo," I said gently, sitting beside her.Rosaline looked up, her gaze searching mine. "I'm sorry, Dad."I pulled her into a hug. "No apologies necessary. We'll work through this."But Rosaline's words spilled out, a torrent of emotion. "It's just... Lucien's always talking, thinking about Krisdana. And April's hiding something. And Camilla's always defending them."I listened attentively, my Alpha i
Gabe's POV I stood outside Lucien's door, taking a deep breath. Confronting my son about his involvement with Krisdana wouldn't be easy, but necessary. Rosaline's words still echoed in my mind – Lucien dating Krisdana, the queen bee bully. I needed to know the truth.I knocked on the door, and Lucien's voice called out, "Come in."I entered, finding Lucien sitting on his bed, his eyes cast downward. "Hey, son," I said gently, taking a seat beside him.Lucien looked up, his gaze searching mine. "Dad, I know what this is about.""Rosaline told me about Krisdana," I began. "What's going on, Lucien? Is it true? Are you dating her?"Lucien's expression transformed, a soft smile spreading across his face. "Krisdana... she's different, Dad. She really likes me."My brow furrowed. "Likes you? Rosaline said Krisdana's a bully, that she's been tormenting our family."Lucien shook his head. "That's not true, Dad. Krisdana's just... misunderstood. She's been through a lot."I studied Lucien's fa
Camilla's POVI slammed my bedroom door, tears of frustration welling up in my eyes. Why did April do this to me? Why did she make me promise to keep her secret?April, my favorite aunt, the one person who truly understood me. And now... now she's hiding a monstrous secret. Drug addiction. I couldn't believe it.I paced back and forth in my room, anger and helplessness swirling inside me. April's plea echoed in my mind: "Please, Camilla, don't tell anyone. I'll handle it."Handle it? She's not handling it! She's drowning in it!I thought about all the times April cancelled plans at the last minute, all the times she seemed distant or preoccupied. It all made sense now.But why did she make me promise to keep quiet? Didn't she trust Mom and Dad to help her?I stopped pacing and collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow. This wasn't just about April's secret; it was about our family's dynamics. We're always so perfect, so put-together. But now... now I see the cracks.April's
Camilla's POVI sat beside April on the couch, our conversation earlier still weighing heavily on my mind. She fidgeted with her hands, avoiding eye contact."April, look at me," I said softly.She lifted her gaze, vulnerability etched on her face."I never begged to be a drug addict, Camilla," April began, her voice cracking. "It just... sort of happened."I nodded, encouraging her to continue."I was stressed, overwhelmed. Life felt suffocating. And then... I tried it. Just once, I told myself. But once became twice, and twice became..." April's voice trailed off.I took her hand, offering a gentle squeeze. "You're not alone, April. We'll get through this together."April's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm so ashamed, Camilla. I've let everyone down.""No, April, you haven't," I countered. "We love you, no matter what. And we'll support you through this."April sniffled, wiping away tears. "I feel like I've lost control. Like I'm drowning."I listened intently, my heart aching for he