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
Camilla's POV"I'm planning to announce April's addiction at dinner tonight," I say, determination in my voice.Rosaline's eyebrows rise. "Why?""Because it's necessary," I explain. "No one in the family knows yet, and we need to get her help."Rosaline's expression turns concerned. "Cam, think about how that will affect April. Don't you think it'll break her heart?"I take a deep breath. "April's heart is already broken because of her addiction. This is the only way to heal it."Rosaline's eyes fill with empathy. "I understand your intentions, but are you sure this is the right approach?""I've thought it through," I assure her. "We can't keep enabling her secrecy."Rosaline nods slowly. "If you truly feel what you're about to do is right, then who am I to stop you?"She pauses, collecting her thoughts."But promise me one thing: be gentle. April's fragile right now.""I will," I promise. "I just want to help her."Rosaline's voice is soft. "I know, Cam. We all do."Rosaline's expres
Rosaline's POV I meander through the garden, Camilla's words echoing in my mind like a mantra."Forgive Lucien." Easy for her to say. But can I? Should I?The sun casts a warm glow on the blooming flowers, but my thoughts are shrouded in uncertainty.Lucien's betrayal cuts deep. His secrets, his lies, his choice to side with Krisdana... The wounds still throb.Krisdana. The root of my anger. The source of my pain.Memories flood my mind like a tidal wave. Krisdana's constant taunts, her bullying, her superiority complex... She's been tormenting us since childhood."Stupid triplets," she'd sneer. "You're not even real siblings."Her words stung, but Lucien's betrayal hurt more.He chose her. He chose to keep secrets. He chose to lie.My heart aches, remembering the day I discovered his deception.The garden's tranquility calms my racing thoughts, but my emotions remain turbulent.I think back to my conversation with Camilla."Try to see his side." Have I?I recall Lucien's tears, his
Lucien's POVI gaze at Rosaline, her concerned expression piercing my soul like a beacon of truth."I promised to be honest, no more secrets," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper.Rosaline nods encouragingly, her eyes locked onto mine."I don't want to let Krisdana go," I admit, the weight of my emotions threatening to crush me.Rosaline's eyebrows rise, her expression a mix of surprise and understanding."Why?" she asks gently, her tone coaxing me to reveal more.I take a deep breath, the air filling my lungs like a lifeline."Krisdana, Dana... she's the same person," I clarify, the words tumbling out like a confession.Rosaline's expression changes, her eyes narrowing as she grasps the complexity.From concern to understanding, her face reflects the turmoil within me."I see," she says, her voice soft as silk."I was drawn to her authenticity," I explain, memories flooding my mind. "When she was Dana, before the facade."Rosaline nods thoughtfully, her brow furrowed in empathy.