~Anthony~ Aspen was elated and led me to the kitchen. I hoped she wasn't up to anything dubious. With the press trying to nail everyone, no one outside our circle could be trusted. "How old are you, again?" I asked, and she smiled. "I'll be eighteen next month," She said, beaming at me, and I nodded. "In other words, you are seventeen," I said, sounding uninterested, and she nodded. "Good to know," I said and planned to maintain my distance. I wouldn't want a scandal. We entered the kitchen, and she moved to make the tea. She brought out some muffins from the oven, and they smelled fresh and delicious. "Fresh muffins?" I said, sniffing the air. The flavours were divine. She nodded with a smile and then bit into one of them. She closed her eyes and savoured the taste. I reached for my cup of tea and took a sip. It was herbal tea. I appreciated the fact that she didn't decide to serve me caffeine. She brought me two flavours, a banana and a Blueberry muffin. "Who made them?" I a
~Lilly~ The drive to Hayland made most of us nervous. I didn't know what awaited me there, but I knew it wouldn't be easy. I noticed Brandon's unease, and twice on our way, he told me that I was free to change my mind whenever I wanted. Eleanor chuckled a few times. She found his actions cute. "Honestly, Brandon, you should be more worried for Lesley than us. Why do you think we are following Lilly? Lesley might have been able to bully Winter out of your life, but karma is a bitch, and we are her karma," Eleanor said, making all of us laugh. We arrived at Hayland eventually, and I was shocked to see the state of the place. It was clear that the place was a beautiful settlement and developed, but it was also obvious that it needed renovations and repairs. It seemed like a booming city that suddenly ran out of money and now couldn't keep up. I noticed some renovations and construction going on, but I also could not ignore the glum that was in the air. There were people laugh
~Lilly~ I was surprised to hear that Winter was the one that decorated the place. Indeed, she and Brandon were looking forward to building a home together, but the fate that had brought them together had also set them apart by giving them different destinies. Unlike Winter, I will fight for this one. It's not like I blame her because I knew her hands were tied, and she wasn't even given a fighting chance. If she had to fight, she would have done it alone, and there was no way she would have succeeded. Her case was different from mine. I had all the cards in my favour. I had the heart and the might to push back. I was formidable. I didn't only plan to get rid of Lesley, but I planned to make her pay for what she dared to do to Winter. She was downright cruel, and it was time she got a dose of her medicine. We eventually left the living room and retired to the bedrooms allocated to us. I noticed I wasn't placed in the master's, and I frowned. Was Brandon planning to sleep in a separa
~Anthony~I returned to the house a bit underwhelmed. Luis was around and busy on the computer. I knew he'd be busy. The guy couldn't stay away from work for a day. I know I should follow his example, but other than the press release that we planned on giving, there was nothing for me to do. Instead of languishing in the house, I decided to check on Noah and Sebastien at their office. My interaction with Aspen was a bit off, and I just wanted to have some clarity on the matter. The truth was, she piqued my interest when she indicated I should not discuss the matter with her Alphas. She really did not want Noah and Sebastien to know her plans or what she had discussed with me. She either had something up her sleeves that my cousins needed to look into, or she was afraid of something. Either way, it was important they know, especially with all that was going on at the moment."Heading out?" Luis asked me, looking up from the laptop."Yes, going to the Alpha's office," I said, and he no
~Noah~The lawyer did not arrive until the morning of the next day, and Winter and Summer had to skip going to the orphanage so they could speak with the lawyer. His name was Nicolas Smirnov. He was Liam's age mate, and he had a very impressive success rate. The guy seemed excited about the case. We allocated a room for him at the packhouse while he sprang into action to gather resources and file the case. I was excited about the prospects and how it would all unfold. I was hopeful that this would quiet the noise. Though unlikely, there was no harm in hoping.Luis and Anthony left for Greenville in the morning. They promised to return the next day, but I doubted that part too. There was much to do, and knowing the south would gain two cities, I knew Anthony would have to linger a bit. Lord Andrew and his family were around, and our parents asked that we join them at their house in the afternoon.I didn't need to guess why Lord Andrew had come with his future son-in-law. I guess the
~Noah~Sebastien took out his phone to call Summer. He instructed them to come. According to their conversation, they were hiring for the bakery already. It seems Summer and Winter were not playing when they said they'd take advantage of the publicity stunt."So you'll be taking over from Uncle Andrew?" Ethan asked Moses, and Moses shook his head."That will be Kevin. I will be his beta when the time comes, and that is if he wants me. Honestly, I am satisfied with my business," Moses answered. He didn't seem dishonest, so I just figured he must be crazy about Ashely to let a lot of her bullshit slide."So, will you live in Brentwood?" I asked him, and he shook his head."I have a lovely property fit for raising a family in Brighton. I think it is best we go there," He said, and I smiled."I hope you know that Brighton will be a southern province soon," Ethan said and he nodded."I am really happy for Prince Adrian Locke and Alpha Anthony Corrigan. They deserved the honour," he said."S
~Lilly~ A week passed, and Lesley showed no signs of having the decency to make herself scarce. Despite being caught red-handed wearing wires, her audacity knew no bounds. It was discovered she intended to record our conversations for the press, a blatant betrayal of Brandon's trust. Yet, rather than retreat in shame, she persisted in her shameless demeanour. Each encounter with her became an exercise in vigilance, with every word chosen with caution and every move calculated to avoid further exploitation. The atmosphere hung heavy with suspicion, and she remained obtuse. Her presence lingered like an unwelcome shadow, a constant reminder of Brandon's mistake caused by his desperation. The air crackled with tension whenever she entered the room, her actions leaving an indelible stain on our harmonious environment. Despite the annoyance, there was a sense of grim determination among us. We refused to allow Lesley's actions to dictate our course. Instead, we fortified our defences, e
~Lilly~ Opting for silence by refusing to respond, I observed Lesley gather her belongings from the office. It was a tedious process, stretching over an hour, much to Gemma's evident annoyance. As we stood by, obliged to monitor her, frustration simmered beneath the surface. Lesley's deliberate dawdling felt like a calculated tactic to waste our time, a subtle jab aimed at our patience.A nagging concern gnawed at me regarding my cousin's demeanour, sensing an underlying unease that demanded attention. I resolved to broach the subject with her later once we had a moment to confer privately. But for now, my immediate focus was on extricating Lesley from our home and, by extension, from Brandon's and my life. Lesley's packing remained unfinished when I received word from Ethan and Gamma Tevin about their presence in Hayland. Their purpose was evident; Lesley's looming arrest was imminent, and I welcomed the swift action. I was exhausted from dealing with her antics and eager for closur