It's a gloomy morning, but the rain pattering against Vellary's bedroom window gives her the comfort she needs--reassurance that someone else is crying for her, even if that someone is mother nature.
Fuck.
She sits up in her bed and scratches the back of her head, fingers tugging at her knotted hair. I should've washed my hair last night.
She purses her lips, memories of last night plaguing her thoughts. After she cried in Lucian's arms, they dropped Lily off at her house. Vellary didn't want to go home, at least, not until her grandma fell asleep, so they stopped at McDonald's for some fries and talked about what happened. The more she did though, the angrier she got.
"Ah, so annoying." She sluggishly gets out of bed, the grey tiles cold against the soles of her feet, and heads to the bathroom to wash up.
Vellary takes a long shower. The warm water feels nice against her skin, but it doesn't satisfy the anger gobbling everything within her.
Once she finishes, she brushes her teeth, gets dressed, and heads downstairs to the kitchen. Her grandmother sits at the island table with a brownie in hand.
She looks up from her book. "Vellary? You didn't go to school?"
Vellary takes a seat across from her. "No, I don't feel that well," she lies.
Her grandmother clicks her tongue. "I told you not to go out yesterday. Who holds parties on a Thursday?"
"I know right." She picks up a slice of brownie and shoves it in her mouth. "Dis is nwice."
"Don't speak with food in your mouth." Her grandmother points to a package laying on the bench. "This was in the mail."
Vellary's eyes narrow at the wrapped box. Did I order anything--
Oh.
Ooh.
She points at the package in excitement. "Mmm! Mm, Mm!"
"What is it?"
She swallows the last of her brownie and snatches the package. "My book!"
"Oho! You ordered another book, I see." Her grandma chuckles, picking up another brownie. "What's it about this time?"
Vellary narrows her eyes at her grandma. "It's top secret," she jokes.
Her grandma narrows her eyes back. "Mr Romanic Gorl?"
Vellary's mouth drops. "How do you know that book?"
Her grandma shrugs. "I like handsome men too."
Vellary grimaces.
Her grandma laughs, standing up, "It's time for grocery shopping. If there's anything you need, call me."
Vellary nods, plopping another brownie in her mouth. "Get me swome cake, pwease."
Her grandma lightly smacks Vellary on the arm as she walks past her. "Close your mouth," she says exiting the kitchen, and once again, Vellary is left alone.
Vellary sighs, glancing down at her package. It's a dark shade of brown with a white ribbon tied around it. She swallows. Fancy, just like the wine Gabriel handed out yesterday.
Gabriel.
His name has her heart skipping a beat, and that alone confuses her. How can I still like the person who humiliated me?
'I only invited you so he can take you to my room and fuck you.'
Vellary grits her teeth. She doesn't understand how he and Hugo could plan something so disgusting, and for what? Because Hugo likes her?
If he liked me, he wouldn'thave done something like that.
She thinks back to Hugo, of his shaky fingers brushing against her neck when he slid his jacket around her, of their close proximity when he buttoned it...of the gentle look in his eyes.
He's a good actor.Had me really thinking he liked me.
She leans against the palm of her hand, her fingers playing with the ribbon. The thought of Hugo planning this hurt more than Gabriel did. Maybe it's because I didn't expect him to do something like that.
She sits up.
Oh.
Does that mean I expected Gabriel to?
She glances down at the package. No...he'salways been so nice.
She clicks her tongue and pulls off the ribbon. Either way, I should start getting over him.
Vellary grabs the knife by the brownie tray and slices the tape off. Yes. She sets it down and rips the package open. I really should.
She unwraps the book from its wrapper, expecting to see the title, The Alpha's Maid, but is surprised when she sees an untitled brown leather book. Frowning, Vellary turns it over before opening the front page.
Empty.
She flips the next few pages, the cream papers abnormally thick in-between her fingers.
Empty.
She skips to the middle and end of the book.
What the fuck?
All pages are empty.
Just as she's about to close the book, something on the first page catches her eye.
Three finely written words etched in the middle of the page in white ink:
Write your name
683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtH2WuLH3p
683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQZ88vYwCA
683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvo7kbETDk
