Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Aaron POV
There were small shards of glass that were lodged in the flesh of her hand, and she was crying incessantly. Clenching my jaw to stop feeling horrible, I plucked every small shard.
“This is absolutely ridiculous!” Patrick growled at her. He was furious and I could understand his anger. “If you couldn’t control your bloody emotions, why did you come, Vicky?” he snapped.
“Daddy, 1-” she winced, crying even more. “It was out of my control. I couldn’t watch Aaron getting engaged to Venus.”
“How can you shout at her?” Gaia cried. “She has injured herself not only physically but mentally! Don’t you even have a heart?”
Patrick shot a glare at Gaia. “Because of antics, the pack members are going to gossip about us. Is that what you want?”
I knew what Patrick meant. He was pointing out that I shouldn’t have come here after Vicky, but what could I do? It was impossible to see the blood on her hand. A servant came in with bandages. I took it from her and dismissed her. “Let me see,” I murmured to Vicky. When she showed me her hand, I took a deep breath in and got up to go to the bathroom to get a wet towel. Being a werewolf, she’d heal soon.
“I want you to leave as soon as this is done!” Patrick glowered at Vicky when I came back. “I can’t tolerate this gossip. You have embarrassed me in front of so many people. What are they going to say about us? That the two sisters aren’t supporting each other?”
“Then why don’t you stop it? Stop Aaron’s marriage with Venus,” Gaia replied with tears in her eyes.
“I can’t fucking stop it!” Patrick almost hissed. “And you know it. So bloody stop pestering me about it.” Gaia backed immediately, scared of his anger.
Patrick had no power to stop this marriage, but even if he did, I doubted he would have. I bandaged Vicky’s hand and said, “You will heal soon. Don’t worry. You are a werewolf and we heal faster than humans.” I looked at Patrick. “It’s not her fault. Calm down.”
“Thank you, Aaron,” Vicky murmured. “I’m so sorry to disrupt your moment.”
I gulped as I looked at her with longing. “It’s fine,” I said and got up. Patrick remained with them, feeling embarrassed to come out. My father opened his mind link and called me. There was urgency in his voice, which I knew was valid. But when I went out, I was in for a shock. Everyone was staring at me like I had grown two heads. Feeling flustered, I walked to where Venus was. To my utter surprise, her eyes were teary, but it seemed like she was holding her anger. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
With shaky hands, she shoved her phone in my hand, pointing at a photo in it. Of me and Vicky, kissing each other on lips. A shudder ran down my spine because that photo was taken in the morning when Vicky had come to me. I snapped my eyes to Venus and found her glaring at me, demanding an explanation with her silent eyes.
“She’s so unfortunate,” I heard someone whispering.
“Poor Venus. I wish she leaves him,” someone else murmured.
“I feel pity for Vicky,” another one said. “She is at the receiving end.”
Fuck. It appeared that the photo was sent to everyone’s cell phone. What I couldn’t understand was who the fuck took this photo? It looked like it was taken from a distance with malicious intentions and who knew that we had gone to the back side of the garden. It just didn’t fucking make any sense. I rasped, “Venus, this was-”
“Please don’t say a word, Aaron,” she said in a shaky voice as she fought back her tears. “I asked you not to embarrass me in public.”
I looked at my parents and even they looked like they could blow steam from their ears. I turned my attention to my fiancée. “Venus, this is nothing. Please, just let me explain.”
Just then, Eric came. “Venus, would you like to go to the dining hall? There’s great food waiting for us,” he said with a forced smile. I knew it was an attempt by Eric to save her from embarrassment and heartache.
“Yes,” she murmured and left with Eric as I stabbed my fingers in my hair. Despite my commitment yesterday to keeping my emotions in check and looking out for Venus, I found myself in this situation. Torn between two sisters. Feeling like a fucking douche. Wanting to end this nightmare. I rushed after her. In my peripheral vision, I saw Vicky coming out of the room, looking pale. When our eyes met, I motioned for her to follow me outside.
As we were alone, she said, “Aaron, I am so sorry about it. Please forgive me. I just didn’t mean to disrupt your engagement. If you want, I will say sorry to Venus. After all, she is my sister and I am ashamed of getting managed by my stupid heart.”
Irritated, I showed her Venus’s phone, which was still in my hand. “Who took this photo?” I asked her, almost hissing.
Her eyes went wide as she studied it. “1-1 don’t know Aaron,” she replied. “I seriously don’t know who took it. The reason I specifically asked you to come to the back of the garden was because it was secluded. Even I understand the repercussions of being seen in this position.”
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4:24 PM
Chapter 16
I grabbed a fistful of my hair and let out a frustrated sigh. She was right. We had gone to a secluded place and so there was no way anyone would know. I wanted to smack myself for my foolishness. I shouldn’t have gone with her. Now I was going to find out who clicked the photo. But first, how do I redeem myself in front of Venus?
Vicky touched my hand and said, “How can I help you? Please tell me. This is a mess, but I swear I am not involved in it.”
Without replying to her, I opened the door and stormed inside. I did what I could. I tried to stay next to Venus all the time after that. Even though she was struggling to get used to the fact that our engagement was ruined by Vicky. Unknowingly.
Just before lunch started, Venus excused herself to go to the washroom.
+15
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