Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Verity:

”You thought your brother came into my room because he’s having an affair with me?” I asked Jaguar directly, without beating around the bush.

I noticed how he seemed a little zoned out, as though he was trying to decide whether he should even be talking about this with me.

”I’m just saying, I saw him leave your room early in the morning in his nightclothes,” he remarked, trying to keep his voice calm.

Of course, he knew he couldn’t raise his voice at me when he was the one making accusations.

”Seriously?” I muttered, shaking my head.

”Then tell me what happened. Why was he in your room?” he questioned, causing me to shake my head at him once again.

”First of all, you have no right to even question me,” I told him, watching a hint of sadness cloud his eyes at the reminder that I did not belong to him. ”Second of all,” I continued, ”I had a fall, so the maid called him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to go to the hospital. That is all that happened.”

Once I finished, I watched him slowly lower his head and scratch the back of his neck.

”I cannot believe this, Jaguar. Do you think I’m the type of person who would have an affair with someone who is already taken? And forget about me for a second. What about your own brother? Do you not even trust him? Do you think he’s capable of cheating on Gigi?”

I watched him slowly shake his head. I guessed it had finally dawned on him that he had made a mistake.

”You had a fall? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” he questioned, immediately changing his tone.

Honestly, even though I hated these brothers, there was no mistaking the concern in his voice.

He genuinely sounded worried about me.

However, I had found the perfect reason to give him a little shock.

”Well, I’ve answered your question. I’m not sleeping with your brother. I don’t think you need to know the rest,” I replied, watching his eyes widen.

”No, Verity, that’s not fair. You know that wasn’t my only concern. I mean, of course, I was shocked when I saw him come out of your room, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you,” he explained in a very soft tone.

”Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it. And yes, I’m fine,” I snapped, watching him look saddened that our conversation had turned into yet another argument.

”You know–” He paused, and I guessed he had sensed someone approaching too.

”I didn’t sleep with your brother,” I repeated, this time louder so that whoever was approaching could hear me as well. ”And I’m sure both of you brothers saw him come out of my room.”

As I said that, I turned and saw Theodore looking shocked that we were even having that conversation.

”I didn’t,” Theodore immediately denied, clearly lying as I watched Jaguar narrow his eyes at him.

”Whatever. I don’t want rumors spreading about me. And if that’s your concern, then I’ll pack my shit and leave,” I retorted, stomping my foot before walking away.

After spending two hours in my room, I finally decided to come out when I heard Mrs. Bundy’s voice outside.

She must have woken up too.

I stepped out of my room and headed straight toward the guest wing.

A maid was carrying a tray of food toward the wing, and judging by everything on it, it definitely wasn’t for Lady Lucille.

”Um, where are you taking this?” I asked the maid, stopping her midway.

”Mrs. Bundy told me to take it to her daughter,” the maid replied, gently lifting the tray to show me what she was carrying.

”Oh, then why don’t you go and finish the rest of your work? I’ll take it to her,” I offered, almost snatching the tray from her hands and giving her no room to argue.

The maid stared at me for a moment, but I had already started walking toward the guest wing.

I had to gently kick the door as a form of knocking to let Jenna know someone was outside her room.

”Come inside,” her voice called out, sounding rather shaky.

”Can you open the door? I’m holding a tray,” I requested, anxiously tapping my foot against the floor.

The minute she opened the door, I could already tell she had been crying again.

Her eyes were completely swollen, her nose was red, and from the way her eyelashes were still wet, it looked like she had woken up crying as well.

”Oh, Jenna, are you okay?” I asked, rushing past her to put the tray down.

I watched her closely, noticing the urgency in her expression, as though she wanted to say something.

But then she lowered her head and drew her shoulders together, like whatever she was about to say needed to be carefully planned.

”I’m fine,” she replied in a rather harsh tone, the kind that usually sounded forced.

”Jenna, you don’t look fine,” I told her, giving her a gentle smile.

”Well, then that’s where you’re wrong. I’m completely fine.” She shrugged, acting as if none of what had happened that morning mattered.

”Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, holding my hands in front of me as I watched Jenna examine the tray.

It seemed more like a way to avoid making eye contact with me.

”Talk about what?” she questioned, reaching for a piece of toast and sitting down to butter it.

It was a deliberate attempt to avoid looking me directly in the eye because I figured that if our eyes met, she wouldn’t be able to lie.

”I want to know about this morning. Why were you sneaking in so late? Why were you crying? And what was that handprint on your cheek?” I blurted out in one breath, hoping I wouldn’t scare her into hiding the truth.

However, she already seemed to have decided against telling me anything because she immediately started laughing, almost as if her laughter itself was calling me silly.