The limo hadn't even fully stopped when Alice threw the door open and ran out, heels clicking violently against the marble as sobs wracked her chest.
"Alice!" I called out, dashing after her.
But before I could even touch the staircase—"Hey! Not so fast."
I froze.
My heart dropped into my stomach as I turned slowly.
Uncle Leo.
Shit.
His glare alone could reduce a grown man to tears. I swallowed hard, bracing myself for the explosion I knew was coming.
Oh my God, I'm dead.
My inner bitch was shrieking, "Don't you DARE lie—just tell him the truth!"
But then—
"Hey, sup bro!"
My head snapped to the entrance—and I nearly wept with joy.
Jeffrey!
I bolted straight into my brother's arms, gripping him like a lifeline.
"What happened?" he asked, worried, cupping my cheeks gently.
But Uncle Leo wasn't having it.
"Don't think you'll escape from me just because your brother showed up!" he bellowed, voice booming through the hallway.
I cowered behind Jeffrey like a scared puppy. My legs were shaking so bad, I thought I'd collapse.
"Hey, man! Chill," Jeffrey snapped, shielding me. "Why the hell are you yelling at my sister like that?!"
"Jeffrey, stay out of this."
"Stay out of this? Are you blind?! Look at her—she's terrified! You call this love? This is rage, Leo!"
"Leo, I think you should calm down…" Alicia said carefully, stepping in.
"CALM DOWN?! What the fuck are you doing here?!" Leo roared at her. "I told you to stay at Alice's door until she opened it! That was your one job!"
Alicia looked cornered.
"I guess the anger's about Alice, then?" Jeffrey asked, piecing it together.
"Yes. It is," Alicia said, guilt dripping from her voice.
✦ The Truth Unfolds ✦
Jeffrey turned to me.
"Bumblebee… what happened at your event?"
I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"You see… the thing is—"
"Go straight to the damn point!" Leo yelled again.
Jeffrey stepped forward, voice hard. "Leo, I get that Alice is your world. But Kira's mine. I may not shout it the way you do, but I'd fight anyone for her—even you. So you need to calm down and stop intimidating my sister."
Leo's face stiffened. "Is that a threat?"
"You can take it however you want," Jeffrey shot back coolly.
"That's enough!" I burst. "Okay fine! I'll tell you what happened."
✦ The Room Freezes ✦
Gasp.
Alicia covered her mouth. "Oh my God… poor Alice."
Leo's fists clenched.
"What a joke," he spat. "She spent half a million on that stupid event, and what does she get? A snake of a boy she's been crushing on and some desperate social climber to humiliate her?!"
He turned sharply. "Jeffrey—I want that boy gone. And that girl—make sure she—"
"You'll do no such thing."
Everyone turned.
Alice was on the staircase, wiping her tears, eyes red but burning with pride.
"Are you a murderer now, Leo?" she asked, voice firm.
Leo flinched.
He glanced at Jeffrey, but Jeffrey's piercing stare warned him: Don't push this.
"No… Alice. Why would you even ask me that?"
"Then why do you want Japheth gone?" she asked, descending gracefully. "If not to destroy him?"
"I just want him out of your school, that's all!" Leo defended.
Alice shook her head.
"No need for that. I'm fine. I'll handle it myself. You need to stop treating me like a baby. I made this mess. I'll clean it up."
She turned to me, her expression softening.
"Kira, I'm sorry he yelled at you."
I gave a faint smile through the tears. "It's okay, Alice. I'm used to it. It's not the first time."
✦ The Blow ✦
"Aww… don't cry," Alicia said, wrapping me in a hug.
Then—WHAM.
Jeffrey's fist slammed into Leo's jaw, sending him stumbling back.
Alicia screamed. "Jeffrey!!"
Leo grunted, stunned, as he fell to the polished floor.
"That's for making my sister cry," Jeffrey said coldly, then bent down to help him up.
Leo accepted his hand.
"I deserved that," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry, Kira," he added, turning to me.
"No need to apologize," I said softly. "You can scold me whenever you want. I won't complain."
Leo smiled faintly. "You can have my credit card tomorrow. All day. It's my way of making up to you."
My eyes lit up. "Really?!"
I spun toward Alice. "Did you hear that?! We're going shopping till we drop!"
But Alice didn't even smile.
"Sounds fun," she murmured. "But I'm not going. I don't feel like it."
"But—"
"Don't insist, Kira. I'm going to bed."
She walked up to Jeffrey and kissed his cheek softly. "Goodnight. And thank you."
She did the same to Alicia and gave me a tired wave before walking slowly up the stairs.
Alicia followed in silence.
Alice had never looked more like a Queen…
But tonight, even royalty had to retreat and bleed in silence.