Derek’s POV
"Will you please stop walking back and forth like a caged animal?"
Serena’s voice cut through my thoughts as I continued my relentless march across our bedroom floor. I had been moving in circles for over an hour, unable to sit still, unable to think about anything except where Bella was right now.
"You’re acting like this because she went to that family dinner with Hugo, aren’t you?" she pressed, her tone sharp with accusation.
I squeezed my eyes shut and placed my hands firmly on my hips, fighting to keep the rage building in my chest from exploding outward.
"I find it fascinating how your entire deanor shifts whenever she spends ti with any of your so-called friends. There’s sothing you’re not telling , isn’t there? Please tell you didn’t actually have romantic feelings for her when she supposedly had that crush on you," she continued, her words like daggers.
That was Serena’s problem. She never knew when to keep her mouth shut.
"Serena, you understood exactly what this arrangent would entail before we exchanged vows, correct?" I finally erupted, spinning to face her and throwing her own philosophy back at her. "What were your exact words again? Sothing about how marriage eventually breaks everyone down until they surrender? Wasn’t that your brilliant insight when I told you I had no desire to beco your husband?"
I watched the blood drain from her cheeks as my words hit their mark.
Fury transford her features into sothing almost unrecognizable. She threw the blankets aside with violent force, launched herself from the bed, and stord across the room toward with determined steps.
The second she ca within reach, her palm connected with my cheek in a stinging slap. My hands automatically balled into fists, but I kept them at my sides.
I had never struck her back, and I wouldn’t start now.
"How dare you throw those words at ? How dare you say that right after I asked if you have feelings for her? Are you basically confessing your guilt?" she scread, seizing my shirt collar and shaking desperately, demanding answers I couldn’t give.
"Serena, how many tis must I warn you never to put your hands on ?" I growled, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as every muscle in my body tensed.
She must have noticed the way my forearms bulged with barely contained violence, the way the tendons in my neck stood out like steel cables.
Her grip slowly loosened, and she backed away, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"I didn’t slap you because I despise you. Why do you always twist it to make sound like so kind of monster?" she whimpered, her voice breaking.
I knew this script by heart already.
The tears would flow, she would create a dramatic scene, and then my father would inevitably appear, deliver his own slap across my face, and lecture about being a man who doesn’t complain about minor inconveniences.
"Enough with the theatrics," I said wearily. "But I genuinely want to understand your thought process here. She’s a married woman who appears to be deeply in love with her husband. Why are you so determined to resurrect a friendship that died years ago? Married people, regardless of gender, don’t maintain close relationships with old friends. Their spouse becos their primary companion," she shouted, then paused to catch her breath.
"I am supposed to be your companion! I’ve been filling that role for five years, haven’t I?" she demanded, jabbing her finger at her own chest.
I couldn’t et her eyes.
"Yes, I said those things about marriage, but ultimately, you’re a man. You should have refused this marriage even when I couldn’t bring myself to do it. But you didn’t refuse, and after that, we managed to build sothing resembling happiness together, until now. Until she returned." She made a sound of disgust, bringing Bella into it again.
Every single ti her na was ntioned by anyone, every ti I caught sight of her, I felt completely defeated.
Like joy was dangling just beyond my fingertips, yet remained forever out of reach. It awakened sothing rebellious inside .
"Co here, co to bed with . We need to provide your father with the grandchild he’s demanding."
Her tone shifted completely as she began sliding her palms across my chest in what she thought was a seductive manner.
I imdiately caught her wrists and pulled them away, shaking my head firmly.
"I’m not interested right now, and I refuse to be treated like so kind of breeding stallion. You can’t just summon to bed whenever you decide it’s baby-making ti," I stated before storming out of the room.
I went directly to the living room sofa and stretched out across it.
Throughout the entire night, I shifted restlessly, unable to find comfort or peace, until sounds of activity outside caught my attention.
I assud Bella and Hugo had finally returned ho, but Serena rushed past to investigate before I could move.
She returned with a report that made my stomach clench. Bella had looked radiant, laughing freely and engaging in animated conversation with Hugo.
Then Serena twisted the knife deeper, suggesting that Bella had grown close to everyone in our circle except , despite her alleged past crush.
After that exchange, I avoided seeking out Bella, partly because Serena was watching my every move like a hawk.
When morning arrived, Serena suddenly developed mysterious symptoms.
She refused to leave the bed, complained constantly about nausea, and produced such violent coughing fits I worried she might actually damage sothing internally.
I suspected the vomiting was connected to her dramatic coughing episodes.
I barely had ti to check my ssages before my father commanded to escort her to the hospital imdiately.
I understood my obligations, especially since Bella wasn’t exactly making herself available to anyway. So I drove Serena to get dical attention.
Upon arrival, the dical staff inford that she was perfectly healthy.
One physician specifically ntioned his confusion about her coughing complaints, since her lungs showed absolutely no signs of distress.
The whole situation felt orchestrated. That’s when understanding dawned on .
However, too many people surrounded us, and every attempt I made to leave triggered another of Serena’s public ltdowns.
I didn’t want to create additional problems for Bella, but I had already seen the news reports.
"So this is why you forced to co here. What exactly is Dad planning to accomplish?" I demanded, my hands clenching into fists.
"Bella possesses a wolf," Serena whispered harshly. "And your father claims he’ll use that information to force her to publicly announce her desire to leave. That’s the entire plan."
"Absolutely not. Have you completely lost your mind? Serena, do you ever engage your brain before speaking?" I snapped, moving closer to her.
We stood in the hospital parking lot now, and she stubbornly refused to enter the vehicle.
"What exactly did I do wrong this ti?" she shot back defiantly.
"Dad told you he would force her departure because she has a wolf, and that’s why you orchestrated this hospital charade? So my friend will disappear?" I spoke slowly, emphasizing each syllable. She began nodding eagerly.
"Did you consider that if Father publicly discusses her having a wolf, they’ll never permit her to leave?" I demanded.
But her blank expression revealed she had no comprehension of the disaster she had helped create, and that’s when I realized there were additional layers to this sche.
"Your father promised he would approach Bella claiming he wants to help her escape the human territories," Serena spoke rapidly, "but only after he convinces everyone she doesn’t actually possess a wolf."
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