Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Gigi:

I knew that would happen.

”Now tell her to meet you tonight. You’re not supposed to skip a day,” I instructed.

Oliver let out a deep breath and started typing again.

Him: Well then, I’ll take care of the predator, but you’ll have to meet me tonight. I want to make sure you’re with me so you can show me where you saw him and tell me everything.

He pressed send, and Jenna’s reply came almost instantly.

Jenna: It was near the river. But I can’t come. I’m scared.

Oliver looked at me before typing another message.

Him: Really? Even if I’m with you? I’m telling you, I’ll stay with you. I’ll make sure you get safely out of the woods.

He hit send.

Jenna’s response arrived like a flash.

Jenna: Theodore, you don’t understand. I’m sick. I’m not feeling well.

I grimaced, clenching my fist.

”All because of Rochelle,” I muttered, slapping my forehead.

”I’ve got an idea,” Oliver said, already typing.

Him: Fine. I guess I’ll have to bring someone else to my special spot.

The moment he sent it, her reply came as though she’d caught fire.

Jenna: No, I was just saying I’ll definitely come with you. But please, you’ll have to stay with me until I leave.

I got up and straightened my clothes.

”I’m going to get dressed. I have a little commitment with Verity,” I told my brother with a shrug.

He understood.

If he upheld his side of the deal, I would uphold mine.

Oliver’s face brightened almost immediately at the mention of Verity, and it soured my mood.

I didn’t let it show.

I walked back to my room and decided to wear pants this time.

Verity almost always wore pants.

I wasn’t copying her, but I pulled on a pair of skinny jeans and a black off-the-shoulder top.

Then I blow-dried my hair again, put on my makeup, and got ready.

By the time I arrived at the mansion, I realized I would have to face Jenna.

She was walking out of her wing while no one else was around.

I checked the time and realized it was evening tea.

Jenna stopped and looked up at me.

I noticed a large bump on her forehead, as though she had hit her head, and I immediately wondered if Rocky had done it.

’Oh, if he did, I’m going to kill him.’

He wasn’t supposed to hurt her because that would scare her into refusing to come back for the rest of the meetings with Theodore by the river.

”Gigi.”

She called my name, and I froze before turning to face her.

I realized I was trapped.

I didn’t want to talk to her. I hadn’t come here to listen to her complaints.

But, unfortunately, she had already seen me.

If I walked away now, it would look strange.

Jenna was very clingy. She wouldn’t leave someone alone until she got an answer from them.

”Hi, Jenna. How are you?” I greeted her in a soft, cheerful tone before brushing a few strands of hair away from her forehead with my fingers.

”What is that?” I asked.

As my fingers touched the bump on her forehead, she immediately winced and pulled away, pressing her hand over the injury.

”It’s nothing. This is nothing compared to what happened to me last night,” she whispered shakily as tears filled her eyes.

”Why? What happened to you?” I asked, turning and slowly walking toward the back garden, where everyone was having tea.

I had already realized that if I could get us over to everyone else, she’d stop talking about it in front of them.

”And why the heck were you out on the road last night?” I added, immediately trying to step through the back door.

However, I was too late.

She quickly grabbed my arm, stopping me.

”What is it?” I asked, sounding almost offended that she had tried to stop me.

”What do you mean by ’on the road’?” she asked, pulling herself closer to me. ”Something else happened last night, and I want to file a complaint.”

The determination in her eyes shocked me.

Just hours ago, I thought we had convinced her not to do it.

I thought my stupid brother had done a great job.

Apparently not.

She was ready to go against everyone.

I had assumed she only wanted to complain about being left stranded.

”About what?” I asked, gently taking her hand and guiding her away from the doorway.

”Someone–” she replied, drawing a shaky breath. ”After Theodore left, someone came to the riverside.”

She swallowed hard before continuing.

”But I want you to do something. Please confront him without bringing my name into it.”

That made me realize she wasn’t actually going to seek justice herself.

She was going to use me to do it.

”What? I don’t understand. What the fuck are we talking about? What riverside? What Theodore? Were we together last night?” I asked, frowning.

The look she gave me told me everything.

She had probably realized Theodore hadn’t told me.

At that moment, I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

I had to change my approach because she was becoming increasingly upset about last night.

For the first time, I honestly wondered whether involving Rochelle had been a mistake.

”Gigi, Theodore and I have been secretly meeting by the river—”

The moment she started speaking, I raised a hand to stop her.

”Oh my Goddess! I didn’t know that,” I exclaimed, cutting her off. ”And if that’s a secret between the two of you, shouldn’t you be keeping it from me too? I don’t think Theodore would be very happy to find out you told me.”

I lowered my voice.

The realization slowly dawned on her, and she shook her head.

”No. That’s why I want your help. Please don’t tell him I told you,” she pleaded, her eyes begging me.

”No, Jenna. You’re asking me to lie, and you know I can’t do that. If you tell me something, I’ll tell him. So it’s better if you don’t tell me at all.”

I dismissed her and hurried past her into the back garden.

I put on a bright smile, but deep down, Jenna had genuinely unsettled me.

”Jenna, come over here. You’ve been studying too much.”

”That’s exactly why I say there’s no point in studying so much if you’re going to waste your entire youth doing it,” Lady Lucille complained as she relaxed on one of the couches in the garden.

I had decorated this garden myself.

I called it the fairy garden.

It had cozy couches, soft, puffy cushions, plenty of seating, swings, and a beautiful dining table.

And now everyone was enjoying it.