Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Jaguar:

Her eyes widened as she looked past me, and she gasped, covering her mouth.

”Oh, calm down. It’s Jenna. She lives here, remember?” Verity immediately soothed, rubbing Rochelle’s back.

Jenna must have woken up because of all the commotion.

She had just stepped out of her wing when Rochelle noticed her and became frightened.

Then again, Rochelle was so jumpy that seeing anyone unexpectedly probably would have startled her.

”Oh no.” Rochelle let out another shaky gasp and pressed both hands to her cheeks. ”This is our doing. This is karma.”

Her hands moved to her chest as she started crying again.

Verity gave me a puzzled glance before turning back to her.

”What do you mean by that?”

Rochelle quickly looked up and shook her head.

”I mean, we used to be so rude to people when they were struggling. I used to be. And now that my own sister is going through something, I’m realizing that it’s all coming back to me. Now she’s the one in distress.”

She released a long breath and wiped her cheeks.

Rochelle hesitated as if she was hiding something.

”I don’t know what’s going on, but Diana has been acting strangely. She’s not herself, and I’m scared for her.”

She looked between Verity and me.

”Could it just be the stress of getting into the academy?” I suggested.

Rochelle immediately shook her head.

”No. That’s not how Diana deals with stress.” She lowered her gaze. ”I don’t know. I just thought I’d come here and ask you for help, but now that I’m here, I don’t even know what I’m asking you to help me with.”

She abruptly rose from the couch and took a deep breath.

Then, without another word, she rushed out.

Verity hurried after her, trying to find out what all of that had been about, but Rochelle was already gone.

”What was that all about?” Jenna asked, stepping between us with her eyes still fixed on the door.

Verity returned a moment later, shaking her head.

”She left,” she announced. ”I tried to stop her and ask a few questions so I could understand what her sister is dealing with, but she wouldn’t say anything. She just bolted outside, got into her car, and drove away.”

As she spoke, Verity reached for Jenna and gently rubbed her arm.

Just looking at Verity made my heart soften. She treated everyone with so much care.

I mean, Verity was the reason Jenna had survived something so horrible. We all owed her for that.

She was simply special.

”Anyway, is there any news about Gigi? Have they found her yet?” Jenna asked.

”No. Someone suggested that maybe she was abducted by a relative of one of Oliver’s victims. A brother, father, someone like that. I’m not really sure what’s going on,” I explained.

Jenna folded her arms across her chest.

”Or maybe someone thinks Gigi was involved.”

The words seemed to leave her mouth so naturally that, for a second, I almost didn’t process them.

”Why would anyone think that?” I questioned, shoving my hands into my trouser pockets.

Verity remained silent while Jenna continued, ”I mean, why wouldn’t they? Isn’t that what people thought about Verity too? Besides, if I really think about it, Gigi was the one who introduced me to her brother. So maybe someone believes she was involved somehow.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Not because there was anything strange about Gigi introducing Jenna to her brother.

I remembered that day.

Her brother had simply come over to take them shopping.

It was the implication behind Jenna’s words that bothered me.

”Jenna, what exactly are you suggesting?” I asked, my jaw slowly tightening.

Whatever else was going on, I still cared deeply about Gigi.

”I’m only telling you what happened,” Jenna replied. ”She was the one who introduced me to alcohol and that too right in front of her brother. She took me to the masquerade party. And of course I don’t think she was involved, but maybe her brother pressured her into doing certain things and she didn’t understand what she was helping with. I’m just saying I can see why someone else might find the idea plausible.”

She opened her book and began flipping through the pages.

”Besides, I honestly don’t think anyone abducted her.” she added without lifting her head.

”Why not?” I asked.

Jenna stopped, slowly closed the book, and turned back toward me with her head tilted.

”Because didn’t Gigi leave a message for her mother? She literally said she was leaving. And as worried as I am about her, I truly believe she’s fine wherever she is.”

There was so much confidence in Jenna’s voice that, honestly, it made sense.

Gigi had sent that message herself.

So where had she gone?

And how long could she possibly survive alone out there, whether in the mountains or the desert?

But what Jenna had said stayed with me.

According to her, Gigi had introduced her to alcohol and taken her to the masquerade party.

That wasn’t what Gigi had told me.

Why were their versions so different?

Jenna had already walked away while I remained there, lost in thought.

”Please don’t think badly of Jenna,” Verity said, trying to defend her. ”She’s only sharing what she remembers. She’s a good girl who’s been through a lot. She was forced to grow up quickly and leave behind the fantasy she used to live in, where everything seemed sweet and perfect.”

”Of course I’m not angry with her. I was just...” I trailed off, then shook my head. ”Anyway, I’ll go after Ragnar and see what’s going on, okay? I’ll also remind them about the text Gigi left.”

I shoved my hands into my pants pockets again and started walking towards the door.

But just as I was about to pass Verity, I stopped.

Lowering my head slightly, I pressed a kiss to her cheek.

She immediately stepped back and glanced around, making sure no one had seen us.

That only made me smile.

”Thank you for being here, Verity. Thank you for making me realize that, even during all of this, I still have someone to come home to.”

The words came out with complete sincerity.

Then I turned and walked out of the mansion.