Bonds at War: The Virgin is Mine Novel

Chapter 127 The Slot To Closure Chapter 127 The Slot To Closure ARDEN It's been a week . One long , gray - skied , heavy - hearted week .. Mr. Winters was arrested the same day with more than enough proof The livestream , the testimonies and videos , the hidden passages in the cabin , and the army of students under his command - all of it was more than enough . He was disqualified instantly from the Practor candidacy . His name was spat upon across the regions . The public didn't just turn their backs on him They were disgusted . Outraged . And rightfully so .

Elite Order Academy shut down for a full week . A rare , unprecedented break . Students who sided with Winters were suspended , most of them expelled , and several were arrested for full involvement in his plans , Jaxon and Kieran were among them . I saw their parents on the news one afternoon - begging . crying , pleading for their freedom . But the law wasn't lenient . Not when it was my mom who had enforced it . My chest tightened . My mom ... Cade had continued with his candidacy despite everything . Every morning , he left at dawn .

He always left with soft kisses and long hugs , promising he'd be back by sundown . He kept that promise , every single day . No matter how busy or how complicated the rebuilding process had become , he always came back . Not once did he complain when I barely spoke . Not once did he flinch when I didn't smile . Tessa stayed with us , too . She had been recovering quickly . Sometimes I'd hear her and Cade exchanging light banter in the living room , their laughter muffled by my closed door . But most of the time , it was quiet in the house . A soft knock broke the silence today .

I turned to the door . " Arden ?" It was Tessa's voice . " Lunch ? " I hesitated , but then nodded . I wasn't sure if she sensed the nod , but she opened the door anyway . She walked in slowly , a tray in hand , her movements light . She set the tray on my bedside table and sat at the edge of my bed . " Cade's numbers are looking good , " she said softly , " Really good . They're already calling him the people's Alpha . Even East and West territories are backing him more openly now . " I smiled , or at least , I think I did . My lips moved , but I didn't feel it . " That's ...

that's good , " I murmured She nodded , but I could feel the weight in her eyes . Chapter 127 The Slot To Closure My mom was gone , Buried . Buried far , far from me . I wasn't even there . I wasn't allowed to be . It was her will - her final with . A remote funeral with no ceremony . And in turn , no closure . I didn't cry when they told me she had been buried . But grief is strange . It doesn't ask for permission . It doesn't come when you expect it .. It creeps in during the in - betweens - the spaces between laughter , the seconds before sleep , the bite of cold wind on your cheek .

These last three days , I felt it . What I'd lost . What could have been . What we could've had . " You need to eat . Arden . " Tessa murmured . I nodded . I forced myself to pick up the spoon . It felt like a mountain just to swallow a bite . " I'll give you space , " she said , standing . I watched her go . I waited until the door closed , and then I leaned back into my pillows , eyes shut tight But there was no peace . There was no sleep . I don't even know how long I lay there in that state between waking and dreaming - until I felt the bed shift beside me . I opened my eyes .

-Cade was there , smiling softly . " Hey , " he whispered , brushing hair out of my face . The second I saw him , I broke down . " I'm sorry ," I whispered , the tears falling before I could stop them . "I should be happy . I should be grateful . But I don't know how to feel anything right now ." He didn't hesitate . " Don't invalidate yourself , " he said , gently wiping away the tears with his thumb . " You've been through hell . You don't need to rush anything . I'm not going anywhere . " Ishook my head, the lump in my throat growing . " Did your campaign go well today ?

" I asked , trying 104 Chapter 127 The Slot To Closure change the topic . He paused for a moment and then said quietly . " I didn't go to a campaign today . " I frowned . " What ? " I skipped it. " " Why ? " " I got you this , " he said , and slowly opened his hand . In his palm was the necklace . The necklace that used to hang around my mom's neck . I stared at it , the tears starting again in full force . " I thought you might want to keep it , " Cade said softly . " I found it . I know it's not much . But I thought she'd want you to have it .

" I reached out with trembling fingers , curling them around the pendant . It was still warm and still smelled faintly like her . " I miss her , I whispered . " So much ." I didn't even get to spend a long time with her , but I still missed her . " I know , " he said , pulling me into his arms . And this time , I didn't hold anything back . I let myself cry and fall apart . And Cade , as always held me together . " It was difficult to retrieve , " Cade said gently , his voice breaking the silence that had wrapped around us like a blanket .

" But when I found a small slot in your treasure box , I knew I had to find it for you . " My brows drew together . I lifted my gaze to meet his , but he was already looking at me . " And I have an idea , " he continued , holding out the necklace . " Bethany wanted you to have this . I think ... she meant for it to lead you somewhere . Or to something . " My heart stuttered , I turned to him slowly , swallowing " How ? " I whispered . Cade smiled softly , eyes warm , but tired . " I'll leave you for a while , baby , " he said , brushing his lips against my forehead .

" You deserve to discover it yourself . " And just like that , he left the room , his footsteps retreating down the hallway . For a moment , I just sat there , my heart thudding hard , unsure what to expect My fingers moved on their own . I reached beside me and pulled the small box from the top drawer of my desk . 2/4 Chapter 127 The Slot To Closure I never noticed anything strange about it . Until now . I turned it over in my hand . There - barely noticeable - was a minuscule slot at the bottom . My breath hitched . He was right . There was a slot . When did he notice it ?

I never would've . Cade . I thought , heart swelling despite the ache . He was so attentive My fingers trembled as I picked up the necklace . I turned it gently , feeling the soft edges of the stone , and slowly guided it toward the tiny slot in the bottom of the box . It slid in perfectly . And then , it opened .