HAPTER073 OLIVIASPOV Isteppedintothebathroom,thecooltilesbeneathmyfeetdoinglittletosteadythewhirlwindinsidemychest.Istoodinfrontofthemirror,andforalongmoment,Ijuststaredatthereflectionstaringbackatme.Myeyeslookedtired,almosthollow,asiftheweightofthelastfewdayshaddrainedeveryounceoflifefromthem.Iletoutashakybreath,thesoundechoingsoftlyagainstthewalls.Somuchhadhappened,fartoomuchformetoprocessinsuchashorttime.
ontomy Turningonthetap,Icuppedmyhandsunderthecoldrunningwaterandsplashedit facerepeatedly,asifIcouldwashawaythestormofemotionsinsideme.Thechillofthewatersentajoltthroughmynerves,butitwasntenoughtoclearmyhead.Nothingcould,notrightnow.
Justthen,thebathroomdooropened.Istiffened,immediatelysensingherpresencebeforeIeventurnedaround.Mymomorrather,thewomanIhadcalledmymotherallmylife,thoughshewasonlymyadoptivemotherstoodthere,blockingtheexit.Hereyesweresharp,almostaccusing,asifshedbeenwaitingforthismoment.
Whats thisabout?sheasked,hertoneedgedwithterision.
Ifrownedslightly,puzzledbyherquestion.
Whatareyoutalkingabout?Ireplied,myvoicecolderthanIintended.
Shesteppedcloser,herarmscrossedtightlyoverherchest.ItsobviousyoudontwantAdriantoknowwhatyoudiscoveredaboutus,shesaid,hervoicedrippingwithsuspicion.Sowhyhaventyoutoldmeaboutityet? Ah,sothatswhyshedfollowedmeinhere.Hersoulwasntatrestsheneededanswers,neededtoeasethegrowingfearinsideher.ShewasterrifiedofwhatIknew,anditshowedinhereyes.
AbittersmiletuggedatthecornerofmylipsasIturnedbacktothemirror,avoidinghergaze.

IhavemyreasonsforkeepingthisfromAdrian,Isaidcalmly.Asforyou,Ialreadytoldyoubackatthehouse.Youllfindoutsoonenough.
Butshewasntsatisfiedwithmyanswer.BeforeIcouldreact,shelungedforwardandgrabbedmyarmtightly,herfingersdiggingintomyskinwithanunexpectedforce.Igasped,notfrompain,butfromsheerdisbelief.InalltheyearsIhadknownher,shehadneverlaida handonmelikethis.Notonce.
Nowyoulistentomecarefully,shehissed,herfaceinchesfrommine.Yourenotgoingtoplaythesemind/gameswithme.Youregoingtotellmewhatyoufoundoutrightnow.Or else.
Successfullyunlocked! HerthreathungheavilyIntheair,butIhadhadenough.Ijerkedmyarmfreefromhergrasp,glaringatherwithanewfoundfireburninginmychest.Orelsewhat?Isnapped,myvoicerising.Yourescared,arentyou?Youreterrifiedoflosingyour 1/3 CHAPTER073 precioussoninlaw.
Itookastepcloser,notbackingdownthistime.Myheartpounded,butmyresolvehardenedlikesteel.Well,heresalittlenewsflashforyou,Icontinued,mytonesharpasablade.NowthatIknowthetruthaboutyouandDad,Imdone.ImleavingAdrianforgood,andtheresnothingyoucandotostopme.
Ididntgiveherthesatisfactionofseeingmehesitate.Withoutanotherword,Iwalkedpasther,mychesttightbutmystepsfirm.Letherstewinherfear.LetherwonderwhatIfoundoutaboutthem.
AsIsteppedoutofthebathroomIspottedAdrianmakingacallinthehallwayandIdidntbotherlookinginhisdirection,Iwalkedintothewardandgrabbedmyphonefrommypurse,IhadntcheckedmyphonesinceIleftAdrianplaceandIwassupposedtocallJulian.
AsIopenedituptherewerealmost20messagesand10missedcallsfromJulian.

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Wassomethingwrongorwasthisjusthimbeingtoocaringasusual,Iopenedupthemessageandstartedreading.
SinceIgottomyparentshouse,mywholemoodhadbeenmiserable.Everyconversationfeltlikewalkingonatightrope,everyglancefrommysocalledmothertwistedadeeperknifeintomychest.ButasIreadthemessageitfeltlikeasmallcrackofsunlightbreakingthroughthestormcloudshangingoverme.
Julianhaddoneit.HemanagedtocatchthedriverthatAdrianhadpaidofftohitthe eporterthatday.Myheartskippedabeat,asparkofhopeignitinginthemiddleofmybadmood.Thiswashuge.Finally,athreadIcouldpull.
Icouldntwasteasecond.IneededtocallJulianbackimmediately.Myfingerstrembledslightlyas Idialedhisnumber,Withoutthinking,Isteppedoutofthehospitalroom,notwantinganyonetooverheartheconversation.Ialsoneededfreshair,andspacetothinkclearly.
AsImade mywaytowardtheexit,myeyesdespitemybesteffortsfoundAdrians.Itwaslikemygaze wasdrawntohimagainstmywill.Wewerebothholdingourphonestoourears,lockedinourseparatecalls,yetsomehowfrozeninthesamemoment.
Thewayhelookedatmestoppedme inmytracksforabriefsecond.Hisstarelingeredlongerthanusual,differentfromtheusualglareofannoyanceandfrustrationthathadbecomesofamiliar/overthepastfewmonths.Therewasnoirritationthistime.Instead,therewassomethingsofter,almostlike…pity.
Itdidntmakesense.Adrianhadneverpitiedmebefore,notonce.Ifanything,helovedwatchingmeunderpressure.Sowhynow?Whythissuddenshiftinhiseyes,likehewantedtosaysomethingbutthewordswerecaughtinhisthroat?Hisexpressiongnawed atmymind,butIforcedmyselftoshakeitoff.Icouldntaffordtogetdistractedbyhimnow.
Juliansvoicecrackledthroughtheline, pullingmebacktoreality.

2/3 CHAPTER073- Liv,hesaid.
Hey,sorryImissedyourcalls.Ivebeenswampedallday,Ireplied Itookadeepbreath,walkingfurtherawayfromAdrianandoutthroughthehospital doors.
ButevenasIspoke,IcouldfeelAdrianseyesstillfixedonme,asthoughheweretryingtoreadmymind.Hisgazeburnedintomyback,heavyandunrelenting.Ididntturnaround.Ifhewasntgoingtosayanything,thenIwasntgoingtogivehimthesatisfactionofknowinghehadgottenundermyskin.
Ivebeenwaitingforyourresponseforawhilenow,Liv,Juliancontinued,hisvoicelinedwithconcern.Ithoughtyouwenttoseeyourparents.Whatkeptyousobusy? Iletoutaquietsigh,pinchingthebridgeofmynoseasexhaustiontuggedatme.LikeIsaid,alot,Iadmitted,mythoughtsstilltangledinknots.ButIreadyourmessagesjustnowthoughandamgladthatyoufoundhim,IknewIcouldtrustyou,Isaidto him.
Fromyourtone,Iknowsomethingisup,andsomethingwasalreadyupbeforeyourwenttoseeyourparentssostarttalking,Juliansaid.
ThenthetearscamerushingdownmyeyesasIcouldnotholdmyselfIfoundoutthatIwasadopted.Isaidsobbing.
AsIexpectedJulianwassilent,Imsureevenhecouldnthaveexpectedthattoo.
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