Chapter 160 – Grounded Again
–LIA’S POV–
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My heart raged in my chest as Zane pulled into my driveway.
It was a whole new feeling coming back home today.
So much had happened the previous night.
My parents were going to be furious.
I hadn’t gotten a chance to inform them of my whereabouts, thanks to Blake kidnapping me and marking me without my consent. I had thought of a reasonable explanation, and although it was still going to get me grounded, at least my parents wouldn’t completely lose their minds.
It all depended on one tiny thing—that they wouldn’t notice the bite mark on my neck.
My hair was down, half of it resting over my shoulder to cover it as much as possible. Although keeping it all on one side would hide it much better, I knew it would make Mom suspicious. I was wearing a lot of concealer too, but somehow, it was still noticeable.
“Don’t worry,” Zane said, squeezing my hand. He leaned in and planted a kiss to my forehead. “It’s gonna be fine, my love.”
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Warmth coursed through me.
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“I hope they don’t forbid me from seeing you,” I said, my voice small.
Zane chuckled. “There is no power on earth that can keep me from you, Lia. You know that.”
A smile stretched across my lips.
“Okay. Let’s go, then.”
Zane killed the engine, and we climbed out of the car. He walked around it and laced his fingers with mine, making tingles shoot up my arm.
We approached the doorstep, but before I could place a single foot on it, I froze. I glanced down at it, the vision I’d had replaying in my memory.
That was exactly where my real mother, Selene, had left me.
That exact doorstep was where my Mom found me.
“What’s wrong?” Zane asked, his tone gentle.
I glanced at him, managing a tight smile. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
We finally walked up to the door, and rang the doorbell.
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Chapter 160 – Grounded Again
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Within moments, Mom was ripping the door open, her eyes wide.
She stared at me, then at Zane, and then her eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Where were you all night, Lia Snow?” she snapped. “I thought I made myself very clear last time. If you want him to spend the night with you, you can just ask! But disappearing like this, without even letting us know? That’s careless and selfish. Do you know how worried we have been?”
I lowered my gaze, genuinely apologetic.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“And you—young man. I did not expect this of you,” she scolded, glaring at Zane. “Haul your asses in now!” She moved aside, giving us space to enter.
I wasn’t really sure I wanted to, but there wasn’t much of a choice.
Zane and I entered the house, to find Dad standing near the sofas, his jaw set.
“Welcome back home,” he said drily.
Mom slammed the door, making me flinch. Zane squeezed my hand again, pursing his lips. He looked like he was trying not to
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Chapter 160 – Grounded Again
laugh. I felt the urge to smack him.
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“Well?” Mom asked, storming up to Dad and standing beside him, facing us. “Explain yourself.”
“It was my fault,” Zane said before I could even open my mouth. “Actually… my parents moved away recently, and I’d been
very lonely. I begged Lia to go home with me. We didn’t ask for permission because we were sure you wouldn’t say yes. I’m really sorry, please don’t scold her.”
Mom’s face softened slightly. But Dad’s didn’t.
“So you’re a bad influence on her,” he said. “Maybe we should forbid you from seeing each other until the two of you have learned your lesson.”
My eyes widened. “No. Dad, please. I can’t stay without him.”
“Oh yeah? I think you survived the last sixteen years without him.”
“Technically, we still saw each other,” Zane muttered.
“Yes, when you tortured her,” Dad snapped.
“It was my friends, not me,” Zane murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.
I shot him a look. “You’re making it worse.”
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“That’s right, you are.” Dad nodded in agreement.
Silence fell for a moment.
Then, Mom sighed.
“Whose clothes are you wearing and why?”
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I couldn’t tell her that mine were covered in blood and dirt.
“Sheila’s,” I replied. “An idiot spilled a drink on me at prom.”
It was just the truth.
“I swear, we didn’t do anything. Lia was out all night,” Zane said. “I just didn’t wanna be alone.”
Again, another truth. Just not all of it.
“And what did you do while she slept?” Mom raised a brow.
“Stared at her. Begged her to wake up. But no, someone preferred sleeping over spending time with me,” Zane said.
My chest tightened slightly.
He was probably so devastated.
I felt like hugging him, but didn’t wanna be smacked by Mom.
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Chapter 160 – Grounded Again
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Mom let out a long, sharp sigh, like she’d been holding it in since she opened the door.
“That’s it. I don’t want to hear another word. You’re grounded, Lia. A full month. No parties. No outings. No exceptions. This isn’t how I expected your prom to end. I’m very disappointed.”
I nodded. I’d expected this much.
“And as for you,” she said, turning to Zane, “I don’t want to see you near this house unless it’s to drop her off from school. No visits. No late–night calls. Do I make myself clear?”
Zane’s smile faded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dad crossed his arms, his expression hardening. “If we catch you sneaking around, this stops being a relationship and starts being a problem.”
“Understood, sir.”
No calls? That was pushing it. I didn’t even know what to say.
Zane looked at me again, his
gaze soft.
“I should go,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“No, you will not. It’s a weekend,” Dad pointed out.
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My heart dropped.
I opened my mouth, but no words came.
I didn’t like this.
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Zane stepped closer, lightly brushed his hand against my cheek, and pulled me into a hug. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ll see you around.”
He kissed my forehead, before walking out the door.
I sighed, a groan stuck in my throat.
“In your bedroom,” Mom ordered.
I dragged myself up the stairs, my frown slowly transforming into a scowl.
But before I’d enter my room, my heart almost stopped.
There was a scent in the air.
One I was too familiar with.
Blake.
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