Chapter 85
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The next day, I woke up with swollen eyes, the result of a sleepless night filled with thoughts of what unfolded the previous evening. I couldn’t shake off the image of Apollo’s mother standing guard over him as if she believed I meant him harm.
When he was clearly calling out for me, she wouldn’t let me get close. It stung to leave the room, especially after she accused me of touching him without his consent. Apollo and I had shared a much deeper intimacy in the past. All I did was stroke his hair, and she lost it, warning me not to do something like that again.
hurt knowing he was my mate yet there were people insisting I stay away from him. The way both Jada and his mother behaved made me wonder if they somehow knew about us.
Why did his mother suddenly seem to dislike me more than she disliked my own mother when initially that was the person she hated the most? Why were they also not concerned about Isabella but everything that I did was a problem for them? It felt like all their scrutiny was aimed at me, almost as if they thought I had some plan to steal him away.
Maybe I was being paranoid, but it truly felt that way. They seemed to know something that Apollo didn’t, and he didn’t seem to pick up on their strange behavior at all.
Then there was Mrs. Reign sending Jada to apologize to me last night, despite having a clear issue with me. Why would she apologize if she knew that she didn’t mean it and clearly still had a strong dislike for me?
Isabella walked into my room without knocking, glanced at my disheveled appearance, and frowned. “You look like a hot mess this morning. It’s clear you didn’t sleep at all.”
Inod. “I had a really uncomfortable run–in with Apollo’s mother.” I recounted the events of the night before. At first, I wasn’t sure if telling my sister was a good idea considering that she almost had an argument with Mrs. Reign over me at the dinner.
Her frown deepened as she sat at the edge of my bed. “What happened? Tell me everything.”
Taking a deep breath, I explain, “Apollo came home late, and I couldn’t tell if he was drunk. Jada helped him into the family room and left him there. I heard him groaning, and he seemed to be having a nightmare.”
She smirks, “I bet he was dreaming about marrying Jada.”
#roll my eyes. “Possibly, but then his mother walked in while I was running my fingers through his hair. I was just trying to calm him down, but she got furious, telling me not to touch her son while he was sleeping and without his consent.”
isabella laughs incredulously. “Does she even realize you’ve done way more than just play with his hair?”
My cheeks flushed at her teasing.
I shot her a look, but she just grinned back at me mischievously.
“I’m serious, insist.
“And so ama i she replies. “I don’t see why she would have an issue with you comforting her son during a nightmare.”
1 g “I’m starting to think they know more than they’re letting on. Jada also came to my room yesterday, telling me not to wear revealing clothes pand Apoller since, apparently, he’s going to be her husband soon.”
traballa gasps, paring the room “How dare the come into our home and dictate what you should wear? That bitch! I thought she had a sweet personality, but it’s clear she was just putting on a show for Mrs. Reign. She wants to position herself perfectly around Apollo”
I was beginning to see it, too I hadn’t realized until now that these women were competing for Apollo’s affections.
11:32 Wed, 16 Jul i GO.
Chapter 85
“How much do you think they know?” I ask my sister.
She put a hand to her chin, pondering deeply before answering, “Their attitude toward you seems far more hostile than it is toward our mother, which suggests they likely know a lot about you and Apollo.”
“But how?” I press. “They weren’t around to see or hear anything. Only you know about us. I don’t understand how they would know, especially since I’m certain Apollo wouldn’t tell this to his mother.”
My sister looked just as baffled as I felt. After a deep sigh, she says, “Whether they know or not shouldn’t concern you. What matters to me is that Apollo realizes he can’t live without you. I want him to stand up to his mother so you two can have a fighting chance together.”
Of course, I wanted the same thing, but it was easier said than done. Apollo’s relationship with his mother seemed complicated, even from a distance; I couldn’t imagine how it was behind closed doors.
“When’s the last time you went for a swim?” Isabella asks, looking at me expectantly.
frown, “It’s been a while. Why do you ask?”
“Well,” she wiggles her eyebrows, “we have a pool in our backyard, and you’re not taking full advantage of it. A swim could help you relax.”
I narrow my eyes. “Are you up to something again?”
She sighs, “Why do you always think I have a hidden agenda?”
“Because I know you,” I snap. “You always have something up your sleeve.”
With an eye roll, she says, “I just have a cute bikini want you to wear. That’s all.”
Surely, that was her only reason for asking me to hit the pool today of all days.
“I’ll be right back with it!” she declared before I could even respond. A few moments later, she returned, bikini in hand, practically shoving it into my face.
“Put it on! Put it on!” she insists.
I inwardly groaned but complied. As I stepped out wearing her bikini design, her eyes lit up with excitement, and she clapped her hands. “It looks amazing on you!”
“The black one looks even better on you,” I remarked as she twirled around to show off another one of her designs.
“Well, come on!” she urged, pulling me along. I let he the outdoor pool.
her drag me down the stairs, but we both froze when I spotted Apollo standing by the door that led to
He turned at the sound of our footsteps, and the moment his gaze fell on me, my body ignited under the intensity of his stare.
This was not good.
E
AD
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11:32 Wed, 16 Jul GL
Chapter 86
