Chapter 34

Chiara

I’ve never seen Vedant this angry. His fury is barely leashed and visible in every line of his body. Alice looks just as furious, but at the sight of Vedant, she has been cowed enough that her mouth has snapped closed.

All I can do is stand there stupidly and watch this exchange. It’s like observing two predators circle each other. But Alice is out of her depth, her labored breathing filling the pause as she barely controls her fury.

“Chiara is here because she’s injured and recovering,” Vedant continues. “I offered, just like I offered for her to go through my office supplies in that box over there. She didn’t ask, but she didn’t have to. Nothing going on here is without my knowledge.”

The silence that follows is thick, the kind that settles like a morning fog. It feels heavy, almost tangible.

Alice’s face twists, half in disbelief, half in embarrassment. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” he says simply. “And I have no interest in listening to counterarguments on the matter. My mind is made up.”

Alice gapes at him, disbelief twisting her features. She scoffs, taking back a staggering step like she simply can’t believe any of it. “You’re defending her? Her? Is she sleeping with you? Is that why?”

Vedant looks appalled by the accusation. “No, Alice, it’s not like that.”

“Sure,” she shrieks. “I’m sure it’s not. Like the little orphan girl wouldn’t whore herself out for a bed to sleep in. Pathetic.”

“Alice, watch it—”

“No, Vedant, you watch her. She’s just a bitch who will do anything for a quick dollar. She doesn’t even like you, trust me. She’s using you.”

“I invited her here. She didn’t even need to ask.”

“And I’m sure she’s taking full advantage of your so-called hospitality. I mean, honestly, Vedant, what are you even thinking?”

“I’m thinking that this is the nice thing to do. You seem to not know much about doing that.”

“So you’re just going to let her stay here with you and go through your things like she’s not a complete bitch?”

“Yes,” he says simply. “Because she isn’t, and you’re out of line. You shouldn’t talk to her that way. Ever. She deserves more respect than that.”

The silence that follows rings out around us. I look between the two of them and have to stifle my shock.

I can’t believe it. Vedant is defending me against Alice. So much has changed recently that I truly can’t make sense of it.

“Respect is earned, not given freely,” Alice snaps.

“And it can also be taken away in an instant,” Vedant says. “Keep acting like this and you’ll lose mine.”

I stand frozen behind him, still trying to understand what just happened. Alice’s mouth is working like a fish out of water, trying to find the words to respond with. Her face is flushing, and if the moment weren’t so tense, I would take some satisfaction in it.

After all, Vedant is taking on Alice. For me.

A strange warmth spreads through my chest, and I try to make sure that the gratitude isn’t reflected in my face. Maybe I’ve misjudged him. Maybe he’s not as cold as I thought.

But the moment of reflection doesn’t last.

Alice’s face twists in rage, her voice rising to a near-scream. “Do you even hear yourself, Vedant? Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Your father already said I’d make a fine Luna for you, and you’re making us all look like a bunch of fools when you do stuff like this.”

Luna. That word makes my breath hitch, landing like a punch. Did Vedant’s father really say that?

If Vedant’s father is weighing in on his Luna, that means another element is at play here, one I didn’t know of before. Alice’s eyes are glistening like she spoke earnestly, and I’m terrified when I realize that I don’t think she’s lying for the sake of shock value.

“Everyone knows it!” she screams. “Everyone knows that I’m the perfect choice to be your Luna, even your own father, and yet you’re wasting time on this stupid orphan girl. It’s embarrassing for you, honestly.”

Vedant flinches, just slightly, and something in his expression tenses.

“This isn’t about my father,” he says quietly. “I make my own choices, Alice. There is still much about me that you don’t know of yet. Do not speak on what you are ignorant of.”

Alice looks between us, trembling with anger. “So that’s it then? You’d rather choose her? That orphan slut over me?”

Her words are like little needles, creating tiny, painful pinpricks throughout me. She’s called me vile names before, but something about her tone and the fact that Vedant is standing as her only audience makes it hurt all the wose.

Vedant doesn’t answer. He doesn’t have to. The silence says enough.

I dare to look at him to try and judge his reaction. He is looking at Alice with an expression I can’t quite read, but that is so intense, I have to look away.

Alice breaks the tense quiet as she lets out a bitter laugh, eyes bright. “You’ll regret this,” she hisses. “You’ll regret her. And when you realize your mistake, I’ll be waiting.”

And then she is spinning on her heel and storming out, slamming the door behind her. The echo rings through the house long after she’s gone, and I feel it down to my bones. My eyes find the floor.

For a few seconds, I just stare at the space between my feet, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. I can’t think of a single thing to say, so I listen to Vedant’s deep breaths as he tries to regain control of himself.

Finally, he exhales and turns around. “Sorry,” he mutters. “You didn’t deserve that.”

I shake my head slowly. It all doesn’t feel real still. Everything happened so quickly.

“You didn’t have to defend me, you know,” I say.

“Yes,” he says, meeting my gaze. “I did.”

Something inside me stirs. I don’t want to concentrate on it too much, but I know that what just happened shifted our dynamic completely. He chose to defend me.

He chose me.

“She crossed a line,” he says quietly.

“She did,” I agree, but my voice is a whisper.

“I won’t tolerate her disrespect. Especially in my home. Either she can honor my decisions or leave,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

But it’s not that simple, really. More than that changed when he argued in my defense. And I know that Alice will not be taking this lightly either. As appreciative as I am of his defense, I know it has only worsened things for me at school.

I can only imagine what Alice might be concocoting in retaliation. She is certainly not going to take this slight laying down.

For a moment, neither of us speaks. Then he looks over, and something softer flickers in his eyes. I watch his shoulders begin to fall and his muscles start to relax. “Are you okay?”

I nod slowly, though my heart is still pounding. “I think so.”

Maybe I’m not in that moment, but I know I will be. Especially now that I know Vedant is in my corner. He nods his understanding slowly.

But as I sink back onto the couch, I can’t help but glance toward the door where Alice had been standing just moments ago.

And I brace myself, knowing that this isn’t over.