Chapter 19

Miranda's POV

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miranda,” Lily nervously tosses her hair over her shoulder. I roll my eyes and turn to Sebastian. His eyes focus on me.

“Lily stole my research and presented it as her own. The formula she’s parading around to everyone is a direct result of her theft.” My gaze challenges his. His head ever so slightly tilts to the side.

“She’s lying!” Lily’s scream makes my ears ring. Lily steps in front of me and yells in Sebastian’s face, pointing at me, “She has no proof of these accusations!”

I take a deep breath and step out of Lily’s shadow. My gaze reconnects with Sebastian’s and I tilt my chin up, remaining calm yet confident all at the same time.

My many years of pandering to Lily and her dramatics have paid off. I’m able to keep my composure instead of instantly breaking down and fighting back. I feel my body cool down and my anger slightly subside.

“The formula Lily has is not fully developed. What I have in my possession is the only perfected version of the medication.” The words effortlessly fly from my mouth. Sebastian’s face doesn’t change. We stand still as Lily recklessly moves about the room.

Lily approaches his office window and slams her fists against the windowsill. She turns and looks at us. She groans and yells, “She’s bluffing! Miranda, you’re just trying to make yourself important again. You’re too late!”

Sebastian tears his gaze away from mine and I can breathe again. He looks at Lily, a flash of disgust running across his face. He turns back to look at me.

“Prove it.”

I nod. I reach into my back pocket where a tiny, yet surprisingly sharp, knife sits. It sits between my fingers. The blade catches the light. It slashes down into my palm.

Blood streaks across my palm. It drips from the blade and onto the wooden floor below us. Lily shrieks and covers her face at the sight.

I open my palm for Sebastian to see. The slice wound is open and blood freely pours out. I pluck a glass vial from my pocket, which is filled to the brim with a purple powder. I sprinkle some of the powder onto the wound then pocket the glass vial.

Sebastian steps closer. He closely watches my hand. After a few seconds, the bleeding stops. I reach up with the sleeve of my lab coat, wiping away the blood so the wound is visible to him.

The edges of the wound begin to inch towards the middle. My skin tugs against itself, begging to reconnect with the other side. I sigh with relief as the searing pain leaves my hand.

After a minute, the wound completely disappears. I drop my hand back to my side, wiping off any excess blood onto my pure white lab coat, and turn my eyes to Sebastian, challenging him.

“If Lily’s formula is truly her own work,” I cooly say, turning my head to look at Lily, “she should be able to replicate the same exact results.” I approach Lily but am sure to keep my distance.

Lily’s mouth opens and closes. She’s barely able to form a sentence. She can only blabber meek sounds as she looks around the room for help.

“Go ahead, Lily. Prove it.” I smirk at her.

“You can’t seriously expect me to…this is ridiculous!” Lily stammers. Her shoulders slump and her hands are trembling like crazy. She grasps her skirt to ease her trembling hands.

"It’s a fair request, Lily. If the formula is yours, like you claim it to be, then it should work, no? Go on. Demonstrate it.” Sebastian’s tone is unyielding. I’m half-surprised that he is willing to push Lily this far.

“Fine!” Lily’s face turns bright red. Her fists are clenched at her sides and she looks at me with wild eyes. “Fine! You win! You win the bet, Miranda! Are you happy now?!”

“Return the formula to Miranda.” Sebastian’s Alpha command rings throughout the room. Lily’s hand hesitates. She reaches into her pocket, shooting glares in my direction. Her hand fumbles around and Sebastian groans. “Now, Lily. Don’t waste our time.”

Lily yanks her hand out of her pocket, slamming her bottle into my hand. She grabs my wrist and pulls me in, muttering, “I hope you’re happy now.” She storms out of the room and slams the office doors behind her.

I sigh and look at the floor and carefully place the formula into my pocket. I fix my lab coat and pick up my bag from the floor. I put it over my shoulder when Sebastian moves in front of me.

“You planned this,” his tone is flat, yet laced with intrigue, “you left a half-finished version of the formula for Lily to steal, knowing she’d expose herself. You orchestrated this whole thing to trap her.”

“Everything that happened was Lily’s choice. Not mine. She’s the one who decided to steal my work.” I respond in a deadpan tone.

I study Sebastian’s face closely. His expression is curious while also maintaining an emotion that is unreadable to me. I tilt my head to the side, not wanting to break the silence.

“Why do you and Lily hate each other so much?” His question is surprising. I hesitate to answer, so he continues, “You’re an outcast half-breed and she is the daughter of an Alpha. What could have possibly created such a grudge between you two?”

My body goes cold. I inhale sharply and look away.

“That has nothing to do with you. We are not connected in any way, shape, or form. I owe you no explanation.” I coldly respond.

Sebastian rapidly blinks. He diverts his eyes before reconnecting with mine. His brows furrow then relax and he opens his mouth before closing it. My eyebrow perks up as I await his response.

“Actually, Miranda…we are—”

“We’re nothing,” I breathe out before he can continue, “We will all remain strangers, okay?”

I bump into Sebastian as I pass him, marching towards the door. I don’t wait for him to respond. There is simply nothing else to say. He chose his side and I’ll remain on mine.

I just want to go home and hug my children. I need their happiness and joy to infect me so I may feel some kind of positive emotion after this encounter.

I barely even realize that I’m home when I step through the front door. A sigh of relief escapes my lips. A pair of footsteps comes running towards me.

Ella uses the lower half of my body as a crash pad. She smiles up at me and I can’t help but immediately scoop her up and into my arms. I pepper kisses all over her face and her giggles warm my chest.

“Mommy!” She excitedly exclaims. “I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too baby!” I squeeze her, earning more giggles from her. I look around the foyer.

Where’s Noah? He’s usually attached at the hip with Ella. It’s extremely unlike him to not be here to greet me. It’s our family tradition.

“Ella? My love,” I ask, gently setting her back down on the floor. “Where’s your brother?”

“Brother went to go find Daddy!” Ella slowly tilts her head up.

I freeze. He went to go find…Daddy? My heart skips a beat.