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Chapter 58
~Spring’s POV~
I was about to walk away to go do so exercise and eat sothing when Storm whistled low. "They really want to see blood this early in the sester."
"They’ll get what they want," I replied, tugging my hand free and adjusting my collar. "And so will I."
"You sound confident," Jace said with a crooked grin. "I like that."
"I am," I said simply. "She should be the one panicking because I have no interest in either losing or leaving this school."
"Ohhh..." Jace drawled, his smirk growing. "More like you do not want to leave you rmates, do you?"
"Don’t kid yourself, Jace. Rember what I said before... I am not ready."
"Well," he drew closer, "ready or not, I won’t be leaving."
"You’re welco to try. I an Storm has witnessed just a tiny bit of what happens when you get too close around ."
Jace snapped his head in Storm’s direction. "You an..."
"Oh... that?"
"What’s that?" Jace asked and quickly moved closer to Storm as if ambusihing him would make him spill the deets.
Storm glanced at Jace, then at . "Remind not to get on your bad side this week."
"Too late," I muttered softly as I walked past them.
Behind I heard Jace calling out to Storm. "Hey, tell what that’s about!"
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By the ti I arrived ho, I decided it was ti to unwrap the few gifts left from my birthday afte rsneaking into my room to avoid Rose.
Yes, Rose.
Yesterday, surprisingly, mum had left us alone when Eryx and I returned.
I even got ssages from Kaius and Rhys, asking about my health and also informing they heard all that happened at lunch the other day.
I replied them and focused on my things. I unwrapped the gifts and discovered I had been giving two new laptops, one from Eryx and another from Rhys.
As for Kaius, he spoiled with novels, new apple watch and ear pods, a gold necklace and matching bracelets.
I was happy to say the least.
Gold wasn’t sothing new for since I was born as a royal in my past life but these gadgets, were exceptional.
Just as I neatly arranged the few gifts I’d gotten into my closet, I stepped out of my room, planning to grab so juice before heading back to studying. My thoughts were already drifting back to the textbook waiting for when I paused.
Voices.
They were coming from Rose’s room.
I slowed my steps and instinctively lingered near the wall, hidden just enough. I wasn’t one for eavesdropping, but the tone of her voice—frustrated, angry—made freeze in place.
"...I don’t understand why everything is falling apart!" Rose snapped, her voice muffled only slightly by the door. "All of my plans—every single one—is failing. She’s beating at the Ga, mother! !"
I tilted my head slightly, confused.
"She walks around like she owns the house. And now even my brothers are starting to doubt . Can you believe that? After everything I’ve done for them to love and believe ! They don’t even listen to anymore!"
There was a pause before she continued, her voice dropping to a bitter mutter. "Maybe I need a new tactic. Sothing that’ll make her trip over herself. All the subtle stuff isn’t working anymore."
"Then change your approach," a cold, asured voice responded through the phone. "Clearly, she’s not reacting to the small moves. You need sothing more... direct."
"I’ve tried direct!" Rose grunted. "I humiliated her, embarrassed her, even made her life in school miserable. But she just... takes it. Doesn’t cry, doesn’t break, doesn’t even fight back until now!"
"She’s hiding sothing," her mother said simply. "No girl stays that composed unless she’s hiding a weakness. You just haven’t found it yet."
Rose groaned. "It’s like everything bounces off her. I need her to fall, to crash so hard she can’t crawl back up."
"Then dig deeper. Get close to her, earn her trust if you must. Find out what she’s scared of, what she’s insecure about—everyone has sothing."
"She used to tell things before when I newly ca before I started manipulating things against her," Rose admitted reluctantly.
"Exactly," her mother said. "You let your ego blind you. Fix that. Observe. Manipulate. And next ti you move, it won’t be a scratch—it’ll be the final blow. Have I thought you nothing?"
There was a pause, then Rose replied, quieter this ti, "Yes, mother."
My heart stopped as my eyes widened.
That wasn’t a term of endearnt. She said it like a soldier taking orders from her commander.
I knew taht wasn’t our mother, due to the strange dark voice but... But Rose was adopted... wasn’t she?
Was this her foster mother? No. Her foster mother’s voice sounded different. Or was this soone else entirely?
I didn’t get the chance to think further when suddenly, the door creaked open.
I hadn’t moved fast enough.
Rose stepped out, phone still in hand—and froze the mont her eyes landed on .
Her face drained of color.
I stood there, silent, calm, but watching. Too many pieces had just fallen into place.
And for the first ti since eting her... Rose looked truly rattled.
For a couple of breaths, Rose did not move or say anything. Her face paled like she had seen a ghost and I could tell she was already thinking of all the lies to cover up her tracks.
I behaved like I did not hear anything and gave her the bored look.
"What? The girl you used to bully now look too beautiful for you to look away?"
As soon as I said that, she heaved a soft sigh and then imdiately her facade was back up.
"Tsk, you eish you little sorry charity case. Do not worry, soon everyone would see your true colours and when that happen, I’ll be there to tell you ’I told them and you so’ because unlike you, I Rose, am a true Kaine."
I did not blink as I looked her straight in the eyes and asked, "Are you though?"
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