Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets Chapter 19 - be safe

19

~Lisa’s POV

I was still holding the small envelope Milo had slipped into my apron pocket when one of the guards stomped toward us.

He didn’t greet . Didn’t even look at like a person.

"There’s soone at the gate asking for you," he said flatly, arms crossed like I was wasting his ti just by standing there.

I blinked, surprised. "Soone? Who?"

He gave a glare. "Did I stutter?"

Milo tensed beside , his eyes narrowing, but he didn’t say anything.

"Thank you," I murmured quickly, already turning away.

"Try not to take all day," the guard muttered as I passed him. "This isn’t a daycare."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and kept walking. My legs felt shaky, and my hands wouldn’t stop sweating. I kept wondering who it could be. I barely had anyone... not anymore.

Then, as I got closer to the palace gate, I froze.

Sitting quietly outside the iron bars, holding onto his cane, was the only person who still cared about in this world.

"Papa..." I breathed.

He looked thinner than I rembered. His shoulders were hunched, and his clothes were wrinkled from travel. His cane trembled slightly in his hand.

When he lifted his head and saw , he smiled.

"Lisa," he said, softly, like it was a prayer. "Thank the stars."

My chest tightened.

I ran to him and dropped to my knees, hugging him tightly, fighting the tears already stinging my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "You shouldn’t have walked this far. What if sothing happened to you?"

He chuckled faintly, brushing my hair from my face the way he used to when I was little. "You didn’t co ho, child. I waited. And waited. Then I got worried. So I ca."

My throat closed. I wanted to tell him everything, that I was being treated worse than an animal, that they hated , that I wasn’t even allowed to sleep properly. But how could I? He looked so tired. So fragile.

"I’m fine," I lied. "I got a job... at the palace. I should’ve told you earlier. I just didn’t know how."

He stared into my eyes like he was trying to read the truth. But he only nodded slowly. "The palace... That’s good, then. A stable job."

"Yeah," I whispered. "Very stable."

I looked around, noticing one of the guards standing nearby, arms folded, clearly listening and frowning at like I was taking too long.

I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "Papa... I can’t talk much now. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay."

"I’m alright," he said. "But you... take care of yourself, okay?"

I hugged him again, holding on tighter than I ant to. "I’ll be fine. I promise."

.

I didn’t want to leave.

My hands gripped my father’s tighter, like if I held on just a second longer, ti would pause. His skin felt rough and dry, colder than it used to be. His breathing was shallow, and there was a tiredness in his eyes that made my heart twist.

"I don’t like leaving you like this," I whispered.

He smiled gently, patting the back of my hand. "I’ve survived worse, my dear. Just knowing you’re alright is enough for ."

I swallowed hard and reached into my apron pocket. Milo’s envelope was still there, slightly crumpled now. I took it out and pressed it into Papa’s hand.

"Take this," I said. "It’s not much, but it should get you what you need for a while. Please don’t ask where I got it. Just use it."

His brows furrowed. "Lisa..."

"Please," I cut in softly, but firmly. "Just take it. You need it more than I do."

He looked at for a long mont, then nodded. His hands closed around the envelope, and he tucked it under his cloak.

"Walk ho safely," I added, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder, trying to hide the shaking in my hands. "Don’t stop too much, okay?"

"I’ll be alright," he assured, though we both knew his body was no longer strong.

Then, a voice rang out behind .

"Are you done crying yet?"

I turned, startled, to see the sa guard from earlier standing there with a scowl on his face.

"It’s ti to go back to the palace," he barked. "You’re not on a holiday."

I turned back to Papa, forcing a smile that hurt more than anything else.

"I have to go," I whispered, kissing his cheek quickly. "I’ll co ho as soon as I can."

He nodded, reaching up to squeeze my hand one last ti. "Stay safe."

I stood up slowly, my chest heavy with things I couldn’t say. Then I turned, walking past the guard without another word, my eyes burning but dry.

"I love you so much, Papa," I said, my voice trembling as I watched him turn away.

He gave a little wave, trying to balance his crooked glasses with one hand while steadying himself with his old wooden staff in the other. The sight broke sothing inside . His back looked smaller than I rembered, more bent, more tired. Each step he took seed heavier than the last, like the weight of ti was catching up to him.

I stood there, frozen, my heart screaming to run after him, to take his hand and walk with him all the way ho. But I couldn’t. The guard behind cleared his throat loudly in irritation, shifting on his feet.

"Move it, girl," he snapped. "The palace isn’t going to clean itself."

I bit my lip and nodded, my eyes never leaving Papa until he finally disappeared around the bend, swallowed by the trees and fog.

And even then, I didn’t move, not until the ache in my chest beca too loud to ignore.

I whispered one last ti, to the empty road, "Be safe, Papa."

Then I turned and followed the guard back toward the place that barely let breathe.