CHAPTER 108: ANOTHER NAME HAS APPEARED ON THE BOARD!

By the time Victoria finished bathing, she realized Leo was gone.

She released a long sigh of relief, though the tightness in her chest did not quite ease. He probably went to get food... maybe even to give me some privacy, she reasoned inwardly.

Victoria slipped into a pair of baggy jeans and tugged an oversized top down over her frame. She then bent to lace up her sneakers. Standing before the mirror, she gathered her hair into a neat bun, smoothing back a few rebellious strands. She clasped a simple golden necklace around her neck, slid in a pair of modest earrings, and gave her reflection one final assessing glance. Only when she was satisfied did she step out of her room.

A car was already waiting outside. Without hesitation, she climbed in...only to freeze when she realized who sat inside. Mirabel.

Her brothers had opted for a separate vehicle, leaving the sisters alone together. Victoria’s stomach sank when she recalled that this arrangement had been Mirabel’s very suggestion, an offer of "privacy" that dripped with hidden malice.

"Did you have a good night’s rest?" Mirabel’s voice was soft. A smirk tugged at her lips, betraying the venom beneath the surface. She adjusted her position ever so slightly, her eyes flicking toward the rearview mirror as though admiring her own reflection, though Victoria knew better.

"You’d better have enjoyed it," Mirabel continued, her tone lowering, her smirk deepening. "Because last night might very well be the last peaceful sleep you’ll ever get."

Victoria let out a derisive scoff, rolling her eyes with deliberate exaggeration. She refused to give Mirabel the satisfaction of a full reply. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest, her silence heavy and cutting in its own right.

The car engine roared to life, and with it, the tension between the sisters simmered, carrying them both toward the school and toward whatever drama awaited them next.

***

The car soon slowed and came to a halt before the school building, prompting both Victoria and Mirabel to step out.

A few seconds later, the other car pulled up behind them. Callum, Theo, and Lucian climbed out together, warm smiles lighting up their faces as they strode toward their sisters.

"Alright," Theo said first, his voice light but edged with that older-brother authority he often carried. He glanced between the two young women, his smile still firmly in place. "You two should take good care of yourselves today." He gave Victoria an encouraging nod before adding, "We’ll come by to check up on you often."

Lucian chuckled softly as he adjusted the strap of his bag. "Often enough that you might grow tired of seeing us." His tone was teasing, but his eyes lingered a beat longer on Victoria, concern flickering beneath his playful words.

Callum stepped closer, his usual calm and grounded demeanor radiating as he looked between both sisters. "Don’t let the small things weigh you down," he said gently, his voice carrying a steady warmth. "Focus on your goals. That’s what matters most."

The brothers’ presence, steady and reassuring, briefly softened the heavy air that had clung to Victoria in the car ride

"I hope you had a good night’s rest, Victoria?" Callum chimed in, his voice calm yet warm, his gaze fixed intently on her as though trying to read her mood.

"I did, brother," Victoria replied without hesitation. Her words were steady, but her actions far bolder. Without warning, she reached out and clasped Mirabel’s hand tightly in her own.

The sudden gesture sent visible shock rippling down the spines of the three brothers standing before her. Callum’s brows furrowed slightly, Theo’s lips parted as though to speak, and even Lucian’s normally unshakable expression faltered. Yet, none of them dared utter a word. They remained mute, their silence heavy and watchful.

"I and Mirabel will be leaving now," Victoria added, her tone deliberately light, almost dismissive. And just like that, she began moving toward the school building, dragging Mirabel along with her, their hands still clasped firmly together. The brothers could only stand speechless behind them, unable to make sense of the display.

Once inside the school, Mirabel yanked her hand free with a sharp tug, releasing herself from Victoria’s iron grip. Her wrist ached; Victoria had been holding her so tightly it felt as though the bones might crack.

The atmosphere inside was a whirlwind of noise. The loud chattering of students that had filled the air outside grew even louder within the building, bouncing off the walls as groups of students hurried about their various activities....laughing, gossiping, and shouting over one another.

"You can stop the act now," Mirabel muttered, her voice low and edged with irritation as she continued walking, Victoria keeping step beside her on the way to their classroom.

"Are you trying to say I shouldn’t care for you anymore?" Victoria arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk as they stopped just outside their classroom door. "Or are you simply tired of acting pitiful?"

Mirabel’s eyes narrowed. Instead of answering, she placed a hand on Victoria’s shoulder as they walked inside. The sight of the two sisters entering together in such close proximity sent waves of shock through several of their classmates...Rose, Blonde, Dickson, Jamaila, and Joe. Even if the rest of the class wasn’t openly startled, many heads lifted briefly before ducking back down to their phones or unfinished tasks.

"And what the heck is going on here?" a sharp voice demanded from behind them. Nicole had just entered, her expression twisted in confusion and irritation.

Almost on cue, Mirabel removed her hand from Victoria’s shoulder and looped it instead through Nicole’s arm, her expression shifting into one of feigned sweetness.

"Thank you, dear sister," Mirabel said, her pitiful expression perfectly in place for everyone to see. "Despite how terrible I’ve been to you, you still cared for me deeply. You still helped me. And I... I truly appreciate that. I just hope you’ll forgive me for all my crimes so that we can finally start living in peace."

Her tone was soft, her eyes glistening with false vulnerability.

Nicole blinked, completely thrown off. Then she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. "Just what the hell is going on here? Why are you apologizing to her?"

"Because she’s my sister, Nicole." Mirabel’s voice was suddenly serious, her gaze unwavering. She let go of Nicole’s shoulder and, without another word, went to take her seat.

"Your sister?" Nicole spat, letting out a harsh scoff. "Since when did you start considering her a sister? Tch. Whatever." She rolled her eyes and added with clear disdain, "Do whatever you want." With that, she stormed off angrily and dropped into her seat, arms crossed tightly.

The rest of the class, seeing the drama lose steam, slowly returned to their activities, the buzzing of conversations and tapping of screens filling the air once again.

"And what the hell was that?" Rose was the first to break the silence among Victoria’s friends. She leaned closer as Victoria approached and sat down. "Since when did Mirabel start behaving like that?"

"Since last night," Victoria replied coolly, a smirk tugging at her lips. "But trust me...it won’t last."

"Did she actually just call you her sister?" Joe raised an eyebrow, his expression caught between disbelief and amusement. He gave a short scoff. "I mean, I noticed her acting nicer before, but she’s never openly called you her sister. Not in front of everyone."

"It’s scary, honestly," Blonde added with a serious look. "Someone like her...someone vicious who’s been glued to Nicole her whole life suddenly turning around and calling you her sister? Especially now, when it looks like you’ve taken her place in your parents’ and brothers’ hearts? You’re her biggest enemy, Victoria. Trust me, she’ll never want to truly make peace with you."

"Exactly!" Dickson burst out with a harsh laugh. "That bitch is up to no good. You’d better watch your back. Unless... maybe she really has changed her ways."

"That’s impossible," Blonde retorted immediately, letting out a light chuckle. "The Alphas, Nicole, Mirabel....they’re rotten to the core. Being evil isn’t just what they do...it’s who they are. And people like that don’t change overnight."

Just then....

"Everyone! Let’s go!" A male student burst into the room, his voice cutting through the air with urgency. "Another name has appeared on the board at the abandoned building!"

The announcement spread like wildfire, and the hallway outside erupted with the sound of dozens of students rushing to see. Even in Victoria’s classroom, chairs scraped and bags were snatched up as nearly everyone hurried to join the growing crowd.

"What the heck? Another name?" Dickson muttered, his brow furrowing as his throat bobbed with a hard swallow.

Is it about me and Nicole? The thought slammed into him, icy and unwelcome. Panic clawed at his chest as he swallowed again, harder this time. Nobody knew we went to the hotel. Nobody. The last thing I need is people finding out about that. I still need to keep fucking other girls for money... if word gets out, I’m finished.

"We should go and find out," Rose said with a sigh, already gathering her things. "The three girls whose names appeared first were forgotten quickly enough since their families are influential. I’m sure this new name will be forgotten too. But still...I need to see it for myself. Let’s find out how ’creative’ this new name is."

"I won’t be going," Jamaila cut in flatly, already pushing back her chair. "I’ll head to the library instead." Without waiting for anyone to respond, she strode briskly out of the classroom.

I need to know every scrap of information that drops in this school, Victoria thought to herself, determination sparking in her eyes. Rising to her feet, she looked at her group and said, "Let’s go then. I’m curious."

Rose, Blonde, Dickson, and Joe all exchanged quick nods of agreement before standing to follow her.