Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 192

Chapter 192: 192-Oh Lucy!

Helanie:

“What happened? Why are you looking at me like you’ve seen a ghost?” It was Jenny asking me that question. I thought someone else had recognized me.

I quickly gulped and straightened my spine to answer her.

“Helanie! Are you angry with me?” she asked, and I shook my head, walking past her.

I guess that’s why she kept thinking I was angry with her–because she’d reached me at times when I was in a rush. Not to mention, sticking with her would mean eventually meeting her mate.

“I’m kind of in a rush,” I replied, stepping into the elevator.

“I know,” she said, rushing after me as the door closed behind us.

“You’re rushing away from me,” she stated, her eyes making me feel guilty. “You even left my brother at the café today. If I knew you’d run off just from my one glance, I wouldn’t have gone there. I wasn’t comfortable being with my mate, so I thought being with you guys would make me feel better.”

I had to tell her something so she wouldn’t feel guilty.

“Jenny, I’m going after Lucy. She found Gavin cheating on her with Salem,” I said. My words caught her attention, and a gasp escaped her lips.

“What? Where is Lucy?” she asked, and I shrugged.

“Maybe in her room?” I replied, and Jenny shook her head.

“I was actually there before I met you. I was looking for you and found the room empty. I’m pretty sure I saw her run downstairs,” she said, and I had a feeling she must have left the hostel again.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a full moon night, but the outside still felt like a dangerous place to be.

“I’ll come with you,” she said. As we began rushing toward the exit, I had to remind her of something.

“Can you please not tell Penn or anyone? I think Lucy wouldn’t want anyone else coming along with us,” I said, my voice tinged with guilt. I was lying so bluntly now, without even thinking what if we encounter trouble and need help?

Then we’ll call Lamar.

Once we stepped out of the hostel, I felt a brief sense of relief. But my concern for Lucy was increasing.

I had never seen her so speechless before. I remembered when she thought Gavin had cheated on her, she was so lost. Now that she’d seen him in action, I could only imagine her pain.

The two of us walked steadily, looking around for Lucy.

The mountains were a dangerous place, especially at night. And Lucy had this bad habit of finding solace in dark, dangerous paths.

We found her right next to the beautiful river that we had once spotted during our strolls. It was actually Jenny who suggested we check near the tree by the river.

Lucy was sitting under the tree, her knees pulled up to her chest, and her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Her head was down, hiding her face.

“Lucy!” I called out, and she slowly raised her face, showing just how much she had cried. Her eyes were swollen and dull, a reflection of the pain she was carrying inside.

“It’s over,” she whispered under her breath.

“I don’t think I can ever… forget about it now. And I don’t think he’ll keep up the façade of us doing okay. This was his last attack, and–” she sobbed as she spoke, her words shaking. Jenny and I rushed to kneel beside her, trying to offer some comfort.

“What do you mean? What if he asks you to be with him again? What if he wants to make it right?” Jenny murmured gently.

“No! There’s no way we can go back from this,” Lucy said, shaking her head. “I should’ve known it was over when I cheated on him. But now I saw him–with my own eyes…” She stopped mid-sentence, her lips trembling, and another loud sob escaped her.

“Lucy, he was wrong for this. You both were wrong,” I said softly, trying to offer some perspective. “The right thing would’ve been to reject someone you couldn’t trust. Or at least take time apart. But you both decided to cheat on each other instead–” I cut myself off as she shakily grabbed my hand, forcing me to look at her face.

Her eyes were filled with tears as she whispered, “It was all my fault. I started it. I slept with Lamar to hurt Gavin. So I can’t act like the victim now, after I got a taste of my own medicine. I’m only crying because it’s over now. I’m mourning the loss of my mate,” she sniffled, taking heavy, deep breaths.

The realization of where things had gone wrong for both of them must’ve been so hard on her. She looked like a mess, and I genuinely felt bad for her. I wanted to comfort her, but in that moment, I couldn’t think of anything to say.

And I believe her mourning the loss of Gavin was something she needed to do. She needed to get it out.

“But I have a request,” she said, looking at both Jenny and me. “Don’t ruin your friendship with him just the way you didn’t ruin your friendship with me when I slept with someone who tried to kill you in the past.”

It was a lot she was asking from me. Yes, Lucy had slept with my worst enemy at the time, but Salem was someone who showed no signs of redemption. Just because I had forgiven Lucy didn’t mean I would continue forgiving everyone who betrayed me by sleeping with my enemies.

“Lucy, I respect your thoughts and concerns,” I said, trying to make her understand, “but when your friend starts sharing a bed with your enemy, your secrets are bound to be whispered into their ears.” I wanted her to know that I couldn’t forgive Sydney and Salem because they hadn’t just wronged me once–they had hurt me over and over again.

I wasn’t that noble of a person to keep forgiving everyone.

“Ohh! So that’s the truth about your pathetic friend,” a voice suddenly cut through the air, making all three of us jump. It was Riri Isaac, one of the top seniors I had once thrown up on.

“I knew the juniors had much more interesting lives,” Arlo, the one who had once called Lucy insecure, said as he appeared from behind Riri.

“What do you say we have a little fun with our juniors here?” Arlo smirked, his eyes narrowing at Lucy.