Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 449

Chapter 449: 449-The Culprit In My Feet
Helanie:

“I can’t believe our trainer’s mother is so evil,” Salem whispered in my ear as she sat with me on the chair. The trainers and their parents had stepped out to have a conversation. Only Charlotte was left behind with my group of friends. She looked like she was now getting bored since no one was entertaining her. I had never known she would grow up to be so evil. He was a spitting image of her mother. People who benefit from people and find pleasure in other’s misery. My mother had acted weird throughout the time. She barely raised her eyes, almost like she wasn’t even breathing.

“So, you’re all students of Vortex?” Charlotte asked after finally putting her phone down in her lap.

Penn hadn’t been able to raise his head while leaning back against the wall.

“Yeah, that’s all you have to say? I thought you’d at least have the decency to say a word or two of comfort to your cousin,” Salem taunted, crossing one leg over the other.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Charlotte said to me, her eyes empty of any sympathy.

“Now, can you please leave? You see, it’s just us friends left.” Well, of course, it’s Salem. She hasn’t changed much, but now she was directing her mean energy toward the people who actually deserved it.

“Maybe you should watch yourself. You’re standing in my mansion,” Charlotte hissed at Salem, who scoffed, making Charlotte clench her jaw.

“Can somebody please make her go away?” Penn finally snapped, making Charlotte shoot a harsh glare at everyone before stomping out of the living room.

Now that it was just my friends, Penn started pacing around. “None of you thought I should know?” he yelled, making Lamar look away.

“At least you should have told me, Lamar. I would have done something about it. If not now, back when Rayden was hurting her. You guys hid so much from me.” He was yelling at the others, but when he turned to me, he looked defeated and sniffled. “I’m so sorry—I had no clue—Goddess! You went through so much, and you didn’t tell anyone. How did you keep going with so much pain in your heart?” he asked, barely making eye contact with me. I didn’t even know why he felt so guilty—he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Helanie! I believe you. I believe every single person you’re pointing at is guilty. We’ll get the truth out,” he said, walking over and kneeling in front of me, holding my hands.

“You don’t need proof?” I asked.

“No! We know you. It’s one thing for someone who’s always lied and gotten people in trouble to make such claims. Even then, a proper investigation is what Alphas should do. But in your case, sadly, I know everything you said is true,” he said again, his eyes full of tears as the brothers walked in.

They were talking to each other when they suddenly stopped and watched my interaction with Penn.

“Penn! We’d like to speak with her,” Emmet cleared his throat, gesturing for Penn to step aside. One by one, my friends started leaving the living room. But I caught Emmet sizing Penn up as he walked away.

“It’s always the thirsty ones who jump in to look good,” Maximus commented, making me roll my eyes.

Penn wasn’t doing it to get in my good books—he was already in them.

“They’ve called Romeo in. Do you want to face him?” Norman asked, watching me give him a nod.

“Bring him in,” Norman said to Kaye, who walked out without looking my way.

A few seconds later, everyone else returned—and so did Kaye, with Romeo. But the way he brought him in left everyone gasping. Kaye had Romeo in a tight grip, holding him by the back of his neck.

“Kaye, he’s your cousin,” Darcy quickly jumped in to free her nephew, but Kaye didn’t let him go just like that. Instead, he shoved him so hard that Romeo landed at my feet.

“Nope! He’s not. I’m not related to him,” Kaye shook his head, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

My eyes stayed on Romeo as he lifted his head and met my gaze. I recalled the threats from days ago, and my body started to heat up.

I can’t believe they put me through this stress all over again.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about. I didn’t do anything,” Romeo hissed, looking deep into my eyes. But the minute he turned to the others, I noticed the shift in his tone.

“I’m innocent. I don’t know what made her lie about me,” he said, sounding so sincere and naive that even Darcy looked sad for him.

“You didn’t tie her to the tree?” Emmet yelled, held back by his father when he tried to attack Romeo. At least the brothers believed me—I knew that much.

“No! I didn’t!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “What makes you believe her and not me?” He jabbed his finger into his own chest.

“Whatever grudge she has against Alphas is making her point fingers at everyone. Literally every Alpha ever—” he continued.

“You’re all crazy for believing her over your own blood,” Darcy snapped, and Lord McQuoid averted his gaze from me.

“Maybe she doesn’t remember the faces correctly?” Lord McQuoid suggested, making his sons look at him in shock.

“The student who aces every exam? Whose memory is so sharp that we teach her one thing in passing, and she remembers it perfectly? You’re saying she has memory issues?” Kaye stepped forward, calmly questioning his father.

“And not to mention—she’s not even lying.”

That voice was new. Someone had just joined in.

“Oops, am I late?” Lucy peeked in, making us all stare at each other before turning to her.

Even Romeo looked slightly confused by her comment.

“What the—Lucy,” Gavin mouthed, looking worried about her arrival.

“Somebody ordered the truth,” she smirked.

Everyone silently watched as she posed like she was standing in front of cameras.

“And I deliver,” she added, a creepy grin spreading across her face as she locked eyes with Romeo.