Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: 86-Not Their Family

Helanie:

The tension hung heavy in the air as Gavin shook his head at Lucy, his tone firm. “That’s not true.”

“Really? But she just admitted to it!” Lucy yelled, her voice carrying across the room and drawing everyone’s attention to us.

“Lucy, let’s not do this here.” I extended my hand to rest it against hers, hoping to calm her down, but she quickly pulled her hand away from mine.

“Jenny, what are you saying?” Gavin gave her a harsh and confused look.

“Hey, hey, I was just joking,” Jenny interjected before the situation could spiral further. She hissed the words at them, then plastered an awkward smile on her face to assure the onlookers that everything was fine.

It was mortifying. Thankfully, the servers emerged from the kitchen, balancing large trays laden with food, providing a much-needed distraction.

“What?” Lucy snapped at Jenny, her tone sharp.

“I didn’t realize you’d take it so seriously or that it would escalate like this. I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have joked like that,” Jenny replied, her voice laced with genuine regret.

“Well, you shouldn’t joke about things like that—” Lucy leaned over the table to whisper harshly, but before she could finish, Penn slammed his hand on the table, startling everyone.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice as rigid as his posture. “My sister made a joke and apologized. Move on.”

The suddenness of his outburst silenced the table. Penn’s reserved demeanor only made his rare displays of emotion more striking.

“I’m sorry,” Jenny whispered again, her eyes darting toward Gavin and Lucy, who now sat uncomfortably in their seats.

“Stop apologizing,” Penn grunted under his breath, though I heard it clearly. Jenny bowed her head in shame.

The awkwardness lingered as our plates were filled with an array of extravagant dishes. The atmosphere was tense, but the arrival of food provided a small relief.

Suddenly, a voice rose above the clinking of utensils. “Hi, everyone. I’m Sage Milan, the top senior. It’s great to have you juniors here for your first dinner.” Her tone was polished, and she carried herself with the air of someone used to commanding attention. “The trainers and the Rogue King will be joining us shortly, so please hold onto your forks and wait for their arrival.”

I recognized her immediately. She was the same girl I’d seen when I first stepped into the academy, clutching the pamphlet that promised new beginnings.

I had guessed it right—she was special. I noticed her wearing two bands, one red and the other black. The black band signified her status as a top senior, while the red indicated her alpha rank. Tonight, she wore a sleek black branded dress, her blond and pink ombre hair styled in voluminous curls.

“Thank you very much,” she said graciously before taking her seat among the other four top seniors. She seemed especially giggly around the guy sitting to her right—a blond, effortlessly handsome figure who resembled the stereotypical popular bad boy from a teen movie.

I couldn’t help but notice the way every junior seemed mesmerized by him, their gazes practically dripping admiration. Even Salem had been staring at him for a while, her attention clearly captivated.

But then, my focus shifted. The brothers and their father had arrived. My breath hitched when I saw someone unexpected—my mother. She walked beside the Rogue King, her red gown gleaming under the chandeliers and adorned with dazzling diamonds that graced her neck and hands.

Charlotte, on the other hand, wore a stunning golden dress and looked radiant standing next to her mother. They seemed to be living the perfect life.

I exhaled deeply and lowered my gaze, feeling a wave of emotions wash over me. When I glanced up again, the brothers were making their entrance.

Emmet and Kaye walked in first. Their black tuxedos were immaculately tailored, and both carried themselves with distinct poise. Emmet looked more polished than usual tonight—his damp hair tied back in a man bun with a few loose strands framing his sharp, sculpted features.

Kaye, as always, maintained his rigid demeanor, his posture straight and his movements restrained, offering little in the way of gestures.

Then came Maximus. He wore a gray shirt beneath his black suit, his playful smirk already drawing the attention of many admiring eyes around the room. His confidence was magnetic, as if he thrived on being the center of attention.

Finally, the last to enter was Norman. Broad-shouldered and clad in a commanding black suit, he exuded power and intimidation. His eyes landed on me immediately, and his expression darkened. The hostility in his gaze was unmistakable before he turned away to join his family on the stage.

“That girl is Charlotte. She lives with them. Can you imagine being that blessed?” Lucy whispered to Gavin, though I overheard her clearly.

Yeah, right.

I had stayed in that mansion before, and it was far from a blessing—at least, for me.

“Hello, everyone,” Lord McQuoid addressed the room as he took the stage. “I welcome you to my academy. I hope you will work hard and achieve your goals. Now, let’s enjoy the feast.”

With that, he sat down, and the banquet began. The chatter among the guests grew lively as they ate and socialized, yet none of them even glanced my way. My gaze kept drifting back to my mother.

Did she know I was part of the academy?

If she did, wouldn’t she have tried to find me?

Or perhaps I was overthinking. The woman who had thrown me out of her life would hardly be searching for me now.

“Helanie! Why are you eating so little?” Gavin’s voice interrupted my thoughts. He must have noticed how I was pushing the food around on my plate without actually eating. The steak and other other dishes remained untouched.

“Here, start eating.” Lucy reached over toward my plate, but before she could add anything to it, Jenny stepped in, piling food onto my plate without hesitation. Though she did it casually, I caught Lucy grumbling under her breath, her lips forming a pout.

This wasn’t good. These two were never going to get along.

“There you go,” Jenny said with a cheerful smile, doing a little shoulder wiggle.

“Thank you,” I replied quietly, hoping to avoid upsetting Lucy.

“You have such pretty eyes,” Jenny commented, her tone light and bubbly. I forced an awkward smile in response.

“You know, I could eat all this food by myself,” she continued, chatting away like a wind-up doll. I didn’t mind her energy, but Lucy clearly did.

“Hey, Jenny!” Lucy drummed her fingertips on the table, her tone sharp enough to cut through Jenny’s chatter. “Helanie likes to eat in silence.”

Mortified, I wanted to dig a hole and disappear. I hadn’t even said that, but now the spotlight was on me. Desperate to diffuse the tension, I started shoveling food into my mouth, hoping to avoid further confrontation.

“Oh, I didn’t know. Sorry!” Jenny’s voice didn’t lose its enthusiasm, though, and in a way, that was a relief.

We eventually finished eating, though my attention remained divided between the brothers and my mother. None of them acknowledged me, and they left without even hinting to the students that one of their family members was among them.

I felt a heaviness in my chest—a sadness I couldn’t entirely explain. Maybe it was because, deep down, I still missed being part of a family.