Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Ch 138: No, you can’t
Dinner that night was awkward, but the mood improved as time went on. No one mentioned Charon’s sleeping incident or why Rika was out for so long.

Even Fey kept her nose out of everyone’s business today, and Rika felt it was not a decision she had made alone.

The dorm lady gave Fey a hard look every time the poor girl made an interested face. That made Fey calm down and not ask any questions.

The next day, Rika spent time inside.

She wanted to get up and move, but her body ached from the fever she had suddenly gotten. It was a side effect of her medicine, and this was supposed to happen the first time she took it.

That day, Rika skipped another day of work.

Charon tried hovering over Rika to see if she was alright. But Rika sent Charon away before she infected Charon as well.

Her body and mind were too tired to deal with someone else, and Rika made this excuse to Charon and anyone else who came to meet her.

There was no reason for Rika to lie to Emily when she called, and the alpha sounded relieved to hear that Rika was feeling fine.

After what had happened, it was still a little awkward for Rika to talk to Emily. But the alpha pretended nothing had happened, and she spoke to Rika usually.

She quickly swept Rika into her pace, leaving the former beta with no choice but to match that pace and leave the awkwardness behind.

The next day, Rika finally went to her work.

She feared what response Daniel would give her for missing so many work days in a row. Her record was almost 50-50 of attending work and taking a day off.

And somehow, all of these days were spent in a hospital.

‘I would have been fired by now if this was an ordinary job. The only reason I still have a job is that Rocxx owns this district and this shop. I cannot believe I am in his debt now.’

Rika sighed in regret as she forced herself to relax.

Daniel looked at Rika throughout the evening in a manner that said that he had questions he wanted to ask, but he did not have enough courage to ask them.

It was an awkward work shift for Rika.

…

‘Where did things go wrong? I…never expected this to happen. None of the doctors I consulted said anything about Rika’s stunted growth. There should have been a mention of this before today. So, what did I miss?’

Natasha Goodwill sat down on her sofa while nursing a glass of alcohol in her hand. She wanted to get drunk and forget everything that was going on in her life.

The situation with Rika had shaken her, and now she did not know what to do.

As much as she wanted to live in denial and pretend that nothing happened, the evidence of her neglect was staring her right in the face.

‘It is all my fault…. That is what Emily Steinz said to me. I guess I cannot refute such a claim now. The evidence is staring at me right in the face after all.’

Natasha drank the glass in one go. It burned her throat, but even that hurt was acceptable as a punishment.

It did not feel enough as a punishment. Natasha needed to feel more to feel a sense of redemption.

Her rational side felt guilty, but her instincts caused her even more pain.

They recognised Rika, but at the same time, her scent was foreign and threatened her family.

It made Natasha want to fight her and drive her away. Her feelings were so contradictory that they hurt her insides.

“What the hell am I doing? I should have never taken those doctor’s words at face value when they said nothing was wrong with Rika. Even I could see that she was suffering from some disorder.”

It was a well-known fact that alpha-omega couples never birthed betas. This was a rare occurrence that only happened when something was indeed wrong.

Natasha knew it, but she still ignored the glaring truth in front of her. And Rika was paying for the prince of her neglect.

The Goodwill alpha was about to take another strong shot when the glass was yanked out of her hand. It caused her to growl and turn toward the culprit with an angry expression.

“I think you’ve enough to drink by now. It’s time for you to stop drinking and come with me back to bed.”

Natasha’s omega was delicate; she had never blamed him for anything.

But for the first time, Natasha could not help but think he played a part in what had happened. He was equally to blame as Natasha.

“Hey~ do you think we are good parents to our children? I always believed I was a good parent who did everything for her children. But thinking back to it, it might not have been true. Otherwise, how could this have happened?”

Natasha’s drunk brain blurted out her worries in front of her omega mate.

Her husband made her look frustrated on his face, but it soon melted into worry.

“What has gotten into you, Natasha? You know you are an excellent mother to our children. Is this about Rika? I am sure she knows you are a good mother as well. Now stop sulking and come to bed.”

The omega tried to pull Natasha up, but she was too heavy and intoxicated.

*hic*

“I have decided. I am going to name Rika my successor in the company. I am sure she will do an amazing job of running it.”

Natasha declared, almost sounding sober when she stood up. But the glass of alcohol in her hand betrayed how she was feeling at the moment.

She had decided, and Natasha felt she was at the world’s top.

Indeed, Rika would have to forgive her now that she was going this far for her.

“NO! YOU CAN’T!”

The sudden shout broke her haze, and Natasha was forced to look at that speaker.