Leilani.
As soon as I said that, Chalice froze. She suddenly stopped crying and then turned to look at me with wide eyes.
"Is this how far you'll go to drag this out?" She sobbed pitifully but I didn't budge.
I wouldn't.
Not when my reputation was on the line here. And certainly not when it looks like she's finally succeeded in taking that one person who used to be solely mine.
Jarek.
That still stung. I was still in a daze. Still mad. But first, I had to show her that her actions all bore consequences.
Tears burned at the corners of my eyes but I refused to let them drop as I turned to Emily, and then to Kael and Caelum.
"You all think I pushed her, don't you?" I asked, and when no one would respond, I added; "…so let's all do ourselves a favor and check the cameras to satisfy our curiosities. And when you're done with that, you both will have to explain to me why you still haven't rejected me yet."
At that, Kael exploded with rage. He grabbed my arm with so much force I was so sure it would bruise later, and then he spat in my face; "Don't try to twist the topic, Leilani."
I met his hard gaze defiantly. "I think the only person trying to twist the narrative is your sweet Chalice right there. You see, I agree that I must've hurt her—but maybe with my words. If you want to be certain that I indeed tried to hit her, then you just have to watch the footage."
No one noticed but I saw the moment panic flickered in Chalice's eyes. I didn't miss the slight, almost unnoticeable way she took several steps away from me.
Her lips trembled when she cried; "Kael, spare her! If I had known she wouldn't admit it, l I'll have let her be!"
But I wasn't having any of that. I didn't want to be 'spared' when I knew I had done nothing to warrant such embarrassment in the first place.
My hands tightened into fists when Caelum pulled her into his arms, his eyes showing disgust as he regarded me darkly.
"Leilani, just apologize and let's all be on our way!" He snapped but I didn't spare him a glance. "You don't have to make this about you like you always do."
I turned to Emily instead. "The cameras work right?"
"Yes they do." She replied quietly.
"Fine then. Let's all check the CCTV footage of what happened here. That way we'll know who is at fault and who should be faulted for what just happened." The elderly lady who insulted me earlier muttered from behind and I noticed as a few onlookers nodded in agreement.
That set Chalice off.
Her eyes widened. Desperation clawed its way onto her usually innocent face. She made to grab Kael's arm, but in that moment, Kael moved to grab my face.
I winced when his fingers bit into my skin painfully, tears blurring my eyes as he seethed; "if I find out that you indeed pushed her, I'll make you pay, bitch. And trust me, you'll pay dearly."
"And if it is seen that I was wrongly accused, I'll make you all pay… especially her." I retorted, shrugging off his hands and stepping away from him.
A few security officers stepped forward then and the boutique descended into silence when they began making calls to the team in charge of the security cameras. A few minutes later, one of their phones began ringing. He picked it up, pressed it against his ear and muttered only one word;
"Okay."
And then he dropped the phone and turned to me.
"Due to some security reasons, we cannot provide you with the footage of what happened here earlier. You all will have to settle your issues quietly. I am sorry."
The more he spoke, the angrier I became.
This was the first time in my life… the one time I was so close to exposing Chalice's mischievous acts for the world to see, and then this?
This?
What the fuck is this?
My fury burned through me like molten magma through dry lands. I turned stiffly to find a triumphant smile now gracing Chalice's lips, and in that instant, I knew that she'd had something to do with this.
I do not know how, but I was certain.
"Since there's no evidence to prove anything, I'm out of here. I can not be found guilty of hurting you the same way I cannot prove my innocence." I drawled, immediately causing the smile on Chalice's face to wipe off.
She drew herself to her full height, pointing one perfectly manicured finger at me as she stuttered; "Y-you!"
"Yes, me. I was not able to expose your schemes today. But that doesn't mean I'll let you win. So if you must accuse me… If you must make me apologize to you, then first, you must ensure that I and everyone here 'see' what really happened."
Her jaws dropped. However, she was just about to speak when Caelum beat her to it. He snapped; "Don't worry, Chalice, let's go. Save your breath, she doesn't deserve it."
"B-but—"
"I am done standing here and giving her the attention she clamors for. This is what she wants! Let's not give it to her!" He barked at Chalice, causing the latter to snap her mouth shut, and then he turned to me;
"I know you just did something stupid to Chalice, but I just cannot prove it. I also know that you must've asked the owners of this boutique not to release the footage of what happened here just so that your evil schemes will not be exposed to the public, and while you ride on your high horse, trying so hard to look better than everyone else, I see right through you. I know you're wicked, and devious… and a hateful wench. And as long as I live, I'll always see you as one thing, Leilani: A murderer."
As soon as he said that, gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd. The people who had stood firmly behind me began to waver.
Tears gathered in my eyes but I refused to let them fall. Not for someone like him. Not for something I also didn't do.
And oh, that stung. It stung like a fucking bitch. And I swear to God, I'll make him pay for ever saying those words to me.
I'll make Chalice pay for doing this to me.
I'll hurt them just like they've hurt me.
My body trembled, a tremor rushed through my veins as I turned away from them to walk out of the boutique but just as I arrived by the door, a figure stepped into the store and froze.
"Miss Sinclair?"
I narrowed my eyes at the handsome stranger, because for some reason, he looked familiar yet foreign. I frowned. "Do I know you, mister?" I asked in a small voice, wanting to be anywhere else but here.
"Yes," he smiled faintly, blushing. "I am Alpha Richard Landry. We met at the De'Storm's opening party in Pennsylvania last month."
"Oh…"
"And I own this boutique." He added proudly, flashing me a small smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. "So come on, let's check those damn footage you wanted to check earlier."
I was stunned.