For Better, For Worse: The Serpent's Contract Wife

Chapter 135: He Never Doubted Me

[Music: Drag Path By Twenty One Pilots]

Whose web did I get tangled in? Shane’s... or Zade’s?

All of a sudden, the mastermind behind this whole day had changed.

Ever since Zade found out about my encounter with Shane, he must have figured out what he was after and set this trap for him. I was caught right in the middle of it.

But that was by the way, because I got myself into this mess in the first place. If I had bolted and not given Shane the flash drive, I had a feeling something worse could have happened.

Shane might not want me dead, but he could do other things to get in Zade’s way by using me. So the best possible way was to make him believe I was still working for him.

Despite what I’d done, Zade still came to my rescue. Not just to save me, but he was willing to go that far to prove that, no matter what happened, I’d choose him in the end.

I didn’t even trust myself or the choices I made. Yet somehow, he never seemed to doubt me.

I felt a warmth curl around my chest at the mere thought. To have someone who never doubted you, no matter what you’d done... I have never experienced anything like that before.

The door opened abruptly, and I shot my eyes to the mirror, catching sight of Shane’s men walking in.

I had changed out of that outfit and removed the makeup, along with everything else that had transformed me into Scarlet.

"We’re here to take you back to the academy."

About time.

I rose to my feet and turned toward them. "Are you gonna put a bag over my head again?"

"No. Shane told us to treat you with respect. There’s a car waiting outside."

That’s new.

Without another word, I followed them as they led me to the backdoor. It must have been the same way I was brought in.

I saw the car, but then something made me look away. My gaze swept toward an alley, landing on a figure seated on a bike, face hidden behind a dark helmet.

Zade.

I got in before I had the chance to look further, the door shut, and the car moved. I quickly looked behind, but I could no longer see him.

In a sharp breath, I removed my gaze, a smile slowly stretching across my lips. The thought of Zade somehow watching me right now gave me some relief I didn’t know I needed.

It didn’t take long before I was back to the academy using the same way I came out to get back in.

There weren’t many people around anymore, because it was already getting late. I didn’t see Clara either, and trust me, that was a bonus on my part.

I didn’t leave just yet; instead, I got to an empty studio and changed into my ballet shoes. I first started with stretches, and from then on, I began a sequence.

I was exhausted from all the events that had transpired, but doing this was a way of grounding myself and also taking control in some way.

Despite the ache shooting through me, I danced like I had never before and spent two hours.

My butt pressed into the cold floor, my breath heavy and uneven. I sniffled, taking off my shoes when I heard footsteps behind me.

A rush swept through my body as I whipped my head toward the door.

"Zade," I said, but the palpitation in my heart smoothed out when I saw Dante.

"He won’t be coming," he said. "He’s out of the city, remember?"

Right.

I went back to packing my bag. Pulling some strand of my hair loose from my bun, I asked. "So um... when will he be coming back?"

"I don’t know. He didn’t exactly give a date."

Does this mean Dante doesn’t know Zade was around?

"Done? I don’t have all day. I need to get you back to the manor."

"What are you? My bodyguard?"

"Not exactly my best profession at the moment. You can say I’m babysitting your ass."

"Babysitting? Were you waiting all this time?"

He scoffed, glancing away and grumbling under his breath. "You wish."

I pushed to my feet, hooking my bag over my shoulder. "Lemme guess... You just happened to be hanging around just when I’m done? Some coincidence."

He shrugged. "I took the car for a spin and came back when the academy was closing."

Is this just me, or does it sound like he was probably waiting outside the academy the whole time?

That was something Luca would do. Certainly not this twin in front of me, he probably lives for my despair, and that expression on his face clearly screamed he didn’t wanna be here.

"If you say so..." I said as I walked out, and he followed closely behind me.

Occasionally, I threw a look over my shoulder just to keep an eye on him.

"What about Luca?"

"Still nowhere to be found."

When we got out through the entrance, my eyes searched for any possible place I could see a bike parked, but so far I wasn’t having any luck.

It was almost as if I had imagined it, but I knew for certain I didn’t. That feeling lingered... that I was being watched.

"Don’t just stand there. Get in," Dante said, closing the door after him.

Sighing, I walked to the passenger side, doing a last sweep around before I got in.

Ding!

I dipped my hand into my bag and brought out my phone, swiping to unlock, and saw a text that made my heart pound faster until I heard them in my eardrums.

UNKNOWN: Looking for me, little kitten?

There was only one person who always texted me in the most stalkiest way possible. Last time I remembered, I blocked him, but I guess that wasn’t enough to stop him.

UNKNOWN: Don’t strain those pretty eyes of yours. You won’t be able to find me.

"What are you smiling about?"

I quickly put my phone down and looked toward Dante.

"What does it matter to you?" I brushed him off.

W-Was I smiling?

Dante rolled his eyes and started the car, driving out.

~☆~

The pounding knock on the door forced me to open my eyes, but only halfway because the lights got in.

Is it morning already?

I was a bit disoriented for a while before I got a grip on myself. Groaning, I used my hand to cover my eyes, trying to recollect how I got to this point, but the processing was so slow it took forever.

By the time I got back to the manor yesterday, I was exhausted. After a quick shower. I practically passed out the moment I hit the bed.

Feeling movements beside me, I turned my head toward Boba and Coco.

The pounding knock came again, before the doorknob rattled. I sat up with a start as the door swung open.

"Luca!" I yelled and used the duvet to cover up. I was wearing a nightdress, but that still counts for needed coverage.

"I didn’t see anything!" He shot his eye toward the ceiling as if that was gonna lessen the damage.

"What the fuck do you think you’re doing?"

"I knocked, but you didn’t answer."

"So you picked the locks... again?"

He scratched the back of his head innocently. "Hehe... force of habit."

I tossed the pillow straight at him, and before he had the chance to dodge, it slammed right at his face.

"Ouch!"

I grabbed another, but my babies leaped out of the bed, and Luca quickly picked up Coco using him as a shield.

"That’s a dirty trick!"

"It’s a precaution. Coco loves me too much to be hurt."

"That’s because you’re using my baby as a darn shield!"

He came closer, still keeping Coco centered, his eyes wide as though asking what’s going on.

"I just came to see you, alright, don’t throw me out so soon." He sat on my bed and dropped Coco, grinning ear to ear.

"Did they forget to teach you how to knock back in school?"

"Ouch! And you didn’t need to hit me."

I rolled my eyes.

"Zade is back, he came in late last night, and—What are you doing?"

I had gotten out of bed and grabbed my robe, putting it on in a hurry.

"Um... I just realized I’m starving! I didn’t have anything to eat last night, so..." I trailed, walking toward the door in quick steps.

"He’s at the gym by the way, and trust me, you don’t wanna go there now."

"I-I’m not going to the gym," I huffed, closing the door behind me.

Alright, where was the gym again? I think it’s that way.

I didn’t slow down until I reached my destination, and when I did, I walked straight in without a second thought.

I froze in my tracks when I saw a shirtless Zade, his muscles flexing as he wiped the blood from his hands with a towel.