The Beta’s Regret

Chapter 177

I looked away from my mother and checked my phone screen with a frown.

Eros?

My chest tightened in anger as I contemplated if I should answer the call or not. My fingers hovered over the screen.

“Your phone keeps ringing.” Lord Shevek said. “Won’t you pick?”

I sighed. Why was Eros calling me now? It’s been hours since I last called his line, and Susie picked. Why didn’t he called me earlier to explain the situation? Why now when I’m frustrated with everything, coupled with the corset that’s trying to snuff the breath out of me?

I finally answered the call, and pressed the phone to my ear.

“Hello? I said in a soft whisper.

But Alas, it wasn’t Eros who answered.

“Hello Eden!” Susie’s voice came in. It was like a blade tore at my flesh, and I winced.

“Susie?”

“Yes, it’s me.” She chuckled. “You catch on quite easily. How are you?”

I was right after all. I didn’t answer but heard her scoff on the other end of the line.

“Are you seriously trying to go silent on me?” She growled.

I felt my anger grow. How dare she?

“Where’s Eros?” I asked, trying to keep calm but she giggled.

“Eros… He’s asleep. We’ve been busy… And judging from the way my body still aches, he would need the rest too.” She slurred. “I hope you can understand that.”

I growled, Tiara was alert. “What are you trying to say, Susie?”

She chuckled. “It is exactly what you think, Eros and I… we spent all day together.”

I understood what she was getting at clearly enough.

The blood drained from my face as my stomach twisted in disgust. I felt Tiara growl in anger within me; I grew weak, and my fingers loosened its grip around the phone and it slipped from my grasp, falling to the floor. The glass surface of the screen shattered to a thousand pieces.

I spaced out, a thousand thoughts running through my mind at the same time.

Eros cheated on me with Susie?

I looked at the ground; the phone lay in pieces, destroyed. I sobbed as my heart squeezed.

In my daze, I heard everyone gasp around me, calling my name, but I couldn’t make out all that they were saying. Everything else blurred around

1. me.

I knew when Lord Shevek and my mother rushed to my side.

“Eden? Are you alright?” my mother asked, cradling my face in her hands.

I looked at her, but I wasn’t seeing her. What I saw were pictures of Susie and Eros together.

“What happened?” Lord Shevek bellowed. A shiver ran through rne at the authority in his voice, but I was too lost in my head to respond.

I heard him ask for one of the attendants to attend to the glass pieces and my broken phone on the ground.

I looked at my parents; the tears forming in my eyes threatened to spill.

Without a warning, Lord Shevek stepped forward and wrapped me in a warm hug. That was my undoing. I cried, allowing the tears to fall freely.

“It’s okay.” He said softly. “Whatever this is, you will be fine. I will make sure of that.”

I held on to him while my mother patted my back in a soothing manner.

3:35 PM

Chapter 177

The other ladies watched from a distance, confused.

“It will be okay.” He comforted me again. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I nodded, my mind in turmoil as Lord Shevek kept his arms around me. He led me out of the shop to the waiting car.

My mother followed behind. We got into the car, and the driver drove off.

***

It took a while for me to stop crying. And by the time I did, the car pulled into Lord Shevek’s compound.

We stepped out of the car, and despite the way I felt, I was impressed at the grandeur that stood before me.

It was a mansion with stone carvings. Gothic architecture that had both an eerie and enchanting feel stood in different parts of the mansion. Along with a large fountain. It was breathtaking. I sniffed, enthralled by the sight before me. For a moment, I forgot about Eros and Susie.

“Wow!” I said.

“You like it?” Lord Shevek chuckled.

“Yes. It’s beautiful.” I nodded

“Thank you.” Lord Shevek smiled softly.

As we walked towards the double doors, it opened up, and an array of maids and male servants filed out, their movements swift and graceful. They were in two lines, male servants on one side, female servants on the other.

With their hands clutched at their sides, they bowed to Lord Shevek.

“Welcome home, Eden.” He said.

་

We went inside, and I was hit by the same lemon and lavender scent in the car. The whole mansion gleamed from proper management.

“The maid will show you your room.” Lord Shevek said as a young woman walked up to me. I couldn’t tell her exact age, knowing how vampires age slowly.

I nodded and followed the maid, who led me to a wide room fit for a princess.

After a few minutes of accessing the space, I relaxed on the bed, my mind going back to Eros and Susie.

I suddenly felt choked, and gasped for air as I quickly loosened the corset.

I was grateful it didn’t require much effort to loosen it. As soon as I did, I heaved a deep breath and pulled it off. Then I headed for the bathroom, hoping a cold shower would help clear my thoughts.

But it didn’t.

When I came downstairs later in the evening for dinner, I was still plagued by Susie’s announcement. I was even more angry that Eros had refused to call me himself.

“Eden!” Lord Shevek called out as soon as I entered the large dining hall. He sat at the edge of a long table, my mother beside him:

I opened my mouth to greet him, but instead I gasped at the strong metallic stench that hit my nostrils. I swallowed the nauseous feeling in my throat as I looked at the table set before me.

Plates of vegetables and fruits sat on the table, and beside them, thick, dark red liquid gleamed in glass cups under the light. My stomach churned.

I looked at Lord Shevek in horror.

“Is this human blood?”