Chapter 10 Tough Decision
- d. “Get me a car.“]
Thinking of it. Rosalind said. “Get me a car.”
Peregrine nodded
She turned to lea.]
He frowned. “Wait, you’re going alone?”
She looked back, surprised. “Hold on. You’re not thinking of coming too, are you?”
Technically, as her husband, he was supposed to [
showing up with gifts would earn them some points with the neighbors.
But that wasn’t why she was going. She was going back to make them feel myfut
She didn’t need Peregrine for that
He hesitated, his face fading.
Then he took a deep breath and said, “You saved my dad Last night. I’m just paying it hack,||
Rosalind snorted. Trust me. My family’s not worth that.”
She meant she could pay her back another time. ||
Peregrine didnt know what to say
“Bat. She paused, thinking, “His condition’s not stable. Might be safer if he comes. Til be there if anything goes south.
Then she gave a small smile. “Alright. You can come
Peregrine Durned to Arnold “Get the gifts ready.”
Arould dashed off to get the staff moving
Half an hour later, the driver pulled up outside the Asters villa
The Aster family unce owned a lot of property in Adelburg. But lately, their cash flow had been bleeding out. Projects needed money, so they started selling whatever they could. |
This villa was one of the poshest homes in the city
They knew Round was coming today. Her tive brothers should have been there.||
But they were all our ||
Wilson Aster, the third, had a race to train for and refused to push it back by even an hour
Gideon Aster, the fourth, went to the airport to pack up lits mentor, hoping to get a painting to give Thalia ||
Drake Aster, the fifth, was filming down the stret but didn’t bother dropping by ||
to sady Edgar and Julian were home ||
Rosalind wheeled Peregrine into the living room and gave it a quick once over ||
It was spotless–no fruit, no coffer, nothing set out for the guests
lagar looked ready to explode, with a hint of malice in his eyes.]
Julian’s stare was sharp enough to cut
Took you long enough they snapped in unison.
She could hear their teeth grinding
They looked ready to hire
Rosalind snorted, flopped onto the nearest sofa, and leaned back lazily
“You sent people to my door. I couldn’t ignore that, could 17:
That shut them up.||
When they married her off, they figured she was gone for good
Then Thalia collapsed just after Rosalind left.
And Peregrine woke up after marrying Rosalind ||
Now they thought she had something to do with all of it
They sent someone for her that same day:]
She didn’t show up.
Then this morning, word got out that the saved Casplan. That shook the two brothers and they tried again.
So they were the ones who needed her help.|||
They were seething, but there was nothing they could do.
Edgar took a breath and stood up slowly.
Mr. Shaw, I’ve got a chess game that’s been driving me nots. Feel like taking a look?
Peregrine used to love chess before he was a vegetable.[]
replied without hesitation:[]
Arnold moved closer and wheeled him into the next room after Edgar.]
The second they were gone, Julian snapped. “What the hell did you do to Lia?–
Hosalina looked up slowly.
They shared blood, but the look he gave her was chilling
His eyes were bloodshot, probably from going days without sleep, worrying about Thalia
For a moment, he looked to
She gave a brief, cold laugh
a stake, still and locked on its prey |
“What I did to her? Coquen. You already know |
They had blamed her for pushing Thalia out of the rar, hoping she wouldn’t make it. They said it was for the good of the family
Rosalind’s voice stayed calid ||
She wasn’t that soft, ingratiating girl anymore
You…….” He broke off ||
thing he could never get back ||
osing something something twisted in his gut. It felt like losing
Then he thought ab
t about Thalia and moled down. ||
did you do to her there?”
Tis was in a coma when you got to the hospital. What d
Rosalind laughed louder this time.
“What could I have done? I visited. She was a patient,” she scoffed
Julian’s jaw tightened. “You visited? Showing compassion
“Tesh. Obviously. I’m gorgeous and kind by nature.
To him, it was shameless and pushed him over the edge ||
Then why the hell hasn’t she woken up7||
Rosalind looked puzzled. “Weird. I thought she passed not from the shock when I pushed her out of the car,”
The froze. He had forgotten that
She continued. “Or maybe she woke up before I got to the hospital and decided to play dead?“]
julia’s jaw tightened again.[]
She was right, but he would never admit it
saying it out loud would ruin the family’s name.]]
“You’re making it up” he snapped.
Rosalind stood up
“I stopped being your family the second I got married. That was the deal.
She took a step doser, her voice sharp
“You kept pull
pulling me back. Do you think I want to be here?
Clearly I’m not welcome, so I’m done.
With that, she turned toward the door, without calling for Peregrine.]
The Aster family knew she knew medicine.||
They were already guessing she could fix Thalia if she wanted to
But this time, it wouldn’t be free. They had to make a choice between saying Thalia and protecting their name
Hosalind was almost out the door when Julian gave in
“If you can bring Lia back, well do whatever you want.
She leaned against the door fame, her gaze rol
“Anything
“Yes, he replied
“Great. Make a video and clear my name Say I didn’t push her out of the car.
A vein throbbed in his forehead. “It will ruin our namer |
He couldn’t do L
The thought of ending it all by ending her crossed his mind.]]
She swallowed her bitterness and kept her voice cold. “Tine. Bye.“]]
