Valerie.

　　“Lena.” I heard a familiar voice behind me and I slowly turned around to see Xavier at the door.

　　“Xavier.” Lena wiped her tears and ran towards him, pulling him into a tight hug.

　　“Thank God you’re here.” She sobbed and broke the hug.

　　“What’s happening?” Xavier asked her and then glanced at me.

　　“She-“ I wanted to explain, but Lena suddenly cut in.

　　“I was just trying to get to know her and all of a sudden, she began to use harsh words on me.” Lena lied and sniffed.

　　Xavier eyes darted in my direction and he looked angry.

　　“Xavier, I-“ I wanted to explain and tell him that she was lying, but she didn’t let me.

　　“I suffered so much and I thought I was finally coming back to be happy, but instead I was met with hostility.” She continued and her eyes began to water all over again.

　　“Valerie, how could you do this?” Xavier sounded angry and I scoffed, glancing at Lena. She literally called me a bitch and now she was playing the victim.

　　I suddenly got angry and loudly retorted, “I didn’t do anything to this manipulate bitch?”

　　“Valerie!” Xavier yelled and I glared at him.

　　“Nathan said she was buried. How the hell can she be here?!” I asked loudly.

　　“Well maybe he didn’t tell you that we buried an empty coffin with her heirloom!” Xavier responded with a loud yell.

　　“We had to retreat while fighting Vampires like you and I couldn’t recover her body!” He yelled and Lena held his shoulder, telling him to calm down.

　　That hideous bitch. I felt like strangling her right now.

　　Xavier grabbed Lena’s hand and they walked past me, leaving me in the spot I was.

　　“What happened, I heard noises.”

　　I finally turned around and saw Nathan and Jenna walk in to the corridor.

　　I was almost in years and I rubbed my eyes before walking towards my room.

　　“Valerie.” Jenna called me and followed after me, but I stopped as I reached my door and faced her.

　　“I want to be alone now,” I said and walked into my room, closing the door.

　　As soon as I sat on my bed, I immediately began to cry.

　　“Why is this happening to me?” I cried out. I was the only vampire here, so no one’s senses was good enough to hear me through this walls.

　　I’m a vampire and I never asked for a mate. We are supposed to be with whoever we want so why does the universe have to tie my emotions to someone.

　　I lied on my back, directly facing the ceiling. The tears in my eyes blurred my vision and they slowly trickled down the sides of my face.

　　I blame Nexus Services for all this. If they had never arrested me, I wouldn’t have met Xavier that day and I would be living the normal life I had built for myself after leaving my father’s coven.

　　Still, because I was his mate, something else would have happened to bring us back together.

　　I adjusted my position on the bed and lied on my side, my face buried in the bed as I slowly drifted up to sleep.

　　I slowly stirred out of my sleep as I heard a knock on the door. I opened my eyes and sighed in frustration before climbing down from the bed.

　　I looked at the wall clock and saw that it was afternoon already. I looked in the mirror and touched the white spot on my face where tears had dried. I quickly took a face wipe and cleaned my face properly.

　　The person knocked on the door again and I walked towards the door, opening the door. It was the maid here with my lunch.

　　“Thanks.” I nodded and collected the tray from her, before closing the door and locking it.

　　I walked to my bed and dropped the tray on the table by my bed, not bothering to check what food it was.

　　I wasn’t in the mood to eat anything.

　　I walked to my reading table, deciding to continue the book I was reading earlier.

　　*Nolan fucking Walters.

　　Thankfully, he didn’t see me yet. “I am also in the hotel business,” I say quietly to David.

　　I finally had the chance to talk about my business with this elitist asshole, but I knew I had to make it quick before Nolan saw me because as soon as he found out I was crashing this party, my whole plan would be down the drain.

　　“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the next event you are having. I hear it’s a big one,” I decide to cut to the chase. Time was running out as Nolan made an appearance.

　　“Ah yes, the after-party for the awards ceremony. How did you know about that?” David narrowed his eyes.

　　“Why don’t we discuss more over dinner? I have an amazing proposal in my mind, which I think would benefit the both of us,” I smile seductively and trail my long nails over his arm.

　　David’s lips curled into a small smile, lust glimmering in his beady green eyes.

　　Hook, line, and sinker. Great job, Eve.

　　But I don’t have time to celebrate. I looked around anxiously as I didn’t see Nolan anywhere. Where is he? Did he see me? I need to get out of here!

　　“I think that’s a great idea,” David beamed.

　　“Amazing. Here’s my card,” I say and tuck my business card in his front pocket. “Excuse me a moment, I need to go to the ladies’ room,” I murmur and turn around to walk away before David has the chance to stop me.

　　I didn’t make it to the exit and hit a wall as I was not looking where I was going. Or at least, it felt like a wall. I fell on my ass while the wall stayed glued to the floor, my dress hiked up halfway to my thighs. I finally look up, and my eyes meet with the sharpest grey eyes I’ve ever seen, and it robs me out of my breath.

　　“Nolan Walters,” I croaked out.*

　　I shut the book once again and sighed. I moved the chair backward and stood up, pushing the chair back under the table.

　　As I read, my conversation with Xavier and Lena kept replaying over and over again.

　　I needed to see that bitch and know what the hell she wants.