Chapter 52 What Comes Around

Chapter 52 What Comes Around

ARDEN

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The door to Mr. Winters‘ office swung bshut /bbehind us with ba /bheavy thud. He remained inside, and the moment Cade brought up the issue being addressed beyond the school walls, Mr. Winters immediately sided with him.

Figures. That man only cared about the school’s well–being.

As we stepped into the hallway, the tension didn’t dissipate, it trailed behind us, refusing to let go. Sienna hurried after Cade het heels tapping frantically against the polished floor.

“Cade, wait–please. You can’t just kick me out of the faction like bthis/bb./b”

“You barely know who I am,” she added, her voice filled with urgency

Cade halted and turned to face her. “Exactly,” he muttered, irritation heard in his tone. “Why would you choose me if that was the case?”

She bit her lip, and I watched as desperation wed its way to the surface of her expression. “I… like you!” she eximed shyly. “I admire your faction very much, and I believe choosing you is for the best.”

Her gaze was innocent, the same look she always wore one that even fooled Jaxon. I felt my breath hitch when Cade remained bsilent /bSienna had always relied on her looks and naivete to get what she wanted.

“You should have thought of that before drugging someone,” Cade said. I nced between bthem/b, finding his expression unyielding, still bcold /bas he regarded her.

“The North does bnot /bept such actions.”

Sienna bit her lip again, and I could almost see the gears in her mind turning. “You’re just doing this because I’m bnot /boriginally from your faction. If it were one of your members-

“I would have done the same, Cade cut her off decisively. “You should have thought twice before bacting/b.

“I just Sienna floundered, her mouth btwitching /band tears–brimming in her eyes.

Bui Cade wasn’t looking at her anymore. His shoulders were squared, and he strode ahead with determination. For the first time, Sienna appeared like a crumpled petal beneath a heavy foot–stepped on and dismissed. Deep down, I knew no amount of pleading would change Cade Cahan’s bmind/b.

Meanwhile, Kieran was pacing along the wall, phone pressed to his ear. “Yes, I said I need it now. Like, today,” he snapped. i“/iNo, I don’t care bwhat /btime it is! They’re making me pay for some idiot’s hospital bill. Yeah, I know it’s not fair, but that’s what they said–just wire it. Mom

I couldn’t help but let a small, smug sinile creep onto my lips. So, he was talking to our parents. They were struggling to pay for his fees, I knew bthat /ball too well. This bwas /bjust another blow to their already tight budget.

To be honest, I didn’t even feel bbad/b. They were the ones who allowed Kieran to be this bway/b.

The scene wrapped me in a cloak of quiet satisfaction. I had thought all hope was lost. I had believed I would have to bwalk /baway from everything.

bBut /bCade

He hade in like he always bdil/b–eractly when I needed him the most.

b1 /bquickened my pace and caught up to him just before he turned the corner down another hallway,

““, my voice soft yet insistent.

He used fus eyes wing back at me. “Yeah?”

1ocked up at him, hesitating as I gathered my thoughts. “Why did you do it)”

Chapter 52 What Comes Around.

+5 Free bCoins /b

He raised a bbrow/b. “Do what?”

“You know what.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Come in like that. Fight for me like that.”

Was it for… wef

That question lingered on the tip of my tongue, but I was grateful it didn’t escape.

There bwas /ba brief pause. His lips parted slightly, as if he were about to answer immediately–but then he pressed them into a firm bline/b.

“It’s for my faction,” he said.

I swallowed hard.

“Right, Imuttered, the disappointment creeping in.

Of course, it wasn’t for me.

I don’t want someone like Sienna in my faction,” he continued. “Tessa and Owen are hurt. While we’re at Elite, they fall under my leadership. bThat /bmakes it my responsibility. I did what I had to do.”

“Of course,” I replied, nodding, my admiration for him reluctantly resurfacing. “You’re a great leader.”

Cade studied me bfor /ba second before speaking again.

“Go see your friend,” he finally said, stepping away. “Make sure he’s alright.”

And with that, he walked off, turning the corner and disappearing into the bustling noise of the school.

I felt Tessa approach beside me, her hand brushing against mine.

“What did he say?” she asked.

I pursed my lips, not ready to divulge everything. “Let’s go, I muttered. “Let’s see if Owen’s alright.”

She nodded in agreement.

Together, we made our way to the clinic. The hallways bhad /bgrown quieter now, a natural urrence since the after–party had happened just the night before band /bit was the weekend.

The scent of floor bwax /band sterile air filled the medical bwing/b. As we entered, he nurse looked up from her clipboard and offered us a tired, gentle smile.

“He’s resting.” she bsaid /bsoftly.

“Is he balright/b?” I basked /bbas /bI peeked bthrough /bthe curtains where Oweny.

“Tessa and Arden, right?” the nurse binquired/b, her tone friendly.

The two of bus /bnodded,‘bunsure /bof where this conversation was heading.

“He kept telling the to keep you two safe,” she chuckled softly. “Anyway, he’s alright. bHis /bguardians aren’t picking up. heard that all the medical expenses will be btaken /bcare of by the school.”

I cted, a sigh of relief escaping my lips. However, her next words caused my breath to hitch.

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He has a mild concussion, so we’re transporting him to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Nothing too

geous, but he’ll need to miss school for a few days–probably a week. Light activity only after that,”

My drifted to the bed where Owen was, eyes closed, an IV inserted in his arm. A bandage was wrapped around his forehead, a reminder of the violence.

Tessa crossed her arms,ting her lip as worry etched across her face. “He’ll be bokay/b, right?”

1:14 AM

Chapter 52 What Comes Around

The nurse nodded reassuringly. “We’ll monitor him until the ambnce arrives.”

I settled into a chair by bhis /bbedside, my gaze fixed on the slow rise and fall of his chest.

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He didn’t bhave /bto do it. He didn’t have to show up at that bmansion/b, ready to bfight /bfor me. And now, he was paying the price with bruises–scars bthat /bweren’t even his to bear.

A tight knot formed in my chest.

“Ohb, /bhoney,” the nurse said softly, noticing Tessa’s injury. “That wound will leave a scar if we don’t treat it immediately. Please, have a seat for a moment,”

Tessa needed care too.

I bit my lip, wrestling with my thoughts. I could handle my own pain just fine, but how long would my friends continue to suffer because bof /bmeb! /b

bTessa /band Owen were hurting…

Cade’s voice echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of the choices that bhad /bled us here.

I blinked back the sting of tears threatening to spill over.

It wasn’t enough to be protected anymore. It wasn’t sufficient to simply watch from the sidelines while others fought my battles. I needed to be more. I had to step up and protect them too.

And there was only one person I could trust with that kind of fight.

Before I knew it, my feet began to move on their own ord.

“Where are you going?” Tessa called after me.

I paused only briefly, turning to nce back at her.

“Please.. just take care of Owen bfor /bbnow/b,” I bsaid/b, breathless bas /bI dashed down the corridor.

1 had no clear sense of direction, no map in my mind nor destination in my heart. Just an instinct, a pull deep in my gut. My footsteps echoed against the quiet stone floors bas /bI hurried through the halls, past the empty courtyards, and toward the one ce where I ifelt /isafe.

The maze gardens.

I wasn’t sure how I knew he’d be there. Perhaps it bwas /bbbecause /bthe two of us often found bsce /bin this serenity. Or maybe it was simply one of the bst /bquiet ces left within the chaos of Elite.

But as I stepped into the garden, my breath bcaught /bin my throat at the sight before me.

Cade

He was sprawled across the curved stone bench beneath the arch of ivy and moonflowers, one arm casually folded behind bhis /bbhead/bb. /bHowever, the moment I stepped onto the gravel bpath/b, his eyes fluttered open.

“What are you bdoing /bhere?” he asked.

I swallowed hard, my chest rising and falling in rhythm with my racing heart.

Thetter taste of helplessness washed over me. Then there was Cade, who–even when I bhadn’t /basked–always stepped in to

I walked her feeling the leaves brush against my arm as I passed. His bgaze /bremained fixed on me, unwavering as I drew

Taking arach, 1 steadied myself.

Te made my decision,” I whispered.

1:14 AM c ch

Chapter 52 What Comes Around.

Cade tilted his head slightly, waiting for me to continue.

“I’ll sleep with you.”

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