Chapter 16. Regret
Chapter 16. Regret
Olivia
When I entered the room, Logan was still lying in bed, looking paler than before. He managed a weak smile as he saw me. "Olivia, I'm glad you're back."
I approached his bedside and checked his temperature. It had spiked again, and he was clearly feeling worse. "Logan, your fever is getting worse. We should call for a doctor," I said with concern.
He reached out and took my hand in his, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. "No, Olivia, I don't want a doctor. I want you to stay with me."
I felt torn, my sense of duty pulling me in one direction and my growing feelings for Logan pulling me in another. I couldn't deny the connection that had formed between us, but I also couldn't ignore the fact that just a few days before, he had rejected me as his mate.
"Logan, I'm just a maid," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'm no one. I can't stay with you like this. It's not appropriate."
His eyes locked onto mine, his mouth opening and closing, but he could say nothing. My heart broke just a little more as he remained quiet.
I searched his eyes for answers, but all I found was a deep yearning that mirrored my own. My resolve began to crumble, and I knew I couldn't deny my feelings any longer.
As I hesitated, the room seemed to close in around us, and the world outside faded away. It was just Logan and me, tangled in the web of emotions we couldn't escape.
And then, just as our lips were about to meet, a sudden commotion in the hallway outside the room shattered the moment. The door burst open, and in walked Lucien and Lucas, their expressions a mix of surprise and anger.
A chilling silence enveloped the room as we all stood frozen in time, our hearts racing with uncertainty.
Lucas growled, his inner wolf reacting to the situation, his eyes locked onto our intertwined hands. Lucien's jaw tightened as he took in the scene before him.
Logan, still holding my hand, tried to sit up, his fever-fueled weakness making it a struggle. "It's not what it looks like," he stammered, his voice shaky.
Lucas's eyes flashed with anger, and he bared his teeth in a feral snarl. "Really? Because it looks like you're trying to seduce the maid, the mate we all decided to reject."
I pulled my hand away from Logan's as if I'd been burned, a deep blush coloring my cheeks. Panic surged through me as I realized the gravity of the situation. I had just shared an intimate moment with one of the triplets, the very thing I had been trying to avoid. And now his brothers had caught us in the act. NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.
Lucien remained quiet, his gaze shifting between us. His expression was inscrutable, but his clenched fists revealed his tension. It was as if he were holding back his own emotions.
Logan attempted to explain, his voice desperate. "I didn't mean to... I just... Olivia was helping take care of me, and..."
Lucas interrupted him, his anger simmering. "Enough excuses, Logan. This is unacceptable."
I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. What had I done? I never intended for any of this to happen, and now everything had spiraled out of control.
Lucas turned to me, his voice harsh. "Olivia, you need to leave."
I nodded, unable to meet his gaze. Without a word, I fled the room, leaving behind the shattered remnants of a moment that should never have occurred.
As I walked down the hallway, my footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, I couldn't escape the feeling that everything had changed.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I retreated down the corridor. I felt like a fool for allowing myself to be swept away in that moment with Logan, and now I had to face the consequences.
The weight of shame and regret settled heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn't help but wonder how this would affect my already complicated position as the maid to the triplets and their rejected mate.
I returned to my own small room in the palace, my thoughts racing. I needed to clear my head and figure out how to navigate this unexpected turn of events. The room felt suffocating, and I opened
the window to let in some fresh air.
From my window, I could see the palace gardens bathed in moonlight. The beauty of it was a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. I leaned against the windowsill, tears streaming down my cheeks, as I grappled with the tangled mess of emotions.
What had happened between Logan and me felt like a cruel twist of fate. Just when I thought I could move on and focus on my duties, my feelings for him had resurfaced, stronger than ever. And now, not only had my heart been laid bare, but it had also exposed me to the wrath of his brothers.
At the same time, I felt angry at them. They rejected me! For no other reason, only because I was an omega. They were the ones who made me work in the palace as their maid, and they were the ones who wouldn't stay out of my life.
I had done nothing to encourage their attention or make them feel like I wanted them as their mate.
But I knew I had to be careful going forward. The triplets were powerful and unpredictable, and as unfair as it may seem, they could do whatever they wished, while I didn't have that luxury. I couldn't afford to let my emotions get the best of me again.
As the night wore on, I tried to distract myself by focusing on my work in the kitchen, tidying up my room and preparing for the next day's tasks. But my mind kept returning to what had happened between Logan and me, and the fear of what would happen gnawed at me. I wondered what Lucas and Lucien would do, and I wondered if Logan was ready to accept me as his mate.
I eventually became too tired to keep pacing, and I lay down on my small bed, staring up at the ceiling. Although I was tired, I couldn't sleep, and my thoughts continued to churn. The events of the evening had changed everything, and I had no idea how I was going to navigate the treacherous waters of the palace from this point forward.
The following morning
My eyes were puffy and red from a night of little sleep and a lot of crying. I sat up in bed, not wanting to get up and have to face the day.
The knock on the door was sharp and brisk. I was scared to open at first thinking that it might be one of the triplets. I opened it when I heard Miss B’s voice. She was standing there, her face stern.
"Olivia, we need to talk."
I was worried.
Miss B has never been this stern with me. Did the triplets say something to her?
I followed her to her kitchen, my steps heavy.
Once inside, she asked the couple of maids that were in there to leave, closed the door and turned to me.
"What happened last night?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. I decided to be honest, as lying would only make things worse. "I was tending to Prince Logan, and I don't really know what happened. We... We shared a moment."
Miss B's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything. She just gestured for me to continue.
"It was a mistake, Miss B. I didn't mean for it to happen. I'm so sorry."
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Olivia, you know how delicate your position is here. You're not here as just a maid. I'm sorry to say this, but they rejected you. You can't let them play with you and you definitely cannot afford to make mistakes like this."
I nodded, tears pricking at my eyes again. "I know, Miss B. I never intended for any of this to happen."
Miss B looked at me for a long moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. Finally, she spoke. "I will give you a few days off, it should help you feel better and clear your mind. If the princes ask for you, I'll find an excuse to give them. But I need you to promise me that this will never happen again."
I nodded, grateful for her understanding. "I promise, Miss B. I will be more careful."
She gave me a stern look. "Now, go back to your room and get ready for school.”
With that, I was dismissed. I went back to my room, feeling like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, but knowing that the hardest part was yet to come.
I had to face the princes, and I had no idea how they would react. I knew that Lucas and Lucien were angry, but I didn't know what Logan felt. And that scared me more than anything.
As I went back to my room to prepare for the day, I steeled myself for what was to come. I knew that I had made a mistake, but I was tired of letting the princes walk all over me and my feelings.