Chapter 9 Argument

• Leah’s POV
• The tension between the two brothers was thick enough to cut with a knife the moment Lucian entered the room.
• His commanding presence seemed to fill the space, demanding attention as if everyone had no choice but to stop and acknowledge him. It was an aura that made it hard to breathe, heavy and suffocating.
• Damon, however, was the perfect counter to his brother. His cold, icy demeanor sent shivers down anyone’s spine, and the sharpness in his narrowed eyes felt like they could pierce through steel. His constant glare, paired with the ever-present furrow of his brows, added to the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
• The two stood at the foot of my bed, their intense glares locked like two predators sizing each other up. Neither of them spoke at first, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably long. It was a silence that only seemed to amplify the weight of their unspoken thoughts. I could feel the tension radiating off them in waves, making me instinctively grip the edge of the blanket covering me.
• Finally, Damon broke the stillness with a sharp voice that cut through the silence. “You’re the one I should be asking, Lucian. What are you doing here?”
• Lucian didn’t even flinch, his expression as unyielding as ever. “I’m here to take care of Leah,” he replied firmly. “What about you?”
• “I’m watching over her.”
• Lucian’s jaw tightened, and he crossed his arms over his chest, a small, humorless laugh escaping his lips. “Watching over her? That’s funny. Considering you were the one who couldn’t stand her just yesterday. You hated her the second she arrived, remember? You took every chance to scold her, to remind her how much of a nuisance you thought she was.”
• He took a step closer to his brother, his eyes narrowing further as if daring Damon to deny it.
• Damon’s expression remained calm, though there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes. “Yeah, I still think this whole situation is crap,” he admitted, his voice low but steady. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to treat her like a slave.”
• Damon wasn’t done, though. He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a cold, accusing tone. “But what about you? Stop pretending, Lucian. We all know what kind of crap you’re pulling behind our backs.”
• Lucian didn’t respond immediately, but Damon wasn’t about to let him off the hook. He stepped even closer, his glare never faltering. “You didn’t want us going to the event. You’re playing us. Pretending like you’re not going either. In reality, you’re planning to invite Leah as your date, aren’t you? Once she’s recovered—no longer weak and nauseous after we kidnapped her—you’ll swoop in and make her think you actually care about her. But it’s not about her, is it? It’s about what you can get from Father.”
• The accusation hung in the air like a storm cloud about to burst.
• A heavy silence fell over the room.
• Every time the brothers argued, it was as though they forgot I existed. Did they even realize I was here? Did they think I couldn’t hear every word they said? Their voices were loud, their words cutting and clear. I couldn’t help but listen, even if I didn’t always understand everything they were implying. But the picture they painted wasn’t hard to piece together.
• Lucian clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening from the pressure. The veins in his arms stood out prominently, a clear sign of his frustration. He was furious, though he managed to keep his composure—for now.
• Before the argument could escalate further, the door swung open, breaking the tension momentarily. Rafael and Xander entered, followed by a nurse dressed in uniform. The nurse immediately made her way over to me, her presence calm and professional as she began checking on my condition.
• Meanwhile, the brothers’ argument showed no signs of stopping. If anything, the arrival of more people only seemed to stoke their tempers. Their voices rose, sharp words thrown like knives as they hurled blame and accusations back and forth.
• “What are you doing here, Lucian?” Rafael’s voice cut through the chaos, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and disappointment.
• Lucian sneered, his words dripping with venom. “Right back at you, dumb ass. What are you doing here? You flirtatious bastard?”
• “Hey, hey, cut the crap,” Xander snapped, his voice rising in volume. “What’s with the attitude this morning? Just shut your mouth, will you?”
• “This is all your fault,” Damon shot back, his anger finally boiling over. “Leah wouldn’t be suffering like this if it weren’t for your stupidity.”
• The argument was relentless, their words growing harsher by the second. It was as though they had completely forgotten about the nurse and me.
• The nurse turned to me, her expression apologetic. “I’m so sorry about this, Miss Leah,” she said softly. “The brothers… they’re always like this, even before you arrived.”
• I didn’t respond, unsure of what to say. After finishing her check-up, the nurse gave me a small, reassuring smile.
• “You’re doing well, Miss Leah,” she said kindly. “But your pregnancy is still a bit sensitive. That’s why you’re feeling nauseous and dizzy so often.” She handed me a small bottle of vitamins. “Take these. Make sure you eat something before taking your vitamins or any medicine. It’ll help keep your baby strong, okay?”
• “Thank you,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.
• The nurse nodded and excused herself, the door clicking shut behind her.
• As soon as the nurse was gone, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Their incessant bickering, the tension in the room—it was all too much.
• “Enough!” I yelled, my voice ringing out and cutting through their heated exchange like a blade.
• The four of them froze, their arguments dying mid-sentence. Slowly, almost hesitantly, they turned to look at me. Their postures straightened as if they had just been caught doing something wrong.
• I carefully swung my legs over the side of the bed, my movements slow and deliberate as I stood. My legs felt shaky, but I forced myself to face them. My frustration boiled over, my emotions pouring out in every word.
• “If you all keep acting like this, then I won’t choose any of you,” I declared, my voice steady and firm despite the trembling in my body. “I won’t pick anyone, and I’ll never agree to marry any of you. I will never bind myself to the Vortega. Ever!”
• Without another word, I turned my back on them, walking away from the chaos and leaving them in stunned silence.