Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession-Chapter 88: This one will not break

Tessy noticed slight cracks forming on the surface of the glass bowl the moment she picked it up. Her brows furrowed deeply, a cold frown pulling at her features as she angled the bowl under the light, trying to be sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her.

A prickle ran down her spine, and for a second, she thought to drop it immediately back onto the tray, but before her fingers could even loosen, the cracks widened dramatically, spiderwebbing across the glass in a blink.

In the next fraction of a second, the bowl shattered right in her hands, the pieces raining down with a soft, horrifying tinkle as the contents spilled messily across the silver tray, some of it splattering onto her clothes in sticky smears of cream and fruit.

A sharp gasp tore through the room. Shock rippled like a tangible wave across every face present. Freya sat bolt upright, her lips parted in stunned silence. Ruby froze where she stood, her hands clenching the edges of her shirt.

But Gina... Gina looked like she had been struck by lightning. Her face drained of color instantly, and she dropped to her knees so quickly it was as if her legs had given out.

"Oh my god, I’m so sorry, ma’am," she pleaded desperately, her hands trembling as she reached for the scattered remains, her voice breaking apart with each word. "The bowl must be bad... I didn’t bother to check before using it to serve you. Please, please forgive my carelessness, ma’am..." Her voice quivered, and she pressed her forehead close to the floor, her whole body shaking.

Tessy sat there for a long, bewildered moment, the adrenaline in her veins making her hands shake unnoticeably. She forced a small, tight smile onto her lips and placed a steadying hand on her thigh to ground herself before speaking, her voice soft but firm.

"It’s okay, Gina," Tessy said, her tone gentle despite the slight tremor in it. "Just dispose of the broken pieces."

Gina nodded hastily, scrambling up like a child desperate to please a scolding parent. Without another word, she gathered the ruined tray and made a beeline out of the room, her figure a blur of frantic movements.

Although Ruby’s face remained carefully blank, something small and sly flickered across her lips—a tiny, unnoticeable smile. She wasn’t sure if the universe had finally decided to sprinkle a little favor her way, but deep inside, she was glad—relieved even—that Tessy hadn’t eaten the fruit salad Gina had prepared. She didn’t want to question it too deeply. She simply took it as a good sign.

"I’ll go prepare another one for you, ma’am," Ruby announced quickly, her voice a little too bright, her hands already fiddling with the hem of her shirt. She didn’t wait for permission, didn’t give Tessy a chance to object. She was out of the room before Tessy could even find her voice to protest.

"That was strange," Freya commented after a moment, her eyebrows drawn together in a tight knot. "I’ve never seen glassware shatter like that. It was almost as if it had been held together by some invisible tape, just waiting for you to lift it up so it would unravel."

Tessy let out a shaky sigh, pressing two fingers against her temple.

"I’m just as baffled as you are. Never seen anything like that," She answered honestly, her mind churning beneath the calm surface of her voice. She couldn’t help but wonder, deep inside, whether she had something to do with the shattering of the bowl.

"Do you need help?" Freya asked, moving to stand up when she saw Tessy trying to get off the bed.

"No, I’m fine. Don’t worry, I can walk. That man is just being overprotective," Tessy said quickly, waving a dismissive hand, misinterpreting Freya’s movement as an offer of help because of how Roman had carried her earlier. "I need to wash up. I’ll be back," Tessy added, heading toward the bathroom, her mind spinning with unanswered questions and unsettling thoughts.

Downstairs, Alexa had just finished wiping her hands clean with a towel and was about to step out of the kitchen when Gina appeared, carrying a tray laden with broken glass and ruined fruit salad.

Alexa’s eyes widened in alarm as she took in the mess.

"What happened?" she asked, scanning the destruction, her voice sharp with curiosity.

Gina didn’t answer. She didn’t even spare Alexa a glance as she pushed past her and headed toward the back of the house to dispose of the waste.

Alexa watched her go, her eyebrows furrowing deeper and deeper until Gina disappeared out of sight.

Just then, Ruby bustled into the kitchen, her mood visibly brighter than Gina’s.

"What happened?" Alexa asked again, this time directing the question at Ruby.

Ruby was more than happy to spill the details. She narrated the entire incident with animated hand gestures and a hint of suppressed glee.

Alexa didn’t even bother trying to suppress her loud burst of laughter. "Good for her!" She snickered, crossing her arms over her chest. "I hope madam gave her a befitting punishment?" she asked eagerly, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Ruby shook her head, already moving around the kitchen, plucking ingredients and utensils with practiced ease.

"Ma’am Tessy only asked her to dispose of the waste. You know she’s very soft-hearted," Ruby answered, her tone tinged with admiration and a hint of disappointment. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Aish... too bad," Alexa clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I would have loved for her to get a little punishment to bring down those high shoulders of hers for a while."

She sighed theatrically and leaned back against the counter, folding her hands across her chest as she watched the men in the kitchen preparing dinner. Her gaze zeroed in on one particular cook, her lips curling into a smirk.

"Anyways, how’s madam feeling now?" Alexa asked, shifting her attention back to Ruby.

"She’s fine," Ruby said, slicing fruit neatly and efficiently. "She says it’s not something serious, but I still see some weariness in her eyes." Her voice dropped into a more thoughtful tone.

Alexa tapped her fingers against her elbow, her brows lowering slightly in concern.

"I hope she gets perfectly better," she said just as Gina returned, moving toward the sink with mechanical stiffness.

She started washing the tray and her hands, her movements harsh and overly vigorous.

A heavy silence fell over the kitchen. The only sounds were the rhythmic chopping of Ruby’s knife, the faint sizzle from the stovetop, and running water.

Alexa’s gaze drifted back and forth between the bustling kitchen and Gina, who remained glued to the sink, scrubbing her hands over and over as if trying to erase something that soap and water could never touch.

After a while, Alexa frowned.

"It’s just milk and some fruits, Gina. Why are you washing your hands as if you’ve been in contact with a germs-infested monster?" Alexa finally asked, her voice cutting through the thick silence, laced with irritation.

Gina shot her a venomous glare but didn’t stop scrubbing. "Mind your business," she snapped, her voice low and sharp.

"That’s exactly what I’m doing. Minding the business that pays me," Alexa shot back coolly, not missing a beat. She pushed off the counter, standing taller. "You are my business, and so is everyone living in this house. So tell me, why are you taking an eternity to wash your hands when the real dirt is inside your heart?"

The words hung in the air like smoke, thick and suffocating.

Ruby hurriedly whispered, "Stop annoying her," casting Alexa a warning glance.

But Alexa didn’t budge. Her chin lifted stubbornly, her eyes glinting with challenge. "I’m not scared of her," she said plainly, her voice carrying across the room.

"No fighting in the kitchen," the chef’s voice rang out sharply. His eyes fixed on Alexa, stern and disapproving.

He then turned to Gina.

"You’re wasting water. Use a sanitizer if you need to kill germs," he ordered.

"She should drink some of the sanitizer as well. The germs inside of her outnumber the ones outside," Alexa muttered under her breath just as Gina turned off the tap and stormed toward the door.

"I said no fighting!" the chef barked again.

"I’m not fighting. It’s just a suggestion," Alexa said innocently, lifting her hands in surrender before sauntering out after Gina.

Ruby let out a long, tired sigh and focused back on her work. She didn’t know when or how the rivalry between Gina and Alexa would ever end, but it felt endless.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ruby finished preparing a new, colorful bowl of fruit salad. Balancing the bowl carefully on a tray, she made her way back up to Tessy’s room.

At the door, she knocked softly and was told to come in.

She entered with a bright, proud smile lighting up her face.

"I made you another fruit salad, ma’am Tessy," Ruby said, her voice sweet with a slight teasing lilt. "With love from my heart. Don’t worry, I made sure the bowl was in good condition before I used it. This one will not break," she assured with a little laugh.

Tessy took the bowl from her hands with a soft smile, praying silently that whatever strange force had caused the previous incident wouldn’t repeat itself.

She lifted a spoonful carefully to her mouth. The glass bowl stayed firm and whole in her hands. Relief flooded her chest in a warm wave.

The fruit salad was refreshing and delicious, and as Tessy savored the sweet tang on her tongue, satisfaction shone clearly on Ruby’s face, her heart swelling with a silent victory.