49

We moved quickly, keeping our heads down as we navigated through the crowded pub. But when my eyes land on Adeline standing at Daniela's friends, a shiver went down my spine.

And then my eyes found my dad, talking to a server, getting a table for them.

Daniela also froze as she saw Adeline, causing me to stop walking too, and we just watched.

She stood with great posture, her finger under her chin, giving out a forced laugh every now and then.

I can tell that it's a fake laugh by now. I don't even have to hear it anymore.

It's the way her eyes doesn't smile.

Her lips moved while speaking before Denise pointed at the direction of the bathroom... where we were standing directly in front of it.

Adeline turned and her eyes met ours.

It darkened.

I stepped away from Daniela as that glare of Adeline's started giving me chills. Daniela stared back. "I have to get her away from them before she says something stupid."

Adeline didn't move. She stood there like she owned the place, like we were expected to come to her because she was above walking over to us. Her gaze commanded, and we played along.

I felt stuck in between them.

Adeline one side, Daniela the other, and me off to the side along Aiden, Denise and Jayla. It felt like a battlefield, and obviously, they-- the friends-- picked up on it too.

"Uh, we'll catch you guys another time. I'll go pay upfront. It's on me today." Aiden said and we all exchange goodbyes.

Denise gave me a hug. "It was lovely meeting you, Victoria."

Jayla just gave me a smirk and followed the others as they walked away.

But the two woman having a staring contest hasn't even notice them leaving.

Adeline smiled, a chilling smile. She tilted her head slightly, a predator ready to strike. Her voice was smooth when she finally spoke, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

"Well, isn't this cozy," she said, her eyes briefly flicking to me before settling back on Daniela. "I didn't expect to see you here. And with such... interesting company."

Daniela didn't flinch. "We were just leaving."

"So soon?" She pouted. "But I was just wanting to ask you, why are you here with your student, professor?"

My stomach definitely dropped.

Daniela's jaw tightened, a mask of calm that didn't quite hide the tension radiating from her body. "Careful, Adeline," she said, her voice razor-sharp. "You're making assumptions that aren't yours to make."

I don't want this.

The fighting, the intense glares, the cocky remarks and well, Adeline and my dad showing up here. What will even happen if my dad sees us? All I know is that we need to get out of here before that happens. But I didn't know how. This didn't feel like my place to talk.

Adeline's smile widened, as though she'd been waiting for this exact moment. "Oh, I'm not assuming anything, Professor. It's just... curious, isn't it? You, dining with someone who, what was it again?" Her eyes narrowed mockingly. "Takes your Spanish class?"

I glanced around, praying no one else was close enough to overhear. Daniela took a small step forward, placing herself slightly between me and Adeline, as if shielding me from her venom.

The tiniest smile twitched on her lips, amused from watching her actions. Her eyes fell on me, and I felt like I wanted to cry again only from her stare. "A word, Victoria?" She asked, more like commanded.

Daniela frowned, speaking over her shoulder towards me. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

I wish I could.

But after all of these threats she's been making, that knowing look on her face, I was too scared to say no. She wanted to scold me, Adeline. She wanted to remind me of Cameron waiting for me back at home. She wanted me to play her games if I wanted to keep Daniela safe.

But in the end, will we be safe?

"Okay." I whisper, and Daniela was shocked.

Adeline's smirk grew. "Good girl." She nodded off to the side and I followed her.

My head turned over my shoulder to look at Daniela. She was absolutely stunned. She was just standing there, staring at us with a frown.

I did it for us-- if only she knew.

We were surrounded by other people, and out of sight of my dad and Daniela. When I turned back to her, she was already staring at me with a deadly glare and my blood ran cold.

"You're really not taking me seriously, are you?" She folded her arms over her chest. I couldn't find words, and a gulp went down my throat. "Will you see it as a more serious situation if I go call your daddy over here and tell him that you're here to meet up with Daniela, huh?"

"No. No, please." My voice was quiet as it trembles, my eyes meeting the floor.

"Then listen to me now when I say this, Victoria." Her voice switched into a growl. "This is your last warning. If you don't end your fling with her... things are going to take a very, very dark turn. If I catch you one more time with her..."

"Why...?" I whisper, tears forming in my eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you don't understand how things work, Victoria. People like me—people who have power—don't get to just want things. We take them. And I love, absolutely love, taking them. And you're playing with fire, thinking you can have both your father's approval and your... professor."

She paced in front of me. "You think she's different. That she'll protect you, keep you safe. But she's only going to drag you into a world of mess and regret. You think I'm the threat? You haven't even seen what's out there when you cross the wrong people. So, hurt her before she can hurt you."

The air seemed to grow heavier with her words, suffocating me with a sense of dread. "I'm trying to help you, Victoria," she said, her tone softening just a fraction, but it only made her words more chilling. "I know what's best for you. And trust me, you don't want to see what happens when I get angry."

The first tear rolled down my cheek.

Adeline's cold gaze lingered on me, watching as the tear traced a path down my skin. For a moment, I thought she might press further, sharpen her words, or leave me there trembling. But instead, to my horror, her expression shifted.

She stepped closer. My heart pounded in my chest as she reached out, her fingers brushing against my cheek. I flinched slightly at the unexpected tenderness, but didn't pull away.

With slowness, Adeline wiped the tear away. She didn't say a word as she did it, but the look in her eyes said everything.

"You have until next week." She said quietly, taking her hand away from my face.

"Victoria!"

I whipped my head around, panic flooding me as I saw dad standing there, a concerned look on his face. And just behind him stood Daniela—her expression unreadable, but her body language rigid, tense, and full of quiet fury. Her eyes widens as she looked at my glossy eyes, Adeline so close to me.

Her hands clenched into fists-- she wanted to punch her so bad.

Dad also saw my teary state, frowning slightly and his gaze shifted to sympathy and concern.

Adeline immediately composed herself, her fake smile returning as she turned toward them. "Oh, hun. Victoria tripped. You know how soft she can be." She looked me up and down, and I stood quiet.

I didn't look at anyone, but Daniela's eyes burned through me. She wanted to hold me so tightly and whisper the most relaxing things in my ear. I know because she's smarter than believing Adeline's excuses.

But dad, unfortunately, wasn't much smarter. I guess love makes you blind. He still sees me as his little princess who forced him to play mermaids with me when I was smaller.

"Oh, sweetheart." He sighed and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, studying me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded.

He quickly gave me a hug before stepping back. Once I could see past him again, Adeline gave me a glare.

"Oh, and look who I found!" He said, trying to lighten the mood. Dad stepped to the side and presented me Daniela who's eyes were filled with sadness. I bit my bottom lip, trying to hold back more tears. "We just had a long chat, you know? Thanked her for keeping you safe during the trip to Greece."

That's the thing about dad. He talks easily. Maybe too easily, which made him clueless-- not clicking what's going on.

He turned to Daniela. "Honestly, Miss Garcia, I wanted to thank you for a while now. What's the chances of us all running into each other here?"

Daniela flashed a smile, hidden with a lot of emotions behind it. "It's no problem, Mr. Rivera." She tried keeping her tone cool.

Dad turned to me, his smile slowly fading into a more confused frown.

"But Cameron said you've been at your friends' since yesterday night. That boy was so bored without you yesterday."

The moment those words left his mouth, I could feel everything shift. The world seemed to tilt, and the blood drained from my face all over again. I didn't know how to respond—my heart hammered in my chest, and every breath felt shallow, as if the air had turned thick.

I glanced at Daniela, and the realization hit her in an instant. The confusion faded from her face, replaced by something hurtful.

Her eyes flicked to mine, searching for any sign of reassurance, but I had none to give.

Now she knows. She knows. But what she knows is nothing real.

Adeline, standing beside us, was watching the scene unfold with a satisfied smirk on her lips.

She's been waiting for this. The one word--the one slip-up from my dad-- was all it took.

Daniela took a half step back, her lips parting as if to speak. She clenched her jaw, clearly trying to hold herself together.

Another tear escaped my eyes and all I wanted to do is scream an apology.

It hurts more standing here, knowing there's nothing I can do.

Adeline won. That's it, she wins.

The silence between us felt deafening. My dad was still looking at me with confused and concerned, but the rest of the world had fallen away. Everything happened so fast. All I could see was Daniela—her eyes clouded with hurt, betrayal, and exhaustion.

A lot of exhaustion.

"I... I think it's time to go," Daniela said quietly, her voice trembling but firm. She turned to my father, her smile tight and forced. "It was nice seeing you again, Mr. Rivera. Take care of your daughter."

And then she was gone.

Take care of your daughter... as in... she won't anymore...?

I stood frozen, unable to move.

Is this what it feels like what she felt all this time?

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision, but I couldn't bring myself to cry. Not again in front of my dad. The fall that Adeline said I had couldn't be that bad.

"Victoria?" Dad's voice broke through the fog in my mind. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded stiffly, my throat burning, and forced a weak smile. "Yeah, Dad. I'm fine." I whisper.

But inside, everything was breaking apart.

Suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder, but not dad's. I didn't want to turn around and look at Adeline. That stupid, stupid look on her face. "Why not go wait at the table for us, Corbin? I think Victoria needs fresh air."

He nodded and rubbed my back. "Okay, you call me if you need me to come, okay, sweetheart?"

He walked away just like Daniela.

And when he was far away out of hear, Adeline leaned in to my ear. "Go get some fresh air." She growled. "Where Daniela left. I want you to see how much pain she's in."

I stood still, the fight draining out of me. And as much as I hated to admit it, the last thing I wanted was to witness what she was implying. The thought of seeing Daniela after I betrayed her.

Adeline's hand rested heavier on my shoulder, a warning. A promise of consequences if I didn't comply.

With a shaky breath, I finally nodded, unable to speak. A tear slid down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away, my heart pounding in my chest.

Every step felt like it weighed a ton, my body moving on autopilot, my mind consumed.

How much more could I lose before everything fell apart for good?

I got out, looking around in the parking lot. But her car wasn't there anymore.

She's gone.

She was gone. Daniela was gone, and I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. To fix anything.

With nothing left to do but stand there, a single tear fell down my cheek, joining the others I had shed earlier.

I fell down to my knees.