Zuria
My mind was slow to process the scene unfolding before me. As Peter and Celeste walked into the restaurant, it took me a few moments to recognize the growing dread that was gnawing at my gut. I was still seated at our table with Danny, but the position was not ideal. The seating arrangement in this restaurant left little cover, and the table was a mere slab with no cloth to shield me. I was exposed. I quickly ducked beneath the table, my heart racing as I hoped they wouldn't notice me.
Another problem hit me—if they looked down from the front counter, they'd see the clear line of sight directly to where Danny and I were seated. My panic heightened as I realized there was nowhere to hide. I had to move fast.
I grabbed my bag, eyes darting around for Danny, but he was nowhere to be found. I cursed under my breath. I couldn't wait. My heart beat faster as I realized the only possible escape route was directly behind Celeste and Peter. It was risky, but I had no choice.
I crawled from beneath the table, doing my best to keep low. My fingers brushed against the cold floor, and I cautiously made my way behind Celeste. Her back was to me, and I took my chance. I passed her as quietly as I could, but just as I was about to step out the door, a voice froze me in place.
"Hey, Zuria! Where are you going?" Danny's shout echoed across the room.
Oh, Danny. I love you, but right now, I swear I could kill you.
His voice was so loud that everyone in the restaurant turned their attention to me. I felt every pair of eyes land on me, their gazes heavy and judgmental. I stopped dead in my tracks, hoping that maybe, just maybe, Celeste wouldn't notice me. But of course, I was wrong. I turned around slowly, my hand instinctively covering my face as I tried to avoid her gaze. But there was no escaping now.
Celeste's eyes widened, and she immediately started tapping Peter on the arm, gesturing towards me. Peter turned, his eyes locking onto mine, and I could see the surprise in his face. "Zuria? Is that you?" he asked, his voice faltering slightly.
I sighed, the reality of the situation settling in. I had been caught.
"Zuria?" Celeste's voice was sharp as she walked toward me, her expression shifting from surprise to disbelief. "So it really is you? Was everything I heard true?"
I frowned, trying to look away. Had she heard what happened between Arien and me? The thought of it made my stomach twist.
"Well, well," she scoffed, a wicked smile stretching across her face. "I never thought I would see this day." Her voice dripped with amusement, but it wasn't a pleasant one. "So, you're the infamous Zuria. The one who caused all the trouble."
I could already feel the venom behind her words, and I was bracing myself for the worst.
'What's this bitch doing here?' Adelaide's voice echoed in my mind.
'I don't know either, Ada. But I'll handle it.'
Celeste didn't wait for my response. She turned to address the crowd, her voice growing louder. "You know, I always told everyone that Zuria was either cursed or a witch, but none of you believed me, did you?" She paused, letting the words hang in the air. "There's no way she's normal. Everyone she comes in contact with ends up with bad luck."
I gritted my teeth, my fists tightening by my side. She wasn't going to get away with this. Not this time.
"She killed her parents, and then when she came into our house, I suddenly became infertile. As if that wasn't enough, you got us banished. And Arien, well, he probably saw it, and he didn't want anything to do with a witch like you, so he kicked you out."
Her words stung, but I refused to let her see how much they hurt. I glanced at Danny, who was frowning deeply. He was about to step forward, but I held up a hand, signaling him to stay back. This was between Celeste and me.
'Let me at her!' Adelaide snarled in my mind.
'I'll handle it, Ada. Just trust me.'
"You shouldn't even be walking around with your face out in the open," Celeste continued, her voice rising with anger. "You're a disgrace, Zuria. You deserve every ounce of shame and humiliation that comes your way."
I looked around the room, feeling the heat of all those eyes on me. They were all watching. The pity in their gazes burned through me, but I wasn't about to let Celeste have the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.
"I remember how high and mighty you acted that night after you found out Arien was your mate," Celeste laughed bitterly. "But look at you now…"
She paused dramatically, savoring her next words. "When I heard what happened to you, I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to see you get what you deserved. But I didn't expect to run into you here. I'm just so sad I wasn't there to see it all happen. It would've been hilarious watching you run away from the pack with your tail tucked between your legs."
The people around us seemed to hold their breath, the tension in the air thick. But I wasn't about to let her win. I wasn't going to stand there, taking her insults like I had all these years.
"You know what, Celeste?" I spoke up, my voice steady, despite the fury bubbling inside me. "You're just a whiny little bitch." Her eyes went wide, clearly not expecting me to stand up to her.
Her jaw dropped, but I didn't let her speak. "I tolerated your disgusting, nasty attitude for far too long because I was grateful to Uncle Peter for taking me in. But not anymore." I straightened up, meeting her gaze directly. "I won't take your insults anymore. So, it's best if you just walk away now, and we never have to see each other again."
Celeste's face turned a deep shade of red, her hands clenched into fists. "How dare you speak to me like that?" Her voice was shrill, rising in pitch.
I met her eyes without flinching. "I can speak to you however I want. You don't own me, and you're not the ruler of my life. So like I said, it's time for us to go our separate ways. That's the best thing for both of us."
I glanced at Peter, still standing by the counter, uncertain about what to do. Then, I looked at Danny. "Come on," I said to him, turning toward the door.
But before I could get far, I felt a harsh tug on my hair.
Gasps filled the room as Celeste yanked me back. I spun around, and sure enough, there she was, gripping my hair with both hands. I screamed, trying to pull her fingers off, but she held on tightly.
"You ungrateful brat!" she shrieked, her voice wild. "After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me?!"
I felt my temper flare as I stepped on her foot with all my strength. She yelped, letting go of my hair, and I stumbled backward, free at last. Danny was in front of me now, his arms protectively around me as the staff tried to restrain Celeste.
"Back off, Celeste," Danny warned, his voice cold and protective. He stood his ground, keeping her away from me.
Celeste struggled against the employees who were holding her back, screaming in frustration. I watched her, my blood boiling. This was too much.
"What, is that your new boyfriend?" Celeste sneered, pointing at Danny. "Your whorish self couldn't stay without a man, even after your mate rejected you?"
Her words sliced through the air, and I felt the sting of humiliation, but I wasn't going to let her get away with it. Not again.
I shoved past Danny and stormed over to Celeste. Before anyone could stop me, I grabbed a fistful of her hair and slapped her across the face as hard as I could. The sound of the slap echoed through the restaurant, and the impact was satisfying.
'Yes! Go girl!' Adelaide cheered in my mind, practically jumping for joy.
Celeste froze, her expression a mixture of shock and anger. Her face reddened as she stared at me, stunned by my retaliation. I couldn't help but smile, feeling a surge of pride in my chest.
Without saying another word, I grabbed Danny's hand and dragged him out of the restaurant. We walked quickly, and once we were far enough away, I led him to a bench outside. I sat down, exhaling deeply, and glanced over at Danny.
I didn't even realize it at first, but suddenly, I burst into laughter. It wasn't a normal laugh, though. It was wild, almost insane. I couldn't help myself, and I didn't know why it was happening. Maybe it was the release of everything I'd been holding in, or maybe it was the absurdity of it all.
Danny stared at me in shock, clearly confused. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "Are you sure you're not going crazy?"
I wiped tears of laughter from my eyes, still chuckling, though a bit weaker now. "I'm not crazy, Danny," I said between the remaining giggles. "I'm fine. Really."
"How can you laugh in a situation like this? What just happened shouldn't be taken lightly," he said, his voice full of concern.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "What exactly do you want me to do, Danny? Cry? Feel sad?" I scoffed, wiping my face. "I've done too much of that already. I have no strength left for it."
"But you didn't tell me about these people." Danny's voice softened. "When I asked you, you only told me about your mate, nothing more."
I looked away, my heart heavy. This was it. I had to tell him everything. "Danny, there's so much you don't know. So much I never told you... because I was ashamed." My voice quivered slightly as I spoke. "But you need to understand why I'm like this."
He sat beside me, his gaze filled with concern. "I want to understand, Zuria. You can tell me anything."
I took a deep breath and began, my words tumbling out in a rush. "I was orphaned at a young age. My uncle, Peter, took me in, but it wasn't as simple as that. His wife, Celeste, hated me. She blamed me for everything that went wrong in her life. She made me feel like a curse."
I paused, choking back the emotions that were bubbling up. "And Arien—" I stopped, shaking my head. "He wasn't the man I thought he was. He used me, rejected me, and left me to deal with everything alone."
Danny's hand gently rested on mine. "I'm so sorry, Zuria."
I nodded, forcing back the tears. "I'm stronger now, but I've been carrying all this pain for so long. I needed to tell you... because you're the only one who's ever made me feel like I'm worth something."
Danny squeezed my hand, his eyes full of empathy. "You are worth everything, Zuria. And I'll always be here for you."