Chapter 20
Kaeleen's POV
I had no idea when evening came. I was so caught up in my conversation with Marcus and Alex. Rebecca had left us halfway through our discussion saying she needed to rest since she hasn't had a single rest since this morning. Marcus, Alex and I were in one of the common rooms. We were reminiscing about old times, sharing stories and laughter. It was good to unwind. It's been a while since we all met up like this. It seemed Leon was good for something after all.
"So, how are things with Yvonne?" I asked Marcus, a teasing glint in my eyes.
Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She still doesn't want to speak to me," he said, his voice filled with frustration. "I don't know what to do anymore."
I chuckled, knowing my cousin all too well. "You have a lot of grovelling to do, Marcus," I said, shaking my head. "Yvonne is an independent woman and a pain in the butt. If she decides she doesn't want you in her life, she's going to make it stick. You'll have to convince her otherwise."
Marcus cursed under his breath. "I know, I know," he said, his voice laced with exasperation. "It's just…it's been two years, and I still can't seem to get through to her."
The story of Marcus and Yvonne was a complicated one. Two years ago, they had a one-night stand, a drunken encounter that resulted in Yvonne becoming pregnant. She chose to keep the baby, refusing to reveal the father's identity. Her own father, a traditionalist, was furious and threatened to disown her. I had to intervene, convincing him to reconsider.
It wasn't until a year later that we discovered Marcus was the father. It had been a drunken night, and no one suspected Yvonne harbored a secret crush on him. Well, except maybe Clara. As fate would have it, Yvonne had tried to tell Marcus about the pregnancy, but she saw him getting engaged to someone else. The engagement fell apart soon after, when it was revealed his fiancée had been cheating on him.
Marcus initially denied the baby when he found out, but eventually, he came around and tried to make amends. But Yvonne wasn't having it. She claimed she didn't want him in her life, that he had made his choice. I wasn't going to interfere unless I felt it was absolutely necessary. It was their mess to sort out.
We continued to joke and laugh, the easy banter a welcome distraction. But as the hours passed, I found my thoughts drifting back to Astrid. I was growing anxious, wondering if she would actually show up.
I decided to call it a night, telling Marcus and Alex I was tired. I wanted to be alone, to give Astrid a chance to come to me without feeling pressured.
Before leaving, I grabbed a plate of food from the kitchen – some roasted chicken, a salad, and a slice of apple pie. I wasn't sure if Astrid had eaten, and I wanted to make sure she had something available if she was hungry.
When I got to my room, I was disappointed to find it empty. Astrid wasn't there. I placed the plate of food on the table, hoping she would arrive later.
Hours passed, and I started to lose hope. Maybe I had misread the situation. Maybe Astrid didn't feel the same way. Maybe she had decided to stay with Leon. The thought stung, a sharp pang of jealousy and disappointment.
I decided to stop waiting, to try and get some sleep. I took a quick shower, letting the hot water wash away the tension and frustration. Then, I put on a pair of comfortable sweatpants and climbed into bed, turning off the lights.
I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. My mind was racing, filled with thoughts of Astrid, of her vulnerability, her strength, her captivating spirit.
Just as I was finally starting to drift off, I heard a soft knock on the door.
I frowned, wondering who could be knocking at this hour. It was the middle of the night, probably around 12 AM. I had no idea I had been tossing and turning for hours. And here I thought it was just minutes. I should have just used my phone instead but my thoughts were filled with Astrid. Images of her and what she was doing.
I had been so tempted to go find her myself but I thought to give her space. At least that was what Ryker suggested and I decided to listen to him.
I got out of bed, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. I walked to the door and hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening it.
What I saw on the other side filled me with shock and confusion.
Astrid stood there, her clothes torn and disheveled, her hands clutching the fabric together in a desperate attempt to cover herself. She was bleeding from her legs and hands, her skin scratched and bruised. Her hair was a mess, tangled and there was dirt and twigs sticking out if it, her eyes were red-rimmed, filled with a mixture of pain and fear.
I was speechless, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. "Astrid," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "What happened?"
Without a word, I stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly crossed the threshold, her eyes darting around the room as if she expected to be attacked.
I closed the door behind her, my mind racing with questions. What had happened to her? Who had done this? And why was she here, in my room, in the middle of the night?
"What happened? Why? How? What the fuck is going on? Who did this?" I asked her.
I was feeling a mix of emotions. Anger, fear, sadness, happiness at seeing she was still okay.
I shook my head. It wasn't time to question her. "I'll get a first aid kit." I said to her,