Chapter 72: It’s Handled

"Let go, Edgar," I said flatly, my voice dropping all its warmth, turning as cold as ice. "I’m tired."

Edgar lifted his head slowly from my shoulder, his golden eyes searching my pale face. His fingers came up, gently sliding the damp strands of hair clinging to the side of my face behind my ear.

"Sorry, Brianna," he whispered, his low voice thick with an unfamiliar, heavy weight. "I’ll definitely make it right."

I turned my face away from his hand, refusing to hold his gaze. I didn’t need him to make it right. Words and revoked privileges meant nothing in my world. My mind was already made up, my target locked in.

I was going to ruin Valentina. I would strip away everything she held dear, tear down her arrogance piece by piece, and ensure she paid for every single drop of blood she had spilled, and planned to spill.

And I would start by taking her precious brother away from her, let her fall into despair of having her own family turn on her.

Edgar slowly unclasped his arms from around my waist, letting me step back onto my own two feet.

Just as the space between us opened up, the doors creaked open once more.

Benjamin walked back into the suite, rubbing the back of his neck with a groan. Now that Jane’s whimpering wolf was out of range, the unbearable sensory noise had finally vanished, but the residual throbbing in his temples left a dark, irritated scowl across his handsome face.

He took two steps into the room, his bloodshot purple eyes sweeping over the cracked marble wall before locking straight onto me. He froze, his brows pulling together as he took in my tense posture, my clenched fists, and the lingering, deadly frost clinging to my skin.

"What happened in here?" Benjamin asked, his voice rough and laced with genuine suspicion as his gaze flicked between me and his uncle. "You look like you’re about to kill someone."

Yes, I almost, I thought, my jaw tightening in cold, silent promise. But now, I planned to play the long game.

I didn’t utter a single word to Benjamin. I simply smoothed down the front of my jacket, keeping my expression entirely impassive as I turned my attention back to Edgar.

Edgar, still standing close, felt the sudden shift in my aura—from raw, explosive rage to a calm, calculating stillness. He reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek, velvet-lined wooden box.

"As promised," Edgar murmured softly, stepping forward to hand it to me.

Inside rested the spirit artifact—a faint, ancient hum radiating from its smooth metallic surface, vibrating with just enough ambient power to make the air around my hands tingle. This was the key I needed to begin loosening Silas’s seal and restoring my true strength.

"Thank you," I said, my tone completely devoid of emotion as I took the box and tucked it against my ribs.

Benjamin’s purple eyes darted between the artifact box and Edgar’s steady gaze, his jaw clenching tightly. "Uncle, what did she just take? And what the hell did your sister do to cause this?"

"Leave it, Benjamin," Edgar said, his low voice cutting off any further interrogation as he watched me head toward the suite doors. "It’s handled."

I walked past Benjamin without giving him a second glance, my footsteps silent against the plush carpet. But then I paused near the threshold and asked without glancing back, "Benjamin, you wanted me to come today. Did you have somewhere you wanted to go?"

As his companion, I still wanted to play my part, but he let out a low groan, pressing two fingers hard against his throbbing temple.

"No, forget it. My head feels like it’s splitting," he muttered, his voice raspy from the lingering sensory overload. "I’ll go lock myself in my vault and go to sleep."

"Alright," I said, my voice completely even. "Then I won’t be back until you need me."

Benjamin frowned, his purple eyes tracking my quiet departure as he wondered what had actually transpired between his sister, his uncle, and me. But Edgar just stood beside his desk, watching in silence as I walked away, holding his tongue.

I made my way down the service stairs, slipped out through the casino’s back exit into the crisp air, and headed straight back home, the wooden box with the spirit artifact heavy and cold against my side.

I made my way back to our modest house, the cool autumn air hit my face, helping to burn off the remaining traces of pure murder that had clung to my skin back at the suite.

When I pushed the creaky front door open, the quiet, familiar scent of lavender and clean linen greeted me. Valerie was in the kitchen, wiping down the counter.

"Mother," I called out softly, stepping into the hallway. "How are you? Are you okay? How’s Father? Have you heard from him since he left for work?"

Valerie paused, turning around. She knew I wasn’t usually one to fuss or fret over small things, but the moment her eyes met mine, a flicker of genuine worry passed through her soft features. She took in my damp hair and the rigid, exhaustion-laced tension in my shoulders.

Without saying a word, she walked over and wrapped her arms gently around me, pulling me into a warm, quiet embrace.

I froze for a fraction of a second, my assassin instincts instantly going on guard before melting away.

"What is this for?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Valerie smiled, resting her chin lightly against my shoulder. "I just thought you could use one. So... does it make you feel better?"

I stood there in the quiet hallway, the warmth of a mother’s unconditional affection seeping straight through the cold armor I had built around my heart today. Slowly, I lifted my hands and clutched her back, hugging her in return.

"Yeah," I whispered into the quiet space between us. "I probably needed it." I pulled back slightly, looking at her with a subtle frown. "When will Father be back?"

"It’s not even noon yet, dear," Valerie chuckled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "He’s working but since it’s the weekend, he’ll be back in the afternoon."

Right, it’s Saturday. Even on weekends, the academy needed maintenance and cleaning, which meant Bradford was still out there unguarded. A knot of cold worry tightened in my chest, but I forced it down. All I could do for now was hope nothing happened to him in the meantime while I prepared my next move.

"I’m going up to my room to rest," I said, taking a step toward the stairs. "Please don’t disturb me for a while."

"Go ahead, rest up," Valerie said warmly, watching me head up.

I glanced back at her subtly, watching her smile and I pursed my lips. I hope she didn’t think I was acting weird. whatever.