Chapter 67. Not Again

AURELIA

My heart thundered, rage and frustration swirling in my mind, tightening every nerve. I met her glare, every word laced with anger. “Vesta, I’ve tried to respect you this entire journey. I’ve respected you from the moment I first saw you, for Julian’s sake. But mark my words—if I catch you staring at him even a moment longer than necessary, I might just take the liberty of gouging your eyes out myself.”

She let out a sharp, mocking laugh, eyes gleaming with a dark amusement. “Oh, Aurelia, I’d love to see you try.” She smirked, crossing her arms. “But let’s leave it to fate, shall we? Let’s see who fate really favors.”

Her words lingered between us, each one a pointed edge, cold and relentless. She held my gaze, and I saw the bitterness there—a resentment that had brewed since our journey began. Yet beneath her anger, there was something else—something wounded that she couldn’t fully mask, no matter how fiercely she tried.

Silence settled thickly, pres