Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 27: Clarissa – The Scar

I could hear all their murmuring clearly, and it only made me panic even more.

My brain scrambled to find an excuse, anything.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

From the front, Edwin approached with his trademark grin.

Perfect. I could hide behind him!

"Edwin," I whispered.

"No need to be embarrassed, Sister Clar," he said confidently.

Before I could even ask him to block their view of me, he casually pulled my hand away from my face.

"Hahh!"

"Her face—"

"So her pretty face earlier was just makeup?"

"Looks like Alpha Green chose the wrong daughter!"

I didn’t look their way, but I could easily imagine the judging stares throwing knives at me.

Panicking, I covered my face again.

Through the gaps between my fingers, I saw Edwin’s expression shift in shock.

"S-sorry," he muttered.

He must’ve thought my makeup was still intact and that I was just shy about being in the spotlight. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"I’m fine—"

Before I could finish, Edwin shrugged off his jacket, placed it over my head like a shelter, and tugged me along.

But... could we really leave just like that?

"Edwin, maybe we shouldn’t go," I tried to tell him.

But he walked so fast he probably didn’t hear a word.

He only let go of my hand once we reached the parking lot. I was gasping from trying to keep up.

Remembering how fast he’d dashed into the faculty room before, so fast he’d looked like a streak of burgundy, this pace was considered slow for him.

Edwin turned to me, guilt written all over his face.

"I..." He looked like a puppy caught breaking plates at home.

I reached up and gently patted his long burgundy hair. "I’m not blaming you."

"Really? You’re really not mad at me?" he asked, blinking rapidly.

Like this, he didn’t look like the mischievous Edwin I knew. He looked more like an adorable little brother.

"Of course not. But we need to go back inside," I said.

"Why? They’ll insult your scar again..."

"That’s fine. They’re going to find out what Sanders did to me anyway."

"Right! It’s Sanders fault all along." Edwin nodded, no longer gloomy.

I returned his jacket, fixed my hair a little, and we walked back toward the hall.

We had barely taken a few steps when Darren appeared from the opposite direction, holding my pouch.

Great. At least I could touch up a bit and look somewhat presentable, even if I wasn’t planning to hide my scars.

"You two should go home first," Darren said as soon as he reached us. His tone sharp and unexpected.

"Why?" I asked.

"Things are chaotic inside. Just go home." He handed me my pouch.

"But I—"

"Clarissa, please don’t cause trouble at someone else’s event." Darren’s voice suddenly rose.

Both Edwin and I froze, shocked.

Darren seemed to realize it instantly. He rubbed his face and held my hand gently.

"I’m sorry, Clarissa. I wasn’t mad at you. I’m angry at the people inside, those who insulted you without knowing anything. I’m sorry I took it out on you."

I didn’t know what to say.

"So please... go home with Edwin first. Let me handle things inside."

I still didn’t respond, but Darren gave Edwin a look. Edwin gently led me into the car.

His car drove away from the venue.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

Until I finally said, "Actually... because they don’t know anything, I should be the one explaining."

My sigh was so long that even the anxious Edwin finally responded.

"Don’t worry, Sister Clar. I’m sure Brother Dar can explain everything to the guests. Sister Shan and Mother will help too."

I kept my eyes fixed on the night sky. It was dark, clouded, without stars or moon.

At least my heart didn’t feel as dark as that sky when I remembered them... my family.

I trusted that they could explain everything.

I went home with a calmer heart, unaware that I had forgotten the most important thing...

The reason my face ended up exposed in the first place.

...

At Alpha Green’s residence, I stayed in the room Luna had shown me before.

Now the furniture and decorations were more complete than last time.

The wardrobe was filled with new clothes, casual outfits, party dresses, even uniforms.

After years of having only one set of school uniform, I finally knew what it felt like to have more than one. I wouldn’t have to stress out whenever it got dirty again.

The vanity table was stocked too with makeup, body care, skincare, even ointments for the scars on my face and body.

I never dreamed of having all this before turning eighteen.

But it had been my dream, something I hoped to afford once I started working.

Life is unpredictable.

I got all of this right before turning eighteen.

I sat at my study desk, reading a book about omegas.

On the second floor, besides my room and Shannon’s, there was a shared library that also doubled as Darren’s office.

He allowed me to read there whenever I wanted.

There was another library in the house, Alpha Will’s private one, which also served as his office.

Of course, I wasn’t allowed to enter that one.

I turned back to the book in my hands.

I was trying to figure out why my heat suddenly flared up at the party earlier.

"Was it really heat... or something else?" I murmured.

"Irregular heat may occur due to certain substances, or after intimate contact with one’s fated mate..."

I shook my head quickly at the words intimate contact.

"Intimate contact? I don’t even know who my fated mate is."

Flustered, I skimmed through the pages. Until another line caught my eye:

"Heat or irregular heat can also be stopped through contact with one’s fated mate."

And just like that, one face appeared in my mind.

Black hair. Deep crimson eyes.

As the top student in my class, I was well-versed in common knowledge, including the signs of fated mates.

Even if I didn’t want to admit it...

the racing heartbeat, the natural pull of attraction, the comforting yet addictive touch.

I felt all of it whenever I was with Richard.

Without thinking, I murmured,

"Could he... be my fated mate?"

...