I need a way out of this mess.
And I need to get Allyn Delgado the fuck out of my head.
For her own good
CHAPTER13
ALLYN
“Finally.’’
Lydia exhaled loudly as she stepped out of the car, her face hidden behind large black sunglasses.
The drive had felt like an eternity.
It was only two hours, but with Maddox in the backseat, shooting me these unsettling glances when he thought I wasn’t looking, the time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
But now, here I was. Home.
A big smile stretched across my face as I stared at the familiar house in front of me. It wasn’t as grand or luxurious as The King’s residence, but it was my home.
And just in time, my mother appeared from the front door, her smile warm as she walked toward us, with Clarissa by her side.
‘‘Allyn!”
She wrapped me in her arms before I could say anything, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax in the embrace.
It felt… strange. Genuine. Warm.
It was the first time in years I felt this type of affection from her, and it left me momentarily speechless. But I hugged her back.
Pulling back, my mom turned her attention to Lydia and Maddox. Her eyes brightened as they met theirs.
“I’m so happy to have you here as my guests. Lydia, it’s so lovely to finallymeet you.”
Lydia smiled politely.
“Thank you for having us, Mrs. Delgado.”
My mom waved it off with a soft laugh.
“Please, call me Alicent. We’ll be family soon enough, after all.”
I felt a pinch in my chest as the words hit me, but I kept the smile on my face.
Lydia, ever graceful, smiled back at her.
But Maddox… Maddox wasn’t even trying to hide his disdain. His scoff came through loud and clear, just behind us.
Mom’s smile remained as she addressed both Lydia and Maddox. “Clarissa will take you to your rooms.”
Clarissa, standing quietly by her side, stepped forward with her eyes cast down, avoiding eye contact.
Maddox and Lydia followed my mother back into the house, leaving me standing alone in the yard. I watched them walk inside, my gaze lingering on them until they disappeared from view.
When the door shut behind them, my mother finally turned to me, a wide smile spreading across her face, one that felt too bright for my liking.
“We have so much to talk about,” she said, her voice full of excitement. She grabbed my hand and began pulling me towards the house with a force that felt almost too eager. “Tell me about Angelo. What do you think of him?”