Chapter 9 Unveiling Deception
Nevea
I had just finished sending my last email when I heard the door swung open, and it was so annoying. I looked up and found Ivar standing with bandages on his right arm. His strong and arrogant look was gone because he looked beaten and pale.
“Ivar?” I frowned and stood.
“What’s going on? What happened to you?”
Ivar let out a faint smile and closed the
door. And he slowly walked towards me.
“I need to talk to you,” he said with a
strained voice.
“It’s about… everything.”
“Everything?” I asked, and my eyes
furrowed.
“What does that even mean?”
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Ivar let out a breath and rubbed the back of
his neck.
“It’s about Kai, about Claire… and me. Something I think you would be dying to know.”
I raised an eyebrow. Ivar might have been beaten down, but his mouth remained the
same.
“I’m really not in the mood to talk about Kai or Claire right now, Ivar. In case you missed it, I no longer care. I am busy with work, with life.”
“I know,” he said quickly, his voice. unsteady.
“But you need to hear this, Nevea. It’s important. It‘ s… my fault.”
I blinked as I was caught off guard.
“What?”
Ivar took a deep breath and looked me in the eye.
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Chapter 9 Unveiling Deception.
“I messed up. Big time. Everything that‘ s happened between you and Kai… it’s partly my fault.”
I stared at him because Ivar’s words didn’t fully register.
“What are you talking about, Ivar?”
Guilt flashed all over Ivar’s face. He was not faking it, but I still find it odd. “I’ve been pushing Kai and Claire together. Manipulating things behind your back. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it was wrong.”
My heart thudded in my chest.
“You‘ ve been what?”
“I thought,” he began, his voice low and rushed, “that if I could push Claire and Kai together, maybe Claire would finally lose interest in him, and she‘ d…” he paused and swallowed hard.
“She‘ d notice me instead.”
I blinked in disbelief. I’ve heard rumors
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Chapter 9 Unveiling Deception
that Ivar liked Claire, but I never thought it
was true.
“So, you’ve been playing matchmaker. For what? To make her see you? And you let me believe Kai was just… throwing me aside?”
“Hey, I really thought I was helping,” Ivar said, almost desperately.
“I thought if Kai realized Claire wasn’t
right for him, he‘ d focus on you. And
he’d
Claire… well, maybe she’d finally see that I was the one who’s been there for her.”
Anger boiled in me that I probably looked red, but it didn’t matter.
“You were manipulating us. You intentionally ruined everything.
“I know… I know… I’m sorry, okay? I really didn’t mean to. I didn’t expect it to go this far. I thought it would clear the air between Claire and Kai, but I guess I worsened the situation.”
I studied Ivar for a moment. I know there
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was a hint of truth in what he said, but did
he tell the whole truth? Did Kai have
anything to do with these? Was Ivar coerced?
“Ivar, you are beta for a reason. It was not just because Kai was your best friend, and your father was a beta. But I had seen your combat skills and you’re almost as good as Kai. And so, what exactly happened to
you?” I asked and I didn’t bother to hide my suspicion on him.
“You mean this?” Ivar said, raising his bandage arm.
“Oh, this is nothing. Training. You know how intense it could become.”
“Please, stop copying, Claire. She is the queen of injury; she is more fragile than a toddler. Tell me what exactly happened, Ivar. Did Kai beat you up and send you
here?”
Ivar chuckled and sighed.
“Alright… Kai had been observing me and
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was a hint of truth in what he said, but did he tell the whole truth? Did Kai have
anything to do with these? Was Ivar coerced?
“Ivar, you are beta for a reason. It was not just because Kai was your best friend, and your father was a beta. But I had seen your combat skills and you’re almost as good as Kai. And so, what exactly happened to
you?” I asked and I didn’t bother to hide my suspicion on him.
“You mean this?” Ivar said, raising his bandage arm.
“Oh, this is nothing. Training. You know how intense it could become.”
“Please, stop copying, Claire. She is the queen of injury; she is more fragile than a toddler. Tell me what exactly happened, Ivar. Did Kai beat you up and send you
here?”
Ivar chuckled and sighed.
“Alright… Kai had been observing me and
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Claire. Earlier, while sparring, he really intentionally hurt me to punish me. He asked if I said something that might have offended you. He beat the shit out of me, and I was forced to tell him what I said to Claire during that dinner he arranged. I’m sure you have heard it, and so he broke my arm that it will take two days to heal. But…”
“I know I was right that something was off. And so, Kai sent you here to fix things on behalf of him,” I interrupted.
“But listen, Nevea. What I told you earlier was the truth. It has nothing to do with Kai. I came here because of pure conscience. When you left and ignored him, Kai became irritable with almost everyone, even Claire. He made everyone see that because of his duty to everyone, his life had been miserable and lonely. And so, he didn’t care whether he was rude or not but as long as he fulfilled his basic.
responsibility. Kai had lost his sense of living. He blamed himself, and I hate to see him like that. This is why I came to beg you
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to give him another chance. Kai deserves it, and you know he is all worth it. Please, Nevea.”
I felt like crying when I imagined how sad and hurt Kai might have been. But he still hurt me for being so blind, for just allowing our relationship to be the last of his priorities.
I sighed and said, “It’s too late now, Ivar. And why did he only send you? Even now, all he ever told me was that he is Alpha, and it’s his responsibility that he sounded like a broken record. He doesn’t seem to understand how painful it is to me.”
“Please, Nevea. I’m begging you to give him another chance. One last chance, please, Nevea.”
I shook my head and replied with a firm voice.
“I’m sorry, Ivar. I have made up my mind. I don’t think Kai and I fit together, just like what you said. I thought we were, but I was
