Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)

Chapter 254 - 253: Pride

All five of them, including Laila, turned at the same time.

Eryx’s grip finally loosened completely as his gaze landed on the woman approaching. "Mom."

They parted for her as they greeted her. "Hi, Aunty."

"Hi mom." He and Laila greeted her at the same time. He finally let go of her hand.

Her eyes moved over them. "Why are you standing at the entrance like that?"

Azrael looked away, his jaw tight like he could murder Laila if Athena ended up not being here for real.

Theodore straightened slightly. But the anger on his shoulder was impossible to ignore, especially when the weather was beginning to get cold.

Rhydric let out a humorless laugh as his tongue traced inside of his cheek, trying to compose himself but he was failing real bad.

Eryx’s gaze remained on Laila, truly wishing she is not his blood so he could murder her in cold blood.

Laila on the other hand really wished she didn’t play with them like this. She didn’t think they were going to take it this personal. The only person she thought was going to probably take it overboard was the mate.

"It’s nothing," Eryx managed to say.

Seraphina nodded. "Okay then... I need to speak to all of you after this."

"Look who is here." A bright voice walked towards them.

Theodore’s face hardened the moment his eyes landed on his mother. "What is she doing here?"

Eryx’s mom’s gaze drifted to him before she smiled at the woman approaching her.

Both the ladies hugged.

"Well, this is unexpected," the woman said lightly as she pulled back, her eyes briefly sweeping over the group before settling on Theodore.

Seraphina laughed. "I haven’t seen you in years... Where were you?"

Mrs Argentis blushed. "I was having the best time of my life with my husband, what did you expect?"

Theodore scoffed so loudly it felt like the floor beneath them could crack. "Obviously."

The smile on Mrs Argentis’s face dropped immediately.

So did Seraphina’s.

Her gaze softened as she approached her son. "Theodore—"

But he walked past her like she wasn’t even there.

Like she didn’t exist.

A small silence fell between them.

Mrs Argentis’s hand remained slightly lifted in the air for a second longer before she slowly lowered it.

Her expression dropped as she felt tears welled up her eyes, but she quickly blinked it away.

.

Seraphina watched the direction Theodore left, her face unreadable. "...You should have expected that," she said calmly.

Mrs Argentis let out a small breath, her fingers curling slightly at her side. "I did."

Her gaze followed him. "I just thought..." she trailed off, then shook her head once. "It’s fine."

Eryx looked away still boiling from the knowledge that Athena isn’t here.

Azrael didn’t even react to their family conflict.

Rhydric’s jaw tightened slightly, his gaze flicking once toward the direction Theodore went before he looked away again.

Laila stood there quietly, her earlier energy completely gone, her eyes moving between them like she didn’t know where to place herself anymore.

Seraphina turned back to her, her expression returning to neutral like nothing just happened. "Go sit," she said simply."All of you." she added when they didn’t move.

With that, everyone went and took their seats.

A seat was already prepared for the Phantom Four.

Eryx, Azrael, and Rhydric took theirs. Theodore was already seated, his expression still sharp enough to cut through the entire hall.

On the other side of the table, Laila slipped back into her seat beside Alaric.

Mr. Argentis had gone over to where the parents were meant to sit, beside Seraphina and his wife.

Felicia leaned slightly toward the table, lowering her voice. "What happened?" she asked, feeling genuinely concerned after she saw the look on her face.

Laila kept her eyes on her hands for a second too long before she finally exhaled softly. "They didn’t take it easy... They are definitely going to murder me after this." She said, her eyes flickering to where they sat not far away from them.

Felicia frowned. "This is not good."

Leo leaned back slightly in his chair, glancing between Laila and the Phantom Four like he was watching a very expensive disaster unfold.

"...So what I’m hearing is," he said slowly, "you accidentally summoned four emotionally unstable rich guys back from the dead with bad news and no context."

He nodded once to himself. "Honestly? That’s impressive. That’s like elite-level chaos."

Levi hit the back of his head without warning.

"Shut up," Levi muttered flatly.

Leo jolted forward. "Ow... what was that for?!"

"For enjoying her suffering out loud," Levi said, expression unchanged.

Leo rubbed the back of his head, offended. "I wasn’t enjoying it. I was analysing it... I already told her I could blame her for it and she said she was cool with it. Isn’t it Laila?"

Laila breathed. "Yeah... blame me. It is not like I wouldn’t get murdered after this."

Everyone burst into laughter except Alaric and Armand.

Alaric genuinely looked worried at her.

The laughter around the table kept going for a moment, Leo still nodding like he had contributed something meaningful, Levi shaking his head like he couldn’t believe him, and Felicia trying to calm down while still laughing under her breath.

But Alaric wasn’t laughing.

His gaze stayed fixed on Laila, something uneasy settling in his expression.

"You don’t have to talk to them again tonight... Because they’re clearly angry, and probably hard to deal with... You can come home with us instead."

Laila blinked like she hadn’t expected that from him.

Then she let out a small breath, almost like she didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. "...Home with you guys?" she repeated, pointing slightly between them. "And do what? Sit in silence while you all look at me like I committed a crime?"

Felicia snorted lightly under her breath, but didn’t interrupt.

Leo leaned back. "That actually sounds peaceful."

"Of course it does," Levi muttered.

Alaric on the other hand didn’t smile. "I’m serious," he said.

Laila’s fingers tapped once against the table, slowly.

Her eyes flicked briefly toward where the Phantom Four sat, still heavy even from across the hall. Then back to Alaric.

"...I know," she said gently. "But I can’t."

Alaric’s expression tightened slightly. "Why not?"

Laila hesitated just a fraction too long. Then she shrugged lightly, like she was trying to make it sound small.

"Because if I leave now," she said, forcing a small smile, "they’ll actually think I ran away. And I’m not giving them the satisfaction of that."

Leo blinked. "That is your reason?"

"Yes," Laila said immediately.

Levi shook his head. "That’s pride, not logic."

Armand shook his head at her as he took a sip from his glass.

Alaric gaze stayed on her a moment longer, still unsettled.

"...You’re not taking this seriously enough," he said quietly.

Laila’s smile softened slightly, but didn’t disappear. "I am," she replied. "Just not in the way you want."