Chapter 261: Chapter 261

Drake sputtered, a little plume of smoke puffing out as his cheeks flamed. "I will turn you into steam! Steam will fly everywhere and I will catch every shiny thing that floats out!" He puffed his chest so hard that a few nearby leaves trembled.

Boo floated nearby, hands clasped like a soap-opera fan. "Ooooh, kidnap plot! Boo wants popcorn for this!" He did a tiny twirl, nearly toppling over from excitement.

Luna, who had been pretending not to notice, shot forward and planted her paws on Drake’s shoulders, growling in the cutest, most theatrical way possible. "Drake, if you so much as try to kidnap anyone, I will hunt you for a week and make you run in circles!" Her tail flicked; she tried to look fierce, but her ears betrayed a grin.

"Don’t you dare kidnap my friend!" Vlad Jr. said indignantly, smoothing his tie with dramatic severity. "That is infraction number... a lot. A very big lot." He folded his tiny hands, trying very hard to look terrifying—which only made him look like a dignified porcelain toy.

Rocky shuffled over with a worried face and a pebble tucked in his pocket like a comfort charm. "Drake... maybe instead of kidnapping, we can... trade? I have some pretty pebbles. Not stolen, I promise." He held out a smooth gray pebble like an apology offering.

Felix rolled his tails and smirked. "If you do kidnap Kelpie, make sure you pack sunscreen. He’ll melt you with all that shiny charm." He winked, which only made Drake more determined.

Sable, standing nearby, looked up with big, hopeful eyes. "Drake... if you go to Kelpie’s house, can you bring back a little shell for me?" His voice was small but full of trust.

Drake’s face softened at Sable’s earnestness. For a second, his kidnapping plan changed into a heroic quest. "Okay! I will go to Kelpie’s and bring back all the... the shiniest things! For Lucien, for Sable, for everyone!" He puffed up once more, then promptly tripped over his own foot and landed on the ground with a spectacular squeak.

Everyone burst out laughing. Kelpie splashed appreciatively, Boo did a giddy ghost-hop, and even Vlad Jr. allowed a faint smile.

It was the weekend, and Alina’s heart was light with anticipation. The first thing she did after waking up was head straight to the bank. The air was crisp, the sky clear, and her steps quick with excitement. When the clerk handed her the slip confirming her salary deposit, she almost couldn’t believe the number glowing back at her. Her chest filled with warmth—finally, after all her struggles, she could breathe a little easier.

She left the bank smiling so hard that passersby glanced at her curiously. With her first salary, she bought a small bouquet for her mother and two wrapped gifts–a soft, pretty scarf for her aunt and her mom.

When she reached the hospital, she greeted the familiar nurses with a polite smile. The corridors smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender air freshener, a mix that always made her chest tighten. As she turned into her mother’s ward, she slowed. Voices drifted from inside....her aunt’s voice, trembling and broken.

"I don’t know what to do anymore, Hannah," Aunt Lyla sobbed softly. "I think... Luther... he’s cheating on me. But I can’t leave him. If I divorce him, what will happen to my baby? He’s only fifteen... he needs a father figure. I can’t let my anger destroy his life."

Alina froze near the doorway, her pulse tightening.

Her aunt’s voice cracked again. "Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe it’s because I’m not beautiful anymore. I don’t have time to take care of myself—the hospital, the shifts, taking care of my sister... everything is on me. I feel so tired, so empty."

She heard another person’s voice because her aunt’s phone was on speaker.

There was a faint sound from the call, from the person her aunt was talking to. "Lyla... stop blaming yourself. You’ve done everything for everyone. Some men just don’t see what they already have."

Lyla sniffled, her voice trembling. "But what am I supposed to do, Hannah? Pretend everything is fine? Smile at him when he walks through the door smelling like another woman? I can’t even cry in front of my son. I have to act strong."

Alina’s throat tightened painfully. She pressed a hand to her mouth, tears pooling in her eyes. Uncle Luther... cheating on Aunt Lyla? The words burned like fire. She couldn’t imagine the kind, cheerful woman who had raised her through her hardest years sitting there now, crying like someone had torn her world apart.

She heard the faint voice of Hannah from the call. "You’re strong, Lyla. You’ve always been. But you can’t carry the whole world alone. Maybe it’s time to think about what makes you happy too."

Alina stepped back silently, her heart aching. She wanted to run in, hug her aunt, tell her she wasn’t alone but something in her aunt’s voice stopped her. Lyla’s pain wasn’t ready for comfort yet.

Outside the ward, Alina leaned against the wall, her eyes wet. She looked down at the gifts in her hands—the ones she had bought with such joy and now they felt heavier, as though they carried the pain of her aunt’s tears.

How unfair life could be, she thought, swallowing hard. People who give everything still end up hurt the most.

After her aunt ended the call, she brushed her tears quickly, straightened her shoulders, and took a deep breath before stepping inside with a small, trembling smile. "Aunty... look, I brought you something."

Her voice was soft but full of love, as if trying to replace the pain she had overheard with even the smallest spark of warmth.

Aunt Lyla quickly wiped her tears and forced a small smile, the kind that tried to hide too much pain. "Lina! Thank you, sweetheart," she said softly, her voice trembling yet trying to sound cheerful. "You always bring such thoughtful things..." Googlᴇ search 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥

Alina smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, the heaviness in her chest refused to lift. "Aunt... are you okay?" she asked gently, placing the gift bag on the nearby chair. Her tone was soft, careful, almost hesitant.