**Ch 318: Bitterness

By the next morning, I wish I would've never made my presence known, when Duncan told me after breakfast, "Mr. Collin sent for me to get you."

Upon entering Mr. Collin's office, I saw Mr. Whitlock sitting across from Kai's father on the couch with his men standing around.

"Victoria, my dear, Mr. Whitlock would like those gemstones he loaned you for your geology map project for Professor Mark's class," Mr. Collin informed me as he remained gentle and nice, although I still heard the strainful stress in his voice that he tried to hide under his smile. Mr. Whitlock refused to turn his head toward me and kept a cold shoulder.

"It's in my bedroom," I merely whispered as my head lowered from heartsickness.

Duncan was fast to retrieve it, and he handed it to Mr. Whitlock. After his bodyguards were finished peeling off every glued gemstone, he stood up and left out the door with his seven bodyguards.

"Don't mind his behavior towards you." Mr. Collin came to me and touched my shoulder. "He is grieving his loss."

I frowned before I left the office too.

"Mr. Whitlock!" I called, catching up to him and his bodyguards in the corridor.

With a dreadful gristle scowler, he confronted me. "I have nothing to say!" he gritted his teeth.

"I just wanted to say—"

"Save it!" he waved his hand up. "Don't you go believing, I don't know what you did! I've looked into your case, involving those other murder cases!"

"I didn't murder any—"

His voice thundered over mine. "Then tell me, who took my daughter's heart from her chest!"

"I was going to give my testimony but—"

Once again, he talked over me. "Mr. Collin told me his sheriff picked you up on the way to the station under my sponsorship before anyone could question you! Yet somehow afterward, two of my cops magically disappeared after taking you into custody before you could testify about what you had witnessed! Those cops worked for me! I'll tell you now, you will pay for the death of my daughter! I know Mr. Collin is covering for you. In a matter of time, that will soon end!"

After he yelled, he then turned away, and I stared at his back, leaving down the corridor with his men. Afterward, I disappeared to my bedroom until Mia came by and convinced me to join them in the living room, which was nearest to the kitchen and dining room. Ava, Rose, Sharlene, and Darlene were sitting on the sofas. Also, Coraline, and her brothers, Joshua and Colton, were coloring pictures with Kai's older sister Veronica at the coffee table while her son Ethan was napping in his playpen.

"Hey, Victoria, would you like to color with us?" Veronica sweetly asked me, sitting between Colton and Joshua on the floor.

"Sure, that would be nice." I smiled.

"Sit with me, Auntie Victoria!" Coraline pats the carpet between her and Colton. Darlene handed me a cushion for the floor, and I took a seat between them. Colton and Joshua were coloring a monster truck, and Coraline was coloring her favorite, which was a butterfly.

"Who's up for lava cake!" Rome entered the room with a large silvery tray with freshly baked lava cakes on it.

"Me!" The vamp kids were the first ones to raise their hands high.

"I thought so." Rome chuckled as he gave Coraline, Colton, and Joshua the first plates. "Consider this as an "I'm sorry" for my behavior at your surprise birthday party." He apologetically smiled, giving me my cake.

"I forgive you." I chuckled before I started to eat. I mean, it's a lava cake, how could I not forgive him? For being a vampire, Rome has a genuine aptitude skill when it comes to culinary arts.

After everyone, including Darlene, was given a plate, the news started talking about Rebecca's murder, and the two missing cops were also mentioned.

Mr. Collin and the sheriff said in their speech that it was the same criminal that was stalking me. My innocence was justified, and if anybody harassed me on the college grounds or in public, that person would be thrown off the campus or prosecuted. He also closed down the college until further notice. Other than that, the cafe was still open for those who are living in the dorms.

"We can turn this off." Mia was quick to turn the channel to cartoons from behind us on the couch with Rose and Darlene.

"Ok, I have utensils, plates, cups, drinks, food, and decorations written down. Is there anything else I forgot?" Ava asked us as she was going through her list for her gender reveal party that was coming up. She sat on the couch toward my left at the open entrance.

"You forgot party games and prizes," Veronica mentioned, and she wrote it down in her notebook.

At about that time, Kai walked in, and we all went silent, watching him. "Fill this with your blood," he told Darlene, giving her this old-looking vial made during the medieval period, and she appeared more than gleeful to do so.

Droplets of her blood dripped into it, after she bites her wrist with an ice-breaking crunch. Kai then took the vial and put it in his pocket. After he came over and kissed my head, he walked out, not saying a word.

"He's not doing what I think he is?" Rose bitterly griped.

"I'd say so," Veronica replied with a distressed sigh.

Before taking another bite out of her cake, Mia added. "He must be out of options."

"What are you talking about?" I asked the vampiresses.

"He's preparing to wake my older brother," Darlene answered. Unlike her, the other vampiresses weren't happy about it.

"Is that a problem?" I attempted to get answers.

"It is when he and his royal family wanted to make us breeders," Veronica explained. "As Kai's minion, he didn't obey him, so he tried to take Kai down by setting up a trap, but my brother found out and detained him."

"Yup," Rose agreed. "No offense, Darlene, but I think it's a bad idea."

"I understand," Darlene whispered between her and Mia.

"I wonder why he's waking him?" I pondered aloud.

"To protect you," Ava replied. "He may be a minion, but he's an Alpha."

Before I could speak, Zoey excitedly bounced in to announce. "Madeline is on her way over. She's having her baby!"

"Do you need help preparing the room?" Veronica excitedly sprung to her feet.

"Yes!" Zoey happily chimed. "Anyone who can help me, I'd greatly appreciate it!"