Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 427

**TITLE: Attachment 427**
**Chapter 427 Sickly Sweet**

**MINA**

Calista’s gasp was nothing short of theatrical as she pressed a hand to her chest, mimicking a damsel in distress, completely oblivious to the fact that she was the one who had sent me sprawling face-first into a puddle of half-melted slush.

“Oh no, Mina! I’m so, so sorry!” she babbled, her voice dripping with faux concern. “I wasn’t even looking! I think someone might have pushed me! Or maybe it was the wind. It’s really strong today, isn’t it? Or perhaps the lights just blinded me—”

Her words tumbled out in a rapid-fire stream, each one more desperate than the last.

I sat there in stunned silence, feeling the cold, wet slush seeping through my clothes, the chill gnawing at my bones. My palms throbbed with the impact, and sticky liquid dribbled down my sleeves, making me feel even more miserable.

Elias, however, let out a sharp exhale through his nose, a sound that seemed to cut through Calista’s incessant chatter.

“I think you might be drunk, Calista,” he remarked dryly, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.

Calista giggled, her laughter light and airy. “Oh, did you notice?”

He reached out a hand, clearly intending to help me up, but before he could even make contact, Calista wobbled precariously, lost her balance, and tumbled right into him.

Right into his arms.

She gasped, but this time her surprise was laced with a hint of delight.

“Oh my! Your muscles are really big,” she murmured, her hands splayed dramatically across his chest. “And you’re so handsome. And sexy. Especially with those glasses—”

Elias’s hands hovered awkwardly in the air, neither touching her nor allowing her to fall.

“Mina,” Calista slurred from the safety of Elias’s chest, “why are you still on the ground? Get up!”

Before I could even muster the strength to rise, another voice sliced through the chaos, smooth and condescending.

“Oh, Alpha Elias,” Rowena purred as she stepped into the circle of onlookers, her presence commanding attention. “You took pity on our maid.”

Her gaze flicked down to me, still sitting in a puddle of spilled drinks and snow, and I could feel the weight of her judgment.

Just then, a strong hand slid under my arm, lifting me effortlessly to my feet.

“Are you alright?” Aiden Knight asked, concern etched across his features.

His unexpected presence left me momentarily bewildered.

All around us, whispers began to swell, like the rising tide of a storm. The crowd parted, eyes widening, murmurs spreading like wildfire.

“Oh my,” Rowena breathed, her tone suddenly saccharine. “Aiden Knight. I’m so sorry you had to come all the way here just for this.”

He shook his head, his demeanor polite yet firm. “No, it’s alright.”

Then, his attention shifted back to me, his eyes softening with genuine concern. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“She’s fine,” Rowena interjected dismissively, a laugh escaping her lips. “She does this all the time. Makes a scene, then tries to garner sympathy.” She patted my shoulder with a force that almost jostled me. “But trust me, she’s sturdier than she looks.”

Calista remained glued to Elias, her grip unwavering.

Rowena didn’t relent.

Before Elias could voice another refusal, Calista shoved the glass to his lips, and he had no choice but to swallow some of the liquid.

Just then, Rowena moved to my side and squeezed my shoulder tightly, her grip possessive. “What are you still doing here? Leave,” she commanded.

I didn’t need to be told twice. I turned on my heel and began to walk away, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

Even as I distanced myself, the whispers continued to rise, a cacophony of judgment and speculation.

“How could she dance with Alpha Elias Rue?”

“Did you see how Aiden Knight rushed to her aid?”

“Why is she so desperate?”

“Who wouldn’t be? It’s Elias Rue and Aiden Knight.”

“Still, she has a lot of nerve to do so when she looks like that.”

I wanted no part of their commentary. I never did. It was futile—everyone always wanted something from someone in this place.

Whether it was status, validation, or a fleeting moment in the spotlight, the story never changed.

I kept walking, my heart heavy.

The murmurs followed me like small, biting insects. They didn’t know me. They didn’t know anything at all. But people never needed truth to fuel gossip; whispers and jealousy sufficed just fine.

I sighed and shook my head as I made my way down the quiet path, distancing myself from the celebration. Yeah, nothing ever came good from mingling with those who had a legion of admirers.