Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 208

If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was Suzie's house, but that's not who's staring back at us when we enter the home. It's the school nurse.

"Hey, Auntie." Ethel walks towards her place on the couch and gives her a big hug.

She smiles and hugs him back. "Hey, Ethel. What are you doing here?" Suddenly her face falls. "Is the meeting over already?" She hops off the couch, ready to run.

"No, no." Ethel waves her off, guiding her back to her seat. "It's still going on. Aiden just kicked us out."

"Well did he... kick him out too?" she asks.

Ethel shakes his head. "No. I think he's still there."

She finally breathes. What Ethel said relieves her, but it doesn't seem to make her feel better, if that makes sense. Now it seems like she has a new problem. She looks to the side, searching for words. "Well... How did the meeting go for him? Did he look alright?"

Ethel nods. "He did great. Him and Onai basically turned into Aiden's right-hand men. I went rogue and joined the luna." He smirks.

She smiles, tightly. Forcefully. "Good." She straightens her skirt out, clasping her hands together. Then she seems to remember Onai and I are there. She chuckles a little. "I'm so sorry, Luna. Beta, where are my manners? Hello."

We wave her off and say our hellos, but I'm stuck on what just happened. Because... what just happened?

Things get even stranger when Ethel asks her, "So what are you doing here?"

Is this not her house?

She points towards the kitchen. "Oh, I was just trying to make her some food so she could eat something. But you know Suzie. She doesn't want anything her mother touched."

The nurse is Suzie's mom? I look at Onai, but he shakes his head. It's a clear message. Don't ask.

She sighs and stands up, smiling at all of us sadly. "Excuse me. I think it's time for me to go."

"Are you sure?" Ethel asks.

She nods. "Try to talk to her if you can, though. Goodbye, Luna. Beta."

We say our goodbyes as quickly as we said our hellos, and then she's gone.

Ethel doesn't look at us. What's there to say? It's clearly not something they want to talk about, whatever it is. Ethel starts to lead me towards the stairs.

I can only see her back, but she's dressed from head to toe in a black robe with feathery ends. Her hair is up in a top-bun, and she's got stacks of eaten chocolate beside her. I don't know what video she's watching, but I can tell it's something on youtube.

Ethel walks up to her desk, gesturing for me to follow.

"Z," he says. "What are you doing?"

She doesn't move, grabbing another piece of chocolate. "Forgetting you all exist."

He shakes his head, taking the chocolate from her. "This has to stop. Come here, I brought Mia so you guys could work it out."

"Oh?" She turns to me. "She's come to apologize?"

I cock my head back. "Apologize for what?"

"I'll take that as a no." She turns back towards the computer, clicking the next video. The saddest violin solo known to man begins to blare throughout the room.

I cover my ears. Ethel sighs. I'm over this. It has to end here. Her room looks like a lair of doom and destruction. A bottomless pit of no return, and I won't be responsible for it. I came here to say something, so I'm gonna say it. I move towards the computer so she would have to make an effort to not see me.