Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 153

Phoebe found herself lost in thought, reflecting on the tangled web of her relationship with Viola and the disastrous fallout that had ensued between Viola and Kevin. There was a part of her that could empathize with Viola’s choice to escape; after all, if the tables had been turned, she too would have sought refuge from the chaos. Their bond, once vibrant and full of promise, now felt irretrievably broken—a ship that had sailed into the distance, never to return.

“You look… wonderful,” Viola stammered, her voice breaking the heavy silence that enveloped us as we strolled through the garden.

This garden was a tapestry of memories, a place where Elder Tricia and I had shared our first heartfelt conversation. We settled onto a familiar bench, nestled beneath the elegant wisteria trees, their blossoms dancing gently in the soft breeze, creating a serene atmosphere that felt almost surreal.

Gripping my notepad and pen tightly, I prepared to express the thoughts swirling in my mind.

“I’m not sure how to begin,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “But I owe you an apology for all the hurt I may have caused you, whether directly or indirectly. I never meant to inflict pain.”

Her words were directed toward Kevin, the tempest that had swept through my life the moment she had vanished from the scene.

[You don’t need to apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong,] I wrote quickly, lifting the page for her to read.

“When I first met you, you seemed so innocent and young,” Viola continued, her gaze drifting toward the clear blue sky above, as if searching for clarity. “I had hoped I’d finally found a little sister, especially since my baby brother has been nothing but a headache since he was born.”

A smile tugged at my lips as I listened to her reminisce, the warmth of nostalgia washing over me.

“Maybe you think I’m only bringing this up because I want something from you now that you hold all the power,” she said, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that took me by surprise. “But the truth is, I know you owe me nothing. In fact, I owe you everything for the torment I’ve put you through. But please… think of my mother.”

I instinctively recoiled, my gaze drawn to the horizon, unwilling to engage with her words. I let her fill the silence, her voice echoing in the stillness.

“I understand you despise my mother for her cruelty. She has wronged you countless times and poisoned your father against you. But she is still my mother,” Viola said, her hand instinctively resting on her belly, as if seeking comfort. “And now I’m about to be a mother too. I need her by my side because I have no idea what I’m doing.”

My heart raced with a surge of conflicting emotions, and I bit my lip, fighting back tears—not from fear, but from a seething rage. How could she even entertain the thought of asking this of me after all I had endured at her mother’s hands?

[My father is still rotting away in the dungeon. What makes you think I would lift a finger to save your mother’s life?] I wrote, my heart pounding in my chest.

Viola’s flowing dress concealed the small bump she carried, but after her confession, my eyes were drawn to her abdomen. She was nurturing a child while I had lost mine, all because of Reginald, her brother, and the years of torment inflicted by her mother.

Yet here she was, daring to plead for my assistance.

Call me cold-hearted—many had labeled me worse—but there was no way I would help her.

[I don’t hate you, Viola, but you are barking up the wrong tree. And yes, it’s far too late for you to play the sister card.]

I had heard enough. Rising abruptly, I left Viola sitting alone on that bench, her broken sobs reverberating in my ears as I walked away.

A pang of guilt twisted in my stomach for being so harsh, yet the fire of anger burned even hotter. How could she grasp my suffering and still make such a request?

Besides, I knew I couldn’t save her mother even if I wanted to.

“When the king returns from battle, you’ll have the ceremony you deserve. By then, you’ll be this kingdom’s queen. You cannot bow your head to anyone.”

Marcela wasn’t trying to intimidate me; she wanted to prepare me for what lay ahead.

It was a small lesson, but one that held great significance.

“Your actions, your words, everything you do will reflect on the king,” she continued, a grimace crossing her face. “Well, he already has a terrible reputation as the Mad King, but hopefully your presence will bring some much-needed balance.”

I nodded, fully understanding the weight of her words.

I would give it everything I had.

That night, sleep eluded me. In just two days, Perry would be here. I missed him fiercely, yearning for the moment when time would hurry along.

Suddenly, I heard the creak of my bedroom door slowly opening.

As I stood on the brink of transformation, the echoes of my encounter with Viola lingered in my thoughts, a bittersweet reminder of the complexities of our intertwined lives marked by pain and loss. The garden, once a sanctuary, had morphed into a battleground of emotions, where the weight of our past collided with the uncertain future that lay ahead. Viola’s desperate plea had stirred a tempest within me, igniting a fierce resolve to protect what little I had left. Though I could not bear the thought of aiding her mother, I felt an unexpected flicker of compassion for Viola, who now bore the burden of impending motherhood. In that moment, I recognized the fragility of our shared humanity, even amidst the chaos that had defined our lives.

With Perry’s return looming on the horizon, a surge of hope blossomed within my heart, juxtaposed against the remnants of sorrow from my past. The promise of a new chapter as queen filled me with a sense of purpose, a chance to redefine my destiny beyond the shadows of grief and betrayal. Marcela’s words resonated deeply, reminding me that my strength would not only shape my own path but also influence the kingdom I was destined to serve. As I prepared to embrace my role, I vowed to carry the lessons learned from my struggles, transforming them into a source of power that would guide me through the challenges ahead. In this moment of reflection, I resolved to honor my journey, knowing that every step forward was a testament to my resilience and an affirmation of the love I held for those who mattered most.