The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 17

**One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**
**Chapter 17: The Haunted House**

Rayne poured out his frustrations to Axel, his voice thick with annoyance and disbelief. “You won’t believe what just happened!” he exclaimed, pacing back and forth. The more Axel absorbed the details, the more his brow furrowed in concern.

“Are you telling me she would prefer to stay in a haunted house rather than come back home?” he muttered, disbelief lacing his words.

Rayne shot him a sharp look, rolling his eyes in exasperation. “Axel, come on! That’s not the crux of the issue! Who cares if that brat lives or dies? The real problem here is getting me out of this mess!” His voice was tinged with desperation, a plea for understanding.

With a weary sigh, Axel rubbed his forehead, feeling the weight of the situation. “You let her get under your skin, you know. She only rented the place. The lease doesn’t even start until tomorrow. If we’re pointing fingers, we should be looking at Stormvale’s previous owner.”

That struck a nerve, sending a jolt of realization through Rayne.

In their haste to gossip and speculate, they had overlooked the crucial details of the lease. Now, with Axel’s astute reminder, everything clicked into place.

“Can you gather the torn pieces of the contract?” Rayne asked his assistant, determination flooding his voice. “We need to put it back together.” Sure enough, as they pieced it together, the start date confirmed it was the very next day.

“Unbelievable!” he hissed, frustration boiling over.

The thought of being outmaneuvered by Venus ignited a fire within Rayne. For a fleeting moment, he imagined storming back to confront her, his hands wrapping around her throat in a fit of rage.

“Go to Neil’s hospital and get your injuries treated,” Axel suggested coolly, his demeanor calm amidst the chaos. “I’ll take care of Venus.”

Rayne looked at Axel, puzzled. “Axel, don’t you think she seems… different lately? After that birthday party for Lumi, didn’t she cause some sort of scene?”

“Nothing major,” Axel replied, his tone flat and detached. “Just focus on getting your wounds treated. We can discuss this when you’re back.” His mind was elsewhere, darkening as he recalled the image of Venus walking away, her back turned defiantly.

It didn’t seem like she was throwing a fit; it felt like she was genuinely leaving.

But why? What had triggered this sudden shift in her behavior?

Axel couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Their family had rescued Venus from the clutches of a cruel adopted father. Shouldn’t she have felt some gratitude?

Over the past year, she had been nothing short of a whirlwind of trouble. Reckless and rude, she had even come dangerously close to hurting Lumi once.

Everyone despised her, yet no one had ever gone so far as to throw her out of the house.

So what gave her the audacity to act like the victim? As if the entire world owed her something?

Now, chaos reigned in their home. She was retaliating, and it was clear she had a target in mind.

First Percy, now Rayne. Who would be next?

Axel rubbed his temples, feeling the stress of the day weigh heavily on him. He had been knee-deep in dealing with Percy’s fallout, and now Rayne had been assaulted and dragged to the police station.

To top it all off, their public relations team was scrambling to spin the narrative as a mere misunderstanding.

After giving his secretary, who was rushing to the station, a few quick instructions, Axel stepped out into the night. His expression was cold, unreadable, as he drove towards Stormvale, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders.

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