Chapter 30
"How coulid you say that about me?" Holley muttered irritably. She was used to getting her way at home,always talking back without worrying about the outcome."L."
"Enough!" Barry snapped, his patience finally wearing thin. He glared at her, his jaw tightening as he tried to keep his anger in check. How had he ended up with such a brainless sister?
If she weren't family, he might've already lost control.She never knew when to stop, always picking fights and never saying anything pleasant.
Holley wasn't entirely foolish, but she had her pride.Being shouted at by Barry in front of others stung deeply. "Fine! Go by yourself then! I'm not coming!"she snapped, spinning on her heel in fury.
Usually, Barry would have tried to smooth things over.She was his sister, after all. But not today. He had far more important things to handle. His tone turned cold."Then go back with Rita if you don't want to come."
He truly didn't have the patience for her this time. With Marc and the others out of the hospital, this was his chance to earn Rayden's favor, and he wasn't going to
waste it over Holley's tantrum. He needed to act fast before Marc returned.
"You!" Holley's voice trembled with anger, "Don't you dare ask me for help next time!"
Barry didn't even look at her. Keeping his composure,he addressed the group of orthopedic specialists politely, "My uncle's in the room next door.Please follow me."
"Fine! Whatever!" Holley snapped before storming off,
Barry watched her leave, but he didn't bother calling her back.
A dull ache settled in her chest. Barry's coldness stung more than Marc's indifference ever did, because Barry was her brother.
Holley muttered under her breath, "What a jerk," and kicked a trash can near the elevator.
She was already in a terrible mood, and Barry's attitude had pushed her over the edge.
"Ugh, stupid Barry!" she grumbled, giving the trash can another,harder kick.
Unbeknownst to her, Theodore was standing nearby.
His face was unreadable, his cold eyes landing on Holley's tantrum. He didn't speak; he just watched her,
Wilbur stood beside him and remained quiet,too.
Theodore's quiet authority was undeniable, and everywhere he went, people noticed.
A faint whiff of cedar followed him as he passed by.Holley caught sight of him and her anger melted away instantly. "Theodore!" she said, brightening as if her tantrum moments ago had never happened. "You're here to see Rita and Uncle Rayden, right? Uncle Rayden's in Room 501, and Rita's in Room 502."
Theodore glanced at her briefly, then looked away.He said nothing.
Holley, recalling what she had done, quickly bent down to right the trash can and wiped her hands clean with sanitizer from the dispenser near the elevator.
"Theodore, did you know that-" she began, but her words trailed off.
She'd been about to mention that Marissa had returned to the Curtis family, but the memory of Marissa's engagement to Theodore made her bite her tongue. Suddenly, she didn't want to say anything at all.
Theodore didn't ask what she'd been about to say. He didn't even seem curious.
That was just how he was-indifferent, detached.He
never wasted his attention on people or things that didn't matter to him.
Holley,however,kept chattering. Normally, anyone else would've said something in response, even out of politeness, but not Theodore.
To him, she might as well have been talking to the wall.
And that was exactly what drew her in. Holley liked men who were not interested in her. She found no fun in those who chased after her.
Theodore was like a distant star, impossible to reach,and she was determined to be the one to catch him.
Stealing him away from Marissa would make the victory even sweeter.
"Theodore," she said teasingly, "why are you so cold to me? Not a single word?"
Her tone dripped with sweetness, enough to make anyone cringe.
Theodore stayed silent, and Wilbur, on the other hand,nearly shivered from secondhand embarrassment.He wondered how Theodore had managed to endure it.
What Wilbur didn't know was, to Theodore, Holley's voice was nothing but background noise. He didn't even bother to acknowledge her.
But Holley didn't give up. "It's okay. I get it. People are always distant toward those they don't like." She gave him a small smile, undeterred. "I was so upset earlier,but the moment I saw you, everything felt better.You're my cure,Theodore. The only one who makes me feel better. Do you know what your place in my heart is? It's so special that-"
Her words cut off when she noticed Marissa standing by the door ahead.
She was leaning casually against the doorframe, her hands tucked into her suit pockets, watching them with a detached expression.
"Why are you just standing there?" Theodore stopped in front of her, his usually cold eyes softening just a fraction.
"Theodore!" Holley burst out, nearly trembling with frustration.
He hadn't said a single word to her the whole way here,yet the moment he saw Marissa, he spoke up.Annoyed, she let out a sharp snort. "Marissa, is it because you're useless that you got kicked out?"
Why did everyone always treat Marissa so well?