Chapter 159
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CHATTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY NINE
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY NINE
Talia’s POV
I stared at him as I did not know how to respond.
“Do you want Nolan?” Colin asked again.
“I don’t know… I lost control of myself. It wasn’t right,” I muttered.
“That’s not what I asked you,” Colin said.
My mouth opened, but no answer came out. I had no idea how to explain it. For a moment, I couldn’t look at him.
“I… am not sure,” I said finally.
“You do not have to answer now,” Colin said. “I only want you to think about it. Ask yourself why you felt ashamed when you realized it was Jason and not Nolan.”
I looked down at my hands. I forced myself to relax. Colin wasn’t judging me. He just wanted to help me sort out my thoughts.
Colin went on, “It is a right thing that Nolan is the one who saved you.”
I looked up again. “Why would you say that?”
“Because he did what a decent man should do,” Colin said. “He pulled Jason off you and brought you to the hospital. He did not touch you while you were vulnerable and in heat.”
I frowned. I didn’t even remember Nolan rescuing me actually. All I had were the fragmented pieces of Jason assaulting me.
“Let me ask you something else,” Colin said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “If Nolan had been the one who drugged you and tried to take advantage of you, would that make you feel better about what happened?”
The question hit me like a slap.
“No,” I said immediately. “Of course not.”
“Exactly,” Colin said. “If he had drugged you, that would mean he planned to hurt you. Would you be able to forgive that?”
“No,” I answered almost immediately.
“Then do not wish he had been the one in that room,” Colin said. “If it had been him kissing you in that state, it would mean he chose to be like Jason. That is not the man you want him to be.”
I had not thought of it that way. The idea of Nolan planning to drug me and force a mark just seemed absurd especially after he has tried so hard not to mark me.
“So, you are saying it is better this way?” I asked. “It is better that it was Jason who did this and not Nolan, because it proves who they really are?”
“Yes,” Colin said, “Remember I said to test Nolan. Well, treat this as a test too.”
“What?”
“Nolan had every chance to take advantage of you. He brought you to safety instead. If you decide to choose him as your mate, I will support you.”
There was no hesitation in his tone. No resentment. Just calm acceptance.
“Thank you,” I said.
He gave a small nod. “You should rest now. We can talk again when you have had time to think.”
1/3
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY NINE
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Colin stood and picked up the empty tray from the table. For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to leave. His conversation had distracted me enough that I didn’t want to be alone.
“Sleep if you can,” he said. “And remember what I asked you.”
“I will,” I said.
Colin left the room and closed the door behind him.
I lay back on the bed and pulled the blanket over myself again. I stared at the ceiling and thought about his questions.
I hated that Jason had touched me at all. I hated that my body had responded to him and the fact that there was nothing I could do about it. I felt ashamed only because when I thought it was Nolan, I had accepted it.
When I focused on the fact that Nolan had pulled Jason away from me and carried me out of there, I felt a different kind of emotion. It was not fear. It was a mix of gratitude and sadness that once again Nolan didn’t mark me.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered.
Colin was right to say this was a test for Nolan. If Nolan had been the one who slipped something into my drink, I would never want to see him again. Instead, Nolan didn’t act selfishly.
Jaseh, on the other hand, had taken every opportunity to do the worst thing he could. He had known exactly what he was doing.
Fear crept in when I forced myself to picture Jason’s face over mine again. My heartbeat picked up, and I squeezed my eyes shut until the image faded.
By morning, I felt exhausted as I had only slept for a few hours.
I pushed myself out of bed and went to the bathroom. My reflection still looked tired. My eyes were a little less swollen, but the marks on my neck and shoulders had not faded yet. I refused to stand there and stare at them. I brushed my teeth and washed my face.
After that, I changed into comfortable clothes: a grey T-shirt and sweatpants. I didn’t have the energy for makeup or anything formal.
When I finished dressing, I picked up my phone. Solon left me alone yesterday, but I knew he was worried and waiting for me. I
mindlinked him.
‘I’m awake, brother.’
Solon replied almost immediately. ‘How do you feel?’
I thought for a second before answering. ‘Still tired, but better.’
A few minutes passed, and then another link came.
‘Father wants to meet. We need to discuss how to handle Jason. Can you come to his office now? If you need more time, I can-‘
‘I’m on my way,’ I cut him off, ignoring his concern.
I knew this conversation would happen, but I didn’t expect my father to act this quickly which meant there would be no mercy.
This time, Jason wasn’t just in trouble. He was done
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