SWNOVELS Chapter 23
apter 23
HENRIETTA
031% 15:15
+5
I swore to get revenge. I swore to make them pay. But hearing the announcement earlier made me realize it wasn’t easy. I would only be fooling myself if I said I no longer love Philip. I would only lie to myself if I said what they did doesn’t affect me anymore. The pain was still there. Although I wished for it to be gone overnight, I know it’s impossible.
I wiped the tears streaming down my face as I walked aimlessly. Looking around, I realized it was already almost sundown. It was still bright when I left.
Taking in a deep breath, I turned to walk back to where I came from. I can cry but I certainly can’t let others show I was crying. So I pulled my umbrella lower, covering my face from whoever I meet on the road.
The manor is not that far but venturing out in the dark doesn’t sound very safe, especially after the incident of a dead woman found at the back of the palace. I walked faster and thankfully, I reached the bustling side of the place. It gave me a sense of relief. I also have to purchase something around here so when Myrna asks where I’d been, I have an excuse. I am not obligated to explain to them where I was. I just don’t want them to think I went on a walk all gloomy after the announcement. As I promised to myself ever since the beginning, I will not let them see me cry.
I went inside the first shop I saw. It was a shack and it had a comfortable ambiance. Smoke was rising from its chimney from the windows, I could see someone was brewing something. It was when I came closer that I realized it was a tea shop.
Pushing the door open, the bell above the door jingled as I entered, and the calming scent of dried herbs and tea greeted my nostrils. The shopkeeper, an elderly woman with kind eyes, looked up from her work. She smiled warmly at me.
I
“Welcome, dear. What can I do for you today?” she asked, setting aside the tea leaves she was sorting and covering the pot of boiling water.
“I’ll take a cup of your calming tea, please,” I replied, my voice shaky but trying to maintain composure as forced a smile. She angled her head at me, observing me. I shifted on my feet and placed my umbrella by the door.
“Can I have some for take away as well?”
1/5
Emergency calls onlyOM…
Chapter 23
2031% 15:15
■
The woman nodded. “Of course, I’ll prepare some for you.” She poured hot water into a delicate teapot. “Take a seat, make yourself comfortable.” Her warm smile was enough to make me comfortable.
I found a small table near the window and settled into a wooden chair, observing the people passing by. The atmosphere inside was soothing, and the soft hum of conversation from other patrons provided a comforting backdrop. As I waited for my tea, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander back to the events that unfolded earlier in the day.
The tears threatened to fall again but I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.
Thankfully, the tea arrived together with a plate of freshly baked biscuits.
“Oh, I did not–”
The old woman held my hand to stop me from giving back the plate of biscuits.
“It’s on me, dear. Sweets like this have a wonderful way to lift someone’s mood,” she said and smiled. I couldn’t help but answer her smile She gently placed the plate on the table and I immediately took the cup of tea. The warmth of the cup seeped through my cold fingers. Taking a slow sip, I let the soothing blend of herbs work its magic on my frayed nerves.
After a while, the shopkeeper approached, her eyes filled with empathy as she brought a pretty box. She laid it on the table. “You seem to like the biscuits so I placed some inside. Make sure to eat them today as well,” she said and I gasped.
“You did not need to give it to me for free. How much is it, please?”
But the old woman merely shoes
What’s bothering you, dear?”
her head and said, “I see from the look on your face that you have troubles.
I hesitated, debating whether to share my thoughts with a stranger. But there was something in her demeanor
that made me feel a sense of trust.
Then she said, “If you truly feel bad about accepting the biscuits free of charge, you can tell me your story instead. That would be your payment.”
I furrowed my brows at her. “Why would you only want a story for a payment?”
She let out a soft chuckle before she poured my cup another tea. “Stories are not to be underestimated, dear,
Emergency calls only…
Chapter 23
031% 15:15
They mold history.” She poured herself a cup and went on, “And as you can see, I am an old woman. I just moved here yesterday after purchasing this shop, I am all alone in this shack and I don’t know anyone. But I love talking to people- hear their tales. Everyone has them-stories that made them come to my shop.”
She placed the pot in between us and folded her hands, smiling. “So, what has been bothering you?” she inquired gently.
I gave her a tentative smile before I began opening up. I did not tell her the names as I figured she did not need to know them. She was just listening carefully as I recounted the pain, the betrayal, and the overwhelming desire for revenge that churned within me.
The shopkeeper listened attentively, nodding at times. She never once said anything as I was laying myself bare. And when I was finally done, she was silently observing me.
“Once things are stolen, they can never truly be returned,” she remarked with a sense of wisdom in her eyes.
“But… he’s not just a possession,” I replied, a mixture of confusion and hurt evident in my voice.
“Exactly,” she affirmed. “That man possesses a mind, a heart, and the ability to make choices. He chose to leave and pursue another path with another woman. However, on the brighter side, he also has the power to choose differently, to return. The decision rests with you-whether you’re open to welcoming him back into your life or if you’re ready to embark on a new journey without him.”
I was silent. Andreas already knew it. That Philip would come running back. Do I want him back?
“I just want them to understand the depth of the pain I endured. I want them to experience the same sense of betrayal that consumed me.”
Her smile remained gentle as she reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Your heart carries a heavy burden of resentment, and it’s understandable. Given what they put you through, feeling this way is your right. However, it’s crucial to recognize that hatred is a potent emotion. You must learn to wield it with care, and then everything can be in your favor.”
I
“Are you suggesting I should just forgive and forget? That harboring this hatred won’t bring me any solace?”
“Hatred is a corrosive emotion, my dear. I’m not telling you to forgive and forget. I’m saying you need to use that emotion wisely. Unchecked, it can become a destructive force in your life. Use it judiciously, or it might become your undoing.”
LINGIYCHLy Cans only
Chapter 23
IMI
031% 15:15
+5.
I was silent for a moment, thinking about her words. When my gaze went back to her, she smiled at me and took our empty cups and the pot to the sink. She then turned to face me and said, “That tea is best to drink at night. Gives you a really peaceful sleep.”
I returned the smile as I stood. “I appreciate your time today…” I trailed, feeling foolish as I never got the chance to get her name.
“Just call me Nadia,” she answered.
“My name’s Henrietta. It’s been a pleasure, Nadia. Thank you and I hope I get to visit soon.”
I thanked her for the tea and the solace her words provided. As I left the quaint tea shop, the darkness outside had fully descended, but I felt refreshed A cool breeze whispered through the evening, rejuvenating my spirits as I left the quaint tea shop behind. I never knew I needed to hear the words of an old woman–who was a stranger- to feel better.
Feeling light-hearted, I made my way back to the manor.
Walking down the road in the dark was not too fearful as there were people around. But I was not prepared for what happened next.
A sudden grip on my wrist silenced me, plunging me into darkness as a stranger’s hand covered my mouth. The air thickened with an ominous tension. One moment I was on the street and the next, I was in a dark alleyway, pinned against the wall, unable to move. I started to realize what was happening and panic surged within me.
The man in front of me, whoever it was, was too strong. He pinned my hands over my head and I heard how the box of tea and biscuits fell to the ground as I thrashed. I tried to scream too but it was futile. The man moved to another wall with unbelievable speed and that’s when light hit his face.
His eyes were glowing yellow and his fangs were peeing from his mouth. I could see the dark veins lining his face down to his neck. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air- no, sniffed me. He then let out a toothy grin before leaning down to sniff the length of my length. I have never seen someone like him. No wolf would ever look like that. Is this man perhaps a vampire? Am I going to be murdered by a vampire?
Tears streamed down my face as I felt his sharp fang touching the softness of my skin. Screaming was futile. Thrashing was futile. All I could do at that moment was cry and feel so powerless.
And then I felt his fang bury in my skin making me whimper. His grip tightened and I could almost feel my bones breaking.
4/5
Emergency calls only
Chapter 23
Somebody, please–
€
031% 15:15
The man in front of me was suddenly gone just when I was about to lose consciousness. My knees buckled and I let myself fall on the floor, I could feel the warmth of my blood as it trickled down the length of my neck.
“F uck,” someone said in front of me, Slowly, I looked up and saw Andreas- his eyes filled with worry.
“Henrietta, can you hear me?”
I could hear him but my consciousness was slowly fading away.
And the last thing I remembered was the feeling of relief when I saw Andreas before I finally fell to oblivion.
Emergency calls only —