Chapter 25 LILITH 288 Vouchers But I could be wrong . In fact , I was curious to see just how far she'd get without the Caldwells ' name propping her up . Just then , four security guards walked into the room . Instinctively , I glanced at Julian - just in time to catch him slipping his phone back into the breast pocket of his suit . Efficient , as always . As the guards grabbed hold of the family of three and began dragging them out amidst screams and protests , Claire twisted in their grip and looked back at me - eyes wide with desperation . " I was wrong , Lilith ! I never should have betrayed you ! " " Think about all the memories , Lily . About how good I used to be to you ..." I tuned her out . She and Brandon really were cut from the same cloth . Even their pathetic excuses sounded identical . Her pleas faded as the doors closed behind them , and a quiet peace returned to the room . Marissa sidled up beside me , her voice a soft whisper . " For a second there , I was actually afraid your heart would grow soft and beg for her . " 0.00 % 08:55 Chapter 25 288 Vouchers I pursed my lips , saying nothing . If I hadn't lived through all of that in my past life - her lies , her cruelty , her betrayal - I might ' ve been naïve enough to do just that . But there were no ifs . Anyway . Now that the farce was finally over , I figured it was time to leave . Rising slowly , I turned to Julian . " Can I go now ? " He didn't answer right away . His gaze shifted toward Mom , who was leaning against Dad . I followed it - only to catch the look of expectation in her eyes as she stared at me . But what exactly was she expecting ? Comfort ? I couldn't tell . And honestly , I didn't want to . So I pretended not to see it and kept my eyes firmly on Julian . Eventually , he sighed . " Go . " Without hesitation , I grabbed the shopping bags at my feet and headed upstairs . I didn't look back - because if I did , I might hesitate . And that wasn't something I could afford anymore . 15.50 % 08:54 Later , when Tessa came to call me down for dinner , I declined . Instead , I handed her the bags and told her to distribute them to Uncle Theo , Aunt Martha , and the rest of the staff That night , as I sank into the guestroom's bed , my final thought before drifting off to slumber was that I should really take Dean up on his offer . I couldn't stomach another surprise " family discussion " like today , in a room filled with people I could barely stand . The next morning . The first thing I did after waking was grab my phone and send Dean a message . { Good morning . } { Do you have time today ? I'd like to check out the apartment you mentioned . } His reply didn't come as quickly as yesterday's , but I didn't mind . It was only . He was probably still asleep . Right then , May's voice popped into my head - startling me a little , especially after its radio silence yesterday . [ I have something important to tell you . ] " What is it ? " I asked lazily . [ A small chunk of the luck Claire stole from you has returned . ] I immediately sat up , propping a pillow behind my back . 08:55 Chapter 25 17 200 ( Vouchers Later , when Tessa came to call me down for dinner , I declined . Instead , I handed her the bags and told her to distribute them to Uncle Theo , Aunt Martha , and the rest of the staff That night , as I sank into the guestroom's bed , my final thought before drifting off to slumber was that I should really take Dean up on his offer . I couldn't stomach another surprise " family discussion " like today , in a room filled with people I could barely stand . The next morning . The first thing I did after waking was grab my phone and send Dean a message . { Good morning . } { Do you have time today ? I'd like to check out the apartment you mentioned . } His reply didn't come as quickly as yesterday's , but I didn't mind . It was only . He was probably still asleep . Right then , May's voice popped into my head - startling me a little , especially after its radio silence yesterday . [ I have something important to tell you . ] " What is it ? " I asked lazily . [ A small chunk of the luck Claire stole from you has returned . ] I immediately sat up , propping a pillow behind my back . 08:55 Chapter 25 " Seriously ? Just like that ? " " How ? " P : 72 rouchers The system judged it was likely due to your family's decision to cut her off Like I said before , being part of your family was her starting point - her biggest advantage . It ' s the very reason that scrap of metal chose her . | [ Losing that status means she's already lost half the game , and derailed from the path she followed in your past life . ] I rubbed my chin , thoughtful . " What's your take on this development ? " " I remember suggesting we kick her out early on , but you said it'd be tricky - that she'd already absorbed a considerable part of my luck . You said it'd be better to keep her close , under watch . " " [ What I meant was , it would've been difficult for you to do it alone . Since she has your luck , you're considered as being from the same source . So she's recognized by the laws of this world as a Caldwell . ] [ Moreover , you're not a key decision - maker in the family . So , if you'd tried to drive her away , it wouldn't have worked . But since it was your father and brother who made the call this time , it went well . ] I narrowed my eyes . " Well , I've got to admit , I'm impressed by the parasite bound to her . It can even force familial ties ? " 08:55 Chapter 25 289 Vouchers I shifted into a more comfortable position on the bed . " But I have this nagging feeling she won't leave that easily . " [ Why do you think so ? ] " For starters , her reputation in Emerald City's social scene is ruined . Her relationship with Brandon is also on the rocks - maybe even over . " " She got kicked out because she lost control and said things she shouldn't have . But once she calms down ... " " I'd bet anything she'll try to crawl her way back into our lives . As opportunistic and ambitious as she is , she'd never settle for anything less than what she's enjoyed all these years . " " The Caldwells are her last real shot at salvaging everything she's lost . " [ Logically , that seems unlikely - especially after everything she's done . ] I smirked . " Then you still don't understand humans well enough . " " People aren't as clear - cut as your system logic . With us , it's never as simple as just black and white . " [ Meaning ? ] I shifted in bed , adjusting the pillow behind my back . " Meaning you're underestimating how much Claire - and more importantly , her mother - still weigh on my mom's heart . " Chapter 25 1288 Vouchers " If Claire manages to find her , shed a few well - timed tears , and stir up some memories of the past of her mom ... " " ... then yesterday's chaos might as well have never happened . " [ Even so , would your father and brother really allow that ? ] May asked , still doubtful . I chuckled . " Dad already gave in once . If Mom pushes hard enough , he might again . " " As for Julian ... " I tilted my head . " He probably won't change his mind , but he won't stand in their way either . He only speaks up when something truly matters to him . " " And Claire ? " I shrugged . " She's probably not even worth him wasting his breath on . " " Marissa , though? " I let out a chuckle . " From what I've seen so far , she'll burn the house down before she lets that girl back in . " 1 [ I guess we'll see when the time comes . ] May didn't sound entirely convinced , and I didn't bother to argue . Sooner or later , it would see for itself just how ridiculous humans could be . A sudden thought struck me . " Hey , May . Is there a way to quantify luck values - mine and Claire's ? Some kind of scale or indicator ? So I can track how it changes over time ? " " Though you say some of it has returned , I can't really feel it . Probably because it's still too abstract . " A moment passed before May responded . Chapter 25 Give me a minute . ] Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!