Her Purpose || Kai Parker

Chapter 23

As tensions brewed, the stakes—both literal and figurative—heightened in Mystic Falls.

Stefan had exchanged most of the white oak stakes to save his brother Damon, but there remained one hidden stake, carefully concealed by Stefan himself.

However, Klaus, ever vigilant and calculating, discovered the truth and demanded its return.

Yet, when the stake mysteriously went missing, both Stefan and Klaus resorted to increasingly brutal methods to locate it, leaving no stone unturned.

Meanwhile, Estrella found herself in a momentary reprieve from the chaos when she noticed Rebekah blushing in the presence of Matt.

A mischievous grin crept onto her face as she teased the Original vampire, playfully poking fun at her obvious attraction while they organized the upcoming 1920s-decade dance.

Despite the playful banter, Estrella could sense a tension beneath the surface—her own unresolved feelings gnawing at her.

Caroline, who had been watching them from across the room, looked at Estrella with sorrowful eyes.

Estrella had been keeping her distance from Caroline and others ever since Finn’s death, knowing that her best friend had played a role in the grim event.

She hadn’t confronted her, and the weight of unspoken words hung between them like a storm cloud.

Despite Rebekah’s efforts to get Estrella to attend the dance, she had initially refused, her mood far too dampened by the recent events.

But Rebekah, ever the persistent one, persuaded her to change her mind, coaxing her into attending with promises of a night of fun and distraction.

Just as she began to waver, Caroline approached Estrella with an olive branch of sorts: her favorite dark chocolate and a beautiful new dress, along with a heartfelt apology note.

While Estrella accepted the gifts, she couldn’t yet bring herself to forgive Caroline—not entirely.

In time, Stefan and Damon also offered their apologies to Estrella.

She listened in silence, her arms crossed, eyes clouded with unresolved emotions.

"History has a funny way of repeating itself," Estrella finally said, her voice soft but steady. "I just don’t like how both of you are so easily influenced by her. But it’s not my place to intervene, so I’ll just stay quiet."

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That night, Estrella arrived at the 1920s-themed dance, her mood only slightly lightened by the promise of a fleeting escape.

The room was filled with laughter, music, and people dressed in glamorous flapper dresses and suits reminiscent of the roaring decade.

However, something felt off. Klaus had made an appearance as Rebekah’s date, who was nowhere to be found. Estrella’s suspicions immediately flared.

Before she could act on her concerns, Klaus approached her, his usual charm oozing from his every word and movement.

To her surprise, he asked her for a dance.

Reluctantly, she accepted, aware of the tension that simmered between them and knowing full well that Stefan and Damon were watching from a distance with thinly veiled disapproval.

As they danced, Klaus spoke softly to her, his words surprisingly sincere.

"Your kindness hasn’t gone unnoticed, Estella," he said, his voice tinged with gratitude. "Though my feud is with your family and friends, I have no intention of causing further discord within your family."