Shadows Of Desire

Chapter 13

Leandra Moreno

As I stood there, wrapped in Zade's arms, the chaos in the room seemed to all dissapear. For just a moment, it was only me and him, my body finally relaxing into his hold. His scent, his warmth, the security, it was every I didn't want to need. But here I was, letting myself lean into him, even if it just for a second. 

But of course, the moment couldn't last.

"Leandra!" My mothers voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, and I instantly pulled back, my fragile comfort bubble shattered.

I turned, and there she was, her expression twisted with disapproval and frustration. Not concern, not even a hint of worry for what just happened. Just that same cold, disappointed glare she always gave me, like I'd failed her yet again.

She stormed over, her heels clicking angrily on the tile floor. "This," she snapped, gesturing to the scene—Santiago on the floor, blood staining his face, the guests now gathering around in horrified whispers. "This is what I asked you to avoid. Just one thing, Leandra. I said, keep a low profile. No drama, no scenes. But no, you couldn't even manage that!"

Her voice rose with each word, her anger visible. She wasn't worried about me—oh no, that would've been too much to ask. She was furious because, once again, I had ruined her perfect little image.

I felt my chest tighten, my body stiffening as the old, familiar rage crept up inside me. I opened my mouth to speak, to tell her off like she deserved, but Zade's hand on my shoulder grounded me. I clenched my fists, biting back the retort burning in my throat.

"I didn't ask for this," I finally muttered, my voice shaking with suppressed anger. "He—Santiago—he's the one who—"

But she cut me off, waving her hand dismissively. "Don't give me excuses, Leandra. I don't care what he did. You should've been smarter, more discreet. You always bring trouble with you. Every time." Her cold, disappointed eyes scanned me up and down, making me feel smaller and smaller under her scrutiny. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder how you manage to survive at all."

My jaw clenched, my nails digging into my palms. The urge to scream at her, to tell her just how much of a failure she was as a mother, pulsed through me, but I swallowed it down.

"Maybe if you'd been a real mother for once, you'd know how hard it is," I shot back, my voice quiet but venomous. I didn't raise it, didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me crack.

Her face hardened, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her cold eyes, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned her back to me, addressing Zade now, as if I wasn't even worth speaking to anymore.

"Get her out of here," she ordered him, her voice icy. "Before she embarrasses me and you any further."

Zade's hand remained firm on my shoulder, his presence grounding me. He didn't respond to my mother—didn't need to. His eyes flickered with a protective darkness, the kind that made it clear no one, not even her, would talk down to me in front of him.

I shook off Zade's grip, stepping forward. "Don't worry, mother, I'll get myself out of here. But don't think for a second this was my fault. I didn't create this mess—he did." I nodded towards Santiago, who was still groaning on the floor, clutching his head.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, refusing to acknowledge my words. She was done with me, already dismissing me like she always did.

Without another word, I stormed past her, my whole body shaking with barely contained fury. I could feel Zade's eyes on me as I walked away, but I didn't turn back. Not this time.