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Darkest Temptations

Chapter Thirty One: The Darkest Hour

Caroline Mikaelson

The news of my decision to attend college in the fall hadn't been received as well as I had hoped. Elena's reaction puzzled me; she seemed somewhat stunned that I hadn't discussed it with her before announcing it to everyone. It wasn't that I hadn't considered sharing my plans with her—I had definitely wanted to hear her thoughts. However, I wasn't about to seek her permission. I couldn't envision a life for myself where all I did was run my house and live a plural marriage. I needed more, and I wanted more for myself. I had hoped they would want that for me too.

April's response was quite the opposite; she had been supportive and almost elated at the prospect of me embarking on this next phase of my life and education. Why couldn't Elena share in that enthusiasm? I would have been thrilled if she had ideas for her future, anything that would show me she's still with us and that our one night in Mystic Falls hadn't changed how she felt about us all together. She seemed so consumed with Vickie's presence here, and I understood why, given their history; Vickie had gotten Elena's face more than once in the past. I didn't want any more drama; I felt like I'd already had enough for a lifetime as it was. All I wanted was to start fresh and attempt to forget about what Tyler and Damon had done, to forget everything related to Mystic Falls, and just embrace my life here. I didn't want to be anywhere else; I had found the place I was supposed to be.

Yet something just felt off when my head hit the pillow at night; something was just out there on the surface waiting to swallow me whole.

I'd never been the type to sleep in; I was always up early and often before the sun, which gave me time to work out or catch up on a few things around the house before I got my day started. I made my way into the kitchen, wearing my pink pj bottoms and white cami top and thirty for anything sweet. I retrieved a glass jug of orange juice I'd squeezed yesterday and collected a glass from the draining rack. I'd just begun pouring it out when the sound of the door leading to the garage opened up behind me. I turned around to find April stepping inside, almost gasping at the sight of me there, clearly not expecting me. She quickly glanced back behind her to Klaus, who followed her.

"You're up early." Klaus commented, shutting the door behind him.

Beside him, April awkwardly folded her arms, almost shielding herself. I knew something had happened between them last night; I had seen the look of guilt on her face, and Klaus was trying hard to hide his own.

I looked over at him and said, "I thought it was Vickie's night?" My tone was light, but it still sounded harsh and cold even to my own ears.

"It was." Klaus confirmed.

I looked back at April, who opened her mouth to speak only for Klaus to cut her off.

"Problem love?" He asked me.

I turned away from them and continued pouring out the juice.

"Caroline, please say something," April pleaded softly. "I'm really sorry, it's just—"

"It's not my business." I assured her the best I could, trying to muster a smile while the jealousy rose up inside of me.

"It's not my business," I assured her, attempting to smile despite the jealousy rising within me. April looked up at Klaus, who kept his gaze fixed on me. His jaw was tight, his shoulders tense, but I knew he wouldn't argue with me in front of April, given how uncomfortable she already was.

"I should go." April said, hurrying over towards the patio doors.

"April wait." Klaus called out after her.

"I'll see you tonight." She told him before disappearing into the backyard.

I sighed, looking up at Klaus with a frown on my face. "You told me to put Vickie on the schedule, and on her first night, you ditch her?" I asked in disbelief.

He crossed his arms and smirked at me. "I didn't want to spend the night with Vickie." He stated simply.

"You don't have to sleep with her, but you put her on the schedule. Why didn't you just sleep in one of the guest rooms like you do at Elena's place?" I demanded.

"Why are you upset?" Klaus asked, moving closer to me. "Are you jealous that I chose to spend my night with April?"

"No," I answered, a little too quickly.

Klaus smiled and leaned against the kitchen island. "You're a terrible liar." He said.

"Don't treat me like a child; I'm just telling you what you already know."

"And what exactly is that?"

I scoffed, "Vickie was expecting you; she knows the schedule now; she knows you skipped out on her."

"And?"

"And? Well," I paused, crossing my arms, "if she's staying here, if she's going to be," I paused once more, gathering myself, "if she really is going to be your fourth wife, then it's not right for you to do this; she's going to think you skipping out on nights is something we do."

"I missed April's first night."

"What?"

Klaus shrugged. "None of you realized that, but she did, and she didn't say a word about it."

I cast my mind back, remembering then, "When you went back to Mystic Falls, to stop any rumors we were with you."

"Precisely."

"But this is different; Vickie is nothing like April. I don't want her thinking you skip out on us; if she's here, then you—"

"Then what?"

"You have to remember she's not easy; she won't tolerate being jerked around." I stepped away from him. "Not that it matters what I think; it's not my marriage."

"She's not my wife yet."

The word 'yet' sent a pang in my chest; I didn't know how to feel about it. I knew he was right, and I couldn't help but think about the possibility that Klaus was only doing this because there was something he wasn't telling us about her.

I looked up at him, tears threatening to prick. "I told you, I don't want to hear about what you get up to with her or with April."

"Right, we're back to the boundaries discussion."

"Yeah, we are, and maybe it's time to concrete it down," I stepped forward. "So don't take my advice as anything more than a peacekeeper; do not create waves with her that could affect the rest of this family."

"This family or my marriages?"

"They're the same thing," I pointed out.

Klaus moved around the island and stood before me; I tried to look away, but he grabbed my chin.

"Now you're telling me what to do?" He asked.

I pulled free of his touch. "I'm trying to protect the family; that includes you." I answered.

"I don't need protecting; I can handle Vickie."

"I'm sure you can; I'm just asking that you use some discretion. We've already had enough drama; I don't want any more." I said.

"If she's to be my wife, then she will be subject to the same rules as the rest of you," Klaus stated. "I'm not going to coddle her or go easy on her because of her past."

I nodded my head. "That's fine, but keep me out of it."

Klaus frowned. "You're the one who brought it up."

"Because I wanted to make sure you understand how important this is," I told him. "We all need to be on the same page."

"You've made yourself perfectly clear," Klaus said. "Now if you'll excuse me—"

"I know where you're going." I told him before storming out of the kitchen, hearing him slam the backdoor shut as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

I had a quick shower before dressing in my dark jeans and red tank top. I tied my hair up into a loose ponytail before stepping out into the hallway.

This was not going to be a good day.

Elena Mikaelson

"It's a good thing for her," April panted as she ran beside me, trying to match my pace. "Did you see the look on her face when she told us? She hasn't looked that way since we moved to Utah."

April and I had decided to go out running; apparently, I could use some fresh air after last night. I was yet to be convinced.

"Maybe she's just happy to get away from us." I commented, feeling a little breathless myself.

April frowned at me. "What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

"Look, I know you don't like all this change, but Vickie, you know, she's a part of the family now, so we have to make an effort."

I looked over at her. "What about her effort?" I asked. "We're trying, and she's doing nothing."

"She made a salad last night; she helped me set the table."

"And?"

"It's progress." She said.

"Seriously?"

"Oh Elena, come on," April huffed. "I know she's not your favorite person in the world, but give her a chance."

"This isn't why we moved here. We agreed to—"

"Elena, nothing ever stays the same; it was three wives, and now it looks like four."

"How can you pretend you're not worried about this?"

"I am worried."

"Then why aren't you doing anything about it?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Something, anything other than just accepting everything she throws at us."

"You're talking about the other night when Klaus—"

I stopped running and turned to look at her. "That's not what I'm talking about," I said, shaking my head. "She doesn't respect us; she doesn't even try to be nice to us. And now, after everything that's happened, she's here, in our home, trying to seduce—

"Oh, she's not trying to seduce him," April interrupted, dipping herself over slightly, her hands on her thighs as she raised her head to look at her. "Is she?"

I stared at her for a moment. "I don't know," I admitted. "But I think so."

April pulled herself upright, still trying to catch her breath. "Elena," she said, stepping forward. "Do you care about her flirting with him?"

"Why would I? We're not—"

"But you do care." she said.

I shook my head. "No, I just—"

"He agreed," April said, cutting me off, her voice as gentle as her nature. "He agreed; you two would try to get along, and one day, if you wanted, he would be the father of your children."

I just nodded, remembering that night in the forest; it was hard to believe it was only seven months ago. I'd hated Klaus with every fiber of my being then, and yet he'd made a vow that he would take care of me, and if I wished it, he would donate his sperm one day so I could have children as a vampire.

"So of course you two have a bond of some kind," April continued. "You know that's okay, right? It doesn't mean you've forgotten Stefan; if anything, Klaus is perfectly aware that you'll always love Stefan, and he's here with you anyway."

"He's not doing me any favors."

"Yes, he is; he's trying to keep the family together, and you should be too," April replied. "Look, I think she's just covering; you know she's overcompensating because she knows we've been sister wives for seven months, and she's like the new kid at school."

"She's just so different from—"

"Us?" April chuckled, "Elena, if we were all the same personality-wise, then Klaus would have gone insane by now. Different works," April scrunched her nose. "Not always, but we're hardly the poster of a typical American family here."

I crossed my arms. "You can't look at me and tell me her being here isn't making you worry about things between you and Klaus."

"She's not making me worry about anything," April answered.

"And you don't see a difference in him lately?"

April shook her head. "He's just stressed out about work; there's a lot going on."

"His new project is my next-door neighbor."

"Me?" April asked, puzzled.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes, "Vickie."

"Oh right."

"He didn't even want her here in the first place, and now, all of a sudden, he's changing everything for her."

April pressed her lips together hard, holding in her laughter. "Elena, what has he changed?"

"Well... he... he just seems—"

"Preoccupied?" April offered.

I nodded my head, "Yeah."

"Elena, he's been like that for days," April explained. "It's his work; he's trying to do seven months of work in half that time so he's not spending the rest of the year trying to do what he did before the time jump."

"It just feels like everything is changing." I admitted grimly.

"Is it because I got a job?"

I looked up at her. "What? No!"

"You swear?"

"Yeah, it's not that; it just feels like one thing after another after another."

"I'm sorry that it does," April continued, "But, look at it this way: at least things can't get any worse."

Vickie Donovan

I opened up the bathroom door, the steam flooding behind me as I stepped out into my bedroom, running the small white towel through my damp and freshly washed hair as my skin, now silky smooth from shaving, was caressed by the gentle wind of the floor fan I had working overtime in the far corner of the room. I walked towards the bed fully naked; my skin felt so fresh and clean. I hadn't only shaved my legs but also between them and every other part of my body. I stood at the bottom of my bed, where I had laid out a pair of matching black lace underwear and a bra to put on after my shower. With one hand still scrunching my hair with the towel, I ran my other hand through my hair, clutching at the ends as the bedroom door opened across from me and Klaus stepped inside.

He stood there in silence, taking me in as he stood in the doorway, his eyes never once leaving me as they roamed over every inch of my bare flesh. I reached for my black lace thong with a G-string back before stepping into it.

"Am I supposed to cover up? Is it a rule I've not learned? I asked as I hooked my thong into place, my voice laced with a tease.

"I'm pretty sure you'd just do it anyway." Klaus stated.

"Why don't you come in and shut the door?"

Klaus held my gaze for a moment before he began shaking his head, not impressed at all with me.

"Just what are you doing?" He demanded.

"I was just getting ready," I answered. "It's not like I was expecting you."

When Klaus didn't say anything, I looked over at him, placing both hands on my hips, my breasts still exposed to him as I said, "Did you think I'd mouth off? Demand answers as to your whereabouts last night?"

Klaus looked away and asked, "Are you about to?"

I waited until he looked at me again before I answered confidently and without hesitation, "That's not me."

"So what is?"

I stared at him; his eyes were on my face, but the rest of him was elsewhere, and I had to fight my urge to step forward and cover myself up. He was intimidating, but being naked in front of him felt like being under a spotlight too. But I couldn't show weakness; something told me he wouldn't care for it, not from me anyway.

"So you weren't expecting me?"

"No," I answered him. "I wasn't expecting you," I continued, my voice calm. "Sorry to disappoint."

I watched as a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth before he said, "Why haven't you asked?"

"Asked what?"

"Why I brought you back?"

I stepped forward, and for the briefest moment, I watched his eyes dip to my exposed breasts as I crossed my arms and said, "Because I'm more curious about something else."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.

"Why didn't you tell them that you brought me back?"

"I tell my wives what they need to know."

I tilted my head slightly, my gaze locking onto his captivating blue eyes. "That word, wives," I purred, letting my voice linger on the syllables. I clicked my tongue softly, savoring the moment. "It rolls off your tongue so effortlessly, like a true polygamist." I took a deliberate step closer, yet he remained cool and unfazed. "You're quite confident, aren't you?" I murmured, a teasing challenge in my voice.

"So you weren't expecting an apology?" He asked, ignoring my question.

I bit back a laugh. "For what? For last night?" I asked, and I unfolded my arms, exposing my breasts to him again, pushing my shoulders back just a fraction more without notice from him, lifting them up slightly, making them appear bigger than they really were.

He didn't say anything, and neither did I.

"One day, I'm sure you'll show me who's boss," I said. "Until then, I'll take other forms in the way of an apology."

I could see his mind was on anything but an apology.

"Other forms?" Klaus questioned.

I nodded my head slowly before stepping forward, closing the gap between us. "If you're interested in keeping me sweet, that is," I tilted my head to look up at him. "Curious?" I whispered.

Klaus looked down at me and asked, "Should I be?"

I pressed my lips together to stop myself from smirking as I stood on the tips of my toes. "Maybe." I told him before sliding back down to the balls of my feet.

Klaus was silent for a moment, his eyes burning into me as they darted back and forth over my face.

"Why would I need to keep you sweet?" He finally spoke.

"Because I'm not like them," I answered, leaning into him as my hand brushed over his belt. "I've got secrets, and I know you do too," I continued before I reached up and brushed my fingers across the buckle. "I could be a pain in your neck, or I could be..." I paused and smiled wickedly at him.

"Or you could be what?"

"An asset."

He looked down at my hands, my fingerprints brushing over the silver buckle of his no doubt designer belt. I could tell he was amused by my attempt at seduction, and he was doing well to hide it, but his eyes gave it away.

"Ok, I'll bite—"

"I'm sure you will." I cut him off.

"What do you want?" Klaus said, his hands curling around my wrists, lowering them down to my sides.

I smirked, "Something I'm sure in time we'll both benefit from."

"I doubt it," he replied.

"Don't be so sure," I told him before I brought my hand up to the hem of his shirt, lifting my fingers up by one slowly up his stomach like they were climbing invisible steps. "You've not even heard what it is yet."

Klaus took a hold of my wrist again before I had a chance to reach the bottom of his shirt. "Don't think that I'll allow you to distract me," he warned. "You're a distraction I don't need."

I smiled. "No?"

"No." He replied, and I believed him.

I stepped away from him but only by a few inches. "What would keep me sweet would be a little gift."

"No."

"No?"

"No." He repeated more sternly this time.

I shrugged. "Fine, have it your way."

"I thought you were supposed to be trying to make an effort." Klaus said.

"Says the one who won't even consider buying me a gift?"

"Not in exchange for keeping you sweet." He told me.

"Then call it, my," I paused to look up and meet his gaze. "My engagement present."

"I can assure you, love, you will get no such thing from me or any—"

"Are you sure you don't want to give me something?" I looked down at his crotch and smirked, "Something that will shut me up?" I stepped forward, my hand reaching towards his belt again without debate from him.

When I looked up at him, he sighed, and I took it as an invitation to tell him what I was waiting for, however, until he locked eyes with me once more.

"I know I could buy it myself," I said as I slowly brushed my hand down his right arm from his elbow. "Given the money you gave us that first day, but," I looked up at him and smirked, "I think you would prefer my idea over a mattress or," I licked my lower lip, "Or a power shower head that I could slide between my legs to get me busy during the nights you're... elsewhere."

When my hand met his, he did pull away, which oddly I respected; I was flirting with him hard, yet he was fiercely loyal to his wives. This was going to be interesting.

"You really want to go down that road?" He asked as our eyes met, "What do you want?"

I held his gaze. "I want you to use your money to pay for surgery; I want breast implants, the best there is."

I watched his reaction, that unique blend of curiosity and interest, as he took me in, his eyes roaming over my body like he was picturing them on me.

"And," I said again, waiting for his eyes to meet mine, "I don't want anyone to know you bought them for me."

He frowned at me. "And why should I do that?" He asked.

I smirked. "Because you have a secret of mine," I said, drumming my nails against his belt buckle. "And I wouldn't mind having one of yours."

"This isn't some game," Klaus told me. "You can't blackmail me."

I pressed my lips together and smiled at him. "You're right, I can't, not with you. I've heard about you in action, the things you've done to keep people in line."

Klaus just stood there watching me.

"But you won't hurt me," I continued. "If you were going to kill me, you'd have done it by now."

"I still might."

"No, you won't."

"Why not?"

"Last night proved it," I told him. "If you were planning on killing me, you would have been able to come into this room last night without a second thought."

Klaus opened his mouth to debate, but words did not escape his lips.

"But instead, you kept yourself away from me," I continued. "So maybe you like me more than you think?"

Klaus stared down at me before saying, "You're very confident in your ability to charm me."

I smiled up at him. "I am," I said, stepping forward, brushing my chest against his as my hands pressed against his chest. "And so far, I'm not wrong." I looked up at him and bit down on my lower lip.

Klaus smirked down at me. "You really think you're doing it for me?"

I leaned forward slightly and asked, "What do you think?"

Klaus leaned down towards me then, and my heart skipped a beat to my surprise as I almost found myself closing my eyes at his nearness.

"I think you don't hold a candle to my girls."

My eyes shot open as Klaus turned around and walked out of the room, leaving me there like an idiot.

April Mikaelson

"I've got to have asthma or something, right?" I asked, still wearing my workout clothes as I sat on the kitchen counter as Klaus began cooking me scrambled eggs, "I mean, two miles and I'm exhausted." I said as he spread my legs apart at the knees and pulled open the drawer, collecting a spatula from inside, "I mean, it's not normal, is it? I'm young, and I'm healthy, and—"

Klaus chuckled as he made his way over to the stove, cranking up the heat.

"What?" I asked.

"You don't have asthma," he told me as he scraped the butter around the skillet. "You're just unfit."

"Hey!" I said and attempted what might have been my first ever stern look, which, of course, failed as soon as Klaus turned to look at me.

He laughed, "It's not an insult, sweetheart."

"I'm fit."

"You're thin," he said, looking over at me. "There's a difference."

I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. "Maybe I'll just get fat."

Klaus pursed his lips before wiping his hands on a dishcloth and reaching up to open the cabinets above the stove, revealing their empty insides.

"Good luck with that," he said, turning back around and taking the eggs out of the fridge. "Do you have any bread?"

I nodded for a second before I began shaking my head "No," I said.

Klaus sighed. "I'll take you shopping."

"You can't," I reminded him. "Too risky."

Klaus and I were together, but polygamy was still illegal, and Klaus wasn't taking any risks with me or my freedom. He couldn't take me out in public like a normal couple could. I didn't mind; Caroline was his public wife, and that was what we had decided. Besides, I was here with him now, and it wasn't even my day; it wasn't often he took the weekend off, so I was happy to have him here.

"I swim all the time," I said as Klaus bent down in front of me, retrieving one of only a few plates in the house from the cabinet at the bottom. "I'm just not good at running."

Klaus bent back up, and I huffed, blowing my bangs from my face. "Maybe I should retire." I said with a shrug.

"Retire?" he asked.

"Yeah, I mean running two miles, I feel that's a bit of a lifetime achievement."

Klaus frowned at me before asking, "How long did it take you?"

I scrunched my nose. "Bully."

Klaus leaned in and kissed me once before smiling against my lips, making me laugh and return his kiss, slowly bringing my hands up his arms and onto his shoulders as his hand ran up my back and into my hair.

"I'm teasing," he said, breaking our kiss. "But don't retire."

"I'd share my pension with you," I joked as he headed back to the stove. "I could buy you something really nice."

Klaus paused what he was doing, his smile dropping, before he cleared his throat and returned his attention to my eggs.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked.

Klaus looked over at me. "Yeah," he said before returning his attention back to the stove. "Fine."

"I mean, I couldn't buy you something big like a dream house," I said, holding out my arms, reminding him of his gift to me. "But I could get you something you really need."

He still looked distracted, like his next smile to me was forced. "And what would that be?"

"Well," I continued, "it would probably be a pretty small pension, so something from the dollar store, like a pencil eraser or a gum with a flavor you'd never think to try?"

Klaus shook his head and finally smiled at me properly this time.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing, sweetheart."

Elena Mikaelson

The decor was minimal, with just a single lawn chair taking center stage in the sitting room. Next to it, a bathroom stool served as a makeshift table, piled with magazines. My eyes caught a cardboard box in the corner, revealing a cup holder nestled inside—an odd but intriguing find in the otherwise bare space. Klaus was in the act of turning off the stove when our eyes met. Across from him, April sat perched on the countertop, her legs crossed. She balanced a plate of scrambled eggs on her lap, pausing to take another bite while glancing over at me. The intensity of Klaus's stare was unsettling, as if it held a weight unknown to April, who seemed oblivious to the charged atmosphere in the room.

"See, she's already showered," April said after swallowing her food and glancing over at Klaus. "Retirement," she added.

"What?" I asked, looking away from Klaus.

April smiled, shaking her head and digging into her eggs. "Nothing."

I shifted my focus back to Klaus, hoping to divert from the growing tension. "Hey, my dishwasher's been acting up. Do you think you could take a look at it for me?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Klaus paused, his expression unreadable for a moment before he responded. "What's wrong with it?"

There was nothing wrong with it; I just needed some manner of excuse to talk to him alone.

"It's not draining properly," I answered, crossing my arms, suddenly very aware that I was standing in their house, thinking how they slept upstairs together on April's nights. "I just mean if you have the time."

April looked up from her plate, then her smile dropping just as quickly as my heart to my stomach as I saw her realize we were once again fighting. April bunched herself forward on the counter, attempting to slide down, and I suspect leave the room until Klaus shot her a warning look, and she stayed put.

"Sure, I'll take a look at it." He told me.

I nodded my head and offered him a small smile. "Thanks."

I turned my back to them, hearing Klaus's footsteps behind me as I slid open the door.

"Don't fight." I heard April whispering to him as I stepped outside and began making my way over to my house.

I didn't like feeling this way. It was awful; it was jealousy. I'd walked in on them in their kitchen together; it wasn't much of a home yet, but it was theirs, and they'd been spending time together, and I'd just ruined it.

I slid open my patio door, stepping into the kitchen and leaving it open for Klaus to enter behind me as I went over to the sink before turning in his direction as he slid the door shut.

"There's nothing wrong with—"

Klaus held up his hand, cutting me off. "I know."

"You knew?"

"Yes."

I watched him walk towards the kitchen counter, leaning against it as he looked at me, his face void of any emotion as he waited for me to speak.

"So," I said and swallowed hard, "why did you come over?"

When he didn't answer, I crossed my arms.

"You didn't want us to fight in front of April?" I asked, "Because she hates that."

"She hates it every time, but you already knew that." Klaus reminded me.

"We shouldn't fight in front of her or anyone," I said, "and I shouldn't have to lie to see you."

"You wanted this to remain a secret," Klaus stepped forward. "What was the reason again?" he tapped his chin. "That's right, because you didn't want to be easy like Caroline."

"I didn't mean that; I was angry."

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "You meant it."

"I didn't," I said, taking another step towards him. "I'm just saying, it's only been seven months and—"

"And now with Vickie here, you're getting twisted in that little head of yours and reminding yourself of how quickly I got my head between your legs."

I felt the blush creep across my cheeks at his words, but I held my ground.

"This isn't about sex," I told him. "This is about us, and you know we moved too fast."

"Do I? I don't recall you complaining when we did."

"It was a mistake!" I snapped.

I'd said what I swore I wouldn't, but these last few days had been the worst reality check of my entire life. I'd not only left Mystic Falls once but twice; I'd left my home, my family, and my friends. Then when I had the chance to restart all over again after the time jump, I'd slept with him in my old bedroom, where I'd cuddled with Stefan, where we'd read to each other and watched old movies. But this time, it hadn't been a one-time thing; it had turned into something else. I'd slept with him over and over, and then I'd come back here all over again to re-enter a plural marriage that I didn't even know if I was capable of withstanding. It was all becoming too much.

Klaus laughed, the sound echoing through the room with a sharp edge that made my skin crawl. "You think it was a mistake?" he asked, his eyes glinting with a challenge that I couldn't ignore.

I met his gaze, feeling a whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. "You do," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging within.

He tilted his head, a single eyebrow arching in curiosity. "How so?" he pressed, his smirk still playing at the corners of his lips.

I took a deep breath, uncrossing my arms with deliberate slowness, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Placing my hands firmly on my hips, I steeled myself for what I had to say.

"Because you don't love me," I declared, my words hanging in the air between us like a fragile truce.

In an instant, his laughter ceased, and the smirk vanished from his face. The room seemed to grow colder, the silence between us stretching taut like a bowstring, ready to snap.

"You don't love me," I said as tears threatened. "You know you don't."

Klaus watched me intently as I spoke, his gaze boring into me like a drill.

"Caroline was right," Klaus said. "It's time to establish boundaries."

"What does that even mean?" I asked.

Klaus stepped forward, closing the space between us until he was close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from his body. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped me, stirring bittersweet memories of better times.

"The short version, darling," he said, capturing my chin with a deliberate gentleness that belied the harshness of his words. "There will be nothing for you to hide anymore." His hand cradled my jaw with minimal pressure, yet I felt trapped. "I'll be sleeping in the guest bedroom from now on," he continued, his teeth gritted as if the words were painful for him to utter. "You're on your own."

My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I stared up at him, disbelief and hurt mingling in my chest. Could he really mean it? After all the nights we'd spent together, all the whispered promises in the dark, could he truly just walk away?

He released his hold on me and turned, striding out of the room with the same determination he had entered it with, leaving me alone in the stark silence.

As I sank to the kitchen floor, April's words echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of my unraveling world. "At least it can't get any worse," she had said. But sitting there, surrounded by an oppressive loneliness.

I couldn't help but fear that…it had only just begun.

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