Page 171 of A University of Betrayal

She started to laugh. “You don’t think...”

Larissas expression hardened and I swallowed with regret.

“You’ve been whoring around with the DeLoughreys for a while now,” Amber blurted out.

Larissa narrowed her eyes angrily and if it hadn’t been for the kitchen island between them, there would have been anotherconflict.

“They’re my...” She gritted her teeth and cursed something inarticulate.

“Larissa,” I said, trying to calm her down, but she slapped my arm away.

“I’ve seen the look on your face!” she said, and I sighed at her remark. “You’re thinking the same thing as them!”

Okay, maybe I had been on the verge. And even if I had, I would never have judged her.

“No. Believe me.”

The next attempt to touch her failed. She pulled her arm away.

“Leave me alone,” she hissed, and I swallowed. “You never fail to surprise me.”

Then, with abnormal speed, she darted to the countertop next to the stove and sat on it.

I immediately felt the tension on the first floor, especially coming from the Quatura.

Bayla, be realistic... You know Larissa.That was exactly the problem.

“Who says it’s not you, Vivienna?” Julie’s voice sounded different than usual. It was less quiet, stronger, and accusing.

“Excuse me?” Vivienna seemed to feel offended. But more than that, she seemed surprised – as I was – that Julie dared to say something like that to her.

“She’s right. All you want to do is cause trouble. What if this isn’t even real?” Grace reached for the pregnancy test and held it up for all to see. “What are you up to, mh?”

Vivienna’s face darkened. “You don’t really think I would fake a pregnancy test, do you?”

“Then tell me. Who’s the lucky one?” Grace seemed to enjoy seeing Vivienna upset.

“Maybe we should ask the person who did the test?” Amber intervened again. “I was there when Vivienna found it.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit weird snooping around in the garbage and meddling in other people’s business?” I said, frustrated. It was beyond the privacy of anyone present. Even if my curiosity was slowly growing.

Amber came closer to me.

For the first time, I had direct contact with her and felt threatened by it. She was one of those girls whose make-up was so perfect that you felt like you were wearing make-up from a children’s make-up workshop, even if you hardly used any make-up.

“I can well imagine it would be awkward for you if we found something like that.” She stepped even closer. “Especially if it wasyours.”

I could smell her ultra-sweet perfume, which had been lingering in my nose for the last few days. I coughed, and she shrank back with a disgusted expression. Vivienna looked at me a little too long, and I remembered the day Alarik had saved me from the conflict with Larissa. Vivienna had looked at my eyes...

Unease spread through me.

“Bayla? Pregnant? By whom?” I heard Larissa laugh in amusement and looked at her, annoyed. Her eyes were full of triumph. Was she serious?

“Help...” Amber rolled her eyes and leaned against the countertop. “I’m sensing Virgin vibes.”

I didn’t quite know how to respond to this rude comment since I was no virgin, but felt my headache setting in again.

“It really shouldn’t matter whose it is,” I said, taking the test from Grace’s hand and throwing it across the room toward the garbage can... and landed it.