Chapter 113

Elena's POV

The morning dragged on endlessly, each minute filled with dread. Every time a nurse came to check on me, I wondered if she might be administering something deadly on Richard's orders.

Around noon, the door opened again, and I tensed, expecting Richard's imposing figure. Instead, Anna appeared, followed by three small bodies that made my heart leap.

"Mommy!" Lily cried, rushing toward the bed with her arms outstretched.

"Careful, baby," I cautioned, opening my arms to her.

Max and Kathy approached quickly. "Are you okay, Mom? Does it hurt a lot?"

"I feel much better now that you're here," I said truthfully, reaching for his hand.

"Will you be stuck here long?" Max asked, now perched on the edge of my bed.

"I don't think so," I answered, smoothing his hair. "I already feel much better."

"Mommy is super strong," Lily declared with absolute confidence. "Mommy is awesome and won't be sick for long!"

Her blind faith in me made me laugh. "Thank you, sweetie."

Anna had been standing quietly nearby, but now she approached the bed. "Children, shall we let your mother eat first?"

The children quickly settled at a small table across the room. Anna placed some food on the nightstand beside my bed. "How are you feeling, Ms. Winter?"

"Better," I said, though my response came a beat too late to be convincing.

Anna's shrewd eyes studied my face. "You know, you've always been too kind-hearted for your own good. It's gotten you hurt too many times."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just watched the children.

"For them to set such an elaborate trap just to frame you," Anna continued, her voice low enough that the children couldn't hear. "The Cooper family really outdid themselves this time."

I turned to her, confused. "What do you mean?"

"That person who hurt you," Anna explained. "He was specifically hired to target you, to make you reveal something that would damage the Blackwood family. Those reporters were paid to be there, ready to capture everything."

My mind reeled. "The Cooper family did this?"

Anna nodded. "It's all connected to the Cooper family."

"But that doesn't make sense," I protested. "Jason—I mean, what happened to me has nothing to do with him."

Anna raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Blackwood has already begun dealing with the Cooper family. You think Jason has nothing to do with this?"

The spoon slipped from my fingers, clattering against the hospital tray with a sound that seemed to echo through the sterile room. I stared at Anna, certain I'd misheard her.

"Richard did what?" My voice came out hoarse, disbelieving.

Anna picked up the fallen spoon, placing it back on my tray, her expression grim. "Mr. Blackwood discovered that the Cooper family was behind your attack. He was..." she hesitated, searching for the right word, "...furious doesn't begin to describe it. He expelled the entire Cooper family from the Nightfall pack. They've been driven out of Moonhaven."

"Even Kelly?" I couldn't process what I was hearing.

Anna nodded. "Everyone except Jason. Gerald intervened on his behalf."

I leaned back against the pillows, my mind racing.

"But why?" I asked, more to myself than to Anna. "Why would the Cooper family try to frame me? What could they possibly gain from it?"

The question hung in the air between us. Something wasn't adding up. I remembered the strange man who'd attacked me, how he'd mentioned something about "split personality" before I'd managed to escape. I hadn't told anyone about this. Not even Jacey.

"I need to speak with Jason," I said, straightening up.

Anna hesitated. "I don't think Mr. Blackwood would approve—"

"I don't care what Richard approves of," I cut her off, more sharply than I'd intended. "I need to know everything."

She studied my face for a long moment, then sighed. "I'll let him know. But I can't promise anything."

"Thank you," I said, nodding gratefully.

---

Hours passed with no sign of Jason. I'd begun to think Anna hadn't been able to reach him when the door to my hospital room swung open. But instead of Jason, Gerald walked in.

"Elena," he greeted me with a warm tone that never reached his eyes. "How are you feeling? The doctors tell me you're recovering remarkably well."

I watched him settle into the chair beside my bed. Once, I had called this man "father." Now, the word stuck in my throat like a bone.

"I'm fine," I replied flatly.

"This was a most unfortunate incident. I never thought someone would try to extract Richard's secret from you. Fortunately, you were alert at the time and didn't reveal any important information, which prevented a major problem."

"Rest assured, the family will protect you from now on. You should stay at the Blackwood Manor and not go anywhere else, alright?" he continued.

I was stunned. Stay there indefinitely? Was he trying to imprison me?

"Back then, I didn't mean to..." I said cautiously.

"I know. If you had meant it, you wouldn't be able to have this conversation with me so peacefully."

Hearing this, tears began to well up in my eyes.

"If that's the case, why do you insist I return to Blackwood Manor? You know that all these years, I've never told anyone his secret."

"Yes, I trust you, but as long as you carry this secret, it's always unsafe."

Gerald's mask slipped, his eyes hardening. "It's for Richard's protection. For the pack's protection."

"Ah." The word came out bitter. "So it's not about keeping me safe. It's about keeping me silent."

"You misunderstand—"

"No, I understand perfectly," I interrupted, anger flaring in my chest. "You don't need to go to all this trouble, Gerald. If you're that worried about what I might say, you could just kill me. That would be safer, wouldn't it?"

"Don't be so dramatic, Elena," he said angrily. "You're still family. You'll be treated well, with all the comforts you could want. I still consider you my daughter."

"How generous," I replied, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.

Gerald stood. "The arrangements have been made. As soon as the doctors clear you, you'll be moved to the Manor." He paused at the door. "Oh, and I've given my consent to Victoria and Richard's wedding. The ceremony will be held next month."

These words were like a knife between my ribs. I said nothing, refusing to let him see my pain.