Chapter 121
Elena's POV
I was listening to Jason's excited explanations about his discovery when suddenly I felt an inexplicable chill race down my spine.
"Elena, you okay?" Jason's voice broke through my alarm. His forehead creased with concern. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced myself to appear calm, though my instincts were screaming danger. "I'm fine. Just tired. You were saying about Emily?"
Jason studied me suspiciously before continuing. "I need solid evidence linking Emily to the man who hypnotized you. She's too clever to leave an obvious trail."
"What's your plan?" I asked, pushing away my unease to focus on his words.
"Tomorrow, the Collins family is hosting a wedding in Moonhaven's west district," Jason explained, leaning forward. "Emily is close with the bride, so she'll likely attend. During the reception, I can find a way to steal Emily's phone."
His eyes gleamed with determination. "Phones hold everything these days—calls, texts, banking records, social media. If she's been in contact with that man or moving money, it'll be there."
I nodded, planning to go with him. I wanted to know if Emily had revealed that secret to the man who had hypnotized me.
---
Richard's POV
The private dining room at Blackwood Hotel hummed with conversation as I sat at the head of the table, surrounded by the company's top executives. Their voices blended into meaningless background noise as I absently tapped my fingers against the polished wood.
"...fourth quarter projections show a fifteen percent increase..."
"...the merger with Pacific Industries is progressing ahead of schedule..."
When required, I nodded mechanically, but my mind was elsewhere.
Ethan appeared at my side, bending to whisper in my ear. "Alpha, we've been monitoring Emily as instructed. She seems angry about Victoria's injury but hasn't made any obvious moves yet."
My fingers stilled. "Nothing at all?"
"Yes. She hasn't shown any unusual patterns."
I didn't believe it for a second. The stillness before an attack was always the most dangerous. "Continue monitoring. Track her communications, social interactions, everything. Any anomaly, report immediately."
Ethan hesitated. "Alpha, do you think others might have been involved in last time's incident?"
I fixed him with a cold stare. "Your job isn't to think. It's to execute my orders."
He nodded quickly and retreated.
---
Victoria's POV
Every breath sent waves of pain through my bruised ribs. I lay on Emily's guest bed, trying not to whimper as she applied ointment to the ugly purple marks spreading across my side.
"I told you not to go there," Emily hissed, her fingers pressing harder than necessary. "What did you expect? You thought just because Gerald agreed, you could waltz right in?"
I bit back a sob. "It's all because of that bitch," I growled, hatred giving me strength. "She seduced him away from me."
My claws extended involuntarily, tearing into the silk sheets. "I'll rip her throat out myself."
Emily rolled her eyes. "The last plan was so meticulous, and we still couldn't kill her. You still want to try?"
The truth in her words stung worse than my injuries. I pushed myself up, ignoring the pain. "Of course, and I won't just kill her," I snarled, my face contorting. "I'll destroy Richard too. His reputation, his standing in the pack—everything."
Emily froze. "What are you talking about?"
"I know his secrets," I whispered, my teeth sharpening as rage coursed through me. "If I can't have him, no one will. I'll expose everything."
Emily stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "If you destroy him, we get nothing."
But I was beyond caring. "I don't care. From the moment he kicked me to the ground, it was over," I spat. "I'll never be Luna of the Nightfall pack now."
I watched Emily's expression shift from shock to calculation. "If you're serious about this," she said slowly, "we need to contact the person who originally gave you those letters and the book."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"Don't be naive," Emily's voice hardened. "You were just someone's tool. I only didn't expose that person because it was mutually beneficial."
I couldn't believe it. "Then... what was her purpose?"
"Who knows? Maybe she wanted you to successfully take everything, then control you. If she couldn't control you, she would expose your plot!"
With each word she spoke, my heart sank further. I reached for my phone, scrolling through old messages. The anonymous number that had contacted me years ago was disconnected.
"Damn it," I whispered, fear replacing my anger.
"This confirms my suspicion. Don't worry. I know what to do next." A sinister smile spread across her face.
---
Elena's POV
The kitchen at Highland Estate filled with the rich aroma of roasted herbs as Anna and I prepared dinner. I'd insisted on making Richard's favorite rosemary lamb chops myself.
"The table looks perfect," Anna commented, eyeing the formal dining setting with approval.
I was about to respond when I heard the sound of Richard's car pulling into the driveway. The children must have heard it too, because Lily and Kathy came racing down the stairs.
"Daddy's home!" they squealed in unison, rushing toward the front door.
Max appeared at the top of the stairs, watching. His expression was hesitant, uncertain whether he had the right to join the greeting.
Richard entered with shopping bags, immediately kneeling to embrace Kathy and Lily. "I have something for my princesses," he said, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.
He presented teddy bears to both Kathy and Lily, who accepted them with identical expressions of delight. Then Richard glanced up, noticing Max watching from the stairs.
Without a word, he walked back to his car and returned with a large box.
"Computer equipment," he announced, looking directly at Max. "The best available."
Max's eyes widened with excitement, but he remained frozen, looking to me for guidance.
"Go on," I encouraged quietly. "It's a gift from your father. He knows you like it."
When our son slowly descended the stairs and approached him, Richard's expression revealed nothing.
"Thank you," Max said formally, reaching for the box.
I watched Max carry his treasure back to the room, his steps much lighter than before. Whatever Richard's motives were, seeing that expression on my son's face was worth more than any explanation.