Chapter 136

Richard's POV

Her accusation hit me like a blow to the chest. I fell silent, unable to deny what she already knew.

Of course I had contingency plans. But they were only to be implemented if Mandy posed a significant threat. Hadn't I given her a chance? Hadn't I trusted Elena to resolve this matter?

Anger began to rise in my chest, like molten steel. "Yes, you're right. I did have other plans. But I had already given you the authority to handle this, and I wouldn't have interfered before you were finished."

"Who would believe that?"

Her words were like ice water dousing flames. "What did you say?"

The dangerous edge in my voice should have warned her, but she no longer cared. The feeling of not being trusted, of having everything I'd done completely invalidated—it made me want to explode.

"Say that again, Elena?"

"What difference would it make? The facts are right in front of us. Mandy is dead, killed by your people, and now you've admitted it wasn't you who killed her, so who else could it be?"

Her voice broke with hysteria, but she wasn't done destroying me.

"Even if it wasn't you, it must have been your family who did it. Your father arranged for me to marry you to keep me close. After that last birthday celebration, he wanted to imprison me in the Blackwood Manor. What wouldn't you two do? Tell me!"

She was completely out of control. Her sobbing voice, the broken quality of her words—it was like hearing someone being torn apart. The desperation in her voice was killing me.

"No, Elena, please listen to my explanation, will you?" I grabbed the door handle, trying to force it open so I could pull her out.

But she was beyond reach now.

"Richard, I hate you! Look what my life has become because of you! I made one mistake with you when I was young, and look what's happened to me! Why would you do this to me? Richard Blackwood!!"

She shouted my name as if tearing it from her throat with her last breath.

My hand trembled, my heart seeming to stop completely. I desperately clutched at the car door, my voice carrying a pleading tone I'd never used before.

"Yes, it's all my fault. I apologize. Will you please open the door?"

I begged her as if soothing a frightened child.

But she would no longer listen. She squeezed her eyes shut, and I saw her foot slam down on the accelerator.

The car shot forward like a bullet.

"Elena, come back!" I roared after her, my voice hoarse with desperation.

But all that remained was exhaust fumes and rapidly disappearing taillights. In that moment, her resolve left no room for hope.

Gerald's POV

"Who died?" I asked, looking up from my book as Brad entered my bedroom with a troubled expression.

"Mandy," Brad replied, his voice carefully neutral. "There's been... an incident."

I sat up straighter, setting my book aside. "What kind of incident?"

"She was found dead tonight. Ms. Cinda saw Richard's subordinates at the scene." Brad hesitated. "She accused them of murder in front of Ms. Elena."

"Goddamnit!" I muttered, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "That idiot! Has he lost his mind? If he wanted to be with her, why would he allow something like this to happen?"

Before Brad could answer, the distant sound of the front door being slammed open echoed through the manor. Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs, getting louder by the second.

Brad moved toward the door, but I waved him back. "Let him come."

The bedroom door crashed open with such force that one of the hinges broke. Richard stood in the doorway, his eyes glowing a savage gold streaked with crimson. His breathing was ragged, chest heaving with barely contained fury.

"Gerald Blackwood!" he roared.

I stood up. "Richard, what do you think you're doing?"

He strode forward, ignoring Brad's presence entirely, and grabbed me by the collar of my pajamas. "Did you order her killed?" he demanded, his face inches from mine.

"What are you talking about?"

I watched in horror as my son's self-control slowly crumbled before my eyes. The beast he had been suppressing broke free.

"You don't know who you killed? You don't fucking remember?" he roared, his voice echoing through my bedroom. "You killed Mandy, didn't you?"

My eyes widened in genuine shock. "What?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" he snarled, and I watched his fangs lengthening, his fingernails sharpening into deadly claws. This was beyond normal Alpha rage—he was about to lose control.

"Stop, Alpha! This is your father!" Brad shouted, quickly moving between us.

For a moment, I thought my son might kill us both.

Suddenly, Felix appeared behind Richard, syringe in hand. With one swift motion, he plunged the needle into Richard's neck. Richard turned with a growl, but the sedative was already taking effect.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," Felix said.

Richard collapsed to the floor, and silence returned to the room. Brad rushed to check on him, while Felix stood back, looking both shocked and resolute.

"He'll be fine," Felix said. "This sedative is specifically designed for Alphas. He'll be unconscious for about an hour."

I sank back into my chair, my legs suddenly weak. "What the hell happened? Why does Richard think I ordered someone killed?"

Felix stared at me, his expression shifting from confusion to suspicion. "Mr. Blackwood, wasn't it you who ordered Mandy's elimination?"

"What?" I snapped, my patience nearly gone. "Are you out of your mind? Why would I order her killed?"

Brad turned to Felix, his voice sharp with irritation: "Don't be ridiculous. If Mr. Blackwood had given such an order, would he be asking you about it now?"

Felix paled. "If not you, then who?"

We all fell silent, the implications hanging heavy in the air.

"Tell me exactly what happened," I demanded.

Felix cleared his throat. "Mr. Blackwood, Mandy died tonight. There were our people near her when it happened. Cinda witnessed everything."

"Our people?" I echoed.

"A security team that Alpha assigned to monitor potential threats," Felix explained. "But Alpha gave strict orders: observe only, no intervention unless attacked first."

I stood up, pacing the room. "Then who could it be?"

Someone wanted to frame us. But who? And why?

Brad frowned. "Could it be family business rivals? Or another wolf pack trying to challenge our territory?"

I shook my head. "Why target Elena's family specifically? What's the connection?"

The answer dawned on me. "Elena and Richard's relationship. Someone's trying to separate them."

But Victoria and Emily, who wanted their relationship to fail, were already locked up by us.

I sighed deeply. "I'll go speak to Elena tomorrow. Once I explain—"

"It won't work," Felix interrupted. "Ms. Winter... she won't listen."

"Why not?"

Felix looked uncomfortable. "She said she'll never trust any of us again. She said you made her marry Richard to keep his secret. When she escaped, Richard dragged her back to control her."

These words hit me like physical blows. I staggered back, my face draining of color.

You destroyed lives for the pack's benefit. Richard's accusation echoed in my mind. I did exactly that—I arranged the marriage for the pack and for Richard, but at what cost?

I hurt Elena, hurt my son.

Even if I wanted to make amends, mistakes once made aren't so easily erased.