Chapter 245 CHAPTER 0245

Chapter 245 CHAPTER 0245
LAUREN'S POV

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, what do you mean I’m not going anywhere?” I asked, my confusion growing deeper with every passing second. My voice wasn’t loud, but it carried enough tension that anyone listening could tell something wasn’t right.

“Isn’t it obvious yet?” Liz replied, tilting her head slightly like she was genuinely surprised I hadn’t figured anything out. The casualness in her voice made my skin crawl a little, like she was amused by my confusion.

“You said I should bring the money,” I whispered, lowering my voice and leaning in a little so none of the men in the room would hear me. “I’ve brought the money, so pay the guy off so we can go.” I added gently, opening my purse just enough for her to see the envelope inside. I wasn’t trying to argue; I just wanted this whole thing to end quickly.

“Well, plans have changed, dear sister. You see, I’m going to explain everything to you, and you’re not going to like it.” She said, slowly stepping closer to me. Her whole attitude had shifted, she wasn’t nervous or desperate like she sounded on the phone. Her shoulders were relaxed, her eyes steady. Almost like she had been waiting for the perfect moment to say those words.

She continued walking closer until she was just a few inches away from me. “Wow, first of all this worked better than I expected it to. When I left the house, I thought Roman would have already told you everything that happened. I still said there was no harm in trying so I went ahead and gave this plan a try… and you fell right into it.” Her voice no longer held any softness; it was sharp now, precise.

“What plan are you talking about? Am I being left in the dark or something? Because I don’t understand.” I said, my voice rising slightly in confusion. Everything she was saying sounded like she was speaking in riddles, and I hated not understanding what was going on.

Before she could respond, my phone vibrated, and a notification popped up on the screen. Roman was calling me. I must have been gone longer than I thought, and now he was worried. I needed to answer. If he thought something was wrong, he would panic, and I didn’t want him worrying on top of everything else happening.

But Liz… Liz was talking about things that didn’t make sense. And why did she lock the door? That was the part that bothered me the most.

“Go on, pick up,” Liz said, nodding her head slowly, almost mockingly. As if she wanted me to answer. As if she needed me to.

I raised a brow, shocked that she would even tell me to answer when she was the one who insisted I shouldn’t bring Roman. But I answered anyway and slowly lifted the phone to my ear.

“Lauren, why did you go alone? We were meant to go together. We’ve talked about this.” Roman said immediately. His voice was serious, firm but still carrying that worry he always had when it came to me.

“I’m sorry about that,” I replied, keeping my eyes on Liz the entire time. “I’ve gotten to the place and I’m about to give her the money. Once I’m done, I’ll leave and be back soon.”

“Okay, but you should have allowed me to tell you what I wanted to tell you before you zoomed off to meet your so-called sister.” Roman said.

I frowned deeply. “So-called? What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, what kind of sister would try to seduce her sister’s fiancé, even though she was rendered help?” Roman said.

My mouth parted slightly as I slowly turned my head toward Elizabeth. She folded her arms and smirked, like she already knew the exact moment I realized he had told me the truth. My stomach twisted painfully.

Seduce?

“She tried to seduce you?” I asked, my voice trembling with disbelief. The words barely came out.

“Yes. But it didn’t work,” Roman said. “And from the looks of it, I don’t think she cares about you as much as you care about her. That’s what I wanted to tell you.”

I felt my grip on the phone loosen. The device nearly slipped out of my hands. Hearing him say it… hearing it confirmed out loud… it hit me harder than I expected. So my suspicions were right. Tessa had been right. And Roman, he wouldn’t lie to me about something like this.

But why? Why would she try to do something like that?

After everything… after I defended her… after I tried to help her… after I let her into my home?

I felt like such an idiot. Completely foolish. And now, standing here in a room with her and four strange men, everything inside me screamed that I needed to leave. Immediately.

“I need your help. She has me held up in a room in…”

Before I could even finish the sentence, Elizabeth snatched the phone from my hand with a suddenness that startled me.

“That’s enough talking from you,” she said sharply, pressing the end-call button before I could even react.

“Give me my phone back. Now.” I said, my voice rising as anger pushed through the shock.

“Trust me, you are in no condition to make demands right now.” She replied coldly.

“I’m in no condition to do what? We’re sisters! You know that.” I said, my voice shaking not just from anger, but from hurt. From betrayal.

“Yes, you’re right,” she said with a slow nod, almost pitying. “But you see… there can only be one me in this world. No photocopy, no one else.”

She stood there, her expression darkening as those last words hung heavy in the air. The smirks on the men behind me widened, like they’d been waiting for her to say that exact line.

And in that moment, everything, every doubt, every uneasy feeling, every strange text she sent clicked painfully into place.

But it was too late.