Chapter 84: Manipulation
Isabella’s POV
The evening air was cool, crisp, and utterly perfect. A gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth, rustling the curtains as I stepped onto the balcony, my lips curling into a satisfied smirk. Everything was falling into place. Every carefully laid seed of doubt was taking root, twisting around Ivy and Leo’s fragile bond like vines squeezing the life out of a tree.
I wrapped my arms around myself, savoring the tension I had orchestrated between them. The weight of my victory settled over me like a warm cloak.
Ivy looked like a ghost of herself, broken and riddled with guilt, while Leo—well, Leo was still too soft toward her for my liking. That part irked me, but it wouldn’t last. Not with what I had in store.
I traced the rim of my glass, the cool condensation dampening my fingertips as I recalled the past few nights.
I gripped the railing, my nails grazing the iron as I replayed Ivy’s devastation in my mind. The way she had stood there, trembling, her voice cracking with desperation as Leo turned her away. Perfect.
The bloodstains on Leo’s chest? My doing.
It was so easy. I had played the role of a concerned friend flawlessly, bringing him a freshly brewed tea that night—a special blend just for him. I had smiled sweetly, assuring him it would help him relax after such a stressful and chaotic day. And he, ever so trusting, had taken it from me without hesitation.
What he didn’t know was that Lila had provided me with a potent sleeping potion, strong enough to keep even an Alpha King in a deep, dreamless slumber. It worked like a charm.
By the time I crept into their chamber, he was completely unaware, his breath steady and even. With the precision of an artist, I dipped my fingers into the raw meat blood I had prepared beforehand and smeared it across his chest. The metallic scent had filled the air, sharp and pungent, as I worked quickly, careful not to leave a single trace of my presence behind. Then, I stepped back and admired my handiwork.
I had turned the security camera just enough to miss my movements, wiped away every trace of my presence, and when the moment came, I had played my role flawlessly—the concerned friend, the devoted helper.
The best part? Leo had thanked me for taking care of every mess Ivy made.
A victorious hum left my lips. They were unraveling—just like I wanted. But… not fast enough.
However, that had only been the beginning.
I had been working from the shadows, feeding their insecurities and driving wedges between them wherever I could. When Ivy misplaced a critical file from Leo’s study, I had been the first to step in, ever so helpful, ever so understanding.
“I’m sure it was just an accident,” I had murmured, placing a gentle hand on Leo’s arm when his frustration had peaked. “You know how much pressure Ivy has been under. Maybe we should cut her some slack?”
Ivy had shot me a glare, her eyes filled with suspicion, but Leo—oh, Leo—he had softened, just as I had intended.
And yet… he was still holding onto her. Still standing by her, even as everything crumbled around them.
That was what I couldn’t stand.
I took a slow sip of my wine, my mind already working through the next step.
Leo was slipping further into my hands, but not fast enough. I needed something stronger, something more potent.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Lila’s number, stepping further onto the balcony as the night stretched before me.
She answered on the third ring. “Well, well. Someone sounds pleased.”
“Oh, I am,” I purred, swirling my glass. “The masking powder worked like a dream. No scent, no trace. I was in and out without a problem.”
Lila chuckled. “Told you. The best magic is the one no one sees coming.”
“True,” I admitted. “But it’s not enough. Leo is still looking at Ivy like she hung the moon, even when he thinks she’s losing her mind. I need something more, Lila. Something bigger.”
“Oh, you do?” She drawled lazily.
“This isn’t just a game,” I snapped. “I need them completely broken. No lingering feelings, no hesitation. No hope.”
Lila hummed in thought before finally speaking, her tone dripping with something dark and knowing. “Then you’re going to love what I have planned next.”
I straightened, my grip tightening around my phone.
She laid out the plan, her words weaving a deliciously dark web in my mind. I felt my pulse quicken, excitement bubbling in my chest.
“Oh, Lila,” I whispered, my lips curling into a wicked grin. “I love the way you think. This is perfect!”
“But you have to keep your promise, Lila. He’s mine,” I warned.
“Of course! I have no interest whatsoever in your Alpha,” she replied.
A thrill ran down my spine as I turned back toward the open expanse before me. The vast space stretched endlessly, the distant tree line standing like silent guards beneath the moon’s glow. A sense of triumph unfurled in my chest, warm and intoxicating, as if the entire world was bending to my will, falling neatly into place.
I could already picture it—Leo finally turning away from Ivy, disgusted, broken, beyond repair.
And when he did?
I would be right there to catch him.
A giddy laugh escaped me as I whispered, “I can’t wait to finally separate Leo and Ivy.”
The moment was pure bliss, the high of my success making me dizzy. But then—
A deep, menacing growl sliced through the night air, freezing me in place.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat as a shadow loomed behind me. A dark presence, crackling with barely restrained fury.
Slowly, I turned, my heart hammering against my ribs.
And there, standing in the shadows, his eyes burning like twin flames, was Leo.
His gaze locked onto me, his expression unreadable, but the fury rolling off him in waves was unmistakable.
I felt my throat tighten, my carefully constructed facade threatening to crack.
For the first time since this game began, a storm of fear crept into my veins.
Leo had heard everything.
And judging by the deadly gleam in his eyes…
He wasn’t going to let it slide.
“Isabella,”