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264
Ultimately, Samantha agreed to meet Breanna at a tea room near the Craig family residence. Breanna arrived first and noticed Samantha had yet to show up. A flicker of irritation crossed her face. The tea room was practically next door to Samantha’s home, yet Breanna was left waiting? 

As her patience wore thin, Samantha finally entered, her face betraying her annoyance. Without wasting a moment, Samantha took a seat and said curtly, "Say what you need to. I don’t have all day."

Breanna smirked, her tone mocking. "Busy, are you, Ms. Craig? If that’s the case, maybe I shouldn’t say anything at all. You can go back to your oh-so-important affairs."

Samantha’s expression soured. "What’s the meaning of this, Ms. Zachary? I went out of my way to meet with you, and this is how you act? Are you playing games with me?"

"Games? Not at all," Breanna replied nonchalantly. "What I have to say is important, but I need to see some sincerity first. Otherwise, this conversation is pointless."

With a wave of her hand, Breanna called for a waiter and ordered tea. She sipped her cup slowly while Samantha’s sat untouched. Breanna noticed Samantha’s hesitation, but she dismissed it, focusing on the growing impatience in Samantha's expression. Finally, Samantha couldn’t hold back any longer. "What kind of sincerity are you talking about?"

Breanna’s gaze sharpened as she leaned forward slightly. "Answer me truthfully, Ms. Craig. Have you given up on Alpha Xavier?"

Caught off guard, Samantha hesitated. She regarded Breanna as an outsider, someone undeserving of such personal information. How could she admit her true feelings to someone like her?

But Samantha’s pause was telling enough for Breanna. She didn’t need a verbal confirmation; Samantha’s reaction had already given her the answer she sought. With a knowing smile, Breanna placed her teacup down. "No need to answer, Ms. Craig. I see it clearly now."

Samantha’s silence only fueled Breanna’s confidence. "I understand why you don’t trust me. After all, you’ve probably heard that I don’t hold your half-sister Bella in high regard. Let’s not dwell on that. I’ll get straight to the point—I’m here to suggest we work together."

Samantha raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued despite herself. "Work together? On what?"

"To deal with Bella," Breanna said bluntly. "I want her to stay far away from both Alpha Xavier and my fiancé. And I believe that goal aligns with your own. But cooperation requires mutual trust, which is why I’ve come to prove my sincerity." She slid a business card across the table toward Samantha. "Here’s my personal contact information. If you ever want to discuss anything further, don’t hesitate to call. I hope this is the start of a productive partnership."

Samantha took the card, carefully masking her emotions behind a polite smile. "Thank you, Ms. Zachary. Perhaps we can be… allies in the future."

Breanna rose and left the tea room, her confidence unshaken. Samantha, on the other hand, felt a whirlwind of emotions. She needed to discuss Bella’s pregnancy with her mother, Pamela, but the revelation had left her shaken. Meanwhile, Alpha Xavier’s lingering trust in Kelsey had begun to erode as Bella’s words about Kelsey’s deceit echoed in his mind.

Alpha Xavier had been trying to reach Kelsey since she went abroad, but she was unreachable. Her phone was disconnected, and there was no trace of her at the school where she was supposedly studying. Frustrated and suspicious, he decided to call Mark, hoping he could provide some clarity. 

"Mark," Xavier said when the call connected, "do you have any updates on Kelsey?"

Mark’s tone was grim. "Xavier, there’s something important you need to know. Where are you right now?"

"I’ll be at the company in 20 minutes," Xavier replied, sensing the urgency. "We can talk then."

When Xavier arrived, Mark was already waiting for him. Before Mark could speak, Xavier asked, "Have you found anything about Kelsey?"

Mark shook his head. "No one’s been able to contact her since she left. I even checked with her school abroad, but they claim she’s not enrolled there."

Xavier’s expression darkened. "What do you mean? Was she lying about studying abroad?"

"It looks that way," Mark said. "I also found that Kelsey had been in frequent contact with someone named Itzel during that time."

"Itzel?" Xavier’s eyes narrowed. He and Kelsey had once suspected Itzel might be her mother, though Kelsey had denied it. But if that were true, why would Kelsey be in regular contact with her?

The unease in Xavier’s chest grew as he remembered Bella’s accusations against Kelsey. He clenched his fists, his voice low and tense. "I need answers. Find out who else she’s been in contact with."

Mark nodded. "I’ll look into it. But Xavier… do you think Kelsey was working with someone? Could she have been bribed?"

Xavier’s jaw tightened. "It’s possible. She might have been part of a larger scheme. But why? What would they gain from this?" 

Mark’s voice dropped. "Do you remember what happened the night you were intoxicated? Could it have been a setup?"

Xavier’s mind raced, recalling the events of that night. He had only had a few drinks, yet he had blacked out completely. Samantha had been there, and somehow she had ended up driving him home. Something about it didn’t add up. 

Mark’s next words sent a chill through him. "What if they were trying to recreate the incident from your mother’s birthday party?"

Xavier’s breath caught. The memory of that humiliating night resurfaced, and his suspicion deepened. Itzel had a close relationship with his mother. Could she and Kelsey have been plotting something together? Was Samantha involved? 

Mark interrupted his thoughts. "Samantha recently visited the hospital for a check-up. I had someone follow her, but they couldn’t find anything unusual—except for one thing. She used someone else’s identity for the examination."

Xavier’s eyes narrowed. "Why would she do that?"

"I don’t know," Mark admitted. "But I reviewed the footage and the medical records. It seems like the examination was part of some artificial procedure."

Xavier’s voice rose. "Artificial procedure? Are you saying Samantha is trying to…?"

Mark hesitated. "It’s just a theory, but could she be planning to claim she’s pregnant?"

The possibility hit Xavier like a punch to the gut. His mother’s disapproval of Bella, combined with Samantha’s relentless pursuit of him, made it all too plausible. He shot to his feet, his voice filled with dread. "I might have fallen into their trap."

"Don’t jump to conclusions," Mark urged. "We need more information. Let’s start by finding the driver from that night."

The two men rushed to the Huston Palace, where the driver had supposedly been hired. But their search yielded no results. The hotel staff informed them there was no record of a driver, and further investigation revealed that Kelsey had arranged the ride herself.

Xavier’s heart sank. He had been manipulated from the start. Bitter and disillusioned, he left the hotel with Mark, his mind racing with unanswered questions. 

As they walked to the car, Mark asked, "What’s our next step?"

Xavier’s voice was cold and resolute. "We go home. For now." He knew this battle was far from over.