Chapter 137

CHAPTER 137

GERARD’S POV

I kept switching my gaze from Liliana to Cassandra and then back to Liliana, holding my breath.

Cassandra gave a nasty grin, and my heart stopped breathing, believing she was about to show that nasty side of herself she knows I hate so much.

She simply sized Liliana up with her eyes and then twisted around to look at me.

“I will be outside in case you need me… just come to check if…” Cassandra paused and looked at Liliana with a sly smile. “... She was okay.”

She patted Liliana's head before she could react, then walked out, swaying her hips as she did so.

She left an awkward silence behind her. I searched my mind for something to say to Liliana, but I came up blank.

“Did you see?” Liliana suddenly spoke up, beating me to it.

I looked up at her, startled, my brain struggling to follow what she said.

She pointed at the closed door and spoke, her voice filled with pain. “Her attitude. Does that person behave like she is innocent?”

“Come on, Liliana. The way she behaves isn't enough to suspect her of what you are accusing her of.” I tried to reason with her.

I saw the moment she closed up to me, and it felt like my heart was about to explode.

“I knew you were going to be like this.” She commented, absently rubbing her stomach… the stomach that had housed our child.

“I__”

“I don't want to hear it, whatever you were going to say. Leave, please; I really need to be alone right now.” She interrupted me.

I looked on helplessly as she slowly lay down on the hospital bed, positioning her back to me.

I reached out a hand to touch her but withdrew it, not knowing how she would react to it.

Gritting my teeth, I honored her words, turning around and walking out the door.

I headed towards the head doctor's office instead of joining Cassandra outside.

“Who was the doctor in charge of Liliana's case?” I demanded as soon as I got into the office.

The doctor took off his glasses and peered up at me. “I am the doctor who examined her.”

I sat across from the doctor, leaning forward on the office desk, my face dead serious.

“What's wrong with her? How did she lose our… her baby? Surely your examination must have turned up something.”

The doctor hesitated a bit, then he stood and made sure the door was double locked before coming back to sit down.

He looked me directly in my eyes.

“I did find something…”

He shuffled through some files in a drawer and brought out the one marked L, placing it before me.

I picked it up and flipped through it but couldn't make sense of it.

“What's this?” I asked him, shutting the file and looking up.

“That's Liliana's medical file. I came across something funny that bugged me while I examined her and decided to pursue it further even though I was instructed not to.”

“Instructed by who?” I demanded.

The man flinched but showed no other signs of being intimidated. “I'm not at liberty to disclose their identity.”

I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to wrap my fingers around the man's neck and wring it till he tells me what I want to know.

I decided to let it go.

“So what did you actually find?” I asked instead.

“What I found could actually be a major lead to the kidnappers, sir,” he said.

“What do you mean? Explain.”

The doctor was reluctant to say more, but taking one look at my face, he changed his mind.

“I found traces of Brothsdoom and a mild dose of wolfsbane, just enough to abort a child,” the doctor explained.

“Did you say wolfsbane?” I said, my mind still refusing to accept the facts laid before me.

The doctor nodded slowly. “Yes. That was what was used by the kidnappers. They administered it at intervals.”

Wolfsbane…

Wolfsbane was a rare flower that could only be gotten in one place: the northern region, which also happens to be Cassandra's father's domain.

That can't be possible… She won't stoop so low…. Would she?

My mind was in denial, coming up with different logics and reasons. It was possible someone purchased it illegally from the northern region and is trying to frame Cassandra with it, knowing of the animosity between her and Liliana.

I growled and clenched my fist. If that was true, then I couldn't wait to get my hands on them.

There was no way Cassandra was the culprit.

I thanked the doctor and went out of the hospital through the back exit, deliberately dodging Cassandra at the front exit. Before leaving I checked on Liliana and found her fast asleep.

It was time for a meeting. If someone in my pack was after Liliana's life, then I had to hurry up and prove her innocence in her own pack.

I spoke telepathically to my key men in my pack.

Meet me in the study.

Before long they were assembled before me, patiently waiting for what I had to say.

I did a mental roll call.

Max, Cain, Sel, Dahlia, Coco, Dan, and Don.

I started the meeting.

“I have found a way to prove Liliana's innocence. In fact, it also hints at the real murderer.”

Those gathered before me didn't even flinch at the piece of information, trained as they were.

It was Cain who spoke first. “What's the plan, boss?”

The door burst in, and Landen hurried in, murmuring an apology for being late, then standing in position like the others.

I intentionally let my eyes rove over him for a bit, then went on.

“I have in my possession a recording that implicates the real killer. We are going to submit that to give it to the council once we get there.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Max asked. I glared at him.

“We are waiting for Liliana to get better before we take action.”

“I think this has gone on long enough. We need to get it to the pack. Take down the bastard.

“We will.” I gritted, not a fan of his tone.  “Once, Liliana is better. She would not like it if I went without her.”

Max’s eyes bored into mine.

I threw a folder on the table towards them. Landen picked it up, and the others crowded round him.

“But first, I want to share something with you. This doesn't leave this room.”

They nodded in unison.

“I would like some of you to investigate what's in that folder.” I informed them. “Landen, you will take point on this. Sel, Coco, and Don will work with you on this one. You have to be discreet about it, and I need answers soon. It's connected to who kidnapped Liliana.”

They nodded in response, and I brought out the recording. Just as I was about to hit the play button, the phone in my study rang.

I picked it up, keeping the recording aside for the moment.

“Yes, what is it?”

Static, then a voice came on.

“It's Fiona. I can't reach her. She's missing.”