Chapter 173 Hidden Hand

Chapter 173 Hidden Hand
Russell POV

The sterile smell of the hospital room clings to my skin as I pace near the bed, my voice rising in a calculated roar. "That bastard! Whoever killed my mother, I'll tear them apart!"

I slam a fist against the wall, the sound echoing through the thin door, ensuring it reaches the ears of whoever's lurking outside, watching my every move. Let them think I've lost it. Let them report back that Russell Salvatore is a grieving, unhinged mess. It's the perfect smokescreen.

Inside, though, my mind is a cold, sharp blade.

Zoe was nothing more than a pawn—a useful one, I'll admit, meant to stir discord between Cherry and Nicholas down the line. Her death wasn't in my plans, not yet. I expected her meddling to cause friction, to plant seeds of doubt. But someone uprooted the game before I could play my hand.

Who? I stop pacing, staring at the IV drip as if it holds answers. Suicide? Impossible. Zoe was obsessed with securing me a new wife, a new rung on the family ladder. She'd never end it herself, not with her claws still itching for power. Eric and his pathetic brood? They're too spineless to pull a trigger. Cherry and Nicholas, then? They've got motive—after all, they were the ones who cornered Anthony and drove him to his death. But I've laid low these past six months, kept my head down. Zoe hasn't overstepped, not publicly. Why target her now?

I sift through the possibilities, discarding each until only one remains. Theodus Rossi. My jaw tightens as the door creaks open, and there he is, disguised in a doctor's coat, clipboard in hand, as if he's just another overworked staffer. I don't wait for him to speak. Stepping close, I drop my voice to a hiss, fury barely leashed. "Did you do it? Did you kill my mom?"

Theodus doesn't flinch. His eyes, cold as slate, meet mine. "I know this incident disrupts your timeline，but I'm helping you, Russell. Six months of silence? The elders were getting impatient; they are starting to think you'd jumped ship. I had to make a move. Consider it a reminder that we must accelerate."

My hands curl into fists, nails biting into my palms. I know the elders he means. Thomas and Rebecca among them, turncoats he's swayed to his side. Their support was why I aligned with him in the first place, why I believed we could topple Nicholas. But this? "Our goal is the same, to wipe out every last Salvatore," I growl, teeth gritted. "But if you pull stunts like this without consulting me, there's no point to our partnership."

He inclines his head, a mockery of respect. "There won't be a next time. But you need to move faster. I've heard Nicholas is pushing the family toward legitimacy. If he succeeds, the underground empire we're after becomes worthless. Act soon, my love." His tone is a warning, sharp and final, as he leans in, brushing a cold kiss against my lips, a gesture more threat than affection. Then he adjusts his clipboard and steps back.

Before I can reply, the door swings open again. Sophia enters. Theodus slips into his doctor act, rattling off some nonsense about recovery timelines before exiting. I don't hesitate. My face crumples into pain, a groan escaping my lips as I clutch the bedrail. Sophia's there in an instant, motherly concern flooding her features. Her hand brushes my cheek, warm and oblivious. "Oh, Russell, I'm so sorry for your loss," she murmurs.

I let myself lean into her touch, choking out a sob, while inside, a sneer curls. How easily she buys it, this naive woman, blinded by trust. What a perfect shield she is. But as I nestle into her comfort, my resolve hardens. Every Salvatore must die. If I'm to take control, I can't afford loose ends, can't risk lingering doubts when I finally claim what's mine. Not even Sophia gets to live.

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Cherry POV

My steps are heavy as I approach Russell's hospital room. Sophia's already inside, her voice a low murmur of comfort. I'm here under the guise of concern, but my eyes are sharp, searching for cracks in Russell's facade.

His grief is loud—red-rimmed eyes, trembling hands—but something's off. His pupils are too clear, lacking the haze of true devastation I've seen in others, in myself. When I casually ask about Zoe's last visitors, probing for any slip in his story, a flicker of tension crosses his face, gone in a blink. But I catch it, and a warning bell clangs in my chest.

I turn to Sophia, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me. "We should tighten protection here. To ensure Russell's safety." Russell's jaw tightens, a protest forming, but he masks it with a choked nod, playing the broken son. I don't buy it. Not for a second.

Back at the estate, I sink into the chair in Nicholas's study, the weight of the day pressing down. "Zoe's death—it's too convenient," I say, my fingers tracing the edge of a glass I haven't touched. "Right after Eric pushes for a split? If he's the killer, he'd have done it before making himself the obvious suspect, not after. It's sloppy. It couldn't be him."

Nicholas leans against the desk, arms crossed, his gaze piercing. "Agreed. Someone's pulling strings, sowing chaos. A third party, maybe. You say it's Russell? That he's faking his grief?"

I nod, my mind racing. "I've got a plan. Lennie's still recovering, but he's a wizard with tech. I'll have him monitor Russell's communications remotely. If Russell's hiding something, Lennie won't be on-site to draw suspicion. It's just 'technical support.' No one will trace it back to us."

Nicholas's lips curve, a mix of admiration and ache. "You've become so sharp, Cherry. Calculating. All to protect this family." His voice dips, heavy with something unspoken.

I slide closer, curling into his chest, the warmth of him grounding me. "It's your damn business that forced me to," I mutter, half-laughing, half-sobbing. My eyes sting, tears threatening as I look up at him. "If I had a choice, I'd keep our daughter from ever learning to read people like I do. I don't want her growing up surrounded by blood and betrayal."

He presses a kiss to my forehead, lingering there, a silent vow. "I promise you, she won't. She'll have the kind of life we never did—clean, untouched. I'll make sure of it."