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In the end, Samantha made the decision to meet Breanna in the tea room near the Craig family. Breanna hurried to the tea room, but Samantha had not arrived yet. A growl escaped Breanna's lips. What was wrong with Samantha? The tea room was just in front of her door, yet she asked Breanna to wait?

As frustration filled her, Samantha finally entered. She sat down and urged Breanna, "Speak. I don't have time for this."

"Are you so busy, Ms. Craig?" Breanna sneered. "If that's the case, I won't say anything anymore. You better go and deal with your own business."

"What do you mean, Ms. Zachary? It's not easy for me to find time to see you. How dare you play tricks on me like this?" Samantha was displeased.

"I'm not playing tricks. What I want to discuss with you is very important. But you have to prove your sincerity to me," Breanna said, signaling a waiter to bring tea. She took a sip from her cup, but Samantha didn't touch her own. Breanna grew more suspicious, but she brushed it off. Seeing Samantha was becoming anxious as Breanna took her time drinking the tea, Samantha couldn't contain herself any longer. She didn't have time for nonsense, so she asked, "What sincerity do you want?"

"Ms. Craig, you have to answer a few questions truthfully," Breanna gazed piercingly at Samantha. "You've given up on Alpha Xavier, haven't you?"

"This..." Samantha regarded Breanna as an outsider. How could she confess her feelings for Alpha Xavier to someone like her?

Samantha's hesitation confirmed what Breanna suspected. She didn't need Samantha to answer the question directly. She just wanted to see her reaction. If Samantha was truly giving up, it meant she felt nothing for Alpha Xavier. Breanna continued, "You don't have to answer that question, Ms. Craig. I already know the answer." She placed her teacup down.

"Ms. Craig, you've been hiding it because you don't trust me. I understand. Since I fell in love with you first, I don't particularly like your half-sister Bella. And I believe you've heard about it, Ms. Craig. I won't divulge the reason. Let's be straightforward. I came here today to propose a partnership."

"How do you suggest we cooperate?"

"I want to deal with Bella. I want her to stay away from my alpha and my fiance. And Ms. Craig, I believe we share the same goal. But cooperation won't be easy, which is why I came here to show my sincerity. I hope Miss Herrera can show yours as well," Breanna said as she handed Samantha a business card. "This is my personal contact. If you have anything to discuss, you can reach out to me. I hope we can continue to enjoy tea and conversation together in the future."

"Thank you, Ms. Zachary. I hope we can be friends in the future," Samantha took the card, masking the storm of emotions inside her. She had lost her composure earlier, revealing her inexperience. Compared to her, Breanna was much more skilled.

Leaving the tea room, Samantha tried to calm herself. She needed to discuss Bella's pregnancy with her mother, Pamela. The news had left her in shock, unable to process it fully. As for Kelsey, Alpha Xavier's trust in her had never wavered. But now, Bella's words about Kelsey's deceit lingered in his mind.

Alpha Xavier needed answers. He had been trying to contact Kelsey since she went abroad, but her phone remained unreachable. He couldn't even find any information about her studies. Concerned, he decided to contact Mark, hoping that he could provide some answers. When Mark answered the call, he said, "Xavier, I have something important to tell you. Where are you?"

Sensing the urgency in Mark's voice, Alpha Xavier replied, "I'll be at the company in 20 minutes. We can talk then."

Arriving at the company, Alpha Xavier found Mark waiting for him. Before Mark could speak, Alpha Xavier asked, "Do you have any news about Kelsey?"

Shaking his head, Mark replied, "Since Kelsey went abroad, we haven't been able to reach her. She hasn't contacted us either. I even checked with her study abroad school, but they claim she's not a student there."

The strange disappearance of Kelsey, even while studying abroad, left Alpha Xavier unsettled. Could she have been lying all this time? Was she really studying abroad?

Feeling betrayed, his face grew cold. "Find out who she has been in contact with during that time."

"I already checked. She had the most contact with Itzel," Mark informed.

"Itzel?" Alpha Xavier was shocked. He and Kelsey had suspected Itzel to be her mother, but Kelsey denied it herself. If Itzel wasn't her mother, why was Kelsey in contact with her? Something wasn't right.

Recalling how Kelsey had lied to Bella, Alpha Xavier's unease grew. He needed answers, but Kelsey's sudden disappearance made it all the more difficult. Controlling his emotions, he suggested to Mark, "She invited me to dinner. Should I go?"

Mark's response would shed some light on the situation.

"Kelsey is naught but a deceiver?" Mark's voice was filled with disbelief, his eyes wide in shock. Kelsey had been a constant presence in his life, someone he trusted wholeheartedly. The revelation of Kelsey's true nature shook Mark to his core, making it hard to comprehend.

"Bella does not speak falsehoods. Kelsey must have conspired with her. But what drives her to do such a thing?" Mark wondered aloud, searching for a motive.

"Could it be that Kelsey was tempted by Madam's bribery?" Alpha Xavier inquired cautiously, his voice laced with doubt.

"That is also my suspicion. But what purpose does she have in getting me intoxicated? Is it merely to incite Bella and force her departure?" Alpha Xavier pondered aloud, realizing that there must be more to this than meets the eye.

The events of that night were far from simple. Though he was not one to easily succumb to intoxication, Alpha Xavier remembered Samantha's sudden appearance vividly. Unsettling shivers coursed through him as he thought back on it. He had only consumed a few glasses of wine that night, nowhere near enough to incapacitate him. Yet, Samantha had managed to lead him home while he slept. It was a perplexing matter.

"Xavier, could they be planning to recreate the birthday party?" Mark's words jolted Alpha Xavier from his thoughts.

"The birthday party?" The reminder triggered the memories of the humiliating incident that transpired on his mother's special day.

Itzel shared a close bond with his mother. Could Kelsey have been bribed to drug her? Were they trying to orchestrate a meeting between her and Samantha?

If these speculations were true, then there must have been events that unfolded that night, hidden from Alpha Xavier's knowledge. Fear gnawed at his heart as he dared not dwell on the potential outcome. His pulse quickened, and he could feel the panic rising within him. "Has Samantha taken any unusual actions recently?"

"She did visit the hospital for a check-up. I had someone tail her and witnessed her entering the orthopedic department. Afterward, I had them investigate her activities, but they found nothing out of the ordinary."

"What do you mean? Was there no check-up?" Alpha Xavier's impatience grew evident.

"No, the surveillance team confirms that she underwent the examination, but there is no record of her presence at the hospital. It seems Samantha used someone else's identity for the check-up. It struck me as rather peculiar. What could she be planning?" Mark revealed, his words carefully chosen.

"Do not dance around the topic and get to the point," Alpha Xavier's restlessness could no longer be contained.

"Hence, I personally conducted an investigation. I had the surveillance footage of Samantha's examination analyzed, followed by a thorough inspection of her medical reports. My findings suggest that these examinations seemed to be an artificial means of assessing her health."

"What are you saying?" Alpha Xavier's voice rose unnaturally. Samantha undergoing artificial procedures? It seemed unfathomable. "Why would she choose to undergo artificial procedures?"

"I have sought answers. Though Samantha underwent these examinations, there is no evidence of any artificial surgeries. I find it all exceedingly strange. Since I cannot discern her intentions, I thought it best to inform you," Mark explained, a sense of bewilderment in his voice.

This sudden revelation left Alpha Xavier in a state of disarray. His mind felt muddled and chaotic, unable to make sense of anything.

Observing his furrowed brow and silence, Mark refrained from further speaking, cautious in his approach. After a tense pause, he ventured tentatively, "Could it be that Madam intends for Samantha to become pregnant again?" Mark's uncertainty showed in his hesitant tone.

His mother had always disapproved of his relationship with Bella, and Samantha was relentless in her pursuit of him. Combined, they presented an alarming possibility. Alpha Xavier shot up from his seat, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Oh no, I might have fallen into their trap!"

"Do not panic, Xavier. It is but a speculation. The situation may not be as dire as it seems. Let us uncover the truth of what occurred that night. Did you not hire a designated driver? Let us make our way to the hotel immediately and question the driver," Mark suggested, attempting to allay Alpha Xavier's distress.

Without wasting another moment, Alpha Xavier and Mark hastily set off for the Huston Palace. Their intent was to locate the designated driver from that fateful night and extract any information available. However, their efforts were in vain as the hotel informed them that no such driver existed. When they discovered that Kelsey had arranged the driver, Alpha Xavier could only muster a bitter smile. He knew he had been manipulated from the very beginning.

With someone orchestrating a cunning trap against him, it would not be easy to find the designated driver anymore. Continuing the search would prove futile. Alpha Xavier left the hotel with a somber expression, his silence speaking volumes.

"Xavier, what shall we do now?" Mark, too, understood the gravity of the situation.

"Let us return home!" Alpha Xavier uttered those two words with a heavy heart.