Chapter 68
Sloane's POV
Everyone froze. The whole room went dead quiet.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Juan snapped.
I stared at the bloodline stone sitting on the table. My heart was going crazy, but I had to think fast.
"Look at it closely. Someone coated the surface with silver powder!"
Everyone stared at me like I'd lost my damn mind. But I kept going because I had to.
"Silver powder stops blood from merging. It's an old trick!" My voice was shaking, but I tried to sound confident. "If someone wanted to fake the results, they'd coat it with silver powder first!"
Zaid tried to yank his hand away, but I held on tight. "You don't believe me?" I looked straight at Juan. "Let me prove it."
I pulled out the small needle and pricked Zaid's finger before anyone could stop me.
"What the fuck!" Zaid yelled, trying to pull away.
I squeezed his finger until blood dripped onto the stone.
Nothing happened. Just like with my blood, Zaid's blood just sat there on the surface.
The silence was so thick.
Juan stared at the stone. His face went through about five different emotions in two seconds.
"This... how is this possible?"
"It proves I'm innocent, Dad," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "If the stone was normal, Zaid's blood should have merged with yours. He's your son."
I could practically see the gears turning in Juan's head.
"If you still don't believe me," I said, "have the family doctor check it. I guarantee he'll find silver powder."
Juan immediately waved his hand to have a servant fetch the family doctor. "Go get the doctor to check it. Right now."
After the family doctor arrived, he bent over the stone with his magnifying glass. The room was so quiet I could hear the sound of my own blood rushing through my veins.
Finally, he straightened up and nodded. "There are definitely traces of silver powder. This would absolutely prevent blood from merging properly."
Thank the Moon Goddess.
The relief almost knocked me over. But I couldn't celebrate yet. This wasn't finished.
"So," I said, looking around at everyone's shocked faces, "who prepared this stone?"
All eyes turned to Nia. She went white as paper.
"I just fetched it! I was following orders! I didn't do anything to it!"
"Then who told you to prepare the silver powder?" Juan's voice was getting dangerous.
"I didn't! I just..." Nia looked terrified. Her eyes darted around the room. "Someone told me to get it. I didn't know anything was wrong!"
I looked at Nia, my heart full of relief at surviving this ordeal. Thank goodness these idiots had tampered with the bloodline stone, I didn't even need to do anything else.
Juan glanced at Nia, then turned toward Victoria and Scarlett, gesturing to his guards. "Take these two to the holding room first."
"No!" Victoria screamed as the guards moved toward them. "This is all a mistake! We just mistook her for someone else!"
Juan wasn't listening anymore. His face looked filled with fury.
"Please!" Scarlett was crying, her makeup running everywhere. "We didn't frame the young lady! We just thought—"
"You thought what?" Juan's voice could have frozen water. "That you could waltz into my house and call my daughter a fraud?"
Just as the guards were about to drag them out, footsteps echoed in the hallway, along with shouting voices.
"Sir!" A servant burst through the door. "Beta Joe Percy is here!"
Joe? My heart stopped. Joe is here? Right now?
Juan held up his hand. "Beta Joe Percy? What does he want?"
The servant bowed quickly. "He says he saw what happened at the restaurant. He has information about the accusations against Miss Sophia."
He saw everything at the restaurant? How much does he know? Did Alexander tell him anything?
"Send him in," Juan said. "Let's hear what he has to say."
I felt like I might pass out. Joe was about to walk through that door, and I had no clue what he was planning. Was he here to help me?
Please don't let this go to hell.
Joe walked in. Several guards in royal colors followed him. His eyes swept the room, taking in the chaos, the bloody stone, Victoria and Scarlett in the guards' grip.
"Alpha Juan," Joe said formally, giving a slight bow. "Sorry for barging in, but I have urgent news from Prince Alexander."
Prince Alexander? My heart started racing even faster.
"Beta Joe," Juan replied, obviously confused. "What brings you here?"
Joe's expression was dead serious. "Prince Alexander was also at the restaurant tonight when this incident happened. He saw the accusations against the Moon Goddess representative. He's concerned that such serious charges were made without proper investigation."
Alexander was there?
"Also," Joe continued, "while investigating the prince's recent... travels, we found information that might be relevant to Miss Sophia's case."
Juan looked surprised. "What kind of information?"
Joe looked at me for just a second. I caught something in his eyes that might have been reassurance.
"We found a couple who claims they raised Miss Sophia," he said calmly. "They want to testify for her."
What? I stared at Joe in shock. How did he bring that couple here?
Joe gestured to his guards. Two people were brought into the room. It was the couple who had raised Sophia, both looking nervous.
They looked around nervously, then their eyes landed on me. I watched them, and they looked even more nervous, lowering their eyes to look at the ground.
"Tell Alpha Juan what you told us," Joe said firmly.
The woman stepped forward, wringing her hands. "We... we took care of Miss Sophia for ten years," she said, her voice shaky. "After she had to leave home."
"She lived with us," the man added. "We can confirm she's definitely Sophia Stewart. We raised her."
Juan looked between the couple and me. "You're certain?"
"Absolutely," the woman said, though her hands were shaking.
I didn't know what was happening, but Joe's actions must be related to Alexander. He knew I was being attacked by Scarlett and them, so he came to help me. And his approach of not showing himself was smart too , Victoria and them had seen him before, so there was no need to create more complications at this time. I knew I was completely safe now.
"With this testimony," Joe said smoothly, "I believe Miss Sophia's identity and innocence are clearly established."
"Since things have reached a conclusion, I'll take my leave now," Joe continued. "The prince is waiting for my report. I also need to take this couple with me, their testimony is related to the prince's missing case."
Juan immediately stood up. "Of course, let me personally see you out—"
"No need," Joe stopped him. "You should handle things here first."
Juan nodded, turning to the butler. "White, escort Beta Joe out."
"Yes, sir." White bowed.
Joe nodded to me, then left the room with the couple.
Juan looked around the room, taking everything in. Victoria and Scarlett were still being held, both looking terrified.
"The evidence is clear," Juan said finally. His voice was cold as ice. "My daughter has been slandered and nearly framed by these women."
He turned to Victoria and Scarlett with pure fury. "You came into my home with lies and fake evidence, trying to destroy my daughter's reputation. Unforgivable."
"Please!" Victoria was sobbing now. "We weren't lying! We just wanted to—"
"Wanted what?" I interrupted, stepping forward. Looking very angry and wronged. "Destroy me?"
Time for the real question about who's behind this.
"Who put you up to this?" I demanded, staring straight at Victoria.
Victoria's face crumpled. She looked around the room desperately, probably hoping someone would save her.
"It was..." she started, then stopped, her eyes landing on someone.
"Tell them!" Scarlett suddenly screamed, pointing a shaking finger across the room. "Tell them who gave us the money! Tell them who planned this whole thing!"
Everyone turned to follow her finger.
When I saw who she was pointing at, I felt a wave of relief.