Chapter 278 Perfect Performance

Chapter 278 Perfect Performance

Ella's POV

"Luna Ella! Alpha Mason! Are you guys okay?" The lead guard rushed over, his face full of worry.

Mason, sounding a bit annoyed but playing the part of an Alpha who got lost because of his partner, said, "Ella wanted to check out the view over here, and we ended up slipping. The terrain's pretty tricky, so it took us a while to find our way back."

I was genuinely pale and trembling. This wasn't an act; I was really shaken. To the guards, I must've looked like a scared, fragile Luna.

"It's our fault. Please punish us," the guard said, bowing his head.

"It's not your fault," I quickly waved my hand, my voice still shaky. "I was just being careless."

The guards didn't ask any more questions but became more alert, escorting us back to the estate.

As we walked back into the grand estate, my feelings had completely changed from when we left.

This place wasn't a home filled with warm memories anymore; it was a luxurious, dangerous cage.

Owen stood by the living room's floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of coffee, seemingly lost in thought as he looked out.

He turned around when he heard us coming in.

"You're back?" His face had the same gentle smile as always, his eyes showing a hint of concern as they landed on me. "Did you have fun? You don't look so good. Are you tired?"

My heart clenched, almost stopping.

I looked at him, at his handsome and elegant face, at those deep eyes that seemed to see through everything. I tried to find even the slightest hint of pretense in his expression, in his gaze.

But there was none.

His concern was so sincere, his worry so natural.

He stood there like a perfectly normal, caring brother. If I hadn't touched that letter myself, if I hadn't seen that mark with my own eyes, I would have been completely fooled by his flawless, impeccable facade.

A chilling fear surged through me, stronger than what I felt in the forest.

Who was this man? Was he a perfect actor, or was there more to the story?

I forced a stiff smile and avoided his gaze.

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired. The forest is so big, we kinda got lost."

Owen raised an eyebrow, setting down his coffee cup and walking towards me.

"Go rest for a bit." He reached out, intending to ruffle my hair like he usually did.

I lowered my head, not daring to look at him. I feared that if I looked at him for even a second longer, the fear and suspicion in my eyes would be exposed.

Almost instinctively, I took a half-step back, avoiding his touch.

The air froze in that moment.

Owen's hand stopped mid-air, his smile faltering slightly. His gaze fell on me, filled with curiosity and confusion.

My heart pounded in my throat, my blood rushing to my head. I had messed up. My reaction was too obvious.

Just when I thought he was about to question me, Mason stepped forward, naturally pulling me into his arms.

"She was really scared. She fell in the forest."

Mason's voice was calm and gentle, giving me a way out. "I'll take her to rest now. Excuse us."

His demeanor was polite yet distant, perfectly fitting the role of an Alpha concerned for his partner.

Owen's gaze shifted between Mason and me before he nodded, his smile returning to normal. "Alright, rest up. I'll call you for dinner."

"Thanks, Owen," I whispered, almost running upstairs with Mason.

Once we were in the room, the door closed, shutting out everything outside, I collapsed against it, gasping for breath. My back was drenched in cold sweat.

"I... I almost..." I stammered, still shaken.

Mason stepped in front of me, cupping my face and making me look at him. "Your reaction was genuine. A scared girl would instinctively avoid touch. He won't suspect anything."

Will he? I didn't know. All I knew was that in that moment, I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, one step away from plunging into an abyss.

I walked to the window, lifting a corner of the curtain to peek outside.

Owen was still in the living room, holding his coffee cup, standing by the window, his back to me. I couldn't see his expression, only his tall, solitary figure.

Who was he really?

Was he the caring Owen, or the deceitful enemy?

Was he an innocent victim, or the mastermind behind it all?

This uncertainty was like a massive black hole, swallowing all my sense of security and hope. I felt trapped in an invisible web, and the person weaving it might be the one closest to me.

"Mason," I turned around, my voice trembling with despair, "What do we do now? Staying here feels like sleeping next to a venomous snake. I'm scared."

I was scared not just of the danger he might pose, but of the truth that might be revealed, a truth I might not be able to bear.

Mason came to my side, pulling me into his arms, letting my head rest on his shoulder.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered. "From now on, we can't show anything. We have to act normal, eat, walk, talk with him. We have to make him believe we don't suspect anything."

"But..."

He interrupted me, his tone serious, "This is our only chance. Only by making him lower his guard can we find more clues, understand what 'Witch's Return' and 'Bloodline Awakening' really mean."

Yes, running away wouldn't solve anything. We were already in the eye of the storm, and retreating now would only lead to a quicker demise.

I raised my hand, placing it over my still-flat stomach. For my child, I had to face this bravely.

"Until we find solid evidence," Mason looked into my eyes, speaking each word clearly, "We act like that letter doesn't exist. Owen is still your brother."

I understood what he meant. This was a psychological battle. It was about patience, acting skills, and who could make the other reveal a flaw first.

"We can't keep going like this." After a long silence, his deep voice sounded above me.

I looked up at him, confused.