Chapter 8
“But there’s no telling when Elysia will die,” Caleb murmured. “By then, I might not be able to protect you.”
“Remember,” Arianne said firmly, “you must not return until your sister has handled everything back home.”
I nearly stumbled.
The evidence… it’s still in my heart?
Arianne and Caleb–could they be siblings?
“Patient, are you in the wrong ward?” a voice called behind me.
I froze. Slowly, I turned.
A man in a surgical mask stood there, his features uncannily similar to Dr. White’s.
The door behind him creaked open.
Arianne stood inside, startled to see me, her phone still pressed to her ear. A familiar voice crackled through the receiver.
“Hello? Sister?”
My blood ran cold.
Later, inside the manor, Alaric struck me across the face. The sound echoed in the room. Behind him, Arianne sobbed uncontrollably.
“If she hadn’t called a doctor to save your life,” he said through gritted teeth, “you’d be dead already! You just killed her child, and now you’re pushing your savior down the stairs?”
I couldn’t stay silent any longer.
“Alaric!” I shouted, voice hoarse. “Don’t believe her–she’s Caleb’s sister! Check her call history!” “She only pretended to jump after she realized I overheard the call! She staged the whole thing to make it look like I tried to kill her!”
Tears poured down Arianne’s cheeks as she looked at me in disbelief. “Sister… what nonsense are you saying? My surname is Carrington. His is Dalton. How could I possibly be his sister? How would I even know a murderer like him?”
I clenched my fists, furious. “You took your father’s surname. I took our mother’s. Isn’t that simple enough to explain?”
Her eyes reddened. “Fine! If you don’t believe me, let Alaric investigate! Here, take my phone!” She shoved it toward him. “You never trusted me anyway. No matter what I do, my sister always targets me!”
Alaric looked at the phone, his gaze softening with pity. Then he gently pushed it back into her hands.
“How could I not trust you?”
He turned to me, eyes like ice.
“Elysia, I won’t let you go this time. In three days, I’ll drag you to court and make sure you spend
3:40 pm
the rest of your life behind bars.”
He took Arianne’s hand and turned to leave.
Panicking, I rushed after them.
“Alaric! You’re in danger if you stay with her!”
“Enough!”
He shoved me hard. I crashed to the floor, pain exploding through my chest. Something twisted deep inside, and my eyes widened-
The blade. Had it shifted?
“I trusted you again and again, and every time, you defended that murderer. You lied to my while hiding the truth behind my back.”
“I’ve had enough. You’re no longer my wife.”
Trembling, I reached out to him.
‘Alaric… the hospital…”
face
A flicker of panic crossed his face–but it vanished just as fast, replaced by a cruel sneer.
‘Stop faking it. Dr. White already removed the metal. He said you’re fine. So what now–another act? Hoping to win my sympathy?”
My lips turned blue. I couldn’t speak. I gasped, choking on the air.
He watched me for a few more seconds, frowning.
‘I’m done playing games. Enjoy your little drama here.”
reached toward him one last time.
The door slammed shut.
My hand fell limply to the cold floor. My vision darkened. The world spun and bled into nothing.
After settling Arianne into her room, Alaric made his way to the hospital to thank the surgeon in
>erson.
If it weren’t for you,” he said, holding up a banner, “she might’ve spent the rest of her life with hat shard in her heart. Thank you.”
The surgeon looked confused. “The foreign body is still in her heart. Didn’t Mr. Langford know?”
Alaric froze, the banner slipping slightly from his hands.
