Chapter 336

The air hung heavy with anticipation as I sat cross-legged on the floor of Aria’s room, my fingers flying over her phone's screen. With a sense of trepidation, I punched in the code, my heart pounding in my chest as I delved into her photo album. Each image held the potential to uncover secrets, to shed light on the shadows that had clouded our lives.

As the screen flickered to life, my breath caught in my throat. Images cascaded before my eyes, a kaleidoscope of memories frozen in time. But amidst the laughter and camaraderie, there lurked a darker truth, hidden beneath the surface like a serpent coiled in the shadows.

“Look at this,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of the phone.

Lucas hovered beside me, his eyes wide with disbelief as he surveyed the display before us. “Fake IDs,” he muttered, his voice tinged with awe. “And costumes.”

My stomach churned with unease as I took in the scene before me. The room was a chaotic mess, strewn with the remnants of my mother’s clandestine activities. My mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.

“What if…” I began, my voice trailing off as dread washed over me like a tidal wave.

Lucas’s brow furrowed in concern. “What is it?” he pressed, his tone laced with urgency.

I swallowed hard, the words sticking in my throat like bitter bile. “What if Mia…” I hesitated, the truth too horrific to utter aloud.

But Lucas’s eyes gleamed with understanding as realization dawned upon him. “You think she’s…?”

I nodded grimly, my mind racing with possibilities. “It’s one explanation,” I murmured, my voice hollow with despair.

A chill settled over the room. I felt the walls closing in around me, the air thick with the stench of betrayal.

“We need to do something,” Lucas declared, his voice tinged with urgency. “Before it’s too late.”

I nodded in agreement, my mind whirling with possibilities. But as I glanced down at the phone in my hand, a spark of inspiration flickered to life within me. “I have an idea,” I said, my voice tinged with determination.

With a sense of purpose, I tapped away at the screen, my fingers flying over the keys as I dove through the internet. My heart raced with anticipation as I unearthed a wealth of information, each clue bringing us one step closer to the truth.

“There,” I breathed, my voice tinged with satisfaction as I unveiled the identity of Donna West.

Lucas’s eyes widened in astonishment as he surveyed the screen before him. “She’s a widow,” he murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief.

I nodded grimly, my mind racing with possibilities. “And she disappeared,” I added, my voice heavy with dread.

As we delved deeper into the web of deception, a pattern began to emerge. Women, beautiful and enigmatic, vanishing without a trace, leaving behind a trail of shattered lives and broken dreams.

“It’s her,” Lucas declared, his voice ringing with conviction. “She could be behind all of this.”

But I shook my head, a sense of unease settling over me like a shroud. “It just seems too sloppy,” I murmured, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “Even if she’s killed in the past, she’s only killed men. Why kill Stella?”

Lucas frowned in confusion, his brow furrowing in consternation. “Then let’s think. Why get Stella out of the picture?”

I hesitated, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place with painful clarity. “She wants me,” I realized, my voice trembling with realization. “To be part of this family and claim their wealth, as if money is all I ever wanted.”

As the truth dawned upon us, a sense of dread settled over the room. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, one thing remained clear: we were running out of time, and I’d been pointing at the wrong people.

With a sigh, Lucas broke the silence, his voice hesitant.

"Evie, can I ask you something?" he began, his brow furrowed in thought.

I glanced up, meeting his gaze with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. "Of course," I replied softly.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, his words hanging in the air like a delicate thread. "Was your mother always… like this?" he asked, leaving the last part unspecific to what my mother truly was.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I mulled over his question, memories flooding back like a torrential downpour. "I don't remember many times when she was nice," I admitted, my voice tinged with sadness. "Outside of short but extravagant displays here and there."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, the weight of the past bearing down upon me like a burden too heavy to bear. "She always seemed more like… a confidant, or an acquaintance," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas's brow furrowed in confusion as he processed my words. "What do you mean?" he pressed, his tone laced with curiosity.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. "I remember…" I began, my voice trembling with emotion. "I remember how she used to… use me."

The words tasted bitter on my tongue as I spoke, the memories of my childhood flashing before my eyes like a nightmare I couldn't escape. "I was seven," I continued, my voice barely audible over the rush of blood in my ears. "And she… she used to take me with her when she went… shopping."

Lucas nodded, urging me to continue.

I went on, my throat tight with suppressed emotion. "She used me to steal," I confessed, my voice trembling with shame. "From different stores. She’d have me wearing my backpack and just tear off the tags before shoving the items in."

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of our ragged breaths and the distant hum of traffic outside. I could feel Lucas's eyes on me, his gaze heavy.

"I'm so sorry, Evie," he murmured.

I forced a weak smile, the corners of my lips trembling with the effort. "It's okay," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've come to terms with it."

But even as the words left my lips, I knew they were a lie.

The room went quiet as Lucas and I exchanged uneasy glances, our minds racing with dire possibilities. Before we could further speculate, a sharp chime cut through the silence like a knife, sending shivers down my spine. The doorbell.

I rose from my seat, my heart pounding in my chest as I made my way to the door. With trembling hands, I pulled it open, revealing Andy standing on the threshold, his expression worn and haggard.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice sharp with concern.

Andy’s eyes were haunted as he met my gaze, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. “I just got grilled by the cops for hours,” he muttered, his voice heavy with frustration. “They won’t believe a word I say.”

My stomach churned with unease as I processed his words. “But why?” I pressed, my mind reeling with possibilities.

Andy let out a bitter laugh, his eyes flashing with anger. “Because Mia made sure it was only Timothy they went after,” he spat, his voice thick with resentment. “She’s pulling the strings, and they’re dancing to her tune.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “She’s using him as a scapegoat,” I realized, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Andy nodded grimly, his features drawn with worry. “And God knows what she’s planning next,” he muttered, his voice trailing off.

I felt a surge of panic coursing through me as the gravity of the situation sank in. “We have to stop her,” I declared, my voice trembling with determination. “Before it’s too late.”

But Andy’s eyes were filled with fear as he met my gaze. “It might already be,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of my thoughts.

I felt a surge of frustration welling up within me as I struggled to make sense of it all. “Why?” I demanded, my voice tinged with desperation.

Andy’s expression darkened, his features contorted with anguish. “Because they’re leaving,” he confessed, his voice hollow with despair. “Kamran and Mia—they’re on a flight to Costa Rica.”

Lucas growled. “God knows what she’ll do once they’re out of reach?”

My heart plummeted at Andy’s words, a sense of dread settling over me like a suffocating blanket. “W-What for? Why do they possibly need to be in Costa Rica of all places?”

Andy met my gaze, and I took in the sorrow of his sunken, red eyes. “To elope.”

Top of Form