Chapter 158

[Third-Person’s POV]

Samantha was at a loss for words.

Her heart rate had escalated so intensely, that she could hear the blood flowing in her ears. There was no doubt that she looked guilty as ever. Her hands were beginning to sweat under the heavy set glare from the hulking Alpha that stood over her.

“Samantha?” Liam pressed. “What the hell is he talking about?”

The very air around them thickened with an unbreathable tension. It made it almost impossible for her to think straight.

Both she and her mother had managed to craft a story that they were meant to stick to in the event that they were ever held accountable for their actions against Evelyn.

“When in doubt, just deny everything,” Isabella had said. “Remember, deny. Deny. Deny.”

The problem was, that Samantha was having an extremely difficult time gathering her thoughts. Her mind was still reeling over the fact that Alexander was not, nor had he ever been, bound to a wheelchair. His face didn’t possess one single mark. It was flawless.

Everything she had been led to believe turned out to be nothing but a lie when it came to him. A spurring feeling of anger and vicious jealousy spiraled through her. To think, had she known better, she would have never agreed to the marriage contract being switched over to Evelyn.

“I...I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said stiffly.

Alexander’s eyes blazed with menacing fire. He let out a humorless, almost lethal laugh.

“Are you sure this is the story you’re going to stick to?” he asked. “From what I’ve been told, you had a much smaller part in Evelyn’s torture than the others. If you were smart you would highly consider being the better person, knowing that it might land you a lighter jail sentence.”

Samantha’s lips parted while her complexions paled even further.

Liam stood up from his chair and stared down at his wife with a look of pure exasperation.

“Torture?! Tell me what the fuck he’d talking about, now!” he shouted.

Samantha folded her arms across her chest and turned her head away. “I told you, I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Are you going to deny the fact that you were at the Silverwood Estate the day when Evelyn had gone to speak to Isabella?”

Samantha merely shrugged. “I wasn’t even at the house that day.”

“Yes, you were,” Liam countered.

They all turned their heads to glance at the other Alpha. Alexander gave him a tentative look that prompted Liam to continue, whereas Samantha’s eye twitched with indignation.

Liam narrowed his eyes on his wife. “You told me that you were headed to the Silverwood Estate because there was something you needed to speak to your mother about. Not to mention that you've been spending more time over there than anywhere else these last several weeks.”

Samantha stuck her nose up at him. “I wasn’t there.”

“Well, then where else would you be, Samantha? It’s not as though you have a sizable allowance that gives you the freedom to shop around. And you sure as hell don’t have an abundance of friends that are dying for your attention,” he spat.

Her mouth curled into a sly grin. “Even if I was at the house, there’s no proof that I was ever involved in what happened to Evelyn,” she pointed.

“Maybe not. But you just admitted to knowing that something did, in fact, happen to her,” Alexander hissed.

The whites of Samantha’s eyes grew. Shit.

“Was it you who hit Evelyn over the head or was it your mother?” he questioned.

This time, she refused to speak a single word. But her expression spoke volumes. How would he know something that specifically had taken place? Was it possible that Evelyn’s condition wasn’t as bad as he made it out to be in the invitation?

Truthfully, she was shocked to discover that her dear Stepsister was still alive, knowing the condition that Fiona had left her in.

“It doesn’t matter who’s responsible for knocking me out,” a cold voice spoke out. “All that matters now is locating Isabella and Fiona.”

Everyone turned their heads to find Evelyn standing in the archway of the drawing room. Samantha scrambled up from her chair, eyes frantically glancing between her and Alexander.

Alexander, on the other hand, looked positively startled. His heart was lodged in his throat as he stared widely at his wife. He was glad to see that her face was no longer wrapped in that eerie gauze. However, now it was covered by something far more unsettling.

His mask. The very same mask he’d worn countless times to hide the truth...Now it was finally being used for its intended purpose.

Alexander noticed the dismal, erratic look in Evelyn’s eyes as she gradually made her way into the room. Her gaze was locked solely on Samantha.

“What are you two swapping accessories now?” Samantha snarked.

The energy in the room grew thicker as the corner of Evelyn’s mouth curved upward into a knowing smirk.

“Very funny. You see, unlike my husband, I actually have a real use for this mask now. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

[Evelyn’s POV]

I had to admit it was hard leaving my room, knowing that I was about to make quite the spectacle of myself. And, sure enough, I was right. Anyone who happened to be passing through the halls immediately stopped to stare.

How could they not? I was certainly giving them enough reason to. I’d managed to set myself into a calmer state of mine; however, all bets were off the second I heard Samantha’s whiny voice.

For a brief moment, I lingered in the doorway to overhear their conversation. Of course, Samantha was going to try and deflect any questions that were thrown at her. Alexander was trying to be peaceful and give her the benefit of the doubt.

But I knew better. And I wasn’t going to play nice.

Poor Alexander, though. He looked as spooked and unsettled as Samantha did.

“Why, Samantha. You look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” I slithered. The air in the room went still as I moved in close enough to sense her sudden fear. “I can assure you that I’m much worse.”

No one tried to intervene. In fact, both Liam and Alexander slowly backed away in order to give me space. I circled Samantha like a blood-hungry shark.

“You’re going to tell us where Isabella and Fiona are,” I said coldly.

Samantha said nothing yet Liam spoke out.

“Why does everyone believe that Isabella is in hiding?”

I snapped my head to stare at him in question. “You sound as if you’ve seen her recently. Have you?”

Liam glanced at Samantha who looked as though she was gearing up to curse him out if he were to breathe a word.

They know something.

My eyes flickered back to my Stepsister. “Tell me, where your fucking mother is.”

“Or what?” she said tightly. “What are you gonna do? Huh? You think you’re this big bad bitch now that you're stuck hiding behind some stupid mask?”

I let out a hollow laugh that ended in a jarring smile.

“Ready to find out?”