Chapter 95

[Third-Person’s POV]

Alexander had diligently read over the messages he’d received from Wendy, updating him on the most recent events with Evelyn and her family. Aside from chuckling at the comments his grandmother gave regarding the uncouth behavior of his in-laws, Alexander was exceedingly worried about Evelyn.

Wendy had told him about the emotional tidal wave that had hit her as she was reading through the letter. He was partly glad that he was able to convey his feelings to her in some manner before the two of them had to part ways.

Unfortunately, that hopeful glimmer of emotions swiftly faded when he read about how poorly Evelyn’s brother was doing. More so over the negative toll it was taking on Evelyn’s mentality.

‘The girl is running herself ragged, trying to figure out what could have possibly gone wrong. I’m worried for her, Alexander.’

If the Alpha knew anything about his wife, Evelyn would not properly rest until she was able to find a probable solution to any given problem. In such a case, Wendy had every reason to be worried about her. But now Alexander was too.

He and Oliver had discovered far more from their disclosed contact than they had initially anticipated. Upon close and thorough examination, they had uncovered the nasty truth that the brakes on the car were, indeed, severed. Not only that, but all forms of communication in the vehicle had been disabled.

Everything about the wreckage screamed ‘foul play’.

“When the car was brought here, would you happen to remember anything about the ordeal? A conversation? Could you perhaps describe the people who were here?” Oliver prompted.

Their contact had linked them up with one of the workers who operated the junkyard where the car had been brought. He was an older guy, probably well into his fifties and looking well into the early stages of retirement.

The man gave Oliver’s questions some serious thought.

“Wait,” Alexander said. “I brought something that may help.”

He reached into one of the inner pockets of his jacket and pulled out one of the most recent pictures he had of his parents and Michael.

“Do either of these two people here look at all familiar to you?”

The man nodded his head without hesitation. “Oh, yeah.”

“You’re certain?” Oliver pressed.

“There’s no way that I could possibly forget that guy,” he said while pointing to Michael’s face. “Yeah, he was here all right. He and some woman, but she didn’t really move about much—mainly stayed in the car they arrived in. But him, he was busy chatting away with some other guy that met them here.”

Alexander felt his stomach churn. He gave a sideways glance to Oliver who was sharing in his same shocked sentiment.

What the fuck did he mean ‘some other guy’??

As far as he was aware, this had been a personal vendetta set up by Michael to get rid of him. Considering that Michael wasn’t known for being the most trusting person, it was hard to believe that he would include anyone in on his nefarious plans.

“Is there anything you can recall about this third person?”

The guy scratched the back of his head and gave a deflated sigh. “He wore a black leather jacket with some kind of emblem on the side of the sleeve.”

An emblem? How intriguing.

“Was there anything remarkable about any of the symbols on this emblem?”

“It may have had a small sword and a possible shield with a cross on it,” the man described.

Alexander bit back an enraged snarl. The man wasn’t to blame—if anything, he deserved the Alpha’s unyielding respect. No. Alexander was furious at the fact that he knew which emblem the man was referring to.

It belongs to the fucking Royal family!

[Evelyn’s POV]

Wendy was right. By pulling me away from the endless files and paperwork, I was finally able to give myself a real chance to think things out.

She and I took to the gardens in the back where we walked through the various rows of flowers and plants that I had once planted myself many years ago. Out there, I allowed the fresh air to clear my mind.

While it was utterly devastating to see my brother in such a horrid state, it gave me the fiery motivation that I needed to find answers. And, boy, did I need them.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” I said quietly. “Edward was doing so well. The last time I was here, I seriously believed that he had a real chance of actually waking up.”

Wendy hummed in acknowledgment as I went on with my emotional rant.

“There was nothing in any of his previous reports that would suggest that his treatment had changed. And yet this...”

“I wanted to let you know that I informed Alexander about the current situation with you and your brother,” Wendy told me. “He feels terrible what you’re going through and wishes that there was something he could do.”

I blinked back the tears in my eyes and shook my head.

“Please, he’s done so much for me and he doesn’t even realize it,” I said weakly. “As much as it pains me to admit, that money is the main reason why I still have a brother to care for. If there was a way to heal him through my natural means, believe me, I would have given it a chance myself.”

Wendy reached to capture my hand and placed it in the crook of her arm.

“When I was told of your predilection for the more simple things in life, I found it rather refreshing. People like Fiona and Caroline—Christ, even Rena, they all cared greatly for money and wealth to the point where they allowed it to run their lives,” she went on. “I found it rather humorous that you refused to wear any of the new clothes and jewelry that Alexander had commissioned for you.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“Honestly, if I knew that it wasn’t going to come off as a major offense to Claire, I would have sold off those clothes and paid for Edward’s treatments myself,” I sighed. “In any case, how is Alexander doing?”

I hadn’t accounted for how badly I was going to end up missing him.

“It would seem that he’s also facing his own questionable troubles. They’ve given the vehicle a close inspection and discovered various violations that could have contributed to the accident. It was, indeed, foul play.”

I stopped. My whole body felt like it had stumbled upon a very possible explanation that shook me to my very core.

“Wendy...Say that again—that last part you were just explaining,” I prompted.

Her brows pulled together. “...Foul play?”

“Yes,” I said with a smile. “My brother’s condition has improved tenfold since his treatments were administered. Everyone in the house knew he was doing better and had a likely chance of making a full recovery. What the hell are the chances that, out of nowhere, his health took a turn for the worse? It didn’t make sense, but the thought of someone tampering with the treatment plan is entirely possible.”

Wendy appeared shocked. “But who would do such a horrible thing like that?”

A dark, lethal feeling spiked through me, causing my jaw to clench.

“The only person who had everything to gain if Edward were taken out of the family,” I growled to myself.

Isabella!