Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 212

Could it really be true?

Bella, finally rescued, collapsed onto the floor like a rag doll. One hand clutched her throat, her wide, terrified eyes locked onto Gabrielle as she strode into the

room.

Gabrielle barely spared Bella a glance before hurrying to Serena's side. "Serena, are you alright?"

Serena's eyes were still clouded and distant.

After a long moment, her gaze snapped to Bella, and a sudden sharpness flared in her expression.

"How did my father really die?"

Bella shrank back, too scared to provoke Serena any further. Pressing a trembling hand to her chest, she stammered, "I... I don't know. I swear, I don't know anything. Please, stop asking me!"

Serena stared at Bella for what felt like an eternity. Her eyes burned; tears stung, but she refused to look away. Only when her vision blurred did she finally turn, slowly making her way toward the door.

Her memories of her father's death were nothing but hazy fragments.

She'd always told herself it was because she was too young to remember.

No!

her daze, every

was no way she could have caused

person she loved most in the world-she could never have hurt him. Bella

okay?" Gabrielle called, noticing how unsteady Serena's steps were, concern etched

her. Moving like a ghost, she wandered through the hotel lobby,

and streams of people coming

She couldn't tell what was real and what was just a trick of

eyelids grew heavy and the world faded to black, the last thing she heard

...

Alderburg.

Rosewood Gardens.

sat across from Aaron, but barely half a second passed before he sprang to his feet, jabbing a finger at the monitor. "That woman is Evelyn. I'd know her anywhere-there's

security footage, his gaze

pulled this footage from a café across the street from the supermarket. The camera had captured a woman's face, but the image was grainy

though, were crystal clear-and the resemblance to Evelyn

But...

Evelyn died, Aaron

knowing. And if she hadn't died, why

woman in the photo wasn't Evelyn at all-but someone who knew just how important his sister was to him,

why, he still didn't have a