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!

of her daze, every nerve alight

was no way she could have caused her father's

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

Gabrielle called, noticing how unsteady Serena's steps were, concern etched across her

a ghost, she wandered through the hotel

city buzzed with traffic and streams of

and unmoored, as if the world itself was slipping away. She couldn't tell what was real and what was

to black, the last thing she heard was a frantic voice

...

Alderburg.

Rosewood Gardens.

feet, jabbing a finger at the monitor. "That woman

security footage, his gaze growing more focused

The camera had captured

photos, though, were crystal clear-and the resemblance

But...

when Evelyn died,

was no way she could be alive without his knowing. And if she hadn't died, why hadn't she come home all these

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

he still