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,

no way she could have caused her father's

world-she could never have hurt him. Bella had to be lying,

how unsteady Serena's steps were,

her. Moving like a ghost, she wandered through the

with traffic and streams

felt lightheaded and unmoored, as if the world itself was slipping away. She couldn't

eyelids grew heavy and the world faded to black, the last

...

Alderburg.

Rosewood Gardens.

a second passed before he sprang to his feet, jabbing a finger at the monitor. "That woman

studied the security footage, his gaze growing more

street from the supermarket. The camera had captured a woman's

photos, though, were crystal clear-and the resemblance

But...

years ago, when Evelyn died,

alive without his knowing. And if she hadn't died, why hadn't

that something was off. Maybe the woman in the photo wasn't Evelyn at all-but someone who knew just how important his sister

why, he still didn't have a