Chapter 91: Confrontation and Schemes

(Elena’s POV)

“Who would think she’d have a chance if I had a miscarriage?” I demanded, my voice rising with each word “You had countless opportunities to choose to believe me, but you didn’t. You never doubted the most likely person”

Marcus’s face darkened, his golden eyes shing with something dangerousb. /bBut I was beyond caring about

his reaction.

“Then please don’t pretend to help me while doing these meaningless things,” I continued, my chest heaving with suppressed rage.

Without waiting for Marcus to respond, I turned and left Director Baker’s office. My footsteps echoed sharply against the marble floors as I walked away.

As I moved through the corridor, I clutched my aching chest. Inexplicable emotions overwhelmed me

couldn’t swallow a breath.

The resentment and hatred toward bmy /bmate’s blindness filled every corner of my being. How could willfully ignorant?

I went back to find Natalie Dawson at the Healer’s Station. She looked up as i approached, her eyes still red

from crying.

“I spoke with Director Baker about your mother’s situation,” I said gently. “I truly believe Nurse Delia Thompson wouldn’t harm meb./bb” /b

Natalie’s face crumpled with disappointment. “Is the dismissal unavoidable then?”

I hesitated, knowing the truth would hurt her more. “Marcus intervened in the decision. I’m not sure if I can

change the Alpha’s mind.”

“I understand,” Natalie whispered, her voice barely audible.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more,” I said, feeling genuinely helpless.

Natalie nodded and thanked me before leaving the office, her shoulders slumped in defeat

(Sophia Rivers‘ POV)

As Natalie walked toward the Healer’s Station, I called out to her. “Natalie!”

She turned, wiping her beyes /bquickly. “Miss Rivers? Do you need something?”

I nced toward Elena’s Healing Chamber, then stopped in front of Natalie “Don’t you want to seek justice

for your mother?”

Natalie looked confused by my words. “What do you mean?”

I smiled and leaned closer, whispering something malicious into her ear. Her eyes widened with

astonishment, and I could see she was unable to calm down.

The seed was nted. Now I just had to wait for it to grow.

? Charter 91 Confrontation

(Diana ckwood’s POV)

At the ckwood Ancestral Manor, Sebastian and I saw that the time was right. We approached Margaret

ckwood in the Great Hall.

“Mother, we have good news, I announced, bbarely /bcontaining my excitement. “Adrian Whitmore has agreed to

the mating alliance”

Margaret blooked /bup from her tea, her expression bcautious/b. “Has the Whitmore family agreed as well?”

I nced at Victoria ckwood, who was watching us with obvious skepticism. “Since Adrian agreed, the

Whitmore family will likely agree as well”

“We should invite Adrian over for a meal,” Sebastian suggested. “To foster a connection between Isabe and

him.”

Isabe blushed shyly at the mention of her name, her hands sped tightly in herp.

Victoria scoffed openly. “You’re rushing things, Diana.b” /b

“Marcus’s mating to Elena was also quick,” I retorted, my temper ring.

Victoria rolled her eyes and stopped arguing. Margaret considered our proposal for a moment.

“Very well,” she agreed finally. “Arrange the dinner.”

Sebastian and I were pleased. We immediately contacted Adrian, who also agreed toe.

(Elena’s POV)

In the afternoon, before I left work, I received a call from Victoria. “Elena, return to the ancestral manor for

dinner tonight.”

I could tell from her tone that something important was happening at the ckwood family. I drove back to the manor and found Diana’s familyughing and chatting in the Great Hall.

Isabe nced at me but didn’t say anything, which surprised me. Usually, she would have some snide

“Elena, sit down,” Victoria instructed, gesturing to an empty chair.

I sat quietly and asked, “What’s happening?”

“We’re waiting for Adrian Whitmore toe for dinner,” Victoria replied, ncing at Diana as she spoke.

I wondered how Adrian had agreed to the mating with Diana’s daughter. Diana ignored Victoria’s pointed

remarks.

I remained silent, wondering if the mating alliance that Diana and her daughter were trying to arrange with

Adrian was truly worth it.

Grace Burton helped Margaret into the Great Hall. Everyone stood up respectfully.

Margaret waved her hand. “Please, sit.”

After Margaret sat down, the others followed suit. She noticed the empty seat beside me.

“Where bis /bMarcus?” she asked.

Victoria answered, “I called him, but he said he was busy with pack business”

“Whether Marcus returns or not doesn’t matter,” Victoria continued. The main event today is the happy asion‘ of the second branch’s family”

We waited for a long time, but Adrian didn’t show up. Half an hour passed in ufortable silence.

Diana’s face grew increasingly embarrassed. She called Adrian, but his phone was s turned off.

She tried again with the same result. Her face turned pale as she realized they might have been yed.

Margaret frowned. Before she could say anything, Victoria couldn’t help butugh.

“Where is Adrian since byou /bimed he had agreed?” Victoria asked mockingly

Isabe, unaware of the situation, urged her mother desperately. b“/bCall again! Adrian must have been dyed”

Sebastian also urged Diana to try once more. Diana’s expression became unbearable, her face turning ashen.

Sebastian and Isabe finally realized what was happening

Margaret’s face showed clear displeasure. “Did Adrian truly agree to the mating? I want the truth.”

Isabe insisted frantically. “He verbally agreed!”

Margaret pointed out coldly, “Verbal agreement isn’t enough”

Isabe blurted out, “Everyone saw us in the same room, disheveled! He needs to take responsibili

Margaret mmed the table, her fury evident. “How could the ckwood family’s daughter be in such apromising position before mating? Where is your self–respect?”

Isabe exploded, “I want to mate with him!”

She turned and ran out of the hall, tears streaming down her face.

Margaret massaged her temples. “The child is ruined.”

Sebastian tried to smooth things over, but I spoke directly. “Diana used drugs on Adrian to force the mating.”

Diana was furious that I had revealed this. “Elena!”

Victoria retorted sharply. “You’re embarrassing the ckwood family by resorting to such underhanded

tactics.”

Diana, trembling with anger, red at me. “Why are you doing this to me? I never treated you poorly!” “While you didn’t mistreat me,” I replied calmly, “you consistently tolerated Isabe’s harassment. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t know about it.”

I paused, meeting her gaze directly. “Since I’m leaving anyway, I don’t care about offending you.

Diana was speechless and left in anger. Margaret had a headache, feeling that the second branch’s family would never be as reassuring as the main branch.

(Isabe ckwood’s POV)

Iran to Shadowmere Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Wing to find Adrian. Benjamin Hayes stopped me at the

door.

“Adrian won’t see you,” he said firmly. “Please leave.”

I angrily demanded, Tell him toe out! He broke his promise!”

Charter 91 Confrontation

Adrian finally appeared, closing the door behind him. “Have you yelled enough?”

I bit my lip, feeling wronged. “You promised my mother you woulde for dinner.”

Adrianughed coldly. “I promised, but I didn’t say I would definitely go.”

I realized he was ying us. “You tricked us!”

“You schemed against me first, Adrian replied, showing a side of him that was cunning and calcting. ” was just returning the favor.”

I grabbed his hand desperately. “It was my mother’s doing, not mine! Nothing happened between us! Please mate with me!”

Adrian pulled his hand away. “What do you look like, begging a man to mate with byou/b? Remember when you called Elena a ‘desperate she wolf?”

I was stunned but insisted, “I’m different from Elena! She mated with my cousin knowing he loved someone

else, while I-

Adrian interrupted, “How do you know I don’t have someone I care for?”

I was choked, struggling to deny it. 1 checked your information! You have no woman by your side!”

Adrian smiled. “The information you had was what I wanted others to see. How much of it was true.

much was fake?”

I was speechless, standing there in a daze. After a long time, I finally asked, “Do you like Elena?”

He said bluntly, “I do, though not romantically.”

My eyes reddened. “What’s so good about her?”

“She’s better than you in every way,” he replied without hesitation

I was devastated. “She’s already mated to your cousin! You have no chance! You promised to mate with me?”

Adrian didn’t exin, bjust /bsmiled indifferently. His eyes showed no sympathy.

“The Whitmore family wouldn’t want a daughter–inw who doesn’t know how to respect others,” he said coldly. “Learn how to be a person before considering these things.”

He had someone escort me away, not even looking back. I felt extremely wronged, wanting to cry but unable

to in front of others.

A wealthy youngdy like me had lost to Elena. I couldn’t ept it.

(Elena’s POV).

I was kept at the ckwood family’s residence by Victoria. She had me pick out baby items and clothes.

Victoria instructed Grace Burton to prepare a room to be designed as a nursery. My mother–inw, who used to be critical of me, was now speaking gently.

If she knew I wasn’t pregnant, she would probably be furious.

A Manor Servant walked over to Grace and whispered something. I understood from the servant’s lips that it was about Oliver Rivers.

Grace and the servant retreated. I randomly selected a few sets of baby products to appease Victoria, then

made an excuse to leave

I went to the Manor East Wing Quarters and saw a doctor inside I stopped Estate Servant Lucy

“Is the child sick?” I asked.

Lucy hesitated, not daring to say much. “It’s a psychological issue. The Alpha hired Dr. Richard Barnes for the

child”

I was confused “What happened?”

Lucy hesitantly told me about the falling into water incident. I was silent, thinking of the scars on Oliver’s

legs

I began to suspect something terrible

“Lucy, could you help me take some clear photos of the child’s thighs while he’s asleep?” I asked quietly. ”

promise to keep it a secret.”

Lucy, though unsure of my intentions, agreed and took the money I offered.

As night approached, I sat at the Estate Bar, drinking freshly squeezed juice. I finally received the photos from

Lucy

Under the light, the child’s leg bruises were terrifying. The knees were still scarred from repeated

I saved the photos to my phone, then sent them to Nathan Sterling. I asked him to help find evidence of Sophia’s child abuse.

(Nathan Sterling’s POV)

I received the photos and quickly replied “Okay.” I repeatedly looked at the photos, hesitating for a long time.

if i helped Elena, Marcus would know Sophia’s true colors. Sophia’s downfall wouldn’t benefit me.

I leaned back in my chair, finishing my drink. The ckwood family still owed the Sterling family, and I

couldn’t…

After much deliberation, I called Sophia.

(Sophia Rivers‘ POV)

Upon learning that Elena had obtained photos of the child’s leg injuries, I panicked. I bit my fingernails as l

paced the living room.

Elena must have suspected something ever since she saw Oliverst time. I bhad /bdeliberately left scars only on the child’s legs, not on the arms or face, fearing Marcus would see them.

During the period when Oliver was unconscious after falling down the stairs, I hadn’t allowed Marcus to

touch the child’s legs. But now Elena had taken photos!

Was she nning to tell Marcus?

Nathan told me to handle bthe /bchild’s matter myself. He said he could try to conceal it from Marcus, but warned me not to me him if Marcus found out on his own

I hung up the phone, my eyes filled with ruthlessness. I hadn’t wanted to touch Elena yet, but she was forcing my hand.

Chapter 91 Confientation

(Elena’s POV)

The next day, I met with Nathan at the Healing Institute Bistro near the hospital. He held his cup, looking at ollime. /li/ol

“Do

you have any other evidence of Sophia’s child abuse?” he asked.

I shook my head. “The scars were clearly umted over time. idental injuries wouldn’t repeatedly

ur in the same area, only intentional ones.”

Nathan said he might not be able to find anything. “Sophia is btoo /bcautious and wouldn’t leave any traces.”

I was stunned, then nodded. “She is indeed a careful person. Otherwise, bhow /bcould she have done so much

without being discovered?”

“But if it happened once or btwice/b, it might be luck,” I continued. “But every time there was no direct evidence pointing to her, and even the surveince footage was iplete. It’s too coincidental.”

I paused, studying his face. “Could she really do all this alone?”

Nathan covered my hand with his, smiling deeply. “Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to investigate, but it will take

time.”

I was stunned, looking at his hand. I awkwardly pulled mine away. “Okay.”

Nathan, seeing me pull away, subtly retracted his hand. Just then, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed “Patricia ckthorne.”