Chapter 17: False Sightings
Chapter 17: False Sightings
(Victoria''s POV)
I leaned against a tree, watching Ethan''s frantic expression with secret
satisfaction. My n
was working perfectly.
"There!" I pointed toward a dense cluster of trees. "I saw a middle-aged woman holding Lily''s hand! She was pulling her that way!"
Ethan''s eyes widened with rm. "A woman? You didn''t mention that before."
I forced my eyes to well with tears. "I was so shocked... I just remembered. Ethan, I think
someone has kidnapped her!"
Without hesitation, Ethan started running in the direction I''d indicated. His protective instincts
were so predictable. Now for the second part of my n.
I waited until he was several yards away before letting out a pained cry. I fell to the ground,
clutching my knee dramatically.
"Victoria!" Ethan turned back immediately, rushing to my side.
I had scraped my knee against a rock, drawing just enough blood to make it convincing. The pain was worth it for the concerned look on Ethan''s face.
"I''m fine," I whimpered, trying to stand. "Go find Lily!*
Ethan''s gaze darted between me and the forest path, torn between his duty to his supposed daughter and his concern for me. Just as I''d nned.
"You''re bleeding," he said, his voice tight with frustration.
I pushed at his chest weakly. "Please, Ethan! Find her before that woman takes her away!"
Instead of continuing his search, Ethan scooped me into his arms. The feeling of being held against his powerful chest sent a thrill through me.
"Ethan, no! What about Lily?" I protested, secretly delighting in his choice.
His amber eyes darkened with anger. "Let her hide. I want to see how long Olivia Winters can
hide her!"
I buried my face against his shoulder to hide my triumphant smile. Once again, he''d chosen
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< Chapter 17 False Sightings
me over his mate and child.
As he carried me back to the car, I continued my performance. “But Ethan, what if that woman
really has kidnapped Lily? Shouldn''t we look for her?"
"Olivia is behind this," he growled. "She''s ying games, and I won''t be manipted."
Perfect. He was exactly where I wanted him-angry at Olivia andpletely blind to my deception.
In the car, I winced theatrically as I settled into the passenger seat. Ethan''s eyes softened with
concern.
"We should get you to the Medical Den," he said, starting the engine.
This wouldn''t do. I needed him at the ceremony to see me win thepetition he''d helped
secure for me.
"No," I ced my hand on his arm. "Please, let''s go back to Lunar Tower. The award ceremony
will start soon."
Ethan frowned. "Your knee-"
"It''s just a scratch," I insisted, allowing my voice to tremble slightly. "Ethan, winning this
beside you as someone worthy."
I watched his resolve weaken. "Victoria-"
"Please," I whispered, letting a tear slide down my cheek. "I''ve worked so hard for this. And
after seeing Lily... I need something good to happen today."
His jaw tightened, but he nodded and turned the car toward Lunar Tower. I''d won again.
Ethan remained silent as we drove, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. I needed to keep
him angry at Olivia, not questioning my story.
"I still can''t believe Olivia would lie about Lily being dead," I said softly. "What kind of mother
does that?"
Ethan''s expression darkened further. "She knew keeping Lily from me would hurt me the
most."
I nodded sympathetically. "She probably couldn''t bear seeing us together and used Lily as an
excuse."
"That''s not a reason for her to curse our daughter''s death," he snapped, his voice cold with
rage.
I ced my hand on his thigh, squeezing gently. “But besides Lily, she has no other way to hurt you."
Ethan''s amber eyes shed dangerously. "I won''t listen to her nonsense again. Don''t mention her again
I fell silent, satisfied with the anger I''d stoked. By the time we reached Lunar Tower, Ethan was seething, and I was exactly where I wanted to be-by his side, with Olivia''s credibility
destroyed.
(Olivia''s POV)
I sat on the floor outside Lily''s room, clutching my phone as it rang. Elder Willow''s
name.
shed on the screen.
"Olivia?" her concerned voice came through when I answered. "Where are you? The ceremony is about to begin."
I couldn''t find words to exin what had just happened. How could I tell her that Ethan had
abandoned me again, rushing off to chase a ghost based on Victoria''s lies?
"I don''t think I cane back," I whispered, my voice hoarse from crying.
"My dear, I understand this is difficult," Elder Willow said gently. "But you must return. Your
absence will only fuel gossip."
She was right. Hiding away would only make me appear guilty of whatever Victoria was
using me of.
"I''ll be there," I said finally, forcing myself to stand.
I sshed cold water on my face, reapplied my makeup, and straightened my dress. The woman in the mirror lookedposed, but her eyes held a grief so profound it seemed
bottomless.
Thirty minutester, I pulled into the underground parking garage at Lunar Tower.
As I stepped
out of my car, I froze.
Ethan and Victoria were walking toward the elevator. Victoria was limping slightly, leaning.
against Ethan for support.
Something snapped inside me. I couldn''t let her lies stand unchallenged.
"Victoria," I called out, my voice echoing in the concrete structure.
Chapter 17 Fotse Blightings
They both turned. Victoria''s eyes widened with surprise before narrowing calctingly. Ethan''s expression hardened into a mask of cold fury.
I ignored himpletely, focusing solely on Victoria. "Victoria Frost, did you really
see Lily?"
Victoria hesitated for a fraction of a second-so brief anyone else might have missed it. But I
caught it, that moment of calction before sheposed her features into righteous
indignation.
"Of course it''s true," she insisted, her voice quavering perfectly.
She turned to Ethan with wounded eyes. "Olivia, what do you mean? Are you
saying I''m lying
to Ethan?"
The performance was wless. If I hadn''t been watching so carefully, I might have believed her
myself.
"Isn''t it?" I challenged, taking a step closer.
Victoria''s eyes immediately filled with tears. She clutched at Ethan''s arm, looking up at him
imploringly.
"Ethan, believe me, I didn''t lie to you," she whimpered. "I really saw Lily." Ethan''s arm tightened around her waist protectively. "I believe you."
Those three words cut deeper than any knife. After five years of marriage, after giving him a
child, after all we''d been through together, he still trusted this woman over me.
My eyes turned cold as ice. The pain in my chest hardened into something stronger-a resolve
born of grief and betrayal.
Victoria must have sensed the change in me because she pressed her advantage. "I saw her,
Olivia. Your daughter is alive."
Iughed then, a hollow sound that echoed eerily in the parking garage. "Victoria
Frost, I didn''t
expect you to have the ability to... see ghosts in broad daylight."
Before I could finish, Ethan stepped forward, his tall frame vibrating with barely contained
rage.
"Olivia Winters, haven''t you had enough?!" he roared, his Alpha voice reverberating through the
concrete structure. "I''m warning you, this is thest time. If I hear you curse Lily again, don''t
me me for being rude to you."
Hismanding voice made nearby pack members lower their heads instinctively, their
< Chapter 17: False Sightings
bodies responding automatically to their Alpha''s anger.
But I stood my ground, my grief giving me strength no Alphamand could
break. I had
nothing left to lose.
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