Two burly male servants immediately grabbed my arms, their grip firm enough to bruise. I struggled against


    their hold.


    "I didn''t push her! She fell in on her own!" I protested, but Eleanor silenced me with a withering re.


    "Take her to the main house," she ordered. "Alpha Stone will deal with this."


    As the servants dragged me away, I caught Emma''s eye. The little girl was shivering dramatically, but there was something else in her expression-a hint of satisfaction that chilled me more than the evening air.


    The sound of running footsteps announced Ethan''s arrival. His powerful frame cut through the gathered


    crowd, his amber eyes immediately finding Emma.


    "What happened?" he demanded, his voice carrying the unmistakable authority of an Alpha.


    Emma, seeing him approach, began to tremble more violently. Her small lips quivered as she looked him with wide, tear-filled eyes.


    "Daddy..." she whimpered, reaching for him with small, shaking hands.


    00


    Without hesitation, Ethan rushed to her side. He quickly assessed her condition, his movements efficient and


    0000


    2


    7


    concerned. With gentle hands, he removed her wet clothes and wrapped his leather jacket around her tiny


    frame.


    "I''ve got you, princess," he murmured, scooping her into his arms.


    Emma clung to him, burying her face against his chest. Then, slowly, she turned her head to look at me. Our eyes met across the garden, and I saw something in her gaze that no five-year-old should possess-


    calction.


    "Luna Olivia, she..." Emma began, her voice breaking as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. She trailed off, seemingly too ovee with emotion to continue.


    Ethan''s gaze snapped to me, his amber eyes hardening to cold stone. The usation in his look was unmistakable-the same look he''d given me when Emma had fallen into the cake tower at the Silver Crown


    Hotel.


    I met his gaze unflinchingly, anger bubbling up inside me. Once again, he was ready to believe the worst of me without question, without even hearing my side.


    "Take her inside, Ethan ordered the servants holding me. "Now."


    The main house was warmpared to the evening chill of the gardens. The servants pushed me into the sitting room, forcing me to stand in the center like a criminal awaiting judgment.


    Ethan entered momentster, still cradling Emma in his arms. The child refused to leave his embrace, clinging to him like a lifeline while asionally shooting me fearful nces.


    Dr. Harold Bet arrived shortly after, summoned by Eleanor to examine Emma. The elderly pack healer approached with his medical bag, his movements deliberate and precise.


    "Let me see her, Alpha Stone," he requested, his voice carrying the weight of decades of experience.


    Ethan reluctantly set Emma down on the sofa but remained close, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder. Dr. Bet examined her thoroughly, checking her temperature and listening to her breathing.


    ''She''s caught a chill, but nothing serious," he finally announced. "Some warm moonberry tea should help her


    recover quickly."


    Then he added something that made my blood run cold. "However, we must monitor her closely. With her recent kidney transnt, even a minor illness could lead toplications. Her immune system is still


    vulnerable."


    Ethan''s face darkened at these words, his amber eyes fixing on me with a sharp, usatory glint. The implication was clear-I had not only pushed Emma into the water but had potentially endangered her life


    due to her medical condition.


    Victoria, who had been weeping softly beside Ethan, suddenly straightened. Her tear-streaked face hardened


    as she turned toward me.


    "How could you?" she demanded, her voice rising with each word. "This isn''t the first time you''ve targe


    is it? First me, now my daughter?"


    ''us,


    She took a step closer, her perfectly manicured finger pointing usingly at my face. "You''re jealous. You''ve always been jealous of what Ethan and I share, of how he loves Emma."


    Victoria''s voice broke with practiced emotion. "She''s just a child, Olivia. A frail child who has already suffered.


    0000


    <


    so much. Do you have any idea what could have happened? After her surgery, even a simple cold could be


    dangerous!


    Her words struck like physical blows. “What kind of woman targets a five year- old? What kind of heartlessness does that require?"


    Each usation was carefully crafted to mirror my own suspicions about Lily''s death. Victoria was painting me as exactly what she was-someone who would harm a child out of jealousy and spite


    I watched Ethan''s expression grow grimmer with each of Victoria''s words. His jaw tightened, the muscle there twitching with barely contained anger.


    I stood tall, refusing to be cowed by their usations. "I did not push Emma into the reflection pool. She fell


    in on her own."


    Before I could exin further, Isabelle stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. “That''s a lie. I saw everything from the garden path. You pushed her with both hands when you thought no one was watching" Isabelle''s voice dripped with contempt as she continued. "You''re so transparent, Olivia. You can''t stand that Ethan loves Victoria and Emma instead of you. Your jealousy has driven you to this."


    I opened my mouth to defend myself, to point out that Isabelle couldn''t possibly have seen anything from the garden path, which was obscured by tall hedges.


    But Eleanor cut me off before I could speak. "This isn''t the first time you''ve used such underhanded tactics, is it? Five years ago, you drugged Ethan to trap him into marriage. Now you''re trying to eliminate anyone who threatens your position." Eleanor turned to the servants standing nearby. "Take her to the Stone Ancestral Hall. It''s time she learned her ce in this pack."


    The servants moved forward, grabbing my arms once more. I struggled against their grip, trying to catch


    Ethan''s eye.


    ''Ethan, please! You know I wouldn''t do this!" I pleaded.


    But Ethan remained seated on the sofa, his face impassive as he watched the servants drag me away. Not a flicker of doubt crossed his features, not a moment of hesitation in believing the worst of me.


    As I was pulled from the room, I caught a final glimpse of Victoriaforting Emma, who had miraculously recovered enough to whisper something in her mother''s ear. Victoria''s lips curved into a small, satisfied


    smile.


    The Stone Ancestral Hall was cold and imposing, its stone walls lined with carvings of previous Alpha leaders. The servants pushed me roughly into the center of the circr room, the sound of our footsteps echoing ominously. "Kneel!" one of them ordered sharply.