The video continued ying on my screen, showing Lily''s tear-streaked face as she leaned against Olivia. Her small body trembled with each sob, her voice breaking as she insisted on


    her innocence.


    "I didn''t push Sister Emma, Mommy," she cried, her emerald eyes-so like her mother''s-wide with distress. "She pushed me first, and then she fell in by herself."


    The raw emotion in her voice made my chest tighten. Children could lie, I knew that, but the genuine anguish in Lily''s expression was difficult to dismiss. She looked feverish, her cheeks flushed and her forehead damp with sweat as Olivia gently wiped it with a cool cloth.


    "I believe you, sweetheart," Olivia murmured, stroking our daughter''s hair. "I know you


    hurt anyone."


    wouldn''t


    Lily''s next words pierced through me like a silver de. "Then why doesn''t Daddy believe me? Why does he love Sister Emma more than me?"


    I paused the video, unable to watch more. The question echoed in my mind, an usation I couldn''t defend against. Had I truly been so blind? So quick to assume the worst of my own


    daughter?


    The thought of Emma deliberately pushing Lily seemed impossible. Emma, who had been so excited to meet her "sister," who had talked about Lily for days before their first meeting.


    Emma, who looked at me with such adoration in her eyes.


    Yet the surveince footage showed no clear culprit. One moment, both girls stood by the pool; the next, Emma was in the water, screaming. I had immediately med Lily without investigation, without even asking for her side of the story.


    My phone rang, interrupting my troubled thoughts. Victoria''s name shed on the


    screen.


    "Ethan?" Her voice came through, soft and slightly breathless. "Are youing to pick Emma


    up from the training den? You promised her yesterday."


    Guilt washed over me as I realized I''dpletely forgotten. “I''ll be there in twenty minutes."


    "Is everything alright? How''s your grandmother?"


    < Chapter 88 Divided Loyalties


    "She''s stable," I replied, shutting down myputer. "I''ll tell you more when I see you."


    +15 Points>


    I ended the call, my mind still churning with conflicting emotions. The truth about Emma had


    been another source of guilt-keeping her existence a secret from my pack for so long, allowing rumors to spread about my rtionship with Victoria.


    The drive to Crescent Moon Training Den gave me time to collect my thoughts. Victoria stood waiting at the entrance, elegant as always in a simple cream dress that entuated her slender figure. Her face brightened when she saw me approach.


    "You''rete," she said, though her tone held no reproach.


    "Five minutes," I countered, checking my watch. "Pack business."


    Victoria''s expression softened with concern. "How is Matriarch Evelyn? I heard about her


    copse."


    "Dr. Bet says she''ll recover with rest," I replied, my amber eyes lingering on Victoria''s tired


    face. "You look exhausted."


    She smiled faintly. "Emma had nightmares against night. She keeps dreaming about that


    incident with the rogue wolf."


    Before I could respond, a high-pitched voice called out, "Alpha!"


    Emma burst through the training den doors, her face lighting up at the sight of me. She wore her training uniform, her blonde hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. Turning to her ssmates who had followed her outside, she announced proudly, "See? That''s my Alpha."


    The other pups stared at me with wide, impressed eyes. I was well aware of the effect my presence had-the Alpha King of Silvercrest Pack didn''t typically make personal appearances


    at training dens.


    Emma ran to me, arms outstretched. I lifted her easily, settling her against my hip as she


    wrapped her small arms around my neck.


    "Did you see me practicing my forms, Alpha? Teacher said I was the best in ss today!"


    "I''m sorry I missed it," I replied, carrying her toward my car. "Maybe next time."


    Victoria followed, a soft smile ying on her lips as she watched our interaction. The envious nces from other parents didn''t escape my notice-nor did the whispers that followed us to


    the parking lot.


    Once in the car, with Emma securely buckled in the back seat, I found myself thinking again about the incident at the Moonlit Reflection Pool. The question slipped out before I could


    < Chapter 88 Divided Loyalties


    reconsider.


    "Emma, do you remember when you first met Lily? At the reflection pool?"


    +15 Poeta


    Victoria tensed beside me, her hand reaching for mine in warning. Emma''s bright expression


    dimmed slightly.


    "Yes, Alpha. I remember."


    "Can you tell me what happened that day? How you fell into the water?"


    Victoria interjected smoothly, "Ethan, we''ve been through this. Emma was pushed-"


    "I want to hear it from Emma," I said firmly, meeting the child''s gaze in the rearview mirror.


    Emma''s lower lip trembled slightly. "Sister Lily pushed me, Alpha. I just wanted to be friends,


    but she was mean to me."


    The rehearsed quality of her words struck me. Had Victoria coached her? Or was


    this truly


    how Emma remembered the incident?