Chapter 0349
She lowered her gaze. “I just don’t want my friend to get hurt,” she admitted. “I’m trying to figure out who’s targeting Ella so I can stop them.”
Dr. McIntyre scoffed. “By killing them?”
Elizabeth met her eyes without flinching.
“If that’s what it takes.”
There was a long silence as the two women stared at each other, then a smile spread across the doctor’s face.
It sent a chill down Elizabeth’s spine, but she didn’t look away. She had chosen to get involved in this. She wasn’t going to back out now.
Ella POV
The ringing of my phone snapped my attention away from the computer screen I’d been poring over.
I had spent hours studying Diana’s meetings, searching for any pattern or clue that might make sense of what was happening—especially her secret meetings with the King–but I was getting nowhere.
I answered without hesitation.
“Hey, can we meet?” Elizabeth’s voice came through the line, tight with tension.
Immediately, my senses went on high alert. Something was wrong.
“Sure. Right now?” I asked, already closing my laptop and gathering my things.
“Yeah,” she said. “I can meet you downstairs in ten minutes. Let’s get lunch.”
“Sounds good.”
The line went dead.
I stayed frozen for a moment, gripping my phone. Something was definitely wrong. That conversation had been far too normal–too rehearsed–given everything that had happened over the past few days.
I sent Alexander a quick text, letting him know I was meeting Elizabeth.
He was with Michael, trying to reassure his younger brother that it was safe to return home. They wouldn’t tell me exactly what Michael had overheard, but whatever it was had shaken him to his core.
I felt terrible for him. He didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of this.
Neither did Elizabeth.
It seemed like trouble followed me wherever I went, and the people closest to me always got dragged into it–no matter how hard I tried to shield them. But now, I needed their help. I couldn’t afford to push them away.
Hopefully, Elizabeth had found something useful–new records, maybe, or information from another servant who had noticed something suspicious.
I waited in the lobby, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in my head. James noticed me and took up his position. I knew he would be following a few feet behind and it eased my fears a little.
When Elizabeth finally appeared, my stomach twisted. This wasn’t about rumors or old records. Something had happened.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0349
She was smiling, but it was forced–tight. There were dark circles under her eyes, her exhaustion written in every line of her face. She hadn’t slept.
“You look exhausted,” I said as I approached.
“So do you,” she replied with a faint smirk.
“Seems sleepless nights are going around.”
Elizabeth nodded, letting out a quiet sigh. “Let’s go talk,” she said. “I have something you need to know.”
A flicker of unease curled in my gut.
“Okay,” I said hesitantly, stepping past her to open the door.
We walked out onto the street, moving toward the shopping center without discussing where to go. Our feet simply followed routine.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, glancing at her.
Elizabeth shook her head. “Not really.” She hesitated before continuing. “I had a conversation with Dr. McIntyre last night. And I found out something that you really need to know. But…” She exhaled slowly. “I really wish I wasn’t the one who had to tell you.”
My heart began to hammer against my ribs.
She spoke to Dr. McIntyre? How? Why? And what had the doctor told her that was so bad Elizabeth was afraid to say it out loud?
“Let’s wait until we get somewhere a little more private,” Elizabeth murmured, reaching out to loop her arm through mine. “Then I’ll tell you everything.”
I nodded, my throat too tight to respond. A million possibilities flooded my mind, each worse than the last.
Whatever she was about to say, I knew one thing for certain
It was going to change everything.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0350
Chapter 0350
