Chapter 648 Share a secret route
Flora stood by the window. She remained in the dark, the gloom of the room matching the hollow feeling in her chest, until a soft knock broke the silence.
She stiffened, realizing the presence outside wasn’t Zander or any of the wolves.
“Flora, are you awake? It’s Carlos. Can we speak for a moment?”
She hesitated, then finally reached for the switch. The sudden amber glow of the lamps made her squint as she opened the door. Carlos stood there, with a calm expression, holding a small wooden tray.
“I brought coffee for you,” Carlos said in a humble tone.
Flora stepped back to let him in. He placed the tray on the coffee table. He didn’t push her to talk immediately; instead, he looked at her with a depth of understanding. He knew what he had seen in her future, and that secret made him careful to speak.
“You look like you haven’t slept in a lifetime,” he remarked softly, gesturing toward the mug. “Drink. It helps ground the mind when the world feels like it’s spinning out of control.”
Flora lowered herself into the chair by the coffee table and shook her head. “I don’t want to,” she murmured, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Carlos studied her face in the soft lamplight. He could see the cracks in her composure, the way the trauma had stripped away the confident facade she had worked so hard to build.
“Flora, I know you haven’t been a good person in the past,” he began, his voice devoid of judgment. “Alex must have said something to you, something that targeted your guilt and shattered your mental peace. The strength you built over these months seems to have vanished, but remember: the goodwill currently in your heart cannot be destroyed.”
He leaned in slightly to speak further, “That is why you didn’t take a single step to help him, even when he threatened you. You chose your family over your fear. That is a victory, even if it doesn’t feel like one right now.”
Flora continued to fiddle with her fingers, her knuckles turning white. “He said I wanted Amelie dead,” she murmured, a stray tear finally escaping and tracking down her pale cheek. “I regret everything I did back then, Carlos. I—I want to help Amelie and put an end to Alex. I haven’t been the sister she deserved, but I want to be that person now. I should meet Alex. I should be the one to lure him into a trap.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you won’t be involved in any of this,” Carlos stated firmly. He couldn’t help but think of the void he had seen in her future; allowing her to act as bait felt like hand-delivering her to the grave.
“But so far, Alex hasn’t been caught,” Flora argued, her voice rising with a frantic edge of worry. “What if he finds another way to get close to Amelie and Noah? If I can end this nightmare by facing him one last time, isn’t it worth it?”
Carlos looked at her with a somber intensity. “And why do you think facing him would bring an end to everything? Everyone whom Alex could hurt is safe within these walls,” Carlos reasoned. “The best help you can provide right now is to stay calm. That is your only job. Also, do not hesitate for a second to tell Gabriel if Alex tries to contact you again.”
Flora hummed softly, feeling a slight weight lift from her chest. The frantic pulsing in her veins slowed, and, her breathing felt even. “Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes finally meeting his with a glimmer of gratitude.
“Oh, mention it not. Finish the coffee before it gets cold. I’ll be leaving now,” Carlos said with a small, encouraging nod. He stepped out of the room as he shut the door behind him.
Flora lifted the mug and drank the coffee. She had taken only a few sips when her phone suddenly buzzed. She went to the bed and picked it up only to find an unknown number. She didn’t answer the call when a message popped up on the screen.
“You can’t ignore me, Flora. You chose to betray me and now, I will make sure, Amelie’s lifeless body lays before you. You better answer my call.”
Flora headed to the balcony and quickly called on the same number.
“You can’t do anything to Amelie. So, stop threatening me!” Flora hissed into the receiver, her voice shaking despite her attempt at defiance.
Alex’s dark chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. “You think those palace walls are impenetrable, Flora? You think your royal ’protectors’ are infallible? It’s not that tough to enter the palace when you have the right map. You remember Ophelia, don’t you? Before she met her end, she was kind enough to share a secret route, one the current King doesn’t even have on his blueprints.”
“You’re lying,” Flora stammered, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm. “I’ll tell Prince Gabriel everything! I’ll tell him about you and he’ll end you!”
“Fine, go ahead! Do it!” Alex encouraged her with a malice in his gaze. “Tell him. But don’t come crying to me when you realize you were too slow. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The line went dead with a sharp click. Flora stood frozen on the balcony, the phone still pressed to her ear. “He’s lying, right? I know, he is!”
She quickly opened Amelie’s contact, but she couldn’t bring herself to call her. Tears flooded her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Amelie,” she whispered. “I will make sure Alex never touches you or your family again.”
Flora didn’t hesitate. She knew that if she went to Gabriel, the interrogation and the doubt would waste precious minutes they didn’t have. She looked over the edge of the balcony, assessing the drop.
With a deep breath, she climbed over the railing and jumped down. Thanks to her Alpha strength, she didn’t get even a single bruise. Without turning back, she made her way outside, making sure she wouldn’t be seen by anyone.