Chapter 206

I slipped out of the room quietly, careful not to draw attention. Jeffrey had just finished lunch, and he was already settled in his study with a book, looking calm and untouched by all the chaos in this house.

Vicky was the opposite kind of calm. She floated between spas and shopping trips, and when she was home, she cooked for Jeffrey, hovered around him, and tried to earn his approval with small, sweet gestures. If you didn’t know better, you would swear she was just another rich woman living an easy life. Perfect hair, perfect smile, no cracks.

That’s why Lewis and I couldn’t tell if she was involved with Anna’s organization or not.

The Hale estate had cameras everywhere some in plain sight, some hidden so well even the staff forgot they existed. Lewis had set it up like that on purpose. If anyone moved wrong in this house, we’d know.

And when Silas was poisoned, our first thought was simple: it had to be the kitchen.

We hadn’t brought any new staff in, and we hadn’t switched cooks midway. So if someone slipped poison into Silas’s food, the answer would be on the kitchen footage. No guessing. No rumors. Just facts.

When Theo pulled up the recordings, my stomach tightened.

It wasn’t Vicky.

It was an older maid who had been with the family for years.

That should’ve made me feel relieved because it meant the threat wasn’t standing right beside Jeffrey all day. But it didn’t. It only opened another question that felt even more dangerous.

Did Vicky place that maid here?

Or was Vicky also just another piece on the board, being used without knowing?

Theo looked pale when he realized who it was. His voice came out strained, almost angry at himself. “We’ve already cleaned out a lot of people recently,” he said. “We only kept her because she’s been here a long time. She works fast, she’s reliable, and her background is simple. I never thought she’d do something like this p>

I kept my eyes on the screen, watching the maid’s hands move like she was doing something normal. Like she was seasoning soup, not ending a life.

“She might have been innocent before,” I said quietly. “But people like that don’t always need loyalty. They know how to corner someone. They can threaten family. They can promise money. They can scare a person into obeying p>

Theo exhaled hard. “If she was forced, then we won’t be able to connect it back to Vicky p>

“Not immediately,” I agreed. “But if Vicky is guilty, she’ll slip. People always slip when they think they’re safe. From now on, we move smarter. We replace the kitchen staff and tighten the routine around Silas p>

Theo nodded. “Understood p>

I checked the time on my phone. The second hand felt loud in my head. “It’s almost time. We stick to the plan p>

“Yes, ma’am p>

Theo walked off quickly, barking low orders to the guards. Within minutes, the hallway was full of controlled movement body bags carried through the back route, cleaning chemicals brought out, staff purposely allowed to “see” just enough.

We needed one thing to spread through the estate like wildfire.

Silas is dead.

Not long after, Lewis returned home. The moment I saw him, I felt it in my chest his presence was steady, but his eyes were sharp, like he’d been hunting all day without rest.

I walked to him fast. “Have you eaten p>

“Not yet p>

“I’ll make you something,” I said, then lowered my voice. “Someone poisoned Silas today p>

Lewis didn’t look surprised. “Theo told me.” He paused, and something heavy settled on his face. “Elena… I’m not hungry right now p>

My heart tightened. “Why p>

His voice dropped. “We confirmed the cause of Jake’s death p>

That name hit me like cold water. Jake. Years ago, he’d gone overseas and our lives had drifted apart, but I still remembered him clearly. His laugh. His patience. The way he taught me how to ride a bike when I was small, running beside me until I stopped shaking.

I forced myself to breathe. “How did he die p>

“He drowned,” Lewis said. “He had been drinking, but the autopsy found a substance in his system. Something that makes a person lose control of their mind p>

I nodded slowly, because none of it felt random. “So he wasn’t just drunk. He was drugged. That’s why it looks like an accident p>

“Exactly,” Lewis said. “Someone slipped it to him p>

“If we can trace who he had dinner with, it’ll be easier to narrow down,” I said.

Lewis’s brows pulled together. “That’s the problem. It was a networking dinner. CEOs. Business talk. After that, they went to a nightclub.” His mouth tightened. “Too many people. Too chaotic. Anyone could’ve slipped something into his drink and walked away p>

I rubbed my thumb against my palm, trying to calm the anger building inside me. “Their methods are almost impossible to prevent,” I muttered. “Cars. Drinks. Food. They kill without showing their face. And now they’re bold enough to reach the Hales p>

Lewis stepped closer, lowering his voice like he didn’t want the walls to hear. “Luckily, they still don’t know you came back. If they did, you would be in danger too.” His eyes locked on mine. “Elena, you have to be extra careful from now on. Do you understand p>

“I understand,” I said, but my tone hardened. “I’m tired of reacting. We need to move first p>

Lewis took a sip of water, thinking. “It’s not only you who’s in a hurry,” he said. “They’re desperate too. The more desperate they get, the more they panic. Panic makes people careless, and that’s when we get our chance.” His voice steadied. “I’ve been tracking the lead from the bribed servant, and the police are following Jake’s case. With a body, it’s easier than what happened to you. It will take time, but it won’t stay buried p>

He looked exhausted, and it annoyed me because he always carried the weight like it was his job to suffer quietly. I decided I’d still make him food. He needed strength whether he admitted it or not.

As I passed the living room, I noticed Vicky on the phone. She was smiling lightly, sounding like she was inviting a nail technician over. She looked relaxed and carefree, like the world had never once touched her.

That calm made my skin crawl.

Upstairs, Lewis stood near the window again, phone pressed to his ear. His posture was tense, and even without hearing the words, I could tell this call was different. His voice was still controlled, but there was a sharp edge under it. Surprise.

I didn’t interrupt him. I set the food on the table and waited.

When he finally ended the call, I said gently, “Eat before it gets cold p>

He didn’t move.

He just stood there, staring at nothing, like his thoughts were caught in a trap.

“Lewis?” I stepped closer. “What’s wrong p>

He blinked, like he hadn’t heard me. “W–what p>

“Who was that?” I asked. “Why do you look like you just got punched p>

Lewis stared at me for a long moment. I watched him fight with whatever he was holding back. Then his voice came out low and heavy.

“Silas’s DNA results came back p>

I went still. “Okay… and p>

His jaw tightened. His eyes didn’t leave mine.

“His Y-chromosome matches mine,” he said quietly.

My breath caught.

“So,” he finished, voice rough, “he’s p>