Chapter 12

_Leon's POV_

The bag was half open. Just enough for me to catch the edge of a silver phone case when she reached for a handkerchief.

Shadow’s voice sharpened. Take the chance.

I kept my face blank as another servant came forward with wine. Glasses were refilled. Conversation continued. My mother and Talia’s mother had moved on to discussing wedding fabrics. Talia was laughing softly and describing the sort of embroidery she liked.

I lifted my own glass slowly. Then I made my move.

I turned just slightly, as if reaching for the bread plate. At the same time, I let my wrist twist. The wine tipped from the glass in a sudden red spill and splashed straight across the front of Talia’s pale dress.

She gasped and jumped up from her chair. “Oh, what have you done?”

The room went still.

I immediately set down the glass and rose too. “Talia, I am very sorry, sweetheart. It slipped from my hand.”

She stared down at the stain in horror. “Leon, this dress...”

“I know,” I said quickly. “I am sorry.”

My mother stood at once. “Oh dear. That is a terrible stain.”

Talia pressed a hand to the ruined fabric. She was clearly upset. For a second, I almost believed the accident myself.

Then I called toward the doorway. “Mira.”

A servant stepped forward at once. “Yes?”

“Please accompany Talia and help her change. There must be spare clothes somewhere that fit her. Help her.”

My mother nodded quickly. “Yes, let her go with Mira. I have some beautiful new dresses that I have never worn and since Talia and I are nearly the same size, they should fit.”

Talia’s mother gave a relieved breath. “That would be wonderful.”

Talia still looked distressed but she forced a smile. “Thank you.”

My mother squeezed her hand. “Go, dear. It will be fixed.”

Mira stepped closer. “This way, miss.”

Talia turned to me before leaving. “I will not be long.”

I gave her an apologetic look. “Take your time.”

She left with Mira and my mother followed partway. She was still fussing gently about the stain and possible dresses. The remaining people at the table quickly fell back into conversation. My father and Talia’s father began discussing guest accommodation and wine selection for the ceremony.

No one looked at me.

Slowly and carefully, I let my hand drop beneath the table. I reached for the red bag beside Talia’s chair. My fingers slipped inside. I found the phone at once.

In one smooth motion, I slid it into my pocket. My pulse was hammering now. Still no one noticed.

A few more seconds passed. Then I pushed back my chair. “Excuse me,” I said evenly. “I need to use the washroom.”

My father barely glanced up. “Go ahead.”

I walked out at a controlled pace. I did not hurry until I had turned down the corridor and reached the private washroom near the west wing. The moment I was inside, I locked the door.

Then I pulled out the phone. For one awful second, disappointment hit me.

It was locked.

“Damn it,” I whispered.

The screen waited silently. I frowned, then typed Talia’s birth date. The phone unlocked.

A humorless breath escaped me. “You should have used something else.”

Shadow snorted darkly. She was never as clever as she wanted people to think.

I moved quickly. First I checked the call logs. They were blank. Everything had been deleted.

That made my suspicion even worse. Then I opened her messages. There were normal threads at first. Messages from her mother. Friends. Dressmakers. One group chat about decorations.

Then I saw it. A contact saved under one simple name. Doc.

My fingers went cold. I opened the thread. And the world seemed to tilt beneath me. Message after message stared back at me.

Talia had written first. I need something that will make me very sick, but not kill me.

A reply came below. That is risky.

Then another message from her. I do not care. I need it to look like someone poisoned me.

My breath stopped. There were more.

I need symptoms fast....It must be convincing....No one can know.

The replies were careful but clear. I can help but this is dangerous. You must follow the amount exactly. You are taking a serious risk.

Then came Talia’s answer. It will be worth it.

My hand tightened hard around the phone. Below that were later messages.

You did your part well. The money has been sent.

Then the reply that made my blood run cold.

Received. If you need my services again, feel free to contact me.

For a second I could not move. I just stared at the screen.

Shadow was raging inside me now. She framed Anya. She did all of it. She lied. She lied to us.

Images hit me one after another. Anya in chains. Anya crying. Anya begging me to believe her. My own voice condemning her. My own orders sending her away.

A sick wave rolled through my stomach. I had done this. I had let it happen.

My chest hurt so badly that I had to brace one hand against the sink. “You were telling the truth,” I whispered to the empty room, though Anya was not there to hear me.

I forced myself to focus. I needed to save the contact number.

Quickly I copied the number into my own phone contacts under a false name. My fingers moved fast but inside I was shaking with fury.

Then I erased the recent view and locked Talia’s phone again. I checked the time. She might return any second now.

I shoved the phone back into my pocket, unlocked the washroom door and quickly walked out. Every step back toward the dining hall felt unreal. My mind was burning. My blood was boiling. Yet my face had to stay calm.

When I returned, I felt relieved that Talia was still not back. My father was talking about guest quarters. Talia’s father was answering. Neither of them paid me any attention as I resumed my seat.

Under the table, I slipped the phone back into the red bag exactly where it had been. A minute later footsteps approached. I looked up.

Talia entered wearing one of my mother’s deep green dresses. It fit her almost perfectly. My mother followed beside her. She was smiling proudly at the success of the change.

“There,” my mother said happily. “Much better.”

Talia gave a soft laugh and sat down again. “Thank you. It is beautiful.”

Then she turned to me with a teasing smile. “You owe me for ruining the other one.”

I looked at her face....at her smile. At the woman who had almost died by her own design and then pointed the finger at Anya.

I made myself smile back. “I know. I will make it up to you.”

The rest of the dinner stretched on like some twisted performance. They continued discussing the wedding. Talia continued sounding excited and eager. She talked about flowers, music and silk banners as if her world was full of nothing but happy dreams.

All I could think was that every word from her mouth was poison.

At last the evening ended. I stood beside my parents and watched Talia and her family leave. She hugged my mother. She smiled at my father. She touched my arm once and said softly, “Do not stay up too late.”

I nodded. Then she was gone.

The moment the doors closed behind them, I turned and walked away without another word. I pulled out my phone and called the number I had saved.

It rang twice. Then a man answered.

“Doctor Mike here, how can I help you?”

My face went hard. “Are you Doctor Mike Johnson?” I asked.

“Yes,” the man replied. “Who is this?”

I stepped into the darkness of the corridor, my grip tightening on the phone.

“There is an emergency, Doctor.”

His voice sharpened at once. “What kind of emergency?”

I looked out into the night beyond the window. My heart was pounding with rage, with guilt and with something close to dread.

“I am coming to see you right now,” I said coldly. “Then I will explain.”

Before he could answer, I ended the call. The silence around me felt heavy.

Mike Johnson.

The same doctor who had treated Talia. The same doctor who had stood over her bed and spoken of poison with grave concern. The same doctor who had helped send Anya to hell.

Now I knew.

Talia had done this to herself.

She had planned it.

She had chosen the doctor.

She had paid him.

And I had believed her.

Shadow’s voice came low and savage inside me. Go.

I started walking. Because now there was only one thing left in my mind.

I needed the full truth.

And after that, I needed to rescue Anya.