Third Person's POV
"I..."
Mirabel stood there, struck dumb with fear, like a mouse that had just caught sight of a cat.
Aldridge sensed something was wrong. He turned to Mirabel and said, "You were evasive when I first asked you. Now, explain yourself. Clearly." he demanded.
"Honey...Let me explain. It's not what you think..."
Aldridge brushed off her attempt. "Are you trying to hurt Vanya again? Speak!"
"Honey...I swear this has nothing to do with me! I don't know what you're talking about!"
Terrified, Mirabel shook her head frantically.
Dominic, on the floor, spoke up."Mirabel! Please! Say something to Aldridge! Save me! I don't want to go to jail! Help me!"
"Shut your mouth! This is your own doing. How dare you involve me!"
As soon as the words left Mirabel's mouth, Aldridge understood everything.
"You two! How dare you?"
Aldridge erupted in rage. Mirabel quickly tried to speak. "Honey! Let me exp
Third Person's POV"I..."Mirabel stood there, struck dumb with fear, like a mouse that had just caught sight of a cat.Aldridge sensed something was wrong. He turned to Mirabel and said, "You were evasive when I first asked you. Now, explain yourself. Clearly." he demanded."Honey...Let me explain. It's not what you think..."Aldridge brushed off her attempt. "Are you trying to hurt Vanya again? Speak!""Honey...I swear this has nothing to do with me! I don't know what you're talking about!"Terrified, Mirabel shook her head frantically.Dominic, on the floor, spoke up."Mirabel! Please! Say something to Aldridge! Save me! I don't want to go to jail! Help me!""Shut your mouth! This is your own doing. How dare you involve me!"As soon as the words left Mirabel's mouth, Aldridge understood everything."You two! How dare you?"Aldridge erupted in rage. Mirabel quickly tried to speak. "Honey! Let me exp
Third Person's POVGrace quickly caught on to Mirabel's scheme. "Has she lost her mind? You're still Mrs. Todd! Isn't she afraid of the consequences?""Mirabel's convinced Cliff and I will split. She's trying to secure a future for the Fields and gain the upper hand over me," Vanya explained.She understood Mirabel's motives but didn't expect her to orchestrate such a stunt at a family dinner. "If I'd been more careful, this might've been avoided.""What happened next? Did she drug you?"Grace asked, her expression turning grave.This was no minor betrayal—it was malicious, which explained why Theodore had stormed out after rushing Vanya to the hospital.Vanya frowned. "I'm not sure how she did it. I was locked in a room and couldn't find my phone.""This Mirabel's craftier than I thought. I underestimated her," Grace said indignantly."Vanya, I'm heading to the Dalton's to demand justice for you!""Wait!"
Third Person's POVTheodore saw blood on Vanya's clothes, her face flushed unusually red."Bloody hell! Get a first-aid kit now!" he barked at the maid.The maid hurried to fetch the first-aid kit.Upon receiving it, Theodore coldly ordered Dominic, who was still in the room, "Get the hell out of here now!"Dominic scrambled out, the maid following, shutting the door behind her.Theodore quickly tended to Vanya's wounds, but she was fading fast."I feel awful..."Vanya panted, her breaths shallow, her body burning up, her mind fogging over."Hang in there," Theodore said, lifting her into his arms.Vanya felt the man's warm chest. His touch eased the heat inside her and brought coolness through her skin.He carried her to the bathtub, cold water gushing from the showerhead. Her dress, already thin, soaked through.Theodore averted his eyes, using a wet towel to clean her.Vanya's hand, feverish, clutched his wrist. "Theodore... I feel awful," she murmured, her eyes glazed with tears.
Third Person's POV"Fat chance!"Vanya seized the chance while Dominic was distracted and made a dash for the door.She tried the lock but nothing happened.Outside, the maid was blocking the keyhole with a spare key.Useless to try from inside."Help! Somebody help!" Vanya pounded on the door.But loud music downstairs drowned her out. Mirabel, in a red dress, was tangoing with Aldridge. No one heard a thing."Save your strength, Vanya. You're mine tonight!"Dominic lunged. Vanya shoved him off, grabbed a water glass, smashed it, picked up a shard and pressed it to her neck."One step closer and I slit my throat. Your sister's schemes go up in smoke too!"Dominic hesitated.He couldn't let her die here."Damn it, are you threatening me?"He lunged for the shard. But Vanya already had a bleeding cut on her neck.Seeing this, Dominic didn't dare to move a muscle.Meanwhile, Theodore had been waiting outside the Dalton villa.Their agreed time was almost up. He called Vanya—no answer.H
Vanya's POVMy brow furrowed, showing my annoyance.Mirabel noticed and snapped at the maid, "How clumsy! Get new clothes for Vanya right now!""I'm sorry, Vanya! I'll get clothes ready," the maid apologized fearfully.Mirabel smoothed things over, her tone seemingly gentle but actually distancing herself, "She's new and inexperienced. Don't mind her, Vanya."Then she ordered the maid again, "Take Vanya upstairs to change.""Yes, ma'am," the maid said nervously, leading me up.I glanced back at Mirabel, whose face showed fake concern, but I felt something was off.However, I figured, with all these individuals observing at the Dalton family dinner, she wouldn't dare to engage in any underhanded activities here.The maid guided me to a guest room upstairs and presented me with the clothes. "Change in this room, I'll be waiting for you outside."I nodded, took the clothes, and entered.After the maid left, I checked the clothes thoroughly—fabric, seams, buttons, even the lining. Nothing
Vanya's POVAldridge glared at Elmer, his eyes sharp with an Alpha's aura.I caught Elmer's face freeze. His wolfish air wilted.Sure enough, he froze, any defiance in him seeming to wither away instantly.I shook my head inwardly. I'd thought prison might've tamed Elmer, might've knocked some sense into him, made him less impulsive.But no—he's still the same timid soul, exactly as he was before.Aldridge turned to me, voice brooking no argument. "Vanya, I've decided to hand over some other Dalton companies to you. Good practice for you."No sooner had the words left his mouth than Mirabel, carrying a dish from the kitchen, caught the tail end of his statement.Her face paled. A fierce look flickered in her eyes. "Darling, how can you say that? The family companies are for family, not outsiders..."The word "outsider" stuck in her throat.She clearly realized her mistake and forced down the growl rising in her throat.Yeah, compared to me, they were the real outsiders.Every Dalton b