《THE ALPHA'S BETRAYAL》全部章節：第 21 章 - 第 30 章

I arrived at the tavern early, choosing a table in the back corner where we wouldn't be easily seen. My hands trembled as I counted out the coins Carlos had given me, making sure I had enough to pay for whatever information this woman had. The tavern was quiet, with only a few men drinking ale near the bar. The smell of roasted meat filled the air, but my stomach was too twisted with nerves to feel hungry. I kept watching the door, my heart jumping every time someone entered. Finally, I saw her, a figure in a dark cloak with the hood pulled up to hide her face. She moved quickly through the tavern, keeping her head down. When she reached my table, she sat down across from me and pulled back her hood. Up close, I could see worry lines around her eyes and gray streaks in her brown hair. Without saying a word, I placed the coins on the table between us. She reached for them, but I kept my hand over the small pile. "Information first," I said quietly. She nodded and pulled a folded

The next evening, we stood before another house, this one small and neat with a well-tended garden. Yellow light glowed warmly in the windows, and I could smell bread baking inside. I thought about turning back, but I couldn't. My hands trembled as I knocked on the door. Footsteps approached, and the door opened to reveal a young woman about my age. She had kind eyes and flour dusting her apron. A baby rested on her hip, chewing on a wooden toy. "Good evening," she said politely. "Can I help you?" "I'm looking for..." I glanced down at the paper in my hand. "Margaret Hart?" The young woman's expression grew cautious. "That's my mother. But she's very weak right now. I don't think she can entertain visitors." "Please," I said, stepping closer. "It's very important. I've traveled a long way, and I think she might have information about my family." The woman studied my face, then looked at Carlos and Rowan behind me. The baby babbled and reached for her hair. "I'm sorry,"

We sat in our small room at the inn as night fell, a single candle flickering on the wooden table between us. I stared at the dancing flame, my mind spinning with everything that had happened. The daughter's words echoed in my head. “You attract trouble. You bring death with you like a shadow.” "Maybe I should stop," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crackling wood. "Maybe I should just give up this search." Carlos looked up from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed, cleaning his knife. "Amelia…" "No, listen to me." I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. "Everyone who helps me dies. Mrs. Hartwell, her family, all those children at the orphanage. How many more people have to suffer because of my questions?" "If all this is happening," Carlos said, setting down his knife on the small table and leaning forward, "it's because you're close to finding the answers you're looking for." "What do you mean?" "Someone is working very hard to kee

I slipped away from Carlos and Rowan while they were examining goods at a merchant's stall. They would try to stop me if they knew where I was going, but I needed to do this alone. The book felt heavy in my hands as I walked through the winding streets of Woodpine Glen, following the directions a kind shopkeeper had given me to Dew Street. The house at number twelve stood at the end of a narrow lane, hidden behind tall pine trees that blocked most of the sunlight. Unlike the rest of the town, with its cheerful flowers and warm wood, this place felt forgotten. Weeds grew wild in what had once been a garden. A heavy sadness seemed to hang over everything, like a gray cloud that never moved. The palace looked abandoned. I stood at the rusted gate for a long moment, my heart beating fast. This was it. Taking a deep breath, I pushed through the gate. It creaked loudly in the silence. My footsteps sounded too loud on the cracked stone path as I made my way to the front door. I had j

I sat by the window in our room at the inn. The morning light was soft and warm. Carlos was still sleeping, his breathing steady and peaceful. I opened Mia's journal carefully, like it might break in my hands. The leather cover was smooth but worn. Her handwriting was neat and careful, so much like mine it made my chest tight. July 5th "I killed that bastard today." My hands shook as I read the words. I had to read them again to make sure I saw them right. "I couldn't bring myself to forgive him. He begged for his life the way I used to beg him to let me out of that dark room. I was blinded by rage and revenge." She was talking about Helen's husband. "After I killed him, I didn't feel fulfilled. Instead, I felt more empty. Like killing him had taken the last piece of my soul." Tears blurred my vision. Poor Mia. She had carried so much pain. July 8th "I walked for days. My feet were bloody and sore, but I couldn't stop. I had to get away from what I had done." "I arrived at