All Chapters of MARRIED TO MY MOTHER’S KILLER : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Eliam stared at his grandmother.For the first time that night, the cold control on his face disappeared.“What did you just say?”Eleanor stepped into the room.She looked at Marcus, then Victoria, and finally Avaline.Her gaze stopped on Avaline for a moment longer than necessary.Then she turned back to Eliam.“I said your mother may not be as dead as you believe.”Eliam’s jaw tightened.“Don’t play games with me.”“I am not.”“You told me she was murdered.”“She was attacked.”“That isn’t the same thing.”“No,” Eleanor said quietly. “It isn’t.”Eliam stepped toward her.“Then tell me the truth.”Eleanor looked at him with an expression he couldn’t read.“Not here.”His eyes narrowed.“Why?”“Because this building is no longer secure.”Marcus immediately looked up from his tablet.“What makes you say that?”Eleanor pointed toward the security cameras.“Those cameras have been compromised for the last forty minutes.”Marcus froze.“What?”“I received the alert before I came upstairs

By morning, the rain had stopped.Pale sunlight spilled across the dining room as Gabriella sat between Eliam and Avaline, happily eating pancakes while telling a very detailed story about a butterfly she had seen in the garden.Eliam listened with unusual patience.“And then it flew away because Luca scared it.”From across the table, Luca frowned.“I was walking.”“You walked loudly.”Avaline covered her smile with her coffee cup.Eliam noticed.“You find this funny?”“A little.”His eyes narrowed playfully.“I’ll remember that.”She raised an eyebrow.“Is that a threat, Mr. Blackwood?”“Absolutely.”Gabriella giggled.For a few seconds, the dining room felt like a normal family home.That was the dangerous part.Avaline was beginning to forget that none of this was supposed to be real.She was supposed to be here for Noah.For Dante.For the mission.Not for pancakes and quiet laughter.Not for the way Eliam looked at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.Not for the war

For several seconds, nobody moved.Eliam stared at Marcus as if he had not heard him correctly.“Inside Gabriella’s room?”Marcus nodded.“The timestamp came directly from the security system. Someone entered her room at 6:17 this morning.”Avaline’s blood ran cold.“Gabriella was there.”“I know.”Eliam was already walking toward the elevator.“Luca.”“I’m coming.”Avaline followed.“Eliam, wait.”He stopped but didn’t turn.“If someone was inside Gabriella’s room, they could still be watching the estate.”“I know.”“Then don’t go there alone.”He finally looked at her.“I wasn’t planning to.”Something in his expression made her chest tighten.He wasn’t just angry.He was terrified.The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside.Marcus stayed behind to monitor the security system.Luca stood near the controls while Eliam and Avaline remained side by side.The elevator descended quickly.Avaline looked at Eliam.“Do you think Gabriella is in danger?”His jaw tightened.“I don’t

The voice disappeared.For several seconds, the only sound inside Blackwood Manor was the rain striking the windows.Eliam stood perfectly still.Avaline could feel the tension rolling off him.Luca raised his weapon and moved toward the hallway.“Show yourself.”Nothing answered.Then the lights went out.Avaline’s breath caught.“Eliam.”“I’m here.”His hand found hers in the darkness.“Stay close.”A faint red light appeared at the end of the corridor.Then another.Emergency lights.Luca moved forward carefully.“I’ll check the lower floor.”Eliam nodded.“Don’t go far.”Luca disappeared down the corridor.Avaline remained beside Eliam.“Someone locked the doors.”“I know.”“Who could have access to this house?”“Very few people.”“Your grandmother?”“Eleanor knows the property.”“Victoria?”“Possibly.”“Dante?”Eliam’s expression hardened.“Dante knows too much about my family.”Avaline looked around.“Then why bring us here?”“I didn’t.”She looked at him.“The message did.”A m

The alarm continued screaming through Blackwood Manor.Gunfire shattered the silence outside, sending echoes through the corridors. Glass rained across the marble floor as the attackers moved closer to the house.Luca crouched behind the stone wall, weapon raised.“How many?”“Too many,” he said after glancing through the broken window. “At least eight vehicles.”Eliam kept Avaline behind him.“Can you hold them?”Luca looked at him.“For a few minutes.”“That’s all we need.”Avaline stared at him.“What are you planning?”Eliam pulled the small key from his pocket.“We’re going underground.”Her eyes widened.“You said it was probably a trap.”“It is.”Another bullet struck the wall beside them.Eliam didn’t flinch.“But whatever they’re trying to keep us away from is exactly what we need to find.”Luca nodded.“The archive.”Eliam looked toward the study.“Room 117.”They moved quickly.Luca took the lead while Eliam stayed beside Avaline. Every few seconds, another gunshot echoed t