All Chapters of MARRIED TO MY MOTHER’S KILLER : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Avaline knew something had changed the moment Eliam walked through the front door.He didn’t look at her.That was the first sign.Usually, even when he was distracted, his eyes found her.Today, they passed over her as though she were another piece of furniture in the room.Gabriella noticed too.“Daddy?”Eliam stopped.“Yes?”“You’re sad.”His expression softened immediately.“No, sweetheart.”Gabriella studied him.“You’re doing your serious face.”Avaline almost smiled.But Eliam didn’t.He walked over and crouched beside his sister.“Go upstairs with Mrs. Miller.”“Why?”“Because I need to talk to Avaline.”Gabriella looked between them.“Are you fighting?”“No,” Avaline said quickly.Eliam stood.“Go upstairs.”Gabriella reluctantly left.The moment she disappeared, the warmth vanished from Eliam’s face.Avaline felt the change.“What happened?”“Where were you eight years ago?”Her heart skipped.The question was simple.The answer wasn’t.She forced herself to remain calm.“Wh

The words stayed with Eliam long after the call ended.A Blackwood family ring.He stared at the wedding ring in his palm.For a second, the two things seemed connected.Then he forced himself to think clearly.His mother’s murder had happened eight years ago.His father had been alive.His grandmother had been alive.Samuel had been there.Victoria had been close to the family.There were too many possibilities.Too many people who could have worn that ring.Eliam called Marcus again.“Send me the footage.”“It’s already on your system.”Eliam opened the file.The screen filled with grainy black-and-white images from the hallway outside Elena’s private suite.The timestamp read 11:42 p.m.Elena entered the room.A few minutes later, a figure appeared.Tall.Dark coat.One hand slipped into a pocket.A ring caught the light.Eliam paused the footage.“Zoom in.”Marcus did.The image became distorted.Still, the ring was visible.A black stone surrounded by a thin silver band.Eliam’s

The footsteps stopped.For one terrible second, Blackwood Estate was completely silent.Eliam held Gabriella against his chest, one arm wrapped protectively around her while his eyes searched the darkness.“Avaline, stay close.”She didn’t argue.She moved beside him, keeping one hand on Gabriella’s back.Another sound came from downstairs.A door slammed.Luca’s voice echoed through the house.“Security! Lock down the estate!”Emergency lights flickered on, bathing the hallway in a dim red glow.Eliam handed Gabriella to Avaline.“Take her upstairs.”“No.”Avaline’s answer came immediately.“If someone came here for that music box, I’m not leaving you alone.”Eliam stared at her.“You don’t know who is inside.”“Neither do you.”For a moment, neither moved.Then Luca appeared at the bottom of the staircase.“Sir!”“Status?”“Three security officers are checking the east wing. Nobody has breached the main entrance.”“Then how did they get inside?”Luca’s expression hardened.“We’re ch

Eliam moved through the hidden passage like a man possessed.Luca followed close behind, speaking rapidly into his radio.“Seal every gate. Check the cameras. Nobody leaves the estate.”Marcus’s voice came through the earpiece.“I’ve got something.”Eliam didn’t slow.“Talk.”“The safe-room system was overridden from an external terminal.”“Where?”“Blackwood International.”Eliam stopped.Avaline nearly walked into him.“Someone at the company opened the safe room?”“Not exactly,” Marcus replied. “They used your executive credentials.”Eliam’s jaw tightened.“My credentials are biometric.”“I know.”“Then someone copied them.”“That’s what I’m thinking.”Avaline’s mind raced.“Could Victoria have done it?”Marcus was silent.Eliam looked at her.“Answer her.”“I don’t know,” Marcus finally said. “But Victoria’s security profile was active inside the building tonight.”Eliam’s eyes hardened.“Find her.”“I already am.”A pause.“She left Blackwood International twenty minutes ago.”“W

Eliam couldn’t move.For years, he had believed his mother’s death was the one tragedy in his life he understood.He had been wrong.The woman who had raised him had died believing someone she trusted was responsible. His father had disappeared. His grandmother had hidden the truth. Victoria had lied. Dante had manipulated Avaline.And now Gabriella had been taken because she remembered something no one else could.“Luca,” Eliam said quietly.“Yes, sir?”“Get everyone out of the tunnels.”Luca frowned.“What about Gabriella?”“We aren’t finding her by running blindly into a trap.”Avaline looked at him.“You think this was planned?”“I know it was.”He looked down at Eleanor, who was still conscious despite the blood staining her clothes.“Someone knew we’d come here.”Eleanor struggled to sit up.“Eliam…”He immediately crouched beside her.“Don’t move.”“I have to tell you something.”“What?”“Your mother left another message.”His eyes narrowed.“Where?”“Blackwood Manor.”Avaline’