Chapter 190
Chapter 190:
Alistair didn’t say anything. He just pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
“It’s over,” he murmured into her hair. “Part one is over p>
Skye buried her face in his shirt, inhaling the scent of gunpowder and sandalwood. She didn’t cry. She was done crying.
“Not yet,” she whispered. “Now we take everything else p>
The interrogation room smelled of stale coffee and fear. Liam stood behind the one-way glass, his arms crossed over his chest. His wrist was wrapped in a heavy plaster cast and suspended in a sling, throbbing in time with his heartbeat. Inside the room, Seraphina was sobbing. She looked pathetic in the metal chair, her white lace dress now stained and torn.
The detective walked out and joined Liam, clipboard in hand.
“We ran the tests, Mr. Kensington,” the detective said, handing Liam a sheet of paper.
Liam scanned it.
HCG Levels: Elevated.
Ultrasound: Negative.
Uterine Lining: Normal.
“She’s not pregnant?” Liam asked, his voice flat.
“She’s taking supplements,” the detective explained. “HCG boosters. Bodybuilders use them. They trick blood tests, but they don’t grow a baby. There is no fetus, Mr. Kensington. There never was p>
Liam closed his eyes and let out a laugh—dry and cracking.
Nine months. She had bought herself nine months of luxury, protection, and tormenting him with a lie. He had locked her in his house to protect a ghost.
“She confessed to the kidnapping plot,” the detective continued. “She claims her mother made her do it, but the wire transfers were authorized from her IP address. We have enough to put her away for twenty years p>
“Good,” Liam said.
𝘙e𝘀𝗽𝖾𝖼𝘁 𝗍𝗁𝘦 о𝗋𝗂g𝗂𝘯𝗮𝗅 𝖼oո𝘁𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝖿r𝗈𝗺 𝘣𝖾.𝗰𝗈𝗺
He signed the witness statement the detective offered, his left hand clumsy and shaking as he wrote. “Bury her p>
He walked out of the station. It was still raining. It felt like it had been raining for years.
Secretary Lee opened the car door. “Hospital, sir? You look p>
“Take me to Sterling Manor,” Liam interrupted.
“Sir, I don’t think that’s wise. Ms. Sterling has made her position clear p>
“Drive,” Liam ordered.
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to the wrought-iron gates of the Sterling Estate. They were open. Moving trucks were parked in the driveway.
Liam walked into the house. The foyer was chaos. Servants carried boxes from room to room.
In the main drawing room, Skye sat in a high-backed velvet chair. She had changed out of the red dress into a sharp white pantsuit. She looked like an avenging angel.
Standing in front of her, looking terrified, was her aunt, Petunia Sterling.
“I didn’t know!” Petunia wailed, wringing her hands. “Skye, darling, please! I was just managing the trust while you were… away! And with your father… indisposed… someone had to take charge p>