Page 104 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
If I didn’t know any better, I would say that there was a slight trace of hurt in Evelyn’s voice.
I knew that I should stay silent, but I couldn’t help but speak up when I looked over at Silas and saw that he was standing there with a smug smile on his face like he was just Evelyn’s prop.
“And you wanted in on this plan because your company’s bankrupt, didn’t you?” I asked Silas, still breathing hard from my anger. “That’s why you use such cheap materials for your products.”
Silas’ face twisted in rage. “You shut your mouth!” he snarled.
“Don’t insult him!” Evelyn said. “Silas is the genius who hid in plain sight and watched you during the Alpha king project interviews. It allowed Silas to stay hidden until the end. And he’s also the one who’s been helping me track you both for the past seven years and stay hidden in his territory.”
Ivy was still gazing at her mother with hatred. “How did you know that Asher was Adrian’s father?” she asked.
“The morning after Russell’s gala, I saw you sneaking out of Asher’s hotel room. I knew that you spent the night with him. That’s why I was so angry that you wouldn’t just seduce him for his money after Russell died!” Evelyn said, her jaw clenching. “When I first saw Adrian, I knew that the boy was Asher’s and I could use him to get you both here.”
Evelyn gazed at Ivy and me with wicked satisfaction for another moment, then clapped her hands.
“Now, you must pay for thinking you can cross me. Asher, you must sign a will, leaving everything to me,” Evelyn said, then turned to her daughter. “Then, I’m going to rip out his throat in front of you to punish you for not marrying Asher in the first place. If Asher signs the will in front of a witness, I will allow Adrian and you to live. You two must go to another kingdom escorted by Silas’ guards. You must never come back, or I will frame you for Asher’s death.”
“And with you two gone, I will get the important account from the Alpha king,” Silas added arrogantly.
“If you don’t give in to our demands, I will kill your little brat in front of you,” Evelyn said, and a vicious expression crossed her face. “But not before I torture him first.”
My vision blurred as anger and fear pounded into me like a well-aimed punch.
Evelyn snapped her fingers, and the curtain opened to reveal an army of guards. The two in the front were carrying an unconscious Adrian.
Chapter 40
Outnumbered
Ivy
“No!” I screamed, the noise coming from deep within my soul.
My heart raced, and my hand shook as I studied my son. Adrian’s eyes were closed, and his head lolled to the side at a strange angle.
I looked toward Asher. His face had gone pale, and there was a terrified look in his eyes.
“I can’t tell if he’s breathing,” I said as tears gushed down my face. “Can you hear his heartbeat?”
Asher focused for a moment, and his shoulders slumped in relief. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”
“Oh, thank the Goddess,” I breathed out.
But then he looked at me with remorse in his eyes, and I knew what he was about to do.
“No!” I begged. “Don’t, Asher.” I lowered my voice so that only he could hear me. “They will be here soon.”
“We don’t know if our plan worked. We don't know if they’re coming, Ivy,” he murmured, his eyes searching my face like it was the last time he would see it. “I have to do this. For our son and for you. Ilove you so much, baby. I wish I could have had forever with you and Adrian.”
Then, he looked back up at my mother. “I’ll sign whatever you want. Just don’t hurt Adrian or Ivy.”
A horrible, satisfied smile blossomed across my mother’s face. “I’m going to enjoy killing you,” she said, her blue eyes glinting with excitement.
“No!” I yelled, my broken scream echoing around the large room. “Please, kill me. Take me. Not Asher. He has to survive.” My body shook with sobs.
I couldn’t lose Asher. Not when I had just found him again.
My mother tilted her head to the side, studying me like a viper would its next meal. After a moment, she jumped off the stage, landing smoothly even in her high heels. She slowly stalked toward me, and I lifted my chin, meeting her gaze, despite my tears.
