Chapter 33
Snowflakes
Z
Finished
I stared at the composed text for a long moment, and closing my eyes to push the panic away, I finally sent it.
Cupid and I have to meet tonight to discuss our charity schedule.
I had already rented the terrace of Hant Restaurant, nowhere near as breathtaking as Sandals, but it would do. And since it seems he prefers privacy, I rented the entire terrace so we could have our discussion alone.
I sighed quietly and stepped out of my car to begin the day.
Arriving at H.O.W.L late that morning, I parked in the lot and hurried into the elevator. When it opened, a few staff members were already inside. I stepped in quietly, standing to the side as the doors closed.
As the elevator began to move, the energy shifted, sharp, prickling, unmistakably envy. Then the whispers started.
“Yes, she’s the one I told you about.”
“The one who got the job because she’s related to the Director.”
“You know her eldest brother is the Director’s daughter’s fiancé.”
The murmurs, the gossips, the sideways glances, every word reached me, but I ignored it. When the elevator opened on the third floor for the profiling department, I was grateful to step
out.
But the bliss I expected didn’t come. It vanished the second I entered the office and saw Mr. Gerald packing up documents. The place was empty besides him.
“Oh, thank the Moon Goddess she’s finally back. Perhaps we should invite you daily to come early for work,” he said sarcastically.
I ignored the tone and bowed.
“Good morning.”
He glanced at the wall clock, then back at me with a glare.
“More like good afternoon. We have an important meeting in the main hall and the Director is coming. The announcement will be huge. Prepare yourself.”
1/4
13:05 Fri, Jan 9
Chapter 33
Finished
He walked toward me and dropped the stack of files into my arms before leaving. They were heavy, but I held them and hurried after him. We took the elevator up to the first floor, the executive level.
When the doors opened, I almost gasped.
The place was pristine, immaculate, intimidating.
I followed Mr. Gerald to the guarded double doors. They opened automatically, revealing a long grand hall. Everyone was already seated, the long tables arranged neatly, and a massive screen glowed at the front.
My eyes scanned the teams already present, the prosecution, the detectives, and the analysts. Eshan was seated. I hurried over, and he kissed my forehead softly. I smiled at Sera, who returned the gesture.
Then my eyes landed on the Director of H.O.W.L, Sera’s father.
I quickly approached him, placed the documents on the table, and bowed deeply. It didn’t take long before his hand patted my back gently, straightening me up. He smiled proudly.
“I am proud to see you here, Snow.”
My heart warmed and I smiled. But the moment was cut quickly when Mr. Gerald bowed politely before the Director.
“I will begin the briefing, sir.”
“Oh, yes,” the Director said, nodding at me as though to say we would speak later. I nodded back and stepped aside. Mr. Gerald signaled for me to bring the documents forward.
We stood before the massive screen and he began.
“Thank you
all for being here. The case of Hanba Billion is a critical one that requires the attention of every team. Wrinks, please take over.”
Wrinks, the head of the Detective Unit, nodded and stepped forward to press a button. The screen flickered to life.
“Before Mr. Hanba died, he contacted the media house Sweet Gossip Feed, claiming he had something to share with the public, something huge, something that would shake both the human region and the werewolf territory. Here is the copied statement provided to us by Sweet Gossip Feed yesterday.”
I froze, staring at the logo on the screen. Sweet Gossip Feed.
214
13:06 Fri, Jan 9
Chapter 33
4G GD
Finished
That was where my best friend Dove worked and she had told me they were covering a major case that night.
It must have been this one.
“On the night Mr. Hanba was supposed to give his speech, he died,” Wrinks continued before dropping the bombshell. “There is no evidence. The crime scene was wiped completely clean. However, last night we received a call from a man named Brown Fash, the night watchman, who claims he witnessed the attack. He said he would speak if H.O.W.L provided protection.”
My stomach tightened. Night watchman?
“The night watchman was supposed to be here this morning but has disappeared into thin air,” Mr. Gerald took over. “Which leaves us with only the suspects we must interrogate.”
He glanced at me and nodded for me to press the button. I did, and the images of the appeared on the screen.
suspects
Three suspects. Three faces and the moment they appeared, silence fell, and my breath caught painfully.
“This is Cherry Billions‘ maid,” Wrinks began. “She was at the vacation house that night with Mr. Hanba. She has worked with the Billion family for years. On the night Mr. Hanba died, she was present.”
My heart thudded harder as she moved on.
“Cherry Billion, Mr. Hanba’s wife. She was the first to find his lifeless body. After his death, she inherits everything as the sole owner, which gives her a strong motive.”
Then the last one.
“And lastl Kashi Frost.”
“My brother is not the killer.” Emotion burst out of me before I could stop it. “Kashi isn’t a murderer. He has no motive. They didn’t even know each other.”
Silence strangled the room. Wrinks looked at me sharply, as though I had challenged her authority.
“Kashi Frost is Cherry Billions‘ lawyer. He handles her files and legal affairs. He knows every loophole. He manages all Mr. Hanba’s assets through Cherry. With Mr. Hanba gone, Kashi could practically control the billions.”
“Speak with facts…”
“Snow.” Eshan’s warning came low, firm.
3/4
13:06 Fri, Jan 9
Chapter 33
:
&
73
Finished
I stopped instantly, biting my lower lip helplessly.
The evidence… was leaning too strongly. And the Frost family valued the law too much to be shielded by it. Even Eshan couldn’t defend blindly.
Wrinks turned away from me and addressed the Director.
“We will be interviewing all three suspects, sir. Should we proceed?”
The Director, an
I stopped instantly, biting my lower lip helplessly.
The evidence… was leaning too strongly. And the Frost family valued the law too much to be shielded by it. Even Eshan couldn’t defend blindly.
Wrinks turned away from me and addressed the Director.
“We will be interviewing all three suspects, sir. Should we proceed?”
The Director, an Alpha, but a just one sat forward. H.O.W.L. Directors were chosen through votes and track record. He wouldn’t bend the rules, not even for family.
He swallowed hard before nodding.
“Proceed with the investigation. Bring results.”
196
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Claimed By The Mafia Rogue King (Snow and Cupid)