I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 113

**TITLE: I Left Before He Learned My Worth**

**Chapter 113**

**ARIA**

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of vulnerability as I confessed, “They were gone.” The words slipped from my lips, almost like a whisper, and I despised how feeble they sounded in the tense atmosphere. “By the time I managed to free myself from Ivory’s grasp and turned to look in the direction of the movement I had seen, there was nothing left. No sign of anyone. Just the endless expanse of the forest, thick and unyielding.”

The three elders exchanged glances, their expressions a blend of doubt and contemplation. I could almost sense the gears turning in their minds as they weighed my account against its inherent improbability.

“Security Chief Nina,” Morrison’s voice rang out, authoritative and clear. “Please present your findings.”

With a measured step forward, Nina opened her folder, her demeanor impeccably composed. As she began to address the tribunal, her face remained a mask of neutrality, betraying none of the emotions that might have been swirling within her.

“We conducted a meticulous search of the area where the incident occurred,” she stated, her tone steady. “We discovered evidence of recent activity in a tree approximately thirty meters from the location where Luna Aria and Healer Ivory were situated. There were scuff marks on the bark, indicative of someone having climbed it. Beneath that tree, we found a partial boot print on the ground, which does not correspond to any standard pack-issued footwear.”

A flicker of hope ignited in my chest, bright and warm. This was it—proof that someone else had been lurking nearby.

But Nina’s next words extinguished my budding optimism like a candle snuffed out by a sudden gust of wind. “However,” she continued, and that single word felt like a heavy stone, “we cannot definitively date these marks to yesterday morning. The tree in question lies along a common patrol route. Guards frequently climb it to check sight lines. Therefore, the boot print could have been left there days or even weeks ago. Furthermore, we found no additional evidence—no DNA, no scent markers, and no further tracks or disturbance patterns that would confirm the presence of an intruder yesterday specifically.”

“So what you’re saying,” Thorne interjected, his voice deliberate, “is that the physical evidence is inconclusive.”

“Correct, Elder,” Nina affirmed, her gaze unwavering. “The evidence aligns with Luna Aria’s account, but it does not serve as definitive proof.”

“What about the dart itself?” Cassius asked, his brow furrowing with curiosity. “Were you able to analyze it?”

“We recovered the dart from where Luna Aria dropped it during the emergency transport,” Nina explained. “The poison coating was a sophisticated compound—fast-acting, targeting both the nervous and cardiovascular systems. The craftsmanship indicates professional work, likely commissioned rather than homemade.”

“Could Luna Aria have obtained such a weapon?” Morrison asked, his tone probing.

Nina paused, her hesitation palpable. “It’s possible. However, it would necessitate contacts we have no evidence she possesses. Additionally, the poison itself would have to be prepared by someone with substantial chemical knowledge.”

“No,” I responded quickly, my heart racing. “Ivory isn’t lying. She’s recounting the truth as she experienced it. She felt me grasp her from behind. She felt pain. She connected those two events because her mind was already being affected by the poison. But her perception was compromised. She didn’t see the attacker. She didn’t see me trying to save her. She only felt the grab and the pain, and her drugged mind merged them into a single event.”

“How convenient,” Cassius muttered, dripping with skepticism.

“It’s not convenient, it’s the truth!” I exclaimed, my voice rising despite my efforts to maintain composure. “Why on earth would I attempt to kill her? What could I possibly gain from that?”

“Shall we enumerate the reasons?” Thorne asked coldly, her tone as sharp as a knife. She pulled out her own document, clearly prepared for this line of questioning. “Motive one: the elimination of a romantic rival. The entire pack is aware of the history between Alha Kael and Healer Ivory. They know that many believe she should have been Luna instead of you.”

Each word she spoke felt like a dagger, piercing through my defenses, but Thorne continued relentlessly.

“Motive two: addressing your inadequacy. Since your arrival, you’ve been unfavorably compared to Healer Ivory. She’s beloved, accomplished, respected. You’re… trying. Perhaps you thought that by removing her, you would eliminate the comparison.”

“Motive three,” she pressed on, “political expediency. Sera threatened to attack if Ivory wasn’t removed from the pack. Perhaps you decided to take matters into your own hands, eliminating the threat while simultaneously disposing of your rival.”