She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

48

55 vouchere

Celia held the warm cup, feeling the heat seep into her fingertips. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, then spoke in the calmest tone she could manage.

“Last night, at Tanner’s birthday party, Aiyana slipped a strong aphrodisiac from the black market into my drink. She had Louis waiting for me. You know him, that notorious rich brat. Their plan was to make a scene and destroy my reputation right there.”

Haley’s eyes turned icy, her fingers tightening on her lap.

“I realized something was off in the lounge, so I used my pocket knife to cut myself. The pain kept me awake. It was enough to make Louis back off for the moment,” Celia continued, her voice still flat.

“Then Elliott showed up. He handled Louis and brought me here.”

“Elliott?” Haley arched her brow, surprise written all over her face. “From the Perry family in Brighton? Why would he get involved?”

“He said my mom once helped the Perry family,” Celia replied, skipping the details about how Elliott handled Louis and brought her here. She went straight to the point. “The drug they gave me was slow to wear off.

“Regular antidotes wouldn’t work fast enough, and there was no time to get to a hospital. If I tried to force it out, it could mess up my nervous system for good. The only quick and effective way was through, well, physical means.”

Haley was sharp. She got it right away. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Celia’s calm face, then at the faint marks on Celia’s neck, barely hidden. It all made sense now. ‘No wonder she needed a morning-after pill,’ Haley thought.

“So, it was Elliott?” Haley’s voice dropped low, disbelief thick in her words. Someone like Elliott, actually stepping in himself.

“Yeah,” Celia nodded, not shying away. “There was other option. Time was running out. He helped me.”

Haley sat in silence for nearly fifteen seconds, trying to process this bombshell. She watched her friend closely, searching Celia’s face for any sign of breakdown, distress, or embarrassment.

But there was nothing. Celia was too calm, so calm it made Haley’s heart ache and set her nerves on edge. This was the kind of calm that came from burying the pain or after surviving a trauma.

“What about Laylah? What was her part in all this?” Haley steered the conversation back to the main point. She knew this wasn’t the time to dig into Elliott.

“Laylah was the one who handed me that spiked water. She knew exactly what was happening, at the very least, she allowed it, and maybe pushed things forward,” Celia said, her eyes turning icy.

“She and Aiyana worked together seamlessly, one playing the villain, the other pretending to be the friend. Their teamwork was flawless.”

Haley’s fingers tapped lightly on her lap, a habit she had when she was deep in thought. “Louis is the key to

19:30 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 38

getting evidence. Is Louis under control?”

“Yeah. His people should be dealing with him,” Celia replied.

4

F 55 Vouchers

“Good.” Haley switched into lawyer mode. “We need to get a statement from Louis and trace the drug’s source and the money trail. That’s the direct evidence we need to pin it on Aiyana.

“As for Laylah, handing over the water isn’t enough to convict her on its own, but it can be a crucial piece of evidence.

“Combine it with their sisterly relationship, Aiyana’s motives, and any possible collusion afterward, and we can build a solid case. So, what’s your plan?”

“Two things,” Celia said, setting down her cup, her eyes sharp. “First, I want you to get everything ready to press charges against Aiyana and Louis for using banned substances and orchestrating an attack. Make it as loud and public as you can.

“Second, at the same time, I want you to dig up everything on Laylah and Ricardo. Who Ricardo’s real fa ner is, Laylah’s entire dating history, her money moves, her connections, anything dirty you can find.”

Haley caught on right away. “So, you’re making a big scene with Aiyana to grab everyone’s attention, while secretly tearing down Laylah’s foundation?”

“Exactly,” Celia said, her voice firm. “Aiyana’s the knife, but Laylah’s the hand behind it. I’ll snap the knife first, then make sure the hand never holds anything again.”

Haley saw the icy determination in her eyes and knew she was truly furious and determined. “Alright. I’ll start preparing the lawsuit today. About Laylah, I’ll tap into some of my personal connections and get you results as soon as possible.”

She paused, her tone softening with genuine concern. “But what about you, (ia? After last night, do you think you should see a therapist? Or maybe stay at my place for a while? My apartment in the east is empty, and the security’s great.”

Celia shook her head, a genuine, subtle warmth ap aring on her face. “No need for a therapist. I can handle it.” She looked at Haley.

“But I might need to stay at your place for a few days. Tanner gave me a villa in the we until things here are mostly settled before I move in. I’ll be staying around for now.”

”

but I want to wait

Haley said, standing up, “Come on, I’ll take you to the Lucero Residence. Let’s grab that divorce agreement so you can finally move on.”

The two of them left the suite. Celia took one last look at the room that had witnessed last night’s chaos and turning point. Her gaze was conflicted, but finally, she found her composure. She turned and followed Haley, never looking back.

As the elevator doors closed, Elliott set his coffee cup down on the terrace of the neighboring suite.

He’d been standing there the whole time, silently watching through the one-way glass as Celia woke up, freshened up, and handled everything with that steady calm, right up until she walked out.

19:30 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 38

48

65 vouchero

Neil slipped in behind him, speaking quietly. “Mr. Perry, Ms. Ross has been picked up by Haley. Laylah and Aiyana had three encrypted calls this morning, but the tone in their voices during the monitored conversations was very agitated.

“Louis has given his statement, and the evidence has been secured.”

Elliott nodded, his gaze still locked on the black car driving off with Celia inside. “Send the evidence about Aiyana buying the drugs and contacting Louis to a few influential media outlets, anonymously. Make sure it only implicates Aiyana.”

“Understood.” Neil paused, then asked, “What about Laylah?”

“Isn’t she the expert at hiding in the background, keeping up that gentle, kind facade?” Elliott’s lips curled into a cold, icy smile. “Let her see the cracks appear in everything she’s worked so hard to protect, starting with her own sister.”

He wanted Laylah to taste what it’s like when things spiral out of her control, powerless to stop it.

“And Ms. Ross-”

“Have someone watch over her discreetly, make sure she’s safe,” Elliott cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “And as soon as the paternity test results for Beckham and the kid are out, let me know right away.”

“Understood.”

Elliott fell silent, his gaze fixed on the spot where the car had disappeared, his eyes unreadable.

‘Celia, do you really think getting that divorce agreement means you can leave the past behind for good and begin your so-called fresh start?’ he thought to himself.

He slowly drained the cold coffee from his cup, the bitterness spreading across his tongue, but strangely, there was a hint of sweetness lingering in the aftertaste.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify