The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149 A Seed Planted In Ruin

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The pieces were falling into place for Xan. Elera could see it happening behind his eyes, the horrible puzzle assembling itself. All his rage, all his plotting, all his self–righteous vengeance… it had been aimed at the wrong target. He’d been a weapon in Kieran Nethys’s hand, turned against another victim.

“Oh my god,” he breathed. He looked down at Sarah, who was crumbling against him, then back at Elera. The conflict on his face was painful to see. Loyalty to Sarah, who was breaking in his arms, versus the staggering realization that the woman he’d been trying to destroy was innocent.

Sarah pushed away from Xan suddenly. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, smearing her tears. Her eyes, red and wild, locked on Elera.

“You knew,” she hissed. “All this time, you knew and you said nothing! You let me rot in that place for five years! You let them tell me I was a monster! You let me believe I killed them!”

“I didn’t know, Sarah,” Elera said, holding her gaze. “Not for sure but I had a feeling, a terrible feeling. I was eighteen and I was scared. My father… he’s not a man you want to cross. I thought if I said anything without any proof, he’d destroy me. Or worse. I was a coward, I admit that. But I didn’t know, not like this.”

“You’re lying! You’re covering for him! You’re just like him!” Sarah’s voice was rising, attracting glances from other tables. Frost shifted in his seat, ready.

“Sarah,” Xan tried, his voice gentle. “Look at the evidence in front of us. Look at it.”

“I don’t want to look at it!” she screamed, slamming her hands on the table. The tablet jumped. “It’s fake! She’s a liar! She’s always been a liar! She ruins everything she touches!”

Drakonius moved then, just slightly, putting his body a little more between Elera and Sarah. “Ms. Lyros,” he said, his voice calm but with steel underneath. “The evidence before you is real. The witness is real. Your anger is justified, but it’s pointed at the wrong person.”

Sarah stared at him with pure hatred. “And you. You’re just another rich man she’s wrapped around her finger. Does she make you feel smart? Does she make you feel strong? She’s using you, just like she uses everyone!”

“Sarah, stop,” Xan said, firmer now.

“No! You stop! You’re believing her? After everything? After what she did to me?”

“She didn’t do anything to you!” Xan’s own control snapped. The words came out louder than he intended. He took a breath, lowering his voice. “Sarah, look at me. Look at me. The man in that video is Kieran Nethys. He killed your parents. He set you up. He ruined your life and it was not Elera who ruined it. She was a kid, just like you. She was his victim too.”

Sarah looked at Xan as if he’d struck her. The betrayal in her eyes was absolute. “You’re choosing her,” she whispered. “After everything. You’re choosing her.”

“I’m choosing the truth,” Xan said, but he sounded defeated.

Sarah shoved herself out of the booth. She stood there, trembling, looking at all of them like they were monsters. “I hate you,” she said, the words aimed at everyone. “I hate all of you.”

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Chapter 149 A Seed Planted in Ruin

Then she turned and ran. She pushed past the mom with the stroller (who smoothly shifted to lock bre path for a second, a neat tactical move, before letting her pass) and burst out the door into the rain.

Xan half–rose, then sank back down. He ran a hand over his face. He looked utterly wrecked.

For a long minute, no one spoke. The barista was staring, open–mouthed. Frost gave a subtle signal, and one of his team–the college student–got up and followed Sarah out at a discreet distance.

“She shouldn’t be alone,” Xan said, mostly to himself.

“She won’t be,” Elera said. “My people will make sure she doesn’t hurt herself. Put Xan the needs help Real help and not revenge.”

Xan laughed, a short, bitter sound, “Yeah, I’m starting to get that.” He looked at Elera, really looked at her, and the mask was completely gone. All the arrogance, the charm, the anger. What was left was just a tired, confused man who’d built his life on a lie. “Did you know? When we were together? Did you know what he’d done?”

“No,” Elera said. “I knew my father was capable of awful things. But this… no. I didn’t know this

Xan nodded slowly. He looked down at the tablet, still showing the frozen image of the crash scene. “All this time,” he murmured. “All this time, I thought I was avenging her. I thought I was the hero. And I was just… another one of his tools. A stupid, gullible tool”

“He’s good at that,” Drakonius said quietly. “Using people.”

Xan’s eyes flicked to him, then back to Elera. There was a long, heavy silence. Clara sipped her Brave drink with the intensity of someone trying to become invisible.

Finally, Xan spoke again, his voice quiet. “Can I ask you something? And I want you to be honest. Please ngames or a strategy. Just the truth.”

Elera nodded. “Okay,”

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