The Secret Heirs of the Lycan King (Bella and scott) novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Lucy

I had hated Catherine for as long as I could remember.

We met in college. I stood in the shadows, watching. Back then, Catherine walked through the campus like she owned it. She was beautiful, and she had that annoying gift of making people feel special when she spoke to them. Boys followed her like she was sunlight. Girls wanted to be her friend, or secretly be her.

That was the first reason I hated her.

The second reason was Jared Williams.

Jared came from a rich family. Flourishing business. Every girl wanted him. I made sure he noticed me. I stayed close to the circles he moved in. I “accidentally” bumped into him in corridors. I offered him my body. He refused my advances curtly, saying he wasn’t interested. Because he loved Catherine.

At the end of the second year, he proposed to Catherine. It was like the universe slapped me. I loathed him for that. And I loathed her even more for accepting.

Six years later, my life looked nothing like the life I had imagined for myself. I was divorced, I had Maya, and I was constantly worried about money.

I didn’t marry my first husband for love, but because he had money. He could give me a lifestyle I chased. But my husband turned out to be weak. A drinker. A cheater. He insulted me in private and public. Told me I was a gold digger.

One night I was sitting alone in a bar, bitter, broke and wanting what was mine–Jared, even though he was married. After I had drank too much, I stumbled out of a bar with my heels in my hand and my head spinning. The city lights blurred. My throat burned from alcohol. My heart burned from jealousy. I was angry at the world, at Catherine, at Jared.

My eyes went to a girl standing on the street corner performing little magic tricks for a small group of people. At first, it looked like ordinary street entertainment–coins disappearing, a ribbon turning into a living snake before sliding back into silk.

She wore a long coat even though it wasn’t that cold, and underneath, a dark dress that swayed around her ankles. Her hair was thick, falling like a curtain, and her skin looked pale. Around her neck was a strange pendant–stone carved into an eye. But the air around her felt different. Was she a witch?

When everyone left, I stepped closer. “Hey, are you a witch?”

She nodded.

I laughed and said, voice thick with drink. “Can you hex someone?”

The girl looked up slowly. “Depends,” she said lightly. “Who?”

“A woman,” I said. “Catherine Williams.”

Jall 4

2

Chapter 126

The witch tilted her head. “What do you want done?”

I swallowed. Then I smiled. “I want her dead.”

E55 vouchers

The girl didn’t flinch. She just smiled wider, like I had offered her dessert. “I can do that,” she said. “But my charges are heavy.”

“How heavy?” I scoffed.

She named a price that made my stomach drop. I stared at her. “That’s insane.”

“You want death,” she replied softly. “Death is never cheap.”

Seeing her demeanor, I knew she was serious. So I agreed.

Her name was Rowan.

Over the next few weeks, I went to meet Jared, became friends with Catherine, got into good books of the couple, and the rest was easier than I had imagined.

Rowan didn’t just help me poison Catherine. Once she was dead, she guided me with a few spells to control Jared. Rowan gave me potions. Tiny vials that smelled sweet and dangerous. Jared began drinking them without knowing–mixed into tea, into soup, into medicine. At first, it was subtle. He grew softer, more distracted, less strong. Then he began to rely on me, needing me.

I stayed near Jared, playing the role of the concerned friend when his wife died. And slowly I stepped into her place, taking Maya with me.

But now? A month later. I sat in the living room of the house, glaring at Jared while everything crumbled around me.

He looked worse than usual. He coughed into his fist and leaned back, breathing like even sitting was exhausting.

My anger only burned hotter. Everything I had planned for in my life had gone down the drain. After Catherine, Bella had emerged victorious. It was like Catherine never died.

“My daughter is in prison,” I hissed. “And you’re sitting here like a useless old man.”

Jared’s eyes flashed. “Lucy-”

“No!” I snapped. “You promised you’d handle things.”

He rubbed his temples. “I tried.”

“You failed,” I spat. “You failed to be a father to her. Failed to protect her.”

His breath hitched with frustration. “Maya is not-”

Jall 4

Chapter 126

$5 vouchers?

“She is my daughter,” I cut in sharply, “and you married me. That makes her your responsibility.” I gritted. “I was so close,” I said bitterly. “I almost had the inheritance handled legally. You were going to disinherit Bella properly and secure what belongs in this house.”

Jared’s face tightened.

“But now,” I continued, voice rising, “the inheritance is gone. Isla gave the check to Bella on her wedding day. Just like that.” I snapped my fingers. “Gone. And my daughter is behind bars.”

Jared exhaled, helpless. “I can’t do anything. The case is complicated.”

“Complicated?” I laughed harshly. “Everything is complicated when you don’t want to fight.”

He looked at me with exhausted anger. “I’m sick, Lucy. I can barely-”

I leaned forward, eyes cold. “Then you are of no use to me.” He stared, stunned. I hissed, “I’ve been running from pillar to post for Maya’s bail. Begging lawyers, calling contacts, exhausting every favor. And you? You sit here and do nothing.”

He finally snapped, voice booming. “Because Maya committed a crime!” His eyes were blazing now. “If she hadn’t gotten into that useless blackmailing nonsense, she would be free!”

“How dare you accuse my daughter!” I screamed. “You’re biased. It was Craig who forced her into this!”

Jared shook his head, coughing hard. “She chose it—”

My phone rang. I yanked it up, still shaking with fury. It was Gerald Jones–Craig’s father.

I answered, voice sharp. “What?”

His voice exploded through the phone. “You ruined my son’s life! Your daughter trapped him into a heinous crime,” Gerald shouted. “Against a powerful man in the city. No lawyer wants to touch his case. Do you understand what that means?”

I clenched my teeth. “Maya is innocent. It was Craig who forced her.”

Geral shouted, “Don’t insult me. I regret the day Craig met Maya. He had Bella–Bella was a wonderful girl. And he lost her.”

My hand tightened around the phone.

“I hate your daughter,” he spat. “She pushed my son into this.”

I shook with rage. “Go to hell.”

But Gerald wasn’t done. “Maya better take all the blame and free Craig,” he said coldly. “Or I have ways to make sure the blame sticks to her. This case can drag for months. Years.”

My stomach dropped. “You’re disgusting.” I snarled. “Do what you want. I will make sure Maya comes out on bail.”

Chapter 126

I hung up, shaking. And then stormed out.

55 voucher

The drive was a blur as I headed toward the outskirts of the city. I stopped in front of a lonely cottage surrounded by trees. I stepped out, walking quietly toward the door. As soon as I knocked, the door creaked

open.

“Lucy,” Rowan said with her spooky smile. “How can I help you now?”