The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 686

Alana sat with her head tilted slightly, lost in her thoughts. She couldn't let August know she wasn't the real Alana. The idea of his disappointment gnawed at her heart, and the thought of him learning about her past misdeeds was unbearable. Her love for August was the only thing she was sure of, though it was mixed with resentment. He still held onto the memory of her sister, so much so that Alana couldn't bear to reveal she was just a stand-in.

Ignoring Eason's words, she stood up and walked back to her cell without saying a word.

Eason sat there alone, tears eventually streaming down his face as he processed his grief.

When Eason was released from prison, he bumped into someone at the entrance but didn't pay much attention. His spirits were too low. However, the person gave him a more thorough look. It was Samantha, who had also just been released.

Samantha had convinced the police that she and Adrian hadn't kidnapped Callum. They'd simply taken him out for some fun, even showing photos of Callum enjoying the amusement park. As Callum's uncle and aunt by marriage, they claimed they meant no harm. The inquiry about Cordelia's safe code was just a coincidence. The court eventually dismissed the case due to lack of evidence, freeing Samantha and Adrian.

Once she was out, Samantha's first move was to visit Alana.

After all, Alana had once been her benefactor. Samantha's future still depended heavily on Alana's fate. Her visit was strategic—she needed to gauge Alana's situation. A light sentence could mean Alana's quick release, while a heavy one might mean a lengthy stay. The length of Alana's incarceration would dictate Samantha's next steps: whether to stick by her or cut her loose.

At the prison entrance, Samantha spotted Eason. She recognized him from photos with Cordelia, Tony's son. His downtrodden demeanor caught her off guard for a moment.

When Samantha finally faced Alana, she was cautious, asking about the nature of Alana's charges.