CHAPTER 41

Isla's POV

"Stop! What are you doing?" I glared at Adrian, my heart racing. There was no way I was letting him take Stefan.

I looked at Stefan, slightly nodding at him. I didn't need words to tell him that I had his back. He was tied up, panic etched across his face.

Adrian came across, now taking the cuff in his hand, seething with fury.

“Get your hands off him!” I shouted, my voice trembling. Adrian didn’t even glance my way, his gaze locked onto Stefan as if he were prey.

“Enough!” Adrian’s voice sliced through the air like a knife. “We have evidence. He is the one who bought the mandrake. He’s behind all of it, the murders, Isla. Your sister’s death.”

I shook my head, the words hitting me like a wave. For a second, I was baffled, unable to formulate any words. How could Stefan have anything to do with Mandrake? Why would he ever hurt Elara? This didn’t add up at all. I knew Stefan. I know he wasn’t capable of something like this.

So when Adrian dragged Stefan, my walls were up.

Stefan, visibly shaken, looked at me with pleading eyes. “I swear, Isla. I didn’t buy any mandrake. Someone is setting me up.”

“Adrian! That’s impossible,” I stammered, looking back and forth between them. “Stefan wouldn’t do that. He is being framed!”

Before I could say anything else, Adrian’s voice cut through, a low growl vibrating in the air. “Do you really think he’s innocent?” His eyes finally flickered at me, burning with something raw and unrelenting. “Every time, it’s always him or Lucas. Do you even care about finding the truth behind your sister’s death? Or are you too busy protecting your friends? I can't believe you are still trusting him over me.”

His words hit me like a punch. Why did he even do it to earn my trust? Yet, he was holding it against me. On the other hand, was he trusting me when I said someone was setting up Stefan? No!

I clenched my fists, fighting back the anger boiling in my heart. “Of course, like always, you are seeing only what you want to see. He is not a murderer! And I am sure your evidence is as baseless as your accusations.”

“Baseless evidence?” Adrian’s voice rose, frustration spilling out. “Why would you believe a freak like him instead of him? Can’t you see his only friend, is you? He has been manipulating you. Do you even care about the truth? Or maybe you already knew and hid it to protect him!”

His words cut deep. “Freak! Like I was a freak earlier? And how dare you think I am covering up for him?” I yelled back, my heart pounding. “Have you ever investigated thoroughly before pinning all blame on Stefan?”

Adrian’s expression darkened, and I could see the conflict raging within him. “Really? After hindering my investigation, you don't get to tell me that. Would you put him above the truth? Is that really who you are?”

“Stop it, Adrian!” I shouted, desperation spilling out. “This isn’t just about you. It’s about justice!”

Adrian stepped closer, anger radiating off him. "Then why do you defend him like this?"

That stung, worse than anything else. The accusation hanging between us, the disbelief in his eyes. It hurt me more than I thought possible.

“If you are so certain Stefan is guilty,” I said, my voice shaking, “then take me with him. Arrest me too. Didn't you say I was protecting him? I am the accomplice then”, I raised my hands, glaring into his eyes, with fierce determination.

"Isla, you don't have to..." Stefan mumbled, tears rolling down in shock and disbelief.

"You would have done the same, Stefan. We are in this together." I shook my hand at Adrian, asking him to arrest me too.

There was a stunned silence. Adrian’s jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing as he stared at me with gnawing jealousy. His frustration boiled over, a growl escaping his lips. "Fine," he spat. "Then you can go to prison with him."

Adrian's PoV

I had once suspected Isla was the one who was responsible for Elara's death. How could I not? She hid too many secrets and was always there when something messy happened. It was hard not to think she had some hidden agenda.

But these past few days after spending more time with her, watching a side of her that not many knew, my opinion faltered. When I saw her determination to find the truth behind Elara’s death, I started to believe she was sincere. She wanted answers as much as I did.

And foolishly, I was beginning to trust her.

That was until Chloe came forward with the evidence. Evidence pointed directly to Stefan. And her involvement. She even wanted to elope with that guy!

Chloe’s evidence was clear. Stefan had bought the mandrake. He was clearly the one behind Elara’s murder. And yet, Isla stood there, unwavering, like I was the villain for even suggesting it.

Isla and Stefan had always been close, too close. Could she really be so blind to Stefan’s involvement? Or had she known all along and was protecting him because he was more than just a friend? The thought made my chest tighten. And now here she was, defending him again, standing between me and justice. I hated the jealousy that boiled within me, but I couldn’t ignore it. I couldn’t ignore how much it tore at me to see her so willing to sacrifice everything for him.

When she said, “If you are going to arrest him, then take me too,” something inside me snapped.

Jealousy.

It coursed through me, unexpected and unwanted. Stefan had earned her trust so easily, so completely. What did he even do to gain that? She was willing to go to prison for him, without a second thought. What did that mean for me? For us? This bond was a joke to her! She would still choose him over me?

My fists clenched at my sides as I stared at her, fury swirling inside me. “Fine,” I growled, barely able to contain the surge of emotions, “then you can go to prison with him.”

The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t regret them. The look in her eyes, a mix of shock and hurt, only made the jealousy twist deeper. I should have felt victorious, having finally forced her into a corner. But instead, I felt the opposite.

I felt... defeated.

Because despite the anger, despite the pain, I couldn’t stop the aching thought that Stefan meant more to her than I ever did.