CHAPTER 49

Isla's POV

"Isla!" The moment Adrian called out my name, I felt like I was caught in the act. And when our eyes met, the memory of our brief kiss from last night and that from the dream this morning flooded my mind. His lips had felt so real that I could still feel them on mine. My heart skipped.

"Isla," Adrian called again, snapping me back to reality. I had been completely distracted since Chloe arrived with Adrian. She had been helping him to mark the scores with such grace that it left me and everyone watching confused.

He stood across from me, his eyes narrowing. "You are not focused. I will test you myself. Let’s see if you’ve made any progress."

My stomach churned. Here we go again. Why was he always so keen to partner up with me for a sparring match? Honestly, I felt like Adrian sparring with me always had an edge to it, like he was trying to prove something.

"She is going to fall flat and lose."

"Serves her right! Traitor!"

Opinions about me hadn't changed, and I didn't expect them to. But today it hurt more, especially with how I was alone, without Stefan and Lucas.

Adrian and I faced each other in the training ring. He looked at me as if challenging me. I wasn't sure if he was going to use this again to seek revenge on me. There was something in the way Adrian’s eyes locked on mine that unnerved me. It wasn’t just about the fight. It was about everything between us. The tension simmering beneath the surface, the frustration, the unspoken words. After all, he had been very unhappy with me recently.

But it won't be easy now. As he moved toward me, I dodged his first attack, then the next. I was fast, and I knew it.

"I see the anger in your eyes," he said, his voice low as he lunged again.

I countered this time, landing a strike on his arm. "Was it Chloe?" I asked, my voice breathless from exertion. "Did she tell you that Stefan was involved with the Mandrake flowers?"

Adrian’s expression darkened as he grabbed my wrist, twisting it lightly. "Why do you still care about Stefan?" His tone was sharp, and I could hear the jealousy laced within it.

"I care about the truth," I snapped, pulling free and dodging another one of his blows. "I won’t rest until I find out what really happened."

Adrian’s lips tightened, and his eyes flared with a mixture of frustration and envy. We continued sparring, but I wasn’t fighting with just my body. I was fighting with my heart. I still couldn't let go of my anger that Adrian didn't trust me and that led to Stefan's banishment. And now... after what he did yesterday, he had the nerve to show up with Chloe. Now could he forget Elara? But with me, he is so cold and distant.

But I wouldn’t be ignored. I struck at myself with even more ferocity, my anger helping me channel my inner strength.

The whispers of the other students echoed around us as they watched. “Is she really holding her own against him?” “I didn’t know Isla was this skilled.”

Their words meant nothing. All I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding in my ears and the way Adrian looked at me.

Finally, the instructor called the end of the session. I passed, but the real test was far from over.

After class, I approached Chloe. She was alone, adjusting her clipboard as if she hadn’t just subtly flaunted her new position at Adrian’s side all day.

"Why did you frame Stefan?" I demanded, stepping close enough to force her to look at me.

Chloe blinked, her expression innocent as she put on her usual sweet facade. "Frame? I don’t know what you are talking about, Isla. I had nothing to do with it."

My wolf growled inside me, not fooled for a second. "She is lying. She is behind all of it."

"Why are you with Adrian suddenly?" I snapped, seeing right through her act.

To my surprise, she smiled innocently and leaned in, her breath hot against my ear as she whispered, "Your sister got what she deserved. And if you know what is good for you, you will stop digging into things that don’t concern you." She cackled, sending a shiver down my spine. "Or you will be the next."

I froze, the venom in her words sending a shock wave. Chloe pulled back, flashing me a soft and gentle smile like she had not threatened me now before walking away. I stood there, shaken and overwhelmed with anger bubbling inside me. But now I was certain of one thing. Chloe was involved. All of this was connected to her. Maybe she was even the mastermind. But why would she do that? I had to find out.

How had I missed the signs? I grunted, watching at her retreating figure.

Later, I drove to Chloe’s family flower shop, my mind racing with possibilities. I had to find some clues. Something wasn’t adding up, and I needed answers. Luckily, Chloe hadn’t returned home yet. This gave me an opportunity to discuss more with her adoptive mother. She welcomed me warmly, remembering me as Chloe's friend from our last encounter.

"Has Chloe not returned?" I asked, looking around the shop to find some clues.

“No... She has been out a lot lately,” Chloe’s mother explained, her voice soft. "It’s unlike her. Chloe used to love working with flowers all day. She is a quiet girl who mostly stays at home. But now she is always busy with something."

That's when my eyes fell on the wilted mandrakes sitting in a corner, my suspicions growing.

"Why do you have mandrakes? Even though they are beautiful, they could be dangerous." I asked, picking up some dried petals.

"Those are her favorite flowers." She smiled, oblivious to what Chloe was up to.

I sighed, trying not to show my agitation. I had to find out as much as possible.

“Do you remember if she delivered any flowers on the day Elara… passed away?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Her mother thought for a moment. “Oh yes, actually. I remember that day. Chloe handles most of the deliveries and orders these days. So there was an order for this and she delivered a bouquet of Mandrakes.”

Her mother showed me the register. Indeed, it had Stefan's handwriting on it. Someone had carefully impersonated it to frame him.

As I left the shop, my heart raced. Chloe had been there that day. She had delivered Mandrakes to someone. Or maybe she used it herself.

And more importantly, why was Adrian tangled with someone like her? How could he believe her lies? How could he not see Chloe was probably the mastermind?

The pieces were falling into place, but the picture they formed was terrifying.