Chapter 114: watch out

Camilla must have known for a while that Lewis was watching her.Even the authorities had questioned her more than once, but nothing ever stuck. No evidence solid enough. No loose thread they could pull without it snapping back. So when I started circling Elena’s death, asking questions no one wanted answered, it probably didn’t shock her.

What she couldn’t understand was why I wouldn’t let it go.

Why I kept digging when it wasn’t "my place."

This was the first time since I’d come back that she faced me without pretending. No polite smiles. No public mask. Just steel in her eyes and a blade in her hand.

"Did you have anything to do with Elena’s death?" I asked, letting my voice shake, letting fear bleed into it on purpose.

Her gaze sharpened. The knife pressed closer to my skin, enough for me to feel the cold bite of it. "How many times do I have to say it?" she snapped. "Stay out of this. You’re poking around in something that has nothing to do with you. The authorities are handling it. Let them. Stop acting like this is your fight."

I knew she wouldn’t cut me.

Not here. Not now. Too many risks. Too many eyes nearby. She wanted fear, not blood.

So I gave it to her.

"Elena died horribly," I whispered, my voice trembling just enough. "Someone has to speak for her."

Her face twisted with irritation. "And that someone is not you," she hissed. "This is your final warning. Keep coming after me, and you’ll regret it."

When she was sure I’d absorbed the threat, she stepped back. The knife disappeared. The tension lingered even after she slipped out of the fitting room.

The door closed softly.

And I smiled.

She had cracked far quicker than I expected.

I checked my phone. A message from Lewis waited there.

Be careful. She just walked in. I’m close. Call me if anything happens.

Sliding back into my dress, I stepped out like nothing had happened. When I spotted Lewis, I spun once, light and casual. "This one’s my favorite," I said. "What do you think?"

He didn’t smile.

His eyes searched my face, sharp and focused. "You don’t look right," he said. "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine," I replied softly. "Just tired. Can we go home?"

He didn’t argue. He shrugged off his coat and draped it over my shoulders, the familiar weight of him settling my nerves without a word.

On our way out, we ran into Theo, arms full of shopping bags.

I raised a brow. "I thought we were only picking one."

He grinned. "They all looked good on you."

Lewis didn’t react. The moment we stepped outside, something in him shifted. Calm, but alert. Like he was listening for something only he could hear.

Once we were in the car, he turned to me, eyes narrowed slightly. "What did she say to you?"

I looked out the window. "Nothing serious. Just told me to stop interfering and focus on being your devoted mate."

Still, I couldn’t forget how fast she’d moved. How precise. How controlled.

"She’s sharper than we thought," I added. "There’s more to her than she lets on."

Lewis’s jaw tightened. "Did she hurt you?"

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No."

He didn’t believe me.

Before I could react, he pulled me gently onto his lap, hands firm but careful. He opened my coat, brushed my hair aside

And froze.

His eyes locked onto the faint red marks blooming along my neck.

The air inside the car went very still.

My skin had always been sensitive. Even though Camilla hadn’t pressed the blade hard, it still left a mark. A faint burn along my neck. It stung not just because of the pain, but because of how close she’d gotten.

Lewis’s eyes darkened the moment he saw it.

"Did she hurt you anywhere else?" he asked. His gaze moved over me slowly, sharp and alert, like he was memorizing every detail. For a second, I thought he might actually check me himself.

"I’m fine," I said quickly. "She wouldn’t dare go too far in a crowded place. Too many eyes. She just wanted to scare me. I played along, and she backed off."

I paused, then added quietly, "But I’m sure now. Elena’s death is tied to her. Why else would she react like that? She’s nervous. And people only panic when they’re close to being exposed."

Something hard settled in Lewis’s expression. "She’s bold because she thinks she’s untouchable. There’s still no proof strong enough to hold her. Not yet."

"It’s frustrating," I muttered, curling my fingers into my palm. "She’s standing right in front of us, and we still can’t touch her."

Lewis covered my hand with his, grounding me instantly. "Justice doesn’t rush," he said calmly. "You wait. You watch. And when she slips, you don’t miss."

Then his tone shifted. Lower. Firmer. "But promise me something."

I met his eyes.

"Don’t put yourself in danger like that again. Even if the risk feels small. I won’t accept it."

I swallowed. "I only dared because I knew you were close. I could feel it. And I learned something important today Camilla’s trained. Her movements were fast. Controlled. I need to be ready too."

He didn’t hesitate. "Then you will be. I’ll have someone train you properly."

His certainty surprised me. I smiled faintly. "Thank you. Her mask is slipping, Lewis. She didn’t expect to be cornered so soon. Desperation makes people careless."

I leaned back against the seat, thinking. I’d expected her to hold on longer. To stay polished and composed.

Instead, the moment her plans hit resistance, she cracked.

Now the question was what she’d do next.

Would she try something reckless?

Would the one who ended my life before finally step fully into the light?

That night, I changed into soft pajamas and rubbed lotion into my arms, letting the scent calm me. The room felt warm. Safe. Wrapped in quiet.

There was a strange comfort in knowing I was watching from the shadows while Camilla struggled out in the open. She wouldn’t sleep well tonight. Fear has a way of stealing rest.

And the worst kind of fear isn’t pain it’s waiting.

Despite her claims, her body looked worn down. Thinner. Tired. Whatever game she was playing, it wasn’t going smoothly.

That thought eased something in me.

The worse things became for her, the closer I was getting to the truth.

With that, I finally let sleep pull me under.