Chapter 36 Aliana stared sharply at Andrian , though her eyes were still heavy with exhaustion . " What do you mean by talking like that ? " 35 vouchers " Why did you disappear during the gala ? " Andrian pressed coldly . " And why did you come home without informing anyone ? " " I don't have to report to you , " Aliana snapped . She moved , intending to lie back down . " I'm tired . I want to sleep . " " Don't change the subject ! " Andrian barked . He quickly grabbed Aliana's arm and pulled her to sit upright . " Someone tried to kill me tonight . You disappeared right after it happened . Then showed up hours later as if nothing had happened . Tell me where you were ! " " Kill you ? " Aliana feigned surprise . " Were you hurt ? " Andrian clenched his jaw , irritated by Aliana pretending to be concerned . " I told you - don't change the subject ! I want the truth . " " The truth ? " Aliana furrowed her brows in mock confusion . " I don't know anything about that attack . If someone targeted you , deal with it yourself . Don't drag me into it ! " " You're too calm . And all the evidence points to you ," Andrian narrowed his eyes . " Evidence ? " Aliana scoffed . " What evidence do you have to accuse me ? " Andrian stepped closer . With a swift motion , he lifted the edge of the sleep robe covering her body . Reflexively , Aliana shielded her front with both hands . Her back was exposed . Without a second thought , Andrian's gaze scanned her back , searching for the injury Aliana was supposed to have . But there was no wound . Aliana's back was smooth and firm . He froze , his eyes sharp as they scanned every inch of her skin . He was looking for any trace - a scar , a bandage , or even a small scratch that might validate his suspicions . But Aliana's skin looked flawless . No wound . No blood . Not a single trace of anything suspicious . Everything looked natural and untouched . Andrian furrowed his brow . His gut twisted . Just moments ago , he had been certain . All the clues - Aliana's disappearance , the blood on the emergency stairs , and the trained fighting style he saw in the dark - all pointed to one conclusion . But reality offered no proof . Meanwhile , Aliana sat still on the bed , her exposed shoulders showing no sign of fear , though tension clearly coursed through her body . A light sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead and nape . Her left hand trembled slightly , though she hid it by pulling the blanket up to her side . Inside , Aliana knew Andrian was assessing her - and she had to remain calm . Earlier that evening , upon arriving at the pavilion , Aliana had asked Elena to help conceal the reopened wound on her right shoulder . She couldn't risk being seen with an open injury - not just because of the pain , but because it would expose everything . 1/4 Chapter 36 in vouchers At first , Aliana considered stitching it herself . She even asked Elena to prepare a needle and strong antiseptic to cauterize the outer skin and mask the scar . But Elena refused . She knew a better way - medical - grade camouflage makeup . Drawing from her past experience as a beauty salon assistant , Elena had used a combination of medical concealer , smoothing ointment , special pigments , and a clear sealing layer to cover the freshly dressed wound . Her hands were fast and precise . The gash , once bleeding and raw , was now perfectly hidden beneath a seamless blend of skin - tone cosmetic . Now , that work had paid off . Andrian saw nothing . Detected nothing . Yet the tension still lingered in the air . Aliana endured the pain behind the cosmetic layer . She couldn't slip . Every breath , every heartbeat - she held them in to avoid suspicion Andrian , though still unsatisfied and empty - handed , could only store away his doubt for now . The evidence he throngs o had wasn't there . And Aliana - feigning innocence - sat silently before him . " I know you're hiding something . I'll find out . And when I do , you'll tell me everything - whether you want to or not Aliana didn't back down . " If you want to know who I am , find out for yourself . But don't bother me . I'm not in the mood to argue with you tonight . " Andrian paused for a few seconds . His gaze was icy , filled with suspicion . But he turned , opened the door , and walked out without another word . The bedroom door slammed shut . Aliana remained seated on the bed , her jaw clenched . Her breath was heavy . Behind her back , the bandage Elena had carefully disguised was starting to feel damp . But Aliana didn't complain . She lay back down with Elena's help . " Miss … shouldn't we call a doctor ? " Elena asked , worried . Aliana shook her head faintly . " I'm fine . I just need rest . " Elena grew more anxious . She feared something terrible might happen to Aliana . After losing Alicia , she didn't want to lose her mistress a second time . " Please rest . It's late , " Aliana murmured , her eyes closed . Elena was about to object , but Aliana spoke again . " If I'm not better by morning , then you can call a doctor . Right now , I just want to sleep . " Elena stared closely at Aliana's pale face , her eyes shut tight . She knew her young lady must be weak from enduring the pain . Not wanting to add to her suffering , Elena quietly left the room . Under the blanket , Aliana's hand clenched tightly - enduring the pain . In her missions as Nyx , Aliana had suffered worse injuries than this . She had once been shot in the abdomen and had to extract the bullet herself without anesthesia . That was why the wound in her shoulder was nothing . Aliana could endure the pain without shedding a single tear . Her consciousness slowly began to fade , and just before the darkness overtook her , a cheerful image of Alicia flashed through her mind . " Come with me , Sister ," said Alicia . Meanwhile , at the hospital , Bianca had just angrily turned off the television . Since last night , all the news channels had been airing clips from the Velor family's charity gala . The spotlight was clearly on Andrian and Aliana , who looked affectionate - like the perfect couple . 2/4 8:19 pm Chapter 36 35 vouchers Bianca clenched her fists . Her jaw tightened at the memory of Aliana's smug smile while wearing that elegant black satin gown . " That cheap woman , " Bianca hissed , throwing the remote beside her pillow . Her blood boiled - not just from jealousy - but because she felt replaced , pushed aside from the position she had always believed was hers : the one and only woman by Andrian Velor's side . Moments later , Derek entered the room , his expression stiff , eyes serious . " Miss Bianca … " Derek stepped closer . " There's been an incident . Mr. Andrian … was attacked last night . " Bianca , still brimming with anger , immediately sat up straight . " What do you mean Andrian was attacked ? " Bianca's voice rose , her breath caught . Derek bowed his head slightly , pausing before he responded . " The details are unclear . But Mr. Andrian is safe now . Derek's answer did little to calm Bianca . Her face instantly turned pale , and the fury she'd felt vanished - replaced by panic . " Why wasn't I informed right away ?! " she screamed , her voice trembling . Her eyes locked onto Derek's , desperate for a logical answer that could ease her heart . But Derek remained silent , his head bowed . " I need to make sure Andrian is okay . " With trembling hands , Bianca grabbed her phone and immediately called Andrian . But he didn't answer . One call . Two calls . Three calls . Still no answer . " Maybe he's already asleep ? " Bianca whispered , glancing at the clock . It was . She got out of bed and pulled out the IV from her arm . Determined , she prepared to leave the room despite her weakness . " What are you doing , Miss ? You're still ill . " Derek panicked and grabbed Bianca's arm to stop her . " I have to see Andrian . I need to make sure he's okay ! " Bianca shouted , nearly in hysterics . " Miss …. please calm down . Have you forgotten Mr. Andrian asked that you rest ? If you insist on going , he will be furious . " Derek reminded her of Andrian's message . He didn't raise his voice , but his tone was firm . Bianca froze midstep . She knew all too well - Andrian never made empty threats . If he told her to rest , he meant it . And he would be angry if she disobeyed . " Damn it ! " Bianca hesitated . Breathing heavily and reluctantly , she returned to the bed . Her hand still clutched her phone , and as she sat down , it suddenly vibrated . The screen lit up with a message notification from an unknown number . 3/4 8:19 pm Chapter 36 Bianca frowned . Curiously , she opened the message . A few seconds later , her expression changed . Her eyes widened in shock . Bianca received three photos . The images appeared to be taken behind a building . 消 vouchers In the dim lighting , someone she recognized immediately - Aliana - was seen leaning against a wall , her right shoulder and the back of her dress stained with blood . Her face twisted in pain . Bianca froze , then smirked . " What is this woman up to ? " she whispered . She quickly enlarged the photos , scanning for details . There was no location metadata , no caption - just image was enough for Bianca to know that Aliana was hiding something big . She was injured , and it could be connected to the attack on Andrian . " Was Aliana the attacker ? " Her phone buzzed again . A second message came through - still from the same number . This time , it was a text . " Just like before , I helped you again . Use this wisely . " Bianca's eyes widened . Her mind flashed back to the past - when Alicia was still alive . Back then , she had received a mysterious message revealing secrets about Alicia that no one else knew . Secrets that became Bianca's weapon to destroy her slowly . " It must be the same person … " Bianca whispered , almost in disbelief . Her heart pounded . A storm of fear , curiosity , and excitement swirled inside her . She wondered who this messenger was . What did they want ? Why were they helping her ? But Bianca knew it wouldn't be easy to find the answer . She had once asked Derek to trace the number that contacted her- and found it was a burner phone , untraceable and unregistered . Bianca leaned back against her pillow , a thin smile forming on her lips . This time , she didn't care what the sender's intentions were . All that mattered was - she had just received her enemy's hidden card . " Just wait , Aliana . I'll rip your mask off . " Bianca laughed loudly , staring at the ceiling . Dere he saw how was confused but he didn't ask questions Un ume just lieved to con Dianaa laaking alangod 4/4 AD Comment