Chapter 36 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 Freelance photographer Violet Beck is forced into an engagement with CEO Roy Payne. 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