Chapter 109: Chapter 109 Sweet Poison Plot

Bella’s POV

"Exactly who are you supposed to be?" Vance’s voice cut through the air, his tone sharp enough to make Camilla’s practiced smile waver before she plastered it back on.

"I’m Camilla, Bella’s half-sister," she announced with theatrical enthusiasm, gesturing toward me like she was presenting a prize.

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, unable to hide my incredulous expression as I watched her performance unfold.

"Strange. She’s never mentioned you before."

Vance delivered the observation with his usual bluntness, the kind that could slice through pretense like a blade. He possessed an uncanny ability to unsettle people, to find exactly the right words to make them squirm.

But Camilla wasn’t Serena. She wasn’t some emotional wreck who would crumble under pressure. She was calculating, manipulative, and dangerously intelligent.

"We haven’t been close lately, you know how it is with sisters. Those silly little quarrels that families have," Camilla responded smoothly, her hands dancing through the air as she spoke, just as Hugo appeared in the doorway.

"That’s not quite how I remember things," I interjected, watching her expression grow rigid around the edges.

"The way I remember it, you made my life miserable. Classic wicked stepsister scenario, complete with the vindictive mother figure backing you up," I continued, determined to expose her lies in front of Vance.

Vance’s neck muscles visibly tensed as he rolled his shoulders, and when his eyes opened again, they locked directly onto Hugo. I caught the exchange immediately, that wordless conversation passing between them. Hugo’s imposing frame filled the doorway, his massive build casting shadows across the room.

Something unspoken flickered in their gazes, a silent interrogation that made me wonder about their connection. They never spoke directly to each other when they were in the same space, yet their awareness of one another was undeniable. It seemed impossible that they knew each other, given their completely different backgrounds.

"Let’s leave the past behind us. I want to make things right between us, to apologize for everything that happened. I brought these as a peace offering," Camilla’s voice dripped with manufactured remorse.

I recognized the facade immediately. Guilt was an emotion entirely foreign to Camilla’s nature. This was nothing more than her latest strategy to worm her way back into my life, to find some new angle to exploit.

The moment she lowered the ornate tray, my children’s previous anger toward her began to dissolve at the sight of the expensive chocolates arranged inside.

"Go ahead, take whatever you want," Camilla cooed, crouching down to Zack’s eye level.

Zack moved forward tentatively, then retreated, turning to look up at me with questioning eyes.

"I’m sorry," he whispered apologetically.

"I prefer not to give them excessive sugar, especially this close to evening. Too much sweetness before bedtime isn’t good for children," I explained firmly, placing my protective hand on Zack’s small shoulder.

Camilla’s smile vanished completely, revealing her displeasure at my rejection of her gesture.

"Surely one piece wouldn’t hurt," she pressed, shifting the tray toward Tara and Leah instead.

"I appreciate the thought, Camilla, but I don’t want them eating these. They’ll be having dinner with me shortly," I stated firmly, moving quickly to position myself between her and my children while grabbing the tray, forcing her to stand up and abandon her crouched position.

Heavy silence blanketed the room. I could feel everyone’s attention focused on our confrontation.

"Of course, I understand completely. I’ll leave them here for morning then. Here, please take this," she said to Chloe, practically shoving the tray toward her.

Chloe caught it just before it could crash to the floor. I noticed how Camilla maintained her grip until she was absolutely certain Chloe had secured it.

"Make sure the children get these, won’t you? They’re specifically for them," she continued insistently. "I’ll return later with dinner. I’m planning to cook tonight, and I thought it would be a lovely way to welcome everyone to the pack," she addressed Vance, who stood with his hands buried in his pockets, his intense gaze studying my every reaction.

"That won’t be necessary. If you’re planning to join us for dinner, I’ll handle the cooking," I replied steadily.

I watched her pause, processing my words before nodding with obvious reluctance.

"Very well then. I’ll see you later. Come along, Hugo," she said crisply, turning on her heel and striding from the mansion with Hugo trailing behind her.

The instant they disappeared, I rushed to secure the door, ensuring no one else could barge in uninvited.

When I turned back around, I found all three children staring longingly at the chocolate tray.

"How about we go out for ice cream instead?" I suggested brightly, hoping to redirect their attention.

Their faces lit up immediately at the proposal.

"We’ll go get ready right now," Zack declared, racing toward his room on his little legs with his sisters close behind.

I approached Chloe and snatched the tray from her hands, then marched straight to the kitchen and dumped the entire contents into the garbage bin.

Just as I was about to discard the final piece, someone grabbed my wrist firmly.

"What exactly are you doing?" Vance demanded.

He stood directly in front of me, his eyes questioning my actions.

"I don’t trust her motives," I replied simply, and his expression shifted into something resembling amusement.

"There are methods to verify her intentions, aren’t there?" he suggested.

He gestured with two fingers, summoning Chloe into the kitchen.

"Collect all of these chocolates and put them in a sealed bag. We’re going to have them analyzed to determine if they contain anything dangerous," he instructed.

For several seconds, my mind struggled to process his suggestion. Chloe appeared equally bewildered.

Then understanding dawned, and I realized his thinking was absolutely sound. Camilla’s insistence that the children consume those chocolates had felt distinctly wrong.

But there was still an obstacle to consider.

"We can’t have them tested locally. With the current political climate and everyone reporting to the alphas, any testing we request will immediately be reported back to them. That’s standard protocol here. The medical professionals are required to inform the alphas about any unusual activities," I explained, outlining the strict hierarchy of the werewolf world.

Vance’s smile broadened, almost becoming a laugh.

I noticed Chloe watching him with obvious admiration in her eyes.

"I’ll have them analyzed in the human world. Don’t worry about that," he stated confidently, his smile disappearing entirely.

"Now let’s gather the children for dinner. I’m very curious to discover what your stepsister is really planning," Vance commented, sending chills down my spine.

Without offering any further explanation, he simply walked out of the kitchen, leaving me with more questions than answers.