Chapter 231: THE TRUTH ABOUT VERA

Callum’s POV

I couldn’t move. Nadia had just said Vera’s name, but my mind refused to accept it.

I stood there staring at her, waiting for someone to laugh and tell me there had been some kind of misunderstanding.

Instead, Nadia looked completely serious, while Keisha had gone silent beside her and Dane’s expression had hardened.

"Say that again," I muttered.

Nadia looked confused by my reaction. "Vera gave me the herbs."

"When?" I asked.

"A few days ago. She told me they could help with Keisha’s pregnancy." Nadia glanced at Keisha before continuing. "She said they were safe and that they could also help someone who was stressed. I didn’t think anything of it. I was worried about Keisha being in the hospital, so I thought I’d try some myself before taking the rest to her."

I stared at her.

Vera.

My sister.

This didn’t make any sense.

Keisha’s phone suddenly vibrated and everyone looked toward her.

She pulled it from her pocket and frowned when she saw the message. "It’s Klein."

She opened it and her expression changed almost immediately.

"What did he say?" Dane asked.

Keisha didn’t answer at first. Her eyes moved rapidly across the screen, and then she looked up at us. "He found something."

"What?"

She seemed hesitant. "He said the information he recovered from the records connects Vera to another transaction. One that matches the same financial trail we’ve been following."

My stomach tightened. "What transaction?"

Keisha showed Dane the message, then turned the phone toward me.

I read it, my expression changing as Vera’s name came across the screen.

Dane stepped closer, his face becoming increasingly grim as he connected the information to everything he’d been investigating. "That’s why some of the things never added up."

I looked at him. "What things?"

"Everything. I was right about my suspicions of her. This just proves everything."

I shook my head. "No."

Dane looked at me. I couldn’t even explain why I’d said it. There was nothing logical behind the word. I simply couldn’t accept that my sister had been behind all of this.

Vera had been in my life for years.

She was family and I’d trusted her.

I’d allowed her to stay at the estate while all of this was happening. I’d listened to her concerns. I’d even defended her when people questioned her motives.

And all that time, she could have been the person responsible.

"Callum," Keisha said quietly.

I looked at her then I looked toward Nadia.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, still trying to process everything herself.

"You’re both staying here," I said.

Nadia frowned. "What?"

"You’re not leaving this hospital." I ordered.

"But—"

"No." I cut her off, more firmly this time. "Until we get this settled, neither of you is leaving. There are guards outside this room and there will be more before I leave."

Nadia opened her mouth to argue, but Keisha placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just listen to him."

Nadia reluctantly nodded and I turned toward Dane. "Get the guards."

He was already moving and I stepped out of the room with him, my mind still refusing to accept what we had uncovered.

Before we left the hospital, I gave orders for Osric to be arrested.

He had already been removed from the council, but after everything we’d learned, there was no possibility of simply watching him and pretending his involvement in the rebellion was the extent of his crimes.

There would be no pardon.

"Take him into custody," I ordered the guards. "And don’t let anyone speak to him before I get there."

"Yes, Alpha."

Dane and I left immediately.

There was too much to process. If everything we’d uncovered was true, then she had been acting the entire time.

When we reached the annex, the guards opened the entrance for us.

Vera was in the sitting room but sh looked up the moment we entered and her expression changed when she saw my face. "Callum?"

I stopped several feet away from her.

She looked between Dane and me before immediately asking, "Is Nadia worse?"

I didn’t answer and Vera stood. "Did something happen to her? I heard she woke up. Did her condition suddenly change?"

Her concern sounded genuine. Goddess, it only made me more confused. "Is she still unconscious?" she asked.

"No."

Vera froze. "She woke up?"

"Yes."

Relief crossed her face. "Thank goodness."

She took a breath, then looked at me again. "Then why are you here? Has something else happened?"

I stared at her. For years, I’d trusted this woman. At that moment, I wasn’t sure if I knew her at all. "Vera," I said slowly, "I want the truth from you."

Her brows drew together. "The truth about what?"

"Everything."

She stared at me and Dane remained beside me, silent but listening.

Vera looked from one of us to the other, clearly trying to understand what had changed and I stepped closer. "Nadia told us you gave her the herbs."

Her face went still and I continued. "She said you told her they were safe for pregnant women and that they could help with stress."

Vera opened her mouth but I raised my hand. "Don’t explain yet."

She fell silent instantly.

"We found evidence connecting you to the same people we’ve been investigating for months. Your name has appeared in transactions connected to the attacks. We’ve found connections to Osric and we’ve found connections to the assassins."

Vera’s face had lost its color and I continued, my voice becoming colder. "Dr. Fenn is dead. Orin is dead. Someone poisoned Nadia. Someone tried to attack her again last night. Tell me the truth."

Vera stared at me and I could see the shock on her face, but I couldn’t tell whether it was genuine.

"Tell me I’m wrong," I pleaded.

She didn’t answer.

I took another step toward her. "Tell me you had nothing to do with the Creed."

Vera’s lips parted and her eyes moved toward Dane, then back to me. "Callum..."

"No." My voice hardened. "I don’t want excuses. I don’t want another explanation that leads nowhere. I don’t want you telling me that someone has misunderstood your intentions."

I stared directly at my sister. "I want the truth."