Chapter 50

▫️Christian’s POV...

I stared at the knife one last time before heading to confront Stella. If she had a connection with my rivals, she would see the worst side of me I never wanted her to witness. If she did this out of hate—because I hurt her people—then I would make sure she love me as much as I love her. Bcoz she is forgiven. Already.

After all, she is mine, mine to love,hate, forgive, punish.

I stormed into her room, but she was sitting on the bed, casually reading a book, completely unaware of the chaos brewing. My love, keep doing cute acts. These hated acts of betrayal doesn't suit you.

I walked closer, pressed a quick kiss on her cheek, and asked, "Stella, do you remember the knife I gave you?"

She smiled. "Yes."

"Where is it? I need it."

Without hesitation, she walked straight to her wardrobe, pulled open a drawer, and—oh? She looked too confident for my own good. Was the knife really there? Good girl.

But then... she blinked.

The drawer was empty.

Her confidence vanished as she opened another drawer, then another, a hint of confusion creeping onto her face. I watched, my patience hanging by a thread.

"Look for it. It’s urgent."

She nodded quickly, rushing around the room, checking every possible spot. I joined her, overturning cushions, opening cabinets, even checking under the bed—nothing.

Finally, she gasped. "Wait! I gave it to Titan to clean because I got it dirty. But I might have left it in the living room. Let me check there."

My fingers twitched. "Go check."

She sprinted out. I followed. But when we reached the living room, there was only an empty box.

That’s when my patience snapped.

"WHERE IS THE KNIFE, STELLA?"

She flinched at my tone, her eyes wide, shivering.

She shook her head. "I-I don’t know!"

I let out a slow, deep breath, trying to calm myself. I patted her cheek gently, less for her and more for myself. "Did you talk to your family after that day?"

She hesitated, then shook her head. "No... Did something happen to them?"

Her eyes filled with tears and fear.

Damn it. Not bringing this thing. She might doubt.

"They’re fine," I muttered, lying. "Just asking."

I left before she could say more.

Back in meeting room_

MJ, Liam, and Nick stood with me, all of them looking equally disturbed. MJ immediately called Titan.

"After cleaning the knife, did anyone touch it?"

Titan’s voice came through the speaker. "No. She herself didn’t even touch it."

Liam clenched his jaw. "Then let’s check fingerprints."

Titan hesitated. "And if the prints match?"

Silence.

MJ shot him a glare. "Shut up."

But the question lingered. What if Stella’s fingerprints matched? Would I kill her?

I swallowed hard. No. I can’t.

But if she had sided with my enemies, things would change.

I hate betrayal.

But I love her more.

But I can't forgive her.

I walked back into her room with the fingerprint expert. Stella was on the bed, chatting with Ava. Innocent. Unaware.

I didn’t say a word, just nodded to the expert.

The man moved fast—grabbing Stella’s hand and pressing her fingers onto the scanner before she could react.

"What—?!" She turned to me, her eyes filled with confusion. "Christian?"

I kept my face unreadable. "Nothing."

Her confusion deepened. "Then why are you acting like this? And why my fingerprints?"

I exhaled sharply. "Where were you the night I went to Russia?"

She blinked. "What?"

"That night. Where were you?" I screamed.

She flinched at my tone. "Of course, sleeping! Why are you—?"

I turned and walked out before she could finish.

I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t trust myself to stay.

More Evidence. More Pain.

Titan called. "We unlocked his phone."

I grabbed the device, scrolling through messages. Plans. Instructions. Everything.

Then I checked the call logs.

My heart stopped.

A call. From Stella.

Twenty minutes.

Why in the actual hell would Stella call him?

I exhaled slowly. Control. Control.

Nick snatched the phone from my hands and deleted the call history.

I snapped my head toward him. "Why?"

Nick’s voice was firm. "If her fingerprints match too, there will be chaos. We can’t risk her life. If necessary, we’ll blame someone else. A scapegoat. Keep her in cell but not killing her."

I clenched my fists. My blood boiled, my heart ached. "I love her," I admitted, my voice low. "But if she killed my men..."

Nick didn’t look at me.

I took a deep breath. "If she confesses why she did it, I won’t hurt her."

Because it takes courage to tell the truth.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhausted. "She is forgiven for a hundred murders too."

Because she is my lady.

" But not Betrayal. Never."

The Final Night Before the Storm.

It was late. The bomb of her fingerprints would drop tomorrow.

I couldn’t sleep.

What if she really did it? What if she had found out about her parents?

I sat in my office, but my mind wouldn’t rest. My peace wasn’t with me—how could I sleep?

At midnight, I gave up.

I walked to our room, where Stella was already asleep. She looked so innocent. So perfect.

My love. My life.

If this was my last night with her, then damn it, I was going to hold her.

Bcoz I don't know what I'll do or react after knowing her truth. Or what she will react after seeing her parents.

I slid into bed, pulling her into my arms, pressing my face into her hair. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake up.

I held her tighter.

Tomorrow would change everything.

But tonight... she is mine.

And tomorrow she will be mine too. It's just that she must not be involved with the rivals.  She can kill the men out of hate but not Betrayal. Please stella I beg you. Just don't betray me. I'll not be able to control myself and might do something that I might regret forever.