Chapter 302: The Only Victim

The events were laid out plainly, each piece fitting together too well to be mere coincidence. Even Josh, who had always shielded Anna, couldn’t suppress his doubts any longer. His voice, heavy with sorrow and anger, demanded an explanation. Carter and I exchanged a knowing glance. The truth wouldn’t be handed over easily. If it were, Silas wouldn’t have gone to such extreme lengths to keep it hidden. And if Anna felt cornered, she might follow his lead—choosing silence over betrayal, no matter the cost.

“Dad,” Anna began, her voice faltering. She looked fragile, but her words came out calculated. “Silas helped me once. He saved my life. He’s been hiding his face because of his scars. Regarding my status as the Bolton heir… I have only recently come to that realization myself.”

Luke’s expression darkened. His hands shot out, grabbing her by the collar, his anger overflowing. “Anna, if you’ve been involved with him all along, why did you act like you loved me? Why did you come between me and Chloe? If not for you, I wouldn’t have walked out on her at the wedding. She wouldn’t have died out there, in the snowstorm!”

“Luke, can’t you see how much I’ve cared about you? All these years, haven’t I shown you?” Anna’s tears streamed down her face as she tried to defend herself. Her voice was full of emotion, but it failed to convince. “My feelings for Silas are nothing like that. I only felt gratitude toward him—nothing more.”

She still relied on her words, trying to spin a web that had once worked so well. However, the situation had changed, and now no one was paying attention. Luke’s fury boiled over.

“Gratitude? The timing of your pregnancy doesn’t lie, Anna. It lines up perfectly with the first night we were together. You were so desperate to avoid having my child that you went straight to him, didn’t you?”

Luke wasn’t wrong. I could vouch for the timing of their relationship. Yet, the child she carried wasn’t his. It was Silas’s. There was only one explanation. As soon as Anna and Luke had separated, she had gone to Silas. Her pregnancy wasn’t a coincidence; it had been deliberate—part of a plan. But it was never about having Luke’s child. Her goal had always been Silas’s.

Looking around, it was painfully clear that the unluckiest person in the room was Luke. He had sacrificed so much for Anna, including ruining my wedding. And what did he have now? Anna didn’t love him. The baby wasn’t his. He had lost me and was now forced to watch me and his uncle build a life he couldn’t touch. His entire existence was marked by a series of tragic events. He had a father who later revealed himself as his uncle. The identity of his biological father remained a mystery. Then, a body ravaged by illness. Luke carried more burdens than anyone should have to bear. I used to think life wasn’t fair. But now I see it clearly—karma doesn’t forget. What goes around comes around.

Luke had mistreated both me and my child due to Andi’s influence. Now, she was the one unraveling everything for him. I felt no pity, only the cold recognition of fate catching up. Anna couldn’t talk her way out of this one. The truth was written in the evidence, clear as day.

Adam’s face was red with anger as he stared at her. His voice trembled, not with weakness, but with fury. “Anna. I’ve treated you well for years. Now tell me the truth—what’s the real story with Silas?”

“Adam, I swear I didn’t know he was your son. Even if you push me to the limit, I still won’t have an answer for you!” Anna’s voice shook with desperation, but she held firm to her denial.

Carter spoke up, his tone even. “It’s all too convenient, don’t you think? I only found out a few days ago when I did a DNA test. And let’s not forget, it was Sheila who brought Anna to the Boltons. She might know something we don’t.”

The room grew quiet as Carter’s words sank in. Now, no one could escape suspicion. Carter’s hint reminded everyone that Sheila was a key player in this game as well. The organization had to remain a secret for a while longer, so we must drag Sheila into this.

Adam’s attention shifted to Sheila, and he leveled a sharp look at her. “You and Anna—are you involved in this together?”

It was clear to anyone paying attention that something was off about Anna, but now Sheila was under the spotlight, her face paling at the question.

“What could I possibly do?” Sheila’s voice trembled. “Adam, how can you doubt me? You know how hard my life has been since we were apart.” She paused, taking a breath before continuing. “I lost our daughter. That’s why I adopted Ning’an. I didn’t even return to the Boltons during those years. How could I know anything about the secrets and grudges here?” Sheila’s voice cracked, her eyes welling up with tears. “And you—you only found out today that Luke isn’t your son. Do you think I’m some kind of psychic?”

She choked back a sob. “Since I married into the Boltons, I’ve been treated like an outsider because of where I came from. Your father never accepted me as part of the family. But I stayed because I thought, if I had your understanding, I could endure anything.”

“And now you doubt me?” Her voice was raw with emotion. “I’ve worked my entire life for this family. I may not have given you children, but I’ve managed this house for years. I’ve put in the effort. And this is how you repay me?”

Sheila took a step toward the wall, her face twisted in despair. “Maybe I should just end it all!”

She lunged toward the wall, but Adam grabbed her just in time. “Stop! I was just asking a question. Why are you overreacting?”

“Because you don’t trust me!” Sheila wailed, clutching onto Adam as her tears soaked his shirt.

This wasn’t the calm, controlled woman I had seen before. Something wasn’t right. Sheila was hiding something, and I was determined to find out what.

But the more I thought about it, the more confused I became. If Sheila had plans to harm the Boltons, why was Jeffrey still alive? His death would have given her control over Luke. Things weren’t adding up. Sheila’s drama. Silas’s silence. Anna, on the other hand, clung to her secrets, refusing to reveal anything of value. Anna’s pregnancy had become her protection. The child she carried—a Bolton heir—was her shield. No one would dare harm her now.

In the end, Luke was the only one who suffered. His world grew darker by the minute, and the truth seemed more elusive than ever.

“What should we do now, Dad?” Adam asked, his voice heavy with uncertainty as he turned to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey sighed deeply, the weight of the situation clearly wearing on him. “No matter what Silas’s past is, he’s still a Bolton. He’ll stay here and be looked after. As for Anna…”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Anna. She was still focused on protecting her pregnancy, and no one dared press her for answers.

“She’ll stay here until the baby is born,” Jeffrey decided. “Once the child is here, we’ll figure out what to do with her.”

Josh didn’t protest. After everything that had unfolded, he saw Anna as nothing more than a casualty of bad luck. The Sanders wanted no part in this mess anymore. Having lost two sons, he had no more hope left for his daughter.

Seeing him like this, I made a decision. I would keep the truth to myself—Anna was still alive. It was better this way, especially with Anna and Silas close by. Watching them closely was the only way to get to the bottom of things. When the person pulling the strings finally revealed themselves, that would be the time to expose it all.

The Sanders left without another word. Anna was placed under house arrest at the Boltons, and Silas stayed in the room next to hers. With their secret out, Anna had no reason to pretend anymore. Silas was still in treatment, but Anna went back to her room. Her voice quivered as she whispered, “Silas, you have to hold on.” She didn’t even try to act anymore. Not once did she glance at Luke.

Adam followed Jeffrey to the study, while Sheila retreated to her room. She kept her distance from Anna, worried we might catch something that would tie her to the mess. But the more she tried to avoid suspicion, the more it seemed to follow her.

As for Luke, he grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, walking into the hallway. One after another, he lit up, smoking with no hesitation. The cold night air whipped around him, but he didn’t seem to notice it. By the time I arrived, the ground was littered with cigarette butts. He exhaled a thin plume of smoke when he saw me, his already pale face looking even worse, drawn and weary. His voice cracked, barely a whisper: “I know. This is my punishment.”

Chapter 303: Silas’s Death