Chapter 341: Aurora

“Enough of this… I can’t take it anymore,” Piper said, turning to Alina. “You say you’re pregnant with Warrick’s child?”

Alina nodded. “Yes, I am.”

Warrick took Piper’s hand and knelt. “Piper… please believe me… I’ve never had sex with Alina.”

“Shut up!” Piper yelled, and Alina looked down, smiling.

I shook my head. Piper, don’t do this; you’re making a mistake trusting Alina.

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say… because I know the truth,” Piper declared. Everyone fell silent, waiting.

“Piper… you…” I began, but she raised her hand, silencing me.

Piper closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “Like I said, I know the truth. Of these two, one is telling the truth, and one is lying… and Warrick is the one telling…”

She paused, locking eyes with Warrick. He swallowed, awaiting her verdict, as if she were the judge.

“Warrick is telling the truth,” Piper announced. Immediately, Warrick’s eyes widened with relief, and he embraced her tightly.

“We can’t just listen to you, Piper. Investigations must be made,” Dane stated, his gaze fixed on Warrick.

Why was he looking at Warrick? Warrick looked down, intimidated by Dane’s intense stare.

“Like sister, like brother,” Warrick mouthed.

Dane shook his head, refusing to laugh. “If I find out you’re lying, you will be dealt with… It’s wrong for a man to cheat on his woman, even worse to deny a pregnancy and leave the burden solely on her.”

I clicked my tongue. He’s referring to his own actions. I had to carry the burden of our twins’ pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy alone. And isn’t he cheating on me with Kaida?

I shifted, sitting and crossing my arms. “We’re not scared… let the investigations proceed, as long as I know for a fact that the pregnancy isn’t Warrick’s.”

Dane nodded and sat. “Fine then… Alina, you can go.”

Alina left. Watching her go, I turned to Dane, then quickly looked away. He placed his hand on mine, squeezing it. “Are you still angry at me?”

I rolled my eyes. “Did you give me a reason not to be?”

Dane sighed, kissing my hand. I pulled it away and wiped it. “You can quit pretending now… no one’s watching.”

I turned away, seeing Evelyn’s eyes narrowed on me. I blinked and looked down.

The meeting ended, and it was time for me to go to the office. Leaving the council hall, Evelyn hurried toward me.

“Your mood has been off all day… Do you need someone to talk to?”

I sighed, looking down. “Maybe in my office.”

Evelyn followed me quietly, shutting the door and sitting before me.

“I’m all ears,” she said seriously, resting her elbows on the desk and chin on her palm.

“It’s Dane,” I began.

She nodded. “Yes… Dane. What happened to him?”

“Have you noticed anything different about him lately?” I asked.

She nodded, relaxing in her chair. “I sure have.”

I leaned in, eager to hear her observations.

“Dane has been…” she began softly, “…oddly sweet and romantic with you… He now has time for the kids and family, too.”

I grunted. “Hmm… Is that it?”

Evelyn nodded. “Of course… what else is there to notice?”

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “Dane is cheating on me.”

Evelyn’s eyes locked with mine, then she threw her head back, bursting into laughter. She rolled off her chair, clutching her stomach.

I furrowed my brows, rolling my eyes, and waited for her laughter to subside.

She finally composed herself. “Why aren’t you laughing?”

I shrugged. She raised a hand. “Wait… is this the part where you say it’s a prank?”

I pursed my lips, maintaining a straight face. She sat back down, furrowing her brows like me.

“You were kidding, right?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

Evelyn stared into space. “Are you sure of what you’re saying?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what to be sure of anymore. All arrows point in one direction… I just don’t know.”

Evelyn swallowed, taking my hand. “Listen, Aurora, Dane never cheats… I know him too well.”

My shoulders slumped. “Then how do you explain finding him in Kaida’s cell late at night? She was naked, her hands on his chest, and he was holding onto her.”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. “You saw that?”

I nodded. “Yes, I did…”

“Then we argued. I slapped him, he raised his hands to me, then left. When I looked for him, I found out he’d gone back to the dungeon. I got there, but neither he nor Kaida were to be found.”

“Kaida’s not in her cell?” Evelyn asked, shocked. “She escaped?”

I shook my head. “The guards said Dane took her out… I don’t even know where he took her… The next place I saw him was in the council hall.”

Evelyn shook her head firmly. “This can’t be true. Dane isn’t a cheater, and he’s certainly not someone who would ever harm a woman.”

“But that’s what it seemed like today.”

“Aurora… is that what you think of me?”

I looked up to see Dane standing at the door, pain etched on his face.