The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot
Chapter 144: The Real Culprit

While everyone in the Igor family was equally confused, Margaret felt her mind spinning from the news. Annabelle... No, Laila... Her granddaughter was dead. She felt her body tremble as she gripped the nearby couch for support. Carson, who was with them all along, quickly stepped forward to help his Madam sit.

"Is... is she the one?" Margaret asked in Italian, her voice trembling as tears brimmed in her eyes. Carson nodded with a heavy sigh. Unable to process it, she turned to her grandson. "Ronan, is this Annabelle our Laila?" she whispered, yet everyone in the room heard it.

Benjamin frowned at his wife’s question. They should be focusing on Grace, yet she was asking about some random stranger. He looked at Ronan, who, for the first time in decades, was silent. His expression was numb and blank as if he’d failed a mission.

"Please, allow us to do our job," Matteo requested, breaking the heavy silence. Benjamin stood tall, shielding Evelyn, and the officers couldn’t get past him easily. His power extended far beyond their reach, even instilling fear within the police department.

"No, I won’t let you take Grace!" Much to the officers’ apprehension, Benjamin’s grip tightened on his cane. They exchanged nervous glances, then looked at Evelyn, whom this man kept addressing as Grace. This was a high-profile case with an enraged public watching closely. If they didn’t take her now, the state could face backlash.

"And who the heck is this Annabelle?" Benjamin asked, looking at Evelyn and then at Zevian.

"She is the biological daughter of the Wright family in Vespera City," Matteo replied, glancing at Evelyn. "Ms. Evelyn’s mother, a former maid in the family, swapped her with Annabelle when they were young. A year ago, the truth came out, and Ms. Wright was brought back."

"Ah, that woman!" Benjamin nodded, recalling that Grace had been caught up in a family scandal.

Matteo sensed a chance to reason with the powerful patriarch and continued with the case details. "Ms. Annabelle regained her rightful place, which Ms. Evelyn had occupied for years. Later, the family decided to keep Ms. Evelyn as an adopted daughter. However, Ms. Evelyn didn’t take it well and allegedly attempted to murder Annabelle multiple times. Last night, she supposedly paid a maid to murder her."

"What rubbish are you spouting?" Evelyn snapped at the officer. Annabelle was no longer a major threat, so she didn’t give a damn about her. And it was odd why someone would go to the lengths of getting rid of her. Unless... A particular person crossed her mind, but her thoughts were interrupted when Carson turned on the news from Vespera on the television.

Everyone moved closer to the large screen, with Zevian supporting Evelyn. He caressed her back as she held his other hand tightly, fear overtaking her initial confusion.

"It was unfortunate for such a young, beautiful woman to die at the hands of a devil. I hope the Wright family finally realizes the snakes they’ve nurtured all these years," a citizen spat on the screen, her anger echoed by the crowd behind her.

"Yes! She should receive the death sentence!"

"No! Bring her to us! We’ll burn her alive! She doesn’t deserve to live."

Carson quickly changed the channel, the cursing, and accusations too painful to watch. Even Benjamin felt his frustration simmer. How could they paint this kind of woman as a murderer? But his anger turned to shock when Annabelle’s image appeared on the screen.

[In Loving Memory of Annabelle Wright.]

A series of photos played in a video. Though the woman had a different hair color, she bore an uncanny resemblance to his daughter-in-law. Benjamin could easily imagine Annabelle with her original blonde hair, looking just like Ronan’s mother.

"She... She..." The old man stammered, pointing at the screen before turning to his wife, who was now softly sobbing.

"Yes, honey! She is our granddaughter!" Margaret cried, overwhelmed, as the news anchor continued praising Annabelle. They recounted her hardships and how, just when she had found her real family and was dreaming of a better life, she was murdered by the maid’s evil daughter, Evelyn.

"No way..." Benjamin’s grip on his cane loosened as he stared blankly at Annabelle’s pictures. "How did she..." He trailed off, turning to Margaret. "Where has she been all these years?"

Margaret couldn’t reply. She continued to cry, the pain of losing her granddaughter mingling with the guilt of never having met her. Her daughter’s last wish was for Annabelle to be happy, and to lead the life she deserved, just like Ronan.

"Reports suggest Ms. Wright was nine weeks pregnant. But the baby couldn’t be saved too." The reporter further announced, shocking the elderly couple even more. They could have soon been great-grandparents. Margaret clutched her chest tightly, the pain turning unbearable.

"What’s happening here?" Evelyn choked, her voice thick with emotion. True, she’d never thought she could make amends with Annabelle... But no one deserved to die in the Wright family’s games, especially someone ready to repent and start anew.

Zevian had no answers for her. He only tightened his grip, unwilling to let her face this alone. She had already endured so much, and he wouldn’t let her walk through this fire unaccompanied.

"Please cooperate, Master Igor. We need to take her to Vespera as soon as possible," Matteo’s voice cut through the tense silence.

"Take her away!" Margaret declared, unable even to look at Evelyn. She didn’t know who was right or wrong. All she knew was that her granddaughter was dead, and somehow Grace was responsible for it.

Carson approached Ronan, worry etched on his face. He patted his master’s back, hoping he might take Grace’s side. If they agreed, it would be a silent agreement with the accusations.

Ronan slowly came out of his shock, the news replaying in his mind like a broken record. On one side was his stepsister, whom he’d only recently come to know, whose protection his mother had begged of him. On the other side was Grace, a woman he knew in his heart would never stoop to murder. Yet his sister was dead, and all fingers pointed at Grace, rendering him unable to take a stand.

"Take her out," Ronan murmured, releasing a shaky breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to console his grandmother.

Zevian glared at the bastard, holding Evelyn close. How could he let Evelyn go so easily? Ronan was the only person she knew in this city! If Zevian hadn’t been here, he couldn’t imagine what Eva would have gone through alone.

The officers stepped forward, cuffs in hand. When they moved toward Evelyn, Zevian instantly positioned himself in front of her. His dark, intimidating gaze made one officer flinch and glance at Matteo. Zevian’s expression challenged him to touch her and lose his life.

"Please, let us do our job, Mr. Reign," Matteo requested in English, aware of Zevian’s influence but resolute. "Instead of wasting time here, you should hurry back and prepare a defense team for her." The logic struck even Rita as sound, though she remained silent.

Stepping forward, Rita declared, "I’ll go with her, Boss!" When Zevian looked her way, she nodded in assurance, silently asking him to entrust Evelyn’s safety to her.

"We won’t be taking anyone but the accused," Matteo replied in Italian, glaring at Rita, whom he knew all too well.

"Oh?" Rita raised an eyebrow. She walked up to him and, without a moment’s hesitation, punched him squarely in the nose.

"Fuck!" Matteo swore, unprepared for the blow. Clutching his bleeding nose, he glared at the crazy woman.

"For hitting an officer on duty, I think you’d better arrest me too," Rita said, giving her fingers a slight shake. Matteo’s nose looked even stronger now, probably thanks to her last blow.

"Arrest her too!" Matteo roared, his anger overriding any rational thinking. Rita knew exactly how to press his buttons, and she had to keep doing it until he sent her off with Evelyn back to Vespera.

The officer turned and cuffed Rita first. With no extra cuffs for Evelyn, Matteo could only sigh before turning to her. "Please come along, Mrs. Reign."

The thought of returning to Vespera filled her with dread, Evelyn knew all too well what awaited her there. Memories flooded back to the months when people hurled insults and object her way, nearly killing her when Laila first appeared as Annabelle in her life. She felt her resolve wavering and wasn’t ready to face it again.

Zevian’s heart clenched as he gently pried his hand free from Evelyn’s grip. Sensing her fear, he rubbed her back gently and assured her, "I promise I’ll get you out of this." When Evelyn looked up at him, he held her gaze and continued, "No one will step on you again. Trust me."

A wave of courage washed over her at his words. With him by her side, she knew she didn’t have to fear anything. She took a steadying breath, nodded, and finally stepped forward.

Rita shot Matteo a defiant look and marched to stand right beside Evelyn. With a quick nod at her boss, she muttered to Matteo to get moving.

Before leaving, Evelyn glanced back at Zevian before walking out. Whoever killed Annabelle will pay for it! she vowed silently. But little did she know, the real culprit was someone dear to her. The only person she saw as a family, was her own little brother, Elias.