The Masked Vampire King's Accidental Bride
Chapter 57: Marla’s Suspicion

Chapter 57: Marla’s Suspicion

"Hello?"

"Can you hear me?"

"Is someone there?"

"I called because I met a person named G, and she said you can help me,"

Elliana said and was about to hang up when she didn’t get any reply.

Let’s try just one last time. She told herself and said,

"Can you please make a sound to let me know you are there?"

Clink! The sound of something hitting a wine glass or something like that came from the other side, and Elliana sighed in relief.

"Well, I don’t know who you are and why you are not replying, but if there is anything you can help me with, please let me know. I hope to hear from you soon," Elliana said and when she didn’t receive any reply again, she finally hung up the phone.

That was weird. She shuddered and thought of visiting the kitchen to heal her wounded soul with some tasty food since someone just made a fool out of her.

Meanwhile, Madeline stood in front of her mom, sweating loads of water.

"What did you do, Madeline?" Marla stepped forward, and Madeline gulped.

"Don’t make me repeat my question, sweetheart. I might be a very good mother, but I am still the queen of the hunter’s bloodline. I have some responsibilities to keep and rules to adhere to. Don’t make me a bad person. If it’s still solvable, I will do everything to solve it, or it won’t be long before the matters are in front of the elders and -"

Every word Marla said made Madeline shiver. If there was anyone in the human kingdom who scared Madeline, it was her mother, Marla.

It’s not because of how harsh her mother is or because she has beaten Madeline, but because Madeline has seen how calculative, manipulative, and cunning her mom can become when things don’t go her way.

Madeline has seen Marla playing tricks to get things done, and she definitely doesn’t want to be at the end part of it.

"Mom, I will tell you the truth. Can we not do it here, please?" Madeline’s eyes quivered, and Marla looked at her daughter before smiling.

"Sure. Let’s do it your way," Marla smiled and held her hand in a steel-like grip before she pulled her all the way to the ladies’ restroom.

"Out!" Marla shouted, and the girls and ladies present in the washroom looked at the queen of the hunter’s bloodline and rushed out.

"Now tell me everything, Madeline. And when I say everything, I hope you know that you shouldn’t leave even a single detail out, or things won’t be good. I want the truth," Marla smiled but Madeline could see that the smile was far from what she would call polite. It was the smile of the devil that promised nothing good.

"M-mom, the thing is... That day... When I came back...venting? Y-you said that I should learn it, learn things myself, and I was angry. You told me I was incapable of not being able to deal with such a simple matter, and I don’t deserve -"

"We don’t have all the time, sweetheart. Aditya’s parents would be here any minute, and letting them know what kind of mess my daughter created is the last thing on my mind," Marla said with wide eyes, and Madeline nodded before starting again.

"I am sorry, Mom. That day when I came back and vented about Elliana, you said I should be able to handle pitiful matters like this myself rather than needing your help. I tried to do the same," Madeline gulped.

Marla, who doubted that this was something related to the Bane of her existence, that evil stepdaughter, thinned her lips when Madeline confirmed her doubts.

"Continue," Marla said.

"I hired a few boys from the university, Mom. They are my seniors and were ready to do the dirty work for a measly job at the council and some petty money. I was happy with it too. It was supposed to happen today. I thought everything would go along with the plan and was waiting for the good news, but -"

"But?"

"But the boys couldn’t do the work. Elliana got out of it unscathed. They came out all bruised and beaten up, something that I wanted to happen to Elliana. I have no idea what happened in that forest and I haven’t been able to get into contact with any of them,"

"I was talking to one of my lackeys to get some information out about what was happening in the male dorms," Madeline gulped when she saw Marla’s unwavering expression.

"She said some vampires were there to interrogate the males in the dorm. I have a strong feeling that the vampires and males that the girl is talking about revolve around this incident only. They have threatened the boys," Madeline ended, and Marla looked at her daughter.

Something still didn’t add up. This alone wasn’t enough to scare her daughter. There was something more.

"That’s not all. What else are you hiding? You can’t be sweating all because a few vampires threatened those boys, something which isn’t even confirmed. I didn’t raise you to be such a wuss. Would you like to add some light to it?" Marla asked as she leaned on the counter and took out her chewing gum to control her urge to smoke.

She can’t be smoking when she has to meet and dine with Aditya’s parents in a few seconds. It will put a bad impression on them.

"I... I tried to call the boys to get some insight on the matter and threaten them, but someone else picked up the call," Madeline paused.

"It was a female. She said she would make me regret ever messing with her. I am not sure if she was talking about herself or Elliana. Things just seem different now that Elliana has married that ugly prince. It’s like she has become untouchable and greater than us -"

Pat!

A large slap echoed in the empty washroom and Madeline’s head jerked sideways. Marla looked at her with a glare that was enough for Madeline to tremble in fear.

"I didn’t raise you so you can sit around praising your enemies. Do you think that bas*ard child is more powerful than us just because she got married to an ugly prince? What a shame!" Marla grabbed Madeline’s chin in a steel-like grip, and the latter’s eyes brimmed with tears.

"I am sorry, Mom. This mistake won’t be repeated. This time I’ll ensure everything is foolproof and this girl doesn’t come out of it unscathed," Madeline begged, and Marla loosened her grip.

"The fresher’s party Prom is coming in a week, Mom. She is one of the contestants in the voting pool for being the prettiest girl of the year," Madeline gulped when one of her mom’s well-manicured nails started digging into her throat.

She needs to convince her mom anyhow, or she isn’t sure about Aditya and his family, her mom would surely disown her at this pace. Madeline bit her lower lip.

"Believe me, Mom. I have something for her this time around. It will hurt her pride and leave her emotionally wrecked, something that will hurt her more than physical pain. I am sorry that I couldn’t do it right, the first time," Madeline said, and Marla looked into the confident eyes of her daughter before humming.

"You better not ruin it this time. If I heard the tiniest hint of complaint that something bad happened again, and it came to the council, you also have no idea how cruel I can become to my own daughter. So you better prove your worth to be my daughter and eligible for the queen’s position, yes?" Marla said, and Madeline bobbed her head up and down, fear evident in her eyes.

"Great. Now put a soft smile on that face of yours and apply some ice packs to your cheeks and eyes. Return after a few minutes when you look presentable enough, okay?" Marla smiled like she was the best mother in the world, her demeanor changing completely, and Madeline nodded.

"Thank you for this opportunity, Mom. I won’t let you down," Madeline said before leaving and rushing to the kitchen and service area where she was sure she would get some ice packs.

Marla looked at the back of her daughter and clenched her fists.

This won’t do. She believed her daughter and knew that Madeline wasn’t heartless enough to do something really bad to Elliana.

Marla was pretty shocked when she heard that Madeline almost got Elliana r*ped thrice, but it was all under the influence of her friends. Madeline alone is not capable of something evil.

If things went out of hand, she would have to jump forward and help her daughter.

Even Marla couldn’t help herself but wonder what kind of abilities Elliana really had. This wasn’t the first time she came out of a situation unscathed.

Apart from their kingdom, they were never able to hurt Elliana out of the palace. It’s like she always slips up like some power is helping her.

How can a girl be so lucky all the time? Half of Madeline’s words didn’t make sense to her.

Madeline said she hired boys to hurt Elliana, but the boys came out beaten black and blue? She said Elliana was probably alone in the forest. Does that mean Elliana beat them up?

As far as she knows her stepdaughter, Elliana doesn’t have it in herself to tattle tale about her sufferings to anyone. Isn’t that how she got bullied all the time for 13 long years?

So how come the vampires knew about her wounds and went to interrogate the boys? Has Elliana really changed among vampires and told them everything, or is that-

That the prince is spying on her?

Marla’s eyes raised at the second possibility because it looked strangely plausible.

There is no way a vampire prince whose mother was killed by a species would accept a girl from the same species easily. The prince might really be suspecting Elliana and spying on her.

It means the boys were beaten by the spies that the prince might have sent for Elliana.

If that’s the case, things would turn really ugly if he kept suspecting Elliana since she is a replacement for Madeline.

Marla gritted her teeth before she walked out of the washroom, putting on that smile on her face that said everything was alright even when her mind was in complete rage.