Avenging Luna
Chapter 100: She Knows

Chapter 100: She Knows

Lily POV:

So, Mike came up down with some thing, and Nelly, ever the saint, offered to watch him while I "graciously" brought some fruits to the hospital and take them to Leila. Honestly, it’s all so pathetic—the way these people bend over backward for each other like they’re in some perfect little world.

But I had to play along. Couldn’t have them thinking anything suspicious now, could I?

"Yeah, great," I muttered under my breath as I grabbed the basket of fruits, forcing a smile onto my face. Ugh, the things I had to do to keep up appearances. Pretend to be the supportive friend, the reformed woman who just wanted to help.

But what they didn’t realize was that I was always three steps ahead of them.

I knew exactly what I was doing. Every little move, every perfectly timed visit—it all served a purpose. And this one? This was just another piece of my carefully constructed puzzle.

The more I showed up, the more I acted like the caring, loving person I was pretending to be, the less anyone would suspect me. They’d all think I’d changed, that I was someone trustworthy.

Even Nelly, with all her suspicion, would eventually fall for it.

Because, let’s be real: who would ever suspect poor, sweet Lily?

As I made my way to the hospital, I had to fight the urge to laugh. Leila was still recovering, Drake was a mess, and everyone was so focused on them that no one noticed how perfectly everything was falling into place.

This was just the beginning. And the best part? I wasn’t even close to being done.

I was going to take everything. Everything they had.

Plastering the most humble smile I could muster, I knocked and walked into Leila’s hospital room. "Good morning," I said sweetly, pretending to let my gaze linger with concern on her fragile form. Leila lay facing the wall, silent, and for a second, suspicion pricked at me. Her breathing was steady, and I could hear her heart rate—she was awake. So, why wasn’t she answering? Oh well, not my problem.

I continued, "Nelly told me to bring you some fruits. She’s taking care of Mike since he’s not feeling well."

Just then, Leila sat up slowly, her gaze sharp and unwavering as she looked at me. Her next words hit like a punch: "Did you poison him, like you did me?"

To say I was dumbfounded would be putting it mildly. This...this little witch had figured it out. But if she thought she’d catch me off guard, she had another thing coming. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I wasn’t about to give her any ammunition, certainly not by falling for some cheap trap. Who knew if she had some recorder or nurse lurking around the corner, waiting for a slip-up?

So, I put on an award-winning shocked expression, complete with wide eyes and a trembling voice. "What? Why on earth would I poison my baby?" I forced a laugh that was just shaky enough to sound real, and added, "Leila, you’ve been through a lot, and I know the wolfbane ordeal was horrible for you...but me? Poisoning you? Poisoning Mike?" I let my voice crack just a bit, enough to plant the seeds of doubt. "I’m here trying to help you."

Leila narrowed her eyes, unmoved. "You expect me to believe this act? You might’ve fooled them, but not me, Lily. I know exactly who you are." Her tone was cold, relentless.

I forced myself to stay calm. She was bluffing. She had nothing—no proof, no witnesses. "Leila," I whispered, letting my voice sound hurt, "I only ever wanted a second chance. To make things right." I let my gaze drop as if in shame, a faint blush on my cheeks for added effect. I paused, forcing a shaky breath before meeting her eyes again. "I came here to support you because I thought you’d understand forgiveness. I guess I was wrong."

With that, I turned on my heel and strode out, feigning pain and betrayal with each step. But the second I stepped out of her room and down the hall, a wicked smile crept onto my lips.

One thing was clear: Leila had no solid proof. If she wanted to play this game, then fine. I was just getting started.

She really thought I’d jump up and down, admitting I poisoned her? Oh, please. If Leila believed I’d fall for that again, she had another thing coming. Of course I did it. And the satisfaction it would give me to laugh in her face and watch her squirm...well, I’d just have to hold that in. She’d already caught me slipping once with that recording; I wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.

As I walked down the hospital corridor, my smirk deepened. I was so close I could practically feel the title of Luna calling out to me, the power and respect it would bring. And with Leila stuck in that hospital room, doubting her own mate and unable to shake off suspicion, she was practically handing it to me on a silver platter. Soon enough, she’d have no allies left. Drake would be looking for comfort, and who better to offer it than me?

I’d worked too hard to let one foolish slip-up ruin everything. All I had to do now was stay patient, play my part, and keep weaving my web until she was so entangled there’d be no way out.

Leila wouldn’t see it coming.

Just as I was walking down the corridor, I spotted Drake, deep in conversation with Leila’s doctor. He was asking about the condition of his precious mate and their baby, looking so concerned—so devoted. Well, that would change soon enough. Showtime.

I forced a few tears to well up, arranging my face into the most remorseful, empathetic expression I could muster. I let my shoulders slump slightly, as if carrying a heavy burden. I took a slow, shaky breath, just enough to make it look like I was holding myself together by a thread. Then, with a few hurried steps, I approached them.

Keeping my eyes downcast, I made sure to brush past him, just close enough for him to notice me, while I acted like I was too hurt to face him.

"Lily," he called, catching my hand, his eyes filled with worry. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

Perfect. He took the bait.

"Oh, it’s... nothing," I said hastily, rubbing away my fake tears and avoiding his gaze, as though I didn’t want him to see the *pain* I was supposedly feeling. "I’m fine, really." I pulled my hand away, giving him a quick, fragile smile as if I were holding myself together just for him.

"Lily, are you sure?" His brows knitted together, his concern deepening. Good.

"I..." I hesitated, looking down as if conflicted. "It’s nothing, really," I said again, a little more quietly, pulling my hand free and walking away before he could ask anything more.

I didn’t look back, but I knew he’d be watching, wondering what was wrong, and no doubt letting his imagination take him where I wanted it to go. All I needed now was for that seed of doubt to take root. And soon, he’d come to me on his own, seeking comfort. With Leila barely speaking to him, it was only a matter of time.

Leila POV:

Okay, either I was the bad one for accusing Lily, or she was a damn fine actor. Watching her walk out of my hospital room just now, with her soft voice and those tear-filled eyes, you’d think she was the most innocent, fragile soul on the planet. And yet... something didn’t sit right.

Maybe I was the one being unreasonable. She’d built this perfect reputation, this caring, doting mother image everyone adored. I was the one with a history of complications lately, the one with the baby whose survival was a miracle. Everyone would say I was stressed, that I was blaming her because I needed an outlet for my pain.

But then, I couldn’t ignore the prickling in the back of my mind, that sixth sense telling me to watch my back. I knew what I’d felt when I saw her smile earlier—a little too pleased, a little too forced. She was trying to get a reaction from me, I was sure of it.

Still, I’d have to be even more careful. I had a baby boy to think about now, and I’d do whatever it took to protect him.

I knew, deep down, that Lily was involved in my poisoning. I could feel it in every smug glance she threw my way when she thought no one was looking, the way she feigned innocence so perfectly, like she’d been rehearsing it for years. But the problem was... I had no proof. No one would believe me without it. Not even Drake.

How could I expose her without looking desperate or paranoid? She didn’t even live with me, and she barely visited. To everyone else, we were practically strangers outside of our shared social circle. She never even came to my home, so how on earth would she have managed to slip wolfbane into my system without anyone noticing? To everyone else, it was absurd, and, to be fair, even I was struggling to piece it together.

The worst part was that if I voiced my suspicions, it would only make me look more guilty, more unhinged. No one would suspect her, the perfect mother, the "reformed" woman. They’d see me as the villain, projecting my issues onto someone who, by all appearances, had turned her life around. But I knew better, and I had to find a way to make everyone else see it too.

If I could catch her in a moment, a slip, something concrete... then maybe, just maybe, I could finally expose her.