Chapter 256

A mocking smirk curled at Silas Eisner's lips before he shut his eyes with finality, his body language screaming refusal to engage further.

"Visiting hours are over." A guard peered in, his tone clipped. "You'll have to come back another time."

Evelyn Roland opened her mouth to protest, but the man cut her off with an impatient wave.

Her gaze lingered on Silas's motionless form. With a quiet sigh, she gathered her handbag. Before leaving, she leaned close to his ear. "Don't let them turn you into their pawn."

She missed the way his eyes snapped open the moment she turned away.

Only when the footsteps faded did Silas slowly unclench his fists. As he started to rise, a familiar shadow caught his peripheral vision.

A black mask materialized soundlessly at the visitation window, blotting out the light.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he sank back into the metal chair.

The masked figure produced a white porcelain vial from their robes, placing it gently on the table.

"You performed well." The voice grated like sandpaper. "Pity this was always your fate."

The robes swirled, and the visitor vanished as silently as they'd come.

Silas stared at the vial for a long moment before bursting into laughter. He snatched it up and downed the contents in one go.

By the time the porcelain shattered on the floor, scarlet already trailed from the corner of his mouth.

——

Sunlight stabbed at Evelyn's eyes as she stepped outside the prison gates.

She inhaled deeply, trying to shake the chill clinging to her bones.

"Are you certain you don't know Silas?" She turned to Sebastian Valdemar.

The man's brow furrowed. "I have rivals, but none who'd take things so personally..."

He trailed off. The Valdemar Group had made countless enemies, yet Silas's hatred seemed laser-focused on him alone.

"This runs deeper than it appears." Sebastian's eyes darkened. "On the surface, he came for you. But the real target was always me."

In the distance, tree shadows shuddered—a fleeting darkness darting between them.