Bella's POV
The afternoon sun cast long shadows as Vance struck up conversation with Serena during our walk through the gardens. His sudden chattiness sent warning bells through my mind.
"Ah, so you're the Royal Beta's daughter. That explains quite a bit," Vance remarked, his tone casual yet probing.
For the past several minutes, Vance had been unusually engaged in conversation. This shift in his demeanor troubled me deeply. The deliberate way he'd suggested this stroll and now peppered Serena with questions felt calculated, dangerous even.
Derek's discomfort was palpable throughout our walk. I caught him multiple times attempting to redirect his wife's attention, trying to signal her to stop talking. He'd tugged at her arm gently, mentioned feeling tired, even suggested they head back early. But Serena remained oblivious to his increasingly desperate attempts to rein her in.
