Chapter 232/Trapped Between Two Flames

Chapter 232: 232/Trapped Between Two Flames

Chapter 232

Stephanie’s point of view

I swallowed hard over the ache in my throat, forcing my lips to form a pale, obedient smile to hide the pain eating me alive. I gave a small nod:

"Alright, Alexander... Let’s go."

He stood up from the bed, his warm hand wrapping securely around mine as he pulled me up.

My chest constricted sharply at the thought of facing Cedric downstairs. *How was I going to stand in front of both of them, carrying these filthy secrets and this suffocating leash Vincetti had around my neck?*

We stepped out of the bedroom. My fingers instinctively intertwined tightly with Alexander’s, drawing every ounce of strength from his grip to steady my trembling steps.

We descended the grand staircase together, our rhythmic footsteps echoing faintly through the quiet estate. His hand wrapped warmly around mine, yet my fingers remained ice-cold, my heart hammering wildly with every step closer to the dining hall.

At the bottom of the stairs, we spotted Cedric standing near the long dining table. He was dressed in a simple black shirt, his dark hair artfully tousled, but his sharp, piercing gaze tracked us the second we crossed the archway.

His eyes locked onto me with keen intensity. A faint, unreadable smile touched his lips the kind that silently attempted to read right through my pale demeanor before he flicked his eyes toward Alexander:

"You two took your time..." Cedric remarked casually, his voice smooth. "...I was beginning to think the food would get cold."

Alexander stepped forward, gently pulling out the head chair at the table for me to sit. "Stephanie was just feeling a bit exhausted..." He murmured, placing a hand on my shoulder. "...Rest now, my love."

I sat down slowly, deliberately keeping my gaze lowered to avoid direct eye contact with Cedric. Yet, I could physically feel the weight of their combined presence flanking me on either side. Cedric pulled out the chair directly to my left, while Alexander took his seat to my right, positioning me right between them.

A quiet stillness fell over the table, interrupted only by the faint clinking of silverware as the staff served the first course.

I kept my eyes fixed on my plate until I felt Cedric leaning slightly toward me. He tilted his head, his sharp brows lifting in a silent, probing inquiry:

"You don’t look like yourself today, Stephanie..." He noted softly, his voice cutting through the quiet. "...Did something happen to upset you?"

My stomach twisted into a hard knot at his question. I glanced toward Alexander, who was watching me with that same deep, protective warmth.

Underneath the table, my trembling fingers squeezed the fabric napkin in my lap into a tight ball. I forced my vocal cords to steady, adopting a tone of utter composure:

"I’m fine, Cedric..." I lied smoothly, offering a faint nod. "...It’s just the usual morning sickness and pregnancy mood swings. Nothing more."

Cedric held my gaze for a beat longer his deep eyes proving he didn’t buy the lie entirely before he offered a subtle nod and raised his glass to take a sip.

Across from him, Alexander reached over the table, placing his large palm gently over my hand in a comforting gesture:

"Have a little bit of the warm soup then..." He urged softly. "...It will settle your stomach."

I picked up my spoon with a heavy hand, struggling to swallow every spoonful under the crushing weight of the secrets screaming inside my chest... *Vincetti’s impending nightmare, the scorched earth between me and Keira, and the complex, perilous dynamic binding me to the two men sitting beside me in storm-charged silence.*

Slowly, I lifted my eyes, scanning the numerous empty seats stretching down the long table. The sheer silence of the mansion felt unusually vast, and a sudden realization hit me.

Setting my spoon down, I looked between the two brothers, posing a casual question to break the quiet:

"Where is Grandfather Victor? And Valentina... I didn’t see them at dinner?"

Cedric cut a small piece of steak on his plate with effortless elegance. He looked up at me, a gentle, relaxed smile gracing his face as he answered in his deep, grounded voice:

"Grandfather went to the country estate to rest for a few days..." He explained smoothly. "...Getting away from the noise of the city mansion always does wonders for his health."

He paused, offering me a warm, reassuring gesture with his hand as he added:

"And Valentina went with him so he wouldn’t feel lonely out there... Your sister is remarkably sweet. She looks after him with an impressive amount of care."

Alexander smiled fondly at his brother’s words, nodding in quiet agreement before resuming his meal.

In that exact split second, my whole body went rigid.

Underneath the table, my fingers gripped the cloth napkin so fiercely my knuckles turned stark white. I dropped my gaze back to my plate, desperately hiding the dark, bitter flash that took over my eyes and the hysterical, mocking laugh clawing to escape my throat. ℴ

*"Remarkably sweet..."* Cedric’s words repeated in my mind with excruciating irony.

*They had no idea.*

Cedric and Alexander only saw the polished surface: a devoted, sweet granddaughter caring for her ailing, elderly grandfather. But I was the only one who knew the filthy, sickening truth hidden behind the gates of that remote estate. The truth that made the very blood in my veins run cold.

Valentina hadn’t gone out there to keep him company or tend to his health... They had gone together to indulge in their twisted, sick rituals without restraint to fuck freely far away from suspicious eyes, sinking into the same bed without a shred of shame or fear of being caught by the two grandsons.

I swallowed the bitter bile rising in my throat, forcing myself to draw a shaky breath as I looked from Alexander to Cedric, my heart aching with a strange pity for their total ignorance.

I forced my voice into a faint, soft murmur to bury the dark truth deep inside:

"Yes..." I whispered, my lips curling into a hollow, empty smile. "...Valentina has always been so sweet to Grandfather."