Mischievous Xander

When Zella suddenly appears in the room, fear claws at me, and I nearly sink into the ground. Did she hear what we were saying?

"What were you guys hiding from me?" Zella asks, her voice unexpectedly calm, though her sharp gaze betrays her suspicion.

"Zella, you see…" Ophelia begins hesitantly. "I don't know how to explain this, but while Jake and I were dueling, some—"

"I won, didn't I? I won," I interrupt, cutting her off mid-sentence. I can see she's about to reveal the truth, and Old Man Duke swallows nervously. Zella looks even more confused now, her frown deepening.

"When I came back to this room, Ophelia and I made a bet," I explain, keeping my tone steady. "If I won, she'd let me see you and our daughter. But if I lost... I wouldn't be able to see you again."

"S-So what happened?" Zella asks, her curiosity clearly piqued.

"I won."