Chapter 469: Secrets in the Shadows

Ethan Carter – The Silent Guardian

The night was eerily quiet, the weight of secrecy pressing down on the air like a thick fog. I stood outside the private estate Chris had secured for Rhea, watching as the doctor exited the room, his face pale.

"It's done," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "A healthy baby boy."

A Blackwood.

Chris remained still, his gaze fixed beyond the doctor as if lost in thought. Then, without looking at me, he spoke.

"Ethan, let Skylar not know about this. Understood?"

I nodded. Understood didn't mean agreed.

But it wasn't my place to question the King—not openly.

"I'll handle it," I assured him.

Chris finally turned, his eyes sharp. "No mistakes, Ethan."

No mistakes. But mistakes were inevitable when a Blackwood secret existed.

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Skylar Blackwood – A Queen's Suspicion

I stood on the palace balcony, watching the city below as the night stretched on. Something was wrong.

Chris had been distant lately—more than usual. Ethan, too, had been unusually careful with his words around me. That only meant one thing.

They were hiding something.

I had ruled this empire in Chris's absence, secured its foundation, and yet, there were still secrets beyond my reach.

Not for long.

I turned to my personal guard. "Follow Ethan. Discreetly. I want to know everything."

The guard bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

I smirked. If Chris thought he could keep secrets from me, he had forgotten who I was.

Skylar Blackwood always found out the truth.