Bella stood over Cyrano, her mana blazing like a sun determined to scorch everything that dared to exist before it.
Cyrano trembled on the broken marble floor, both hands raised in surrender. His round face was slick with sweat, his breath coming out in desperate gasps. The entire mansion creaked under Bella's mana pressure, chairs splintering, windows shattering, servants fleeing in terror.
To anyone watching, it looked like a goddess of wrath had descended.
And in that moment… she had.
Because someone had tried to kill her child.
And Cyrano was the first and only lead.
"Bella…. Please listen," Cyrano choked, barely able to lift his head. "I swear….I swear on my life and everything I own…I did not order Kelvin's death!"
"Liar."
Bella's voice was quiet, but filled with violence strong enough to suffocate him.
Cyrano's body spasmed under the weight of her mana. "B‑Bella… I admit—I hired a scout. Just a scout! To track Kelvin's schedule. I needed leverage to force Jonny to hand over that artifact. But murder? A child not to mention Edward,? Bella, I'm greedy… but not evil!"
Bella took a step forward.
Cyrano flinched.
"You expect me to believe that someone used your poison, your contacts, and attacked my child…but you had no part in it?"
Cyrano shook his head rapidly. "Yes! Yes, exactly! I…I don't know how they got it. Purple poison extract is rare, but not impossible to steal. Someone… someone framed me!"
"Convenient excuse," Bella muttered.
She raised her palm.
Her mana condensed into a dark crescent-shaped arcane blade,perfect, silent, deadly.
The spell hummed with enough destructive force to erase a man from existence.
Cyrano fell onto his back, kicking desperately against the floor, eyes wide with horror.
"Bella..Bella please! Think! If I wanted, Kelvin dead, would I use something so obvious?! Purple poison is my signature…everyone knows that! Why would I leave evidence pointing directly to me?!"
Bella hesitated, for a fraction, But she hesitated.
Cyrano, noticing the shift, pushed his trembling voice louder.
"If I wanted a murder… I would never leave a trail. And you know it."
Bella's jaw clenched.
Her hand lowered a little, just a little…but it was enough for Cyrano to breathe again.
He swallowed hard before whispering, "Someone used me. Used my reputation. They wanted you to look here. To waste time on me."
Bella's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Cyrano whispered one word.
"Because they're want to end the trail with me, because they are smart to take advantage you your anger to kill me."
And suddenly, Bella froze.
She could feel it.
A cold thread through her spine.
A subtle wrongness she had been ignoring in her fury. This attack wasn't sloppy, It wasn't crude, It wasn't emotional, It was calculated, Perfectly timed. Perfectly executed.
Perfectly planted to mislead her.
Her mana dimmed ever so slightly.
Cyrano saw that and pushed again. "Bella, please… I know how this looks. I know I am the easiest person to suspect. But I would never hurt Kelvin. I love that boy. He's… he's Adward's son. My nephew."
His voice cracked.
"He's the only family I have left who doesn't look at me with disgust."
Bella clenched her fists.
There it was…the truth she could sense but didn't want to acknowledge.
Cyrano was a snake, manipulative, greedy, grasping for wealth and power…
But he wasn't a murderer.
And she is angry, terrified, mother-frenzied…had almost executed him.
Bella closed her eyes briefly, mana settling around her like falling snow instead of roaring flames. She took a slow breath… then spoke.
"Tell me everything."
Cyrano collapsed forward, sobbing in relief. "Y‑yes! Yes, I will! Anything!"
Bella waited. Silent. Unmoving.
Cyrano wiped his eyes, trying to find some dignity before speaking.
"I made the Purple poison extract three months ago" Cyrano Explained frantically. "And that batch was stolen, three weeks ago. I filed a complaint with my supplier, but they said they couldn't trace the thief."
Bella cursed under her breath.
Cyrano continued, "I thought the thief would sell it on the black market. I had no idea… no idea it would be used on Kelvin."
He looked up at her…eyes red, voice raw.
"Bella… I would kill for gold. Yes. I would betray for power. Yes. But Kelvin? That boy has never hurt me. He calls me Uncle. I would never… never…"
His voice crumbled.
Bella exhaled, slow and heavy.
The crescent blade dissolved into black mist.
Cyrano stared, breath stolen by disbelief. "Y‑You… believe me?"
Bella folded her arms. "I believe you're stupid, greedy, and careless enough to cause this situation...but not heartless enough to kill Kelvin."
Cyrano let out a broken laugh. "I… I'll take that."
Bella knelt, lifting his chin with surprising gentleness...though her eyes still burned with lethal promise.
"You will give me the names of everyone who had access to your order. Every apprentice. Every courier. Every alchemist. Every person who touched that vial."
"Yes," Cyrano whispered. "I'll make the list right now."
"And if you're lying," Bella added, her tone lowering to a whisper that froze his blood,
"I won't break your door next time, Cyrano."
He nodded rapidly. "Y‑Yes, understood."
Bella straightened.
Her aura was calm, but dangerous, like a blade wiped clean but never sheathed.
Before leaving, Cyrano's voice cracked again.
"Bella… I truly am sorry."
Bella paused at the doorway.
For a second, her shoulders softened.
"I know," she said quietly. "This time… I forgive you."
Then she stepped out.
Cyrano collapsed, sobbing into his hands.
.........…..
Back at Everlong Manor
Edward rose as Bella walked in.
Kelvin slept peacefully by Michael's bedside.
Bella brushed Kelvin's hair, whispering, "Mommy's here."
Edward swallowed hard. "Did… he do that?"
Bella shook her head.
"No. But his stupidity allowed someone else to hide in the shadows."
Dark mana flared around her, quiet, cold, and merciless.
"They touched my child."
Her gaze sharpened with murderous purpose.
"I'm going to touch them back."