Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 359

Chapter 359: Sneaky Vera
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CHAPTER 359

~Snow’s POV~

Zara’s lips parted slightly, and she stepped closer, reaching out to touch my arm. “We are,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Snow. I should’ve told you. I should’ve trusted you.”

I looked into her eyes, searching for something—an answer, reassurance, maybe even forgiveness for my own anger. What I found was sincerity, regret, and the unwavering love that had always held us together.

I sighed, pulling her into my arms. She melted against me, her head resting on my chest as I held her tightly.

“I can’t lose you, Zara,” I murmured, my voice breaking slightly. “You’re my everything.”

“You won’t,” she promised, her arms wrapping around me. “I’m sorry I made you feel like you weren’t part of this. I’ll do better. I swear.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead, my anger fading but the worry still lingering. “Just… don’t ever shut me out again. No matter what it is, no matter how bad it seems, we handle it together. Deal?”

“Deal,” she said softly, looking up at me with a small, tired smile.

For now, the tension between us had eased, but I knew this was far from over. We were standing on the edge of something far bigger than either of us, and the only way to survive it was to stand together.

But then, I wasn’t entirely honest with her myself and that was hurting me too.

‘Oh Zara… my love. I love you.”

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~Ella’s POV~

The guest room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of footsteps in the hallway. I lay on the bed, my injured leg propped up on a pillow, still sore from the attack. The pain had dulled slightly, but the stiffness in my muscles remained.

I sighed, staring up at the ceiling. Being injured like this was frustrating. I hated feeling weak, useless. But more than that, I hated knowing that someone out there wanted me dead.

A soft knock on the door drew my attention, and before I could respond, the door creaked open.

A maid entered, balancing a tray of food in her hands. She was young, dark-haired, and dressed in the standard uniform. But just as she stepped toward me, another figure appeared behind her.

“Let me take that,” Vani—one of the new maids—said with a polite smile. Her voice was smooth, her tone gentle.

The first maid hesitated. “Oh, but I was told to—”

“It’s fine,” Vani insisted, taking the tray with ease. “I can handle it. You go on and finish the rest of your tasks. I’m done with mine.”

The other maid gave a small nod before slipping out, leaving me alone with Vani.

I frowned slightly but forced a smile. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Vani replied, placing the tray on the bedside table. “You need all the help you can get, don’t you?”

There was something in the way she said it—something almost… amused. But before I could dwell on it, she turned to face me fully.

“You look like you’re in pain,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “How’s your leg?”

I exhaled. “Sore. But I’ll live. Also, you do not need to make a good name for yourself here in this household.”

“Oh no… I…”

“Zara already thinks highly of you, you know?”

“Well. I’m sorry then. I guess I should leave.”

“No. It’s okay,” I called out fast. “You can stay.”

Vani hummed in thought. “You know,” she mused, “a good foot massage could help. It’ll ease the tension and improve blood flow.”

I blinked. “Uh… that’s not necessary.”

She smiled, stepping closer. “Oh, come now. No need to be stubborn. You should let someone take care of you for once.”

I hesitated, but when I tried to sit up, a sharp ache shot through my muscles, forcing me to wince. Before I could protest, Vani was already at my side, her hands warm and firm as she eased me back down.

“See?” she murmured. “You need to relax.”

I sighed. “Fine. But just for a little while.”

Vani knelt beside the bed and gently lifted my foot onto her lap. Her hands pressed firmly against my skin, kneading slow circles into my ankle and calf. I had to admit—it did feel good.

But something felt… off.

I couldn’t quite place it, but there was an unsettling sensation in the air, like a shift in energy. Maybe it was just my paranoia from the attack, but something about Vani’s presence made my instincts prickle.

I studied her as she worked, her expression composed, her fingers steady. She looked completely at ease. But beneath that exterior, there was something else lurking in her eyes.

Something dark.

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~Vera’s POV~

I kept my touch gentle, my movements slow, as my fingers kneaded into Ella’s skin. From the outside, Ella saw me as the epitome of care and patience, a devoted maid tending to an injured guest.

But inside?

Inside, all I could think about was how easy it would be to snap her fragile ankle in my hands.

How easy it would be to press just a little harder—to send pain shooting through her body, to remind her how truly powerless she was.

She had no idea who I was. She had no idea how much I hated her.

I wanted to crush her. My goal was to silence her completely. I want her to feel regret for ever putting herself in my path.

“Not yet,” I reminded myself.

No, not yet.

She was still useful for now. Her suffering had only just begun.

Keeping my smile, I decided to engage her in a little chatter to help her relax and not sense anything.

“So, tell me about yourself.”

“I, huh… just lost my parents so…”

Ella had that look on her face as though she just caused something truly bad and I smiled.

All through till I left her, she said nothing, and that was it.

When I was done, I smiled and nodded as I walked away.

“Oh and Vani, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s okay.”