The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot-Chapter 97: A Good Actor

Sophia’s breath hitched, her face draining of color as the shock rippled through the room. It felt as if someone had caught dirt on her, revealing hidden truths she’d carefully buried. Her hands trembled slightly in her lap, betraying her calm facade.

William’s eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze shifting frantically between Kiana and the portrait of Gracia. Evelyn’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing to make sense of Kiana’s innocent yet damning words.

Everyone was stunned, except for Sophia, whose face twisted into a mask of panic and anger. The atmosphere was thick with tension, each heartbeat echoing like a drum in the suffocating silence. William looked visibly shaken, his complexion pale as he stared at the portrait of Gracia. For years, he had accepted her death, grieved for her—but what if? What if she wasn’t truly gone?

Annabelle’s eyes narrowed, clearly trying to gauge the reactions around the room. Her usual smugness gave way to confusion, a flicker of fear dancing in her eyes. Evelyn could see the gears turning in Sophia’s mind, likely calculating how this revelation might unravel the delicate web of lies she had spun.

Sophia, on the other hand, seemed on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. The mask she wore cracked, revealing the fear that bubbled beneath the surface. "Kiana, darling," she said, her voice trembling despite her attempts to sound soothing, "sometimes memories can play tricks on us."

But Kiana wasn’t having it. "I’m not lying!" she insisted, her small fists clenched in defiance. The words spilled from her innocent mouth like a tidal wave, crashing against the already fragile atmosphere.

Evelyn, trying to steady her racing heart, reached out to place a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. "Kiana, honey," she said gently, "are you sure it was her?"

Kiana nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering. "She said her name was Gracie, like Mommy’s mom."

Evelyn exchanged a look with William, both of them grappling with the shocking possibility that Gracia might not be as gone as they believed. William seemed paralyzed, lost in thought, while Sophia’s discomfort only deepened. The tension in the room was palpable, each second stretching into an eternity.

Sophia’s eyes darted around the room, her mind racing. The corners of her mouth twitched as she fought to regain control. "Let’s not jump to conclusions, Kiana," she said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Perhaps you just saw someone who looked like her."

But Kiana’s stubbornness flared, a fire igniting in her bright eyes. "No! I know what I saw!" she exclaimed, her small voice ringing with conviction. The resolve in her tone only intensified the atmosphere, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.

Evelyn could see the raw fear etched on Sophia’s face, her eyes catching every twitch of her nerves. Sophia was like a coiled spring, ready to snap at any moment, and Evelyn was determined not to let her unravel completely.

"Mommy!" Kiana’s voice broke through the tension, pulling Evelyn back to the moment. The little girl picked up Evelyn’s phone from the table and passed it to her, her tiny hands eager. "Call Nanny and ask her to send pictures from my summer camp. She will find them in my album book."

The room fell silent as Kiana’s request hung in the air. Sophia’s reaction was immediate. "No need!" she blurted out, her voice sharp and cutting through the lingering shock. All eyes turned to her, astonished by her sudden outburst. She quickly cleared her throat, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "You must have seen someone else. Let’s continue dinner."

William’s expression darkened as he shook his head. "No, let’s see the picture." His gaze landed on Evelyn, a silent plea in his eyes. He needed to know the truth, to uncover the layers of deception that wrapped around their lives like a suffocating shroud.

Evelyn quickly nodded, her heart racing. She reached for the phone and dialed Agatha’s number, her fingers trembling slightly. The room buzzed with anticipation as they all waited, the tension coiling tighter with each passing moment.

Sophia couldn’t help but curse Maverick in her mind, wondering if he had done his job right twenty years ago. What if he hadn’t? What if there was more to the story than she could control?

A few minutes felt like an eternity before Agatha finally picked up, her voice crackling through the speaker. "Hello, Evelyn?"

"Agatha, can you send me the pictures from Kiana’s summer camp?" Evelyn asked, keeping her tone steady, even as her heart raced. "The ones in her album book."

"Of course! I’ll send them right away," Agatha replied, her voice warm and reassuring.

Evelyn ended the call, her pulse racing as she passed the phone back to Kiana. The little girl eagerly began flipping through the images, her eyes sparkling with excitement. But as she scrolled through, her gaze fell back on the portrait of Gracia, a frown marring her small features.

Before she could conclude her thoughts, Sophia leaped from her chair, startling everyone. She snatched the phone away, her actions surprising all. "Let me see!" she demanded, her voice dripping with an urgency that sent chills down Evelyn’s spine.

A sigh of relief escaped Sophia’s lips as she scanned the images, but it was short-lived. Disappointment clouded her face as she realized she was looking at someone else. She hadn’t even realized she had just fallen into Evelyn’s trap.

Evelyn exchanged a knowing glance with Annabelle, both of them acutely aware of Sophia’s act. "It’s not her. I was happy for a minute thinking my friend might be still alive," Sophia said, her voice breaking as she feigned tears, clearly trying to draw sympathy.

"Please," Annabelle scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You expect us to believe you?"

William, however, was oblivious to the underlying tension. His eyes glistened with tears as he reached for the phone, his expression filled with a mixture of hope and fear. "Let me see it," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

As he peered at the images, a heavy sigh escaped his lips. The realization of what Kiana had revealed washed over him like a wave, threatening to drown him in memories long buried. Evelyn quickly covered for Kiana, feeling the need to protect her daughter from the weight of the situation.

"She mistook her. I am sorry on her behalf," Evelyn interjected, her voice steady but laced with concern.

Kiana, sensing the tension, bowed her head in apology. "I’m sorry, Grandpa. I didn’t mean to hurt you," she said, her small voice filled with innocence.

William’s soft smile returned, the warmth in his gaze reassuring. "It’s okay, sweetheart," he said, patting her head gently. "Let’s continue dinner."

Sophia sighed in relief, her mask of calm slipping back into place as she settled back into her chair. Evelyn made note of the shift in Sophia’s demeanor, the way her eyes flickered with both relief and lingering anxiety.

The rest of the evening passed in a tense but quiet manner, Kiana engaging William with stories and laughter, her presence a bright spot in the darkness that seemed to linger. The dining room felt lighter, even as the shadows of the past hung in the air, lingering like ghosts waiting for their moment to reveal the truth.

Once it was past seven, the night fell quietly over the house, and Kiana and Evelyn prepared to leave. As they stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of the day began to lift, the oppressive atmosphere easing as they approached the car.

Upon entering their home, they found Zevian already settled in, his laptop propped open as he worked in the hall. "Daddy!!" Kiana exclaimed, her face lighting up like a beacon. She raced toward him, her tiny arms wrapping around his waist as he put away his work and hugged her tightly.

Evelyn joined them, her heart swelling with warmth at the sight. "How was your day, sweetie?" Zevian asked, his voice gentle and affectionate.

Kiana beamed, excitement spilling from her lips. "Mommy said I should show my acting skills! And I did good, right, Mommy?"

Evelyn nodded, her heart swelling with pride. Kiana had played her part perfectly, weaving a web of truth and deception that had unraveled Sophia’s composure.

"You did amazing, baby," Evelyn replied, ruffling Kiana’s hair affectionately.

Zevian smiled at his daughter, his pride evident. "I’m proud of you, Kiana. You’re at least good at acting," he said, leaning down to her level.

Kiana scowled at his response, sure he was mocking her for her grades.

Zevian paused, a playful smile spreading across his face. "I have some good news for you. We’re going camping tomorrow!"

Kiana’s eyes widened in delight, her small body bouncing with excitement. "Really?" she squealed, her voice ringing through the air like music.

"Yes!" Zevian confirmed, unable to contain his smile at her enthusiasm.

Evelyn couldn’t help but smile at the sweet interaction between her husband and daughter, the tension from earlier melting away like morning mist. She felt a sense of warmth envelops her, grounding her in the present moment.

"Can we have s’mores?" Kiana asked, bouncing on her toes as she clutched Zevian’s arm.

"Of course! We can have all the s’mores you want," Zevian replied, pinching her nose eyes.

Evelyn watched their exchange, her heart full as they began discussing their camping plans, the night turning lighter and brighter. Kiana’s laughter rang through the house, and for the first time that evening, the heaviness lifted, leaving behind only the warmth of family and love.