Shadows Of Loyalty

Chapter 1

Playful temptations

Charlotte clung tightly to Conley Crack's embrace, panting heavily in fright. Her entire body was drenched, with strands of wet hair clinging messily to her shoulders.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly with each breath, and the man watching her felt a growing, barely restrained heat stir within him.

This woman was truly a bewitching little minx, growing more adept by the day at stoking his desires.

"Do you know what a 'lovebirds' bath' is?" Conley Crack murmured devilishly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Damn it, she was going to call the police.

This man was in poor health yet still so shameless-honestly...

Flustered beyond measure, Charlotte could only splash the water in protest, forcing a playful laugh. "Honey, let's play in the water! Come on, splash with me-like this! Hahaha, so much fun!"

But then, her hands were pinned down by his.

She bit her red lip, brows furrowing in suspicion. What was he up to now?

If he dared take advantage of her while she was unwell, she'd beat him to a pulp in seconds.

"Honey..."

"I want to..."

Charlotte clenched her fists, ready to retaliate-until her downcast eyes suddenly caught sight of a small bottle on the floor.

That bottle... wasn't it identical to the one Bailing had given her?

Judging by where it had fallen, it must have slipped out of Conley Crack's pants.

Could the mysterious figure behind all this be Conley Crack?

Charlotte had just lifted her head when the man's domineering kiss claimed her lips. Lost in thought, she barely registered the act.

So he knew everything but chose to keep it from her? What was his game?

The searing kiss grew more intense, snapping her back to reality. With a sudden push, she broke free and leaped out of the bathtub.

"Honey, this bottle is so pretty. Where did you get it?" she ventured, testing the waters.

Conley Crack's expression darkened, but he remained silent as he slowly stepped out of the tub.

"Are you probing me?"

Charlotte blinked, feigning confusion. "Probing? Honey, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Should I spell it out for you?"

Faced with his icy seriousness, she faltered, unsure how to respond.

"That night, you were sleepwalking. I saw you with Scotfield Mark. Need me to go on?" Conley Crack cut straight to the chase.

The bluntness caught Charlotte completely off guard. How was she supposed to answer that?

In one swift motion, Conley Crack pinned her against the wall, his large hand gripping her chin and tilting it up until his lips hovered dangerously close to hers. "What else do you want to know?"

Stay calm. Charlotte furrowed her brows, maintaining an air of bewilderment. "Honey, I really don't know what you're talking about. Sleepwalking? What things? You're not making any sense."

"I'll never admit it, no matter what."

"You sleepwalked. You went to see Scotfield Mark, and I promised to protect you-so I did," Conley Crack replied in a low voice.

So it really was him!

Charlotte's furrowed brows remained tense, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. "Honey, I really don't sleepwalk. I don't remember anything at all! dammy... You don't think I'm lying, do you? That I'm a bad girl?"

"I believe you, and I also trust Dr. Margret's diagnosis. After you fell asleep, I had him examine you. You do have somnambulism. I could let it slide, but why did you test me? That's what I find strange." He left the words hanging, but the implication was clear.

This man was sharp. Luckily, Margret Sonia was on her side-otherwise... Conley Crack was meticulous, and worse, he hid it well.

She hadn't even noticed being examined. From now on, she'd have to be extra careful.

"Honey, I wasn't testing you! What do you mean?"

Conley Crack suddenly pressed her against the wall, his lips hovering close to hers as he lowered his voice. "If you say no, I'll believe you. Next time you sleepwalk, I'll wake you up."

"Giggle, I knew you'd be the best to me," she replied sweetly.

"Don't you have anything else to say to me?"

So much time had passed, yet Charlotte had never brought up the subject. Now that the truth was out, he wanted to see how she'd respond.

Charlotte let out a heavy sigh, then stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Honey, I'm sorry. I was so foolish to make you marry me. I feel so guilty. I promise I'll cooperate with Dr. Margret and try to remember everything as soon as possible, okay? But... do I really know Scotfield Mark? Did I really meet him? What did I say? And how did I even sleepwalk all the way there?"

Her confusion seemed genuine.

Conley Crack studied her eyes intently, searching for any trace of deceit. Finding none, he believed her.

"Alright, what's done is done. There's no need to bring it up again. And you'd better pretend you never knew about this, understand?" he whispered.

"Hehehe, whatever you say, hubby."

Suddenly, Conley Crack's face loomed closer, and his domineering kiss crashed onto her lips.

"Hubby, mmm-"

Resistance was futile.

This man was utterly overbearing, each kiss stealing her breath away.

Charlotte, I hope you're truly sick and not deceiving me. Otherwise... no one gets away with lying to me.

Charlotte raised a small hand to push him away, but before she could, Conley Crack's entire body slumped into her arms.

"Hubby? Hubby!"

That's right-the man had passed out mid-kiss.

Seriously... unbelievable.

Summoning her Herculean strength once again, Charlotte dragged Conley Crack back to the bed.

She tossed aside the damp towel and... for a moment, she seriously considered just walking away. But remembering how he had genuinely helped her before, she ultimately relented-clad him in fresh underwear and tucked him under the blankets.

Ugh, a first in her life. Her face burned crimson as an apple.

Her gaze lingered on Conley Crack's face, where his furrowed brows had tightened once more.

Conley Crack's words carried hidden meanings-he clearly didn't fully trust her. Scotfield Mark had raised a valid point: why would a man like him insist on marrying a fool? What reason did he have to keep her by his side? What was his real agenda?

She had to get to the bottom of this.

For now, though, playing dumb and acting pitiful seemed to be working. At the very least, it had bought her some time to keep him at bay.

But next time might not be so easy. If she slipped up... Every step from here on out had to be taken with extreme caution.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Dakota Catherine glanced at the caller ID and smirked coldly. Finally-the person she'd been waiting for.

Making sure Conley Crack was still unconscious, she sent a quick text to Margret Sonia, then slipped out under the pretense of buying medicine for her husband.

Half an hour later.

Dakota Catherine regarded Dakota Hurley with a faint smile as he stood before her. "Dad, if I remember correctly, this is the first time you've ever called me on your own. Three years, and you finally remembered you had a daughter. To be honest, what brings you here to meet me alone?"

Dakota Hurley couldn't quite decipher the meaning behind her smile, but it unsettled him. He took an involuntary step back, his hands fidgeting nervously.

Lovebirds bath

"Dad, I suggest you hand over your phone, voice recorder, and anything else you're using to gather evidence against me. Otherwise, we won't be able to have a proper conversation. After all, you're meeting me alone behind Auntie and Dakota Charles's back-shouldn't you show some sincerity?" Charlotte had seen right through him, her tone laced with a warning disguised as concern.

He remained silent, his gaze fixed on her, unreadable.

"I hardly recognize you anymore," he finally muttered.

"Of course not. You've forgotten who I was long ago these past three years. Dad, by blood, we should be the closest people in the world. And yet..." She smirked coldly. "I won't lie to you. Will you hand those things over yourself, or should I have someone help you?" With that, she clapped her hands lightly.

Two men entered immediately, pinning Dakota Hurley down as they frisked him thoroughly. Once they confiscated everything, they left without a word.

"I'm your father! How dare you treat me like this?" Dakota Hurley roared, his face flushed with fury.

"Seems you've forgotten-*you* begged for this meeting. With that attitude, do you really think we still have anything to discuss?" Charlotte shot back, her voice icy.

Though seething, he forced himself to calm down and took a seat across from her. "Three years... I never realized you were such a master of deception. Impressive."

"Deception?" She let out a hollow laugh, her eyes sharp as daggers. "Funny. You were the one who personally shipped me off to the mental hospital. You, Auntie, and those quack doctors all insisted I was ill. Now you're calling it an act? Isn't that just admitting you were wrong? If I wasn't sick, locking me up would be illegal confinement-wouldn't it?"

"You-"

"Dad, if you'd bothered to visit me even *once* in three years-just *once*-you'd have seen my condition improving. I spent every day wondering... *Am I really your daughter?* How could you do this to me?" Her voice steadied, eerily composed. "Turns out, I *am* your daughter. And you *were* cruel enough to abandon me. So... why seek me out now?"

"I..." He lowered his voice, tension coiling in his words. "The truth is, you're formidable. You've got the entire Conley family under your thumb, your status untouchable. You've crushed Anita and Dakota Charles completely. I know I'm next-you'll come for me with everything you've got, won't you?"

"Smart man." Charlotte tilted her head, her smile chillingly serene. "You know I won't strike lightly. But when I do... it'll be fatal. So, what is it you *really* want to say?"

It had never crossed his mind that father and daughter would end up like this. No-that wasn't true. The moment Dakota Hurley had stood by Anita's side, this path was inevitable.

"Wicky, now that you've married into the Conley family and live as their young mistress, with them unable to do anything about you, why cling to the past? I'm begging you, let our family go. After all, we're still family, aren't we?" he shamelessly pleaded.

Charlotte could only respond with a bitter smile.

"Wicky, please, I'm begging you-"

"Begging me? 'Now that I've married into the Conley family and live as their young mistress'-is that supposed to be a compliment?" Her voice dropped to a seething whisper. "You think I got here by luck? Every step I took was by my own strength, none of it thanks to you. When they hurt me, did you ever speak up for me? When they tormented me, was I just supposed to endure it, but when I fight back, I should show mercy? Since when was that the rule? Who decided that?"

"No, that's not what I-"

"Dad." She sneered, the word dripping with mockery. "Do you actually believe you deserve that title? Don't forget-right now, you're the one begging me. I'm not giving you a chance to negotiate. Do you understand?" The cold amusement in her eyes made him flinch.

"So... what do you want?"

"That's my question for you. What do *you* want? You dragged me out to be a sacrificial bride, and I followed your plan step by step. And still, you won't leave me alone? Is your end goal to take my life? Spit it out-what are you here to discuss? You get one chance. Make it count." Her tone was glacial.

"Let me go."

"Just you?"

"If I can't convince you to spare them... then at least let me live. I don't want to die." Dakota Hurley groveled, his voice trembling.

The man who once carried himself with pride now cowered like a rat. How pathetic.

Kenny let out a humorless laugh as she stood, tilting her head as she studied him. "If Anita knew the man she loved just abandoned her and the others, what do you think she'd do? I used to think you were just spineless. Now I see the truth-you'll side with whoever benefits you most. I used to pity them. But now? They're just as pitiful as you are. So, Dad... what if I refuse?"

"I... I just want to live. Is that wrong?"

"Wanting to live isn't wrong. But what about me? Was it wrong for *me* to want to live? What right do you have to demand anything from me?" Her voice was quiet, but every word struck like a blade.

"Then... what exactly do you want from me?" Dakota Hurley asked, bewildered.

"I heard Anita has some evidence against me, planning to use it at Grandpa's birthday to take me down, right?" She arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with mockery.

"No, I-"

"Since I already know everything, don't bother lying, okay?" Charlotte's tone was laced with icy sarcasm.

Dakota Hurley fell silent.

"If you want to live, you'd better make yourself useful. Besides, now that you've seen my true face, keeping you alive isn't exactly easy. I need you to prove your worth-then... do something for me. Succeed, and I promise I'll spare your life. How's that?" Charlotte asked with a smile.

But that smile was terrifying.

"You... how did you become like this? Or were you always like this? I... I can't see through you anymore. When did you change?"

"Tch. Shouldn't you know best? The moment you threw me into that mental hospital, you should've known I'd turn out this way-and that your day would come too. Did you really think you could crush me at every turn? I'm not here to negotiate. I'm giving you a choice. Understand?" Her patience was wearing thin.

"But... how? What do I do?"

A file was flung in front of him. "Follow what's written here, and I'll let you live. If you dare make things difficult for me, I swear I'll bring the entire Dakota family down. Let's be honest-you don't care about anyone but yourself. You want to survive, you want control of the Dakota family. I can help you with that."

"You... you'd help me? No. That's impossible."