Chapter 56

**Aria’s POV**

Sophia stood there, arms crossed defiantly, her gaze sharp enough to cut through the tension that filled the air. “That will might be Aria’s own creation. Or perhaps Madam Osborne was simply too ill to know what she was signing.”

Her taunts landed like a physical blow, but I refused to show any sign of weakness. I couldn’t afford to.

My fists clenched tightly, nails digging into my palms, the pressure building within me like a coiled spring ready to snap. The wolf inside me stirred restlessly, its instincts urging me to retaliate. How dare she cast such accusations? How dare she question my integrity?

Alexander let out a heavy sigh, the burden of the moment weighing down on him like a leaden cloak. “With these objections, I can’t proceed with the transfer for now. We’ll have to pause the inheritance process.”

The atmosphere in the room thickened, tightening around us like a noose. I could feel my claws itching just beneath the surface, desperate for release. Poor Alexander, I thought, clearly regretting his decision to step into this tempest. I noticed him wipe a bead of sweat from his brow, his body tense as he closed the file, retreating from the confrontation.

I could almost hear his internal monologue, cursing himself for becoming entangled in this chaotic web. The outcome was far from what Margaret had envisioned, but for her, a mere delay was just another hurdle to bulldoze through on her path to victory.