<h4>Chapter 161 - INTRUDER</h4>


    "Phoenix, is there something wrong?"


    Catherine Grace called out behind me. I flinched, surprised to know she was there. I didn''t even notice her entering my room.


    ??


    I blinked several times and pulled myself out of the trance I was currently into


    before tearing my gaze from the window where I could see nothing but the stretch of dark horizon.


    The sky looks lonely. There''s no stars nor moon to make it lively. For some reason, when I was still staring at the window, specifically towards the inky sky,?Ace unceremoniously popped inside my thoughts. Then my heart ominously started to beat like crazy—the way it would beat when I was running a race. I suddenly asked myself if he''s okay.


    I sighed. I found myself walking away from the window.


    "I''m fine Cat. It''s just I suddenly felt something weird….I don''t know why…. Perhaps, I''m tired. It''s been a long and exhausting day." I replied, and smiled to make it sound convincing.


    Catherine wasn''t fooled. But she was understanding enough not toment. She followed me with her eyes until I was seated on the settee inside my room.


    "Sorry to barge in like that…. I knocked a couple of times. When there was no response, I decided to walk in. I just want to check that you''re okay." She exined as she sat beside me.


    "It''s okay…. I don''t actually mind." I replied. "Did Lucas Nichs call?"


    There was a momentary pause. My pulse rate quickened and suddenly my heart started to race inside my chest as I waited for her response.


    Catherine had told me the whole truth—she didn''t provide it voluntarily though— I had to squeeze it from her through pleading.


    After bothering her nonstop for nearly an hour, she gave up and told me everything, including the police''s n to trap Samantha and arrest her tonight.


    Ace and Lucas had gone to Greyson Mansion to help capture Samantha and after hours of waiting we haven''t received news from them. That''s why I''m wondering if something bad happened.


    "Yes, my cousin called…That''s why I came here to your room to tell you what I learned." Catherine replied after a long pause.


    I took a deep intake of breath then sp my fingers together. I stared at her with wide, anxious eyes while bracing myself for what she had to say next.


    "Aside from minor injuries, Ace is fine."


    I let go of the breath I didn''t know I was still holding. Relief swept through me. The heaviness in my chest faded. Thank goodness! He was fine…. I wanted to leap with joy after receiving the news but I calmed down.


    "And Samantha...What happened to her?"


    "Shemitted suicide—drank a bottle of pills and died of overdose."


    Exactly what Samantha would do to avoid going to prison and to evade all the humiliation and embarrassment she would suffer when the truthes out. But not a nice move…. She would rot in hell…. There would be no escape for her there.


    "Did they recover the body?"


    "No, she nted time bombs all over the house and burned the Greyson Mansion before the police could recover her body. Ace and Lucas were just lucky to escape just in time before the whole ce exploded."


    I gasped. So that was Samantha''s n to burn everything with her. It was a relief to know she did not seed in harming everyone.


    Silence descended on the room. None of us spoke for a matter of seconds.


    I vacated the settee and folded my arms beneath my breasts. "I''m happy that it''s almost over. We only have one person to deal with. "I murmured, referring to Vince.


    Once Ace''s step brother is caught, we could return to Brittania and resume our life normally. The thought gives me so much hope for the future. I''m looking forward to meeting my daughters again. I hope someday we could be one big happy family.


    "We don''t need to wait long. Now that Samantha was dead, Vince would be forced out of hiding. And once that happens he would be captured by the police.


    "Let''s just hope he''s caught before he does further harm."


    "I''m hoping the same…." Catherine replied. She rose from her seat and prepared to leave. "I''ll be going to the kitchen to prepare dinner for us. I will update you once Lucas calls again."


    "I''ll help you in the kitchen." I offered and made my way towards the door but sheid a?hand on my shoulder to stop me.


    "It''s fine…. I insist you stay here and have some rest." She said, shaking her head.


    I sighed in defeat and nodded my head. I


    don''t how much option left but to follow.


    Catherine Grace gave me a smile then pat my shoulders reassuringly before hurrying to the door then closing it behind her


    When I''m finally alone, I sat on the settee, wondering if Ace was fine or if his wounds were taken care of. I wonder what he was doing at the moment. I don''t even know what time he will return tonight.


    Minutes passed by when there was a piercing crush of a fragile object hitting the hard floor.


    Startled, I automatically abandoned my seat.


    What the hell was that? I asked myself and intently listened to the sound.


    Unfortunately, I heard no other sounds. It became silent again.


    With quick but careful steps I was making?my way to the door. I took a deep, long breath and pulled it open.


    "Catherine?" I called out but the deafening silence answered back.


    I hastily closed the door behind me and decided to go to the kitchen and ask her what was going on.


    I was on my way to the kitchen when I saw the beautiful silver antique vase was broken after falling to the floor. Its shards were shattered to the floor like dotted constetions.


    "Cat? Where are you?"


    There was no response.


    I sighed and moved forward to the kitchen. However, I wasn''t able to make a step forward when a hard objectnded on my head and I fell to the floor with a thud.