Chapter: 698

But then, from the opposite corner, came another voice, lower, haunting. "Shelia.. That voice-it wasn't Alicia's, it couldn't be!"

Shelia spun toward the sound, eyes wide, but she saw nothing but darkness.

The voice was a raspy whisper, echoing through the room like a forgotten memory. "Shelia..."

A scream tore from Shelia's throat.

That voice-it sent a shock of terror down her spine.

It sounded just like Caden's mother, in her final moments, those agonizing moans as she lay dying in childbirth all those years ago.

Shelia couldn't bear another second in the room. She stumbled blindly, her breath coming in ragged gasps, frantically searching for the door.

Then, just ahead, a faint greenish light flickered to life.

Shelia's eyes darted towards the light, and what she saw made her blood ran cold. Surrounded by a sickly green glow was a woman, her hair wild and unkempt, her face shadowed, but her swollen belly was unmistakable.

A white dress clung to her frame, and down her legs, blood streamed in sickening rivulets.

Alicia's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the eerie figure before her, momentarily stunned.

Could this ghostly creation.. be modeled after Caden's mother?

Shelia's reaction was far more extreme-she let out a bloodcurdling scream and collapsed, shaking uncontrollably.

The woman, with deliberate, almost haunting movements, glided toward Shelia, her fingers curling around Shelia's throat like ice. She leaned in, her voice a low rasp. “Why did you kill me? Why?"

Shelia, already fragile under the weight of her guilt and terror, crumbled completely, fainting as the last of her strength drained away.

The ghostly figure then immediately dropped the act, brushing her hair out of her face with a nonchalant flick of her wrist. She looked at Alicia and calmly said, “Ms. Bennett, she's out cold."

Alicia snapped out of her daze, her pulse racing as she moved quickly to restore the power.

The room instantly bathed in bright, steady light, bringing an abrupt clarity to the surreal scene.

She eyed the model, her expression hard to read- somewhere between intrigue and wariness.

"You should get yourself cleaned up," Alicia remarked flatly.

The hired actress, however, shrugged with a smirk. “What's the rush? Besides, what if she wakes up again? I could give her another scare, you know, just to help."

Alicia crouched down to check on Shelia, who, despite experiencing the fright of her life, seemed physically unharmed.

Well, at least Shelia would have something to think about for a while.

Alicia rose and dusted off her hands.

The model, who was standing aside, giggled gleefully. "I scared her so easily. Was my performance really that convincing?"

She spun in a mock-dramatic whirl, baring her teeth in a grotesque grimace. "Give me back my life. I died so tragically because of you Alicia's stomach twisted uneasily at the theatrics, but before she could respond, Ciara burst out of the lounge, glaring at the model. “Quit messing around! Can't you see you're scaring her? Come here at once!"

The model stuck her tongue out but obediently shuffled over to Ciara, offering Alicia a quick apology before darting away.

Alicia's gaze returned to Shelia, still sprawled on the floor.

But just as she reached for her phone to call someone for help, the door swung open.

Caden stood there.