CHAPTER 49: THE MYSTERY OF STEPHANIE

AXEL’S POV

I walked away from the kids and Isla and followed Ray towards my secret study, and it was only when the door was firmly shut that I realized Ray hadn’t come empty-handed.

I didn’t need anybody to tell me that Ray had done some work. After he had used those specific words in front of my family, I knew it had to be something serious or even worse.

“What is it?” I asked, settling into the armchair.

Ray had a sinister look on his face, and I was tempted to ask him if he was ok, but I knew Ray intricately, and I knew that his words were his own.

“Sire, do you recall having me look into Stephanie because you didn’t trust her?” he asked, and the frown that had been sitting on my lips evaporated.

“Yes, I do, but Isla trusts her, and I think I can, too,” I replied without much thought.

“Sire,” he said slowly, and I looked at him quizzically.

“Is there a problem? What did you find?” I asked him again.

Ray took a chair and sat opposite me, his hands pulling the paper he had been conce