~Dalia's POV

"What the hell are you doing here, Judith?" Vladimir roared, his voice echoing through the walls as I froze.

It was the same question I would have asked but my throat went dry with shock the second I saw her sitting there.

"I— Why would you ask me that?" Judith stuttered while Vladimir’s mother looked between the two of them in confusion.

Irritated by her response, Vladimir closed the distance between them in a blink.

And then grabbed Judith by her wrist. "Don't even try to play games with me, Judith? What the fuck are you doing in my house after what you dared to do to me—"

"Vladimir Knight! That is no way to handle your mate!" His mother suddenly snapped, snatching Judith's wrist out of his hold. "If there is a problem, we are going to sit like civilized wolves and talk about it!"

"Mother you don't understand! She is a fucking—"

"Sit down Vlad! Let's talk over dinner!" His mother insisted. “No son of mine is going to use such vulgar terms on a woman!”

She made Judith sit too and took it upon herself to serve everyone— including me.

Satisfied with the food glaring back at us, she smiled.

"Now, what is the matter?" She asked, her voice back to the shrill tone she had when we stepped in.

Vladimir, obviously straining his anger, adjusted in his seat beside me and was about to begin speaking when Judith burst into tears.

"It's all my fault— I made a mistake!" She cried out. "I should have told you the truth from the start... I am so sorry. Please do not punish me like this..."

Again, I found myself freezing. What game was she playing now?

Vladimir's mother subtly held Judith’s hands, squeezing them for comfort. "Do not worry dear, whatever it is. Don't feel bad, just tell us. What is it?"

"There is nothing mother!” Vladimir exploded, his face turning red with anger. “She simply abandoned me and got herself some other mate because apparently I am blind and stupid!"

His mother's eyes widened in shock as she turned to Judith once more. "Holy goddess, is this true?"

"No, mother..." Judith sniffled, shaking her head. "It isn't true... That's why I am saying that I am sorry because I didn't tell you— I didn't tell you that I have a twin sister!"

Vladimir almost on his saliva. While my eyes dropped in shock as we both chorused. "What!?"

"Yes, I— I have a twin sister…” she nodded, shamelessly. “She is the one who got mated to Karl Danver. Not me... I love you Vlad... How can you ever think that I don't?" She said, lying shamelessly through her teeth.

At this point, silence filled the dining room and my mouth dropped open.

"Yet, you didn't show up to our reveal party. Why?" Vladimir countered.

Her eyes watered even further as she clutched his mother's hands— even trembling.

"Mother, I know it will sound like an excuse but I got locked up in the house... They thought I already left, not knowing I was still inside and my phone wasn't with me. There was no way for me to reach you..."

I could not believe my ears at this point. Goddess!

Judith deserved an Oscar for lying so perfectly.

Vladimir pinched his nose and glared at her. "So you expect me to believe that all this was just a misunderstanding— and by some miracle you have a twin sister who looks exactly like you?"

"Yes... That's it. That's all I am trying to say." She whimpered. “And it’s not by some miracle. It is true!”

"And where is this twin sister?" Vladimir asked, in a low threatening voice that should have made her confess her lies.

But Judith wasn't backing down. "She is on honeymoon with her mate… ofcourse."

A cold shiver shot through me and I could barely breathe.

Why was she lying so much about this? Didn’t she want Karl anymore?

"Can you get her on the phone?" Vladimir added and Judith instantly turned pale.

"I— I don't want to disturb her and her mate. They might be busy... You know..." She laughed awkwardly.

"Oh Vlad, the problem is sorted already. I am sure we are going to meet Judith's twin sister during the ceremony. We have nothing to worry about," His mother cut off, saving Judith.

But that was when Vladimir held my hand.

"Well, you are right about one thing mother, there is nothing to worry about because I have already chosen someone else. I shall be having the ceremony with Dalia here and not Judith."

His mother instantly froze as her eyes shot to her son— never once coming to me.

"Vlad, what are you saying? Do not be impulsive in your decision and drag your poor assistant into this mess!"

As if that was the cue Judith had been waiting for, she instantly burst into tears.

But for the first time, Vladimir's mother ignored her and got off her chair.

She walked to where her son was and gently took his hand. "Please come with me."

Vladimir met my gaze as if to ask for my permission. I simply nodded, while flashing him a small smile.

Getting my message, he reluctantly got up and went with his mother, leaving me on the table with a crying Judith.

The second the sound of their feet disappeared, Judith stopped crying and glared at me.

"What do you think of my acting, Dalia?" She whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief and cold excitement.

Shock shut through me and I shook my head in disbelief. "What do you think you are doing? Have you lost your mind? Isn't Karl enough for you?"

My questions only expanded the smile on her face as she leaned closer to the table and said;

"I am playing a double game here, Dalia... unfortunately you are just a pawn..."

"W—what are you even saying?" I stuttered, the words stumbling out of my mouth in shock.

"Isn't it obvious?” she whispered, and I could only stare back in shock.

“I am going to get Vlad's money and keep Karl to myself. What do you think, it's a perfect plan, right?"