Chapter 347:

Shelia's impatience, fueled by Caden's prolonged absence, had reached a fever pitch. She was consumed by rage, determined to unleash it upon Alicia. Without hesitation, she drew a knife from her coat and advanced toward Alicia's sleeping form, her movements slow and deliberate.

But as she neared the desk, darkness enveloped the room. Thick curtains obliterated all light, plunging the office into absolute blackness. Shelia froze, a chilling wave washing over her. She couldn't see her own hand before her face. Panic seized her, and she stumbled backward, desperate to escape.

Then, Alicia's voice, soft yet sinister, cut through the silence. "Shelia… don't you want to kill me anymore?"

Shelia's heart pounded. "A-Alicia?" she stammered.

Another voice, low and haunting, echoed from the opposite corner. "Shelia…"

This voice was unfamiliar, chillingly unlike Alicia's. Shelia spun around, her eyes wide, but the darkness yielded nothing. The voice, a raspy whisper, resonated through the room like a spectral echo.

"Shelia…"

A scream tore from Shelia's throat. The voice—it was the agonizing moan of Caden's mother, echoing her final moments during childbirth, years ago. Shelia couldn't endure another second. She fumbled blindly, gasping for breath, frantically searching for the door.

A faint greenish light flickered into existence. Shelia’s gaze snapped towards it, and a horrifying sight froze her blood.

A woman, bathed in a sickly green glow, stood before her. Her hair was wild, her face obscured by shadow, but her swollen belly was unmistakable. A white dress clung to her blood-soaked form.

Alicia gasped, momentarily stunned by the ghostly apparition. Could this be a manifestation of Caden's mother?

Shelia's reaction was far more visceral. A bloodcurdling scream escaped her lips as she collapsed, shaking uncontrollably.

The woman glided toward Shelia, her movements deliberate and spectral. Her fingers, cold as ice, closed around Shelia's throat. She leaned in, her voice a low rasp. "Why did you kill me? Why?"

Overwhelmed by guilt and terror, Shelia fainted, her strength completely spent.

The ghostly figure immediately dropped the pretense, casually brushing her hair aside. Turning to Alicia, she calmly said, "Ms. Bennett, she's out cold."

Alicia, jolted from her stupor, her pulse racing, quickly restored the power. Bright light flooded the room, revealing the surreal scene with stark clarity. Alicia observed the model, her expression unreadable—a blend of intrigue and apprehension.