My Accidental Husband Is My Revenge Partner-Chapter 423: A Gun Shot

The king gestured toward one of the maids standing nearby. "Please escort her to the restroom."

Anastasia gave a small, polite nod and followed the servant out of the dining hall. The moment they stepped into the hallway, she quickly scanned her surroundings. Izara had disappeared from sight, but Anastasia knew exactly where she had gone. Upstairs.

They turned a corner, and the maid opened a door. "Here is the restroom, ma’am."

Anastasia forced a small smile. "Thank you. I can find my way back after."

The maid hesitated. She had likely been ordered to escort Anastasia both ways, but after a brief pause, she nodded and left.

The moment her footsteps faded, Anastasia stepped out of the restroom and hurried toward the staircase, careful to keep her pace measured in case someone was watching. She reached the top and glanced down both ends of the dimly lit hallway, searching for any sign of Izara.

Then, she spotted her.

At the far end, Izara was standing close to Desmond, speaking in hushed tones.

Anastasia approached them quietly, her heels barely making a sound against the polished marble floors. Izara caught sight of her first, her brows instantly knitting together in suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" Izara’s voice was sharp.

Desmond’s eyes widened slightly, though he remained guarded.

Anastasia met their gazes evenly. "I need to speak with both of you."

Izara and Desmond exchanged a look. They already knew what she wanted. She would try to convince them to show her the hideout and offer her help.

Izara hesitated, clearly torn. Her stance was rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Desmond, however, was watching his sister carefully, waiting for her reaction.

Anastasia exhaled, slipping her hands into her pocket and retrieving a small card. "This is my phone number. Contact me if you need anything." She stretched out her hand, eyes filled with silent hope.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then, surprisingly, Izara reached forward and took the card.

Anastasia raised a brow, slightly taken aback.

"Actually, you were right," Desmond admitted. "We do need help." He shot his sister a glance before continuing, lowering his voice. "We actually have a br—" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Izara."

The trio froze.

Anastasia turned sharply and found herself face-to-face with the queen, her piercing gaze sweeping over them with suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" The queen’s question was directed at Anastasia, her voice carrying a subtle edge.

Anastasia masked her shock quickly, her mind racing for an excuse.

"I saw Izara and Desmond out here and decided to greet them," she said smoothly. "I didn’t see them at the table, so I was a bit worried."

The queen didn’t buy it. That much was obvious. But Anastasia wasn’t concerned—she knew the older woman wouldn’t push her too hard. Not when she still had leverage over both the king and queen.

The queen’s gaze flickered to her children.

Izara was the first to move. "We were just about to leave," she said, her voice unreadable.

Desmond followed her lead without hesitation. While their mother’s attention had been on Anastasia, Izara had discreetly slipped the card into her pocket.

Anastasia and the queen locked eyes once more.

Just as she was about to walk away, the queen spoke again.

"I hope you’re not out here threatening my children."

Anastasia stopped.

A wry smile played at her lips. "Why would I do that when I already have you and your husband wrapped around my finger?" She tilted her head slightly. "Unless... there’s something they know that you don’t want me to find out?"

The queen’s expression darkened.

"You should know your place," she warned. "You are still a foreigner here. And I am the queen."

Anastasia let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head in mock amusement. "What do you expect me to do? Bow down and chant, May the queen live long?" She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."

The queen’s lips parted, but before she could respond—

A gunshot.

Loud. Echoing.

Anastasia’s stomach dropped.

Her mind immediately went to one person.

Xavier.

Without hesitation, she turned and ran toward the source of the gunshot, the queen following closely behind.

By the time they reached the courtyard, chaos had erupted.

Xander was on the ground, blood seeping from his leg. He clutched his thigh, his expression twisted in pain.

"Fuck!" he cursed, his breathing ragged.

Julian was already there, barking orders to the palace guards. "Get him to the hospital. Now!"

Xander had been retrieving documents from his car when the bullet struck him. It had come out of nowhere.

Anastasia’s gaze instinctively flicked up—toward the rooftop.

Xavier was gone.

Her pulse quickened.

He had been the one to pull the trigger.

But why?

She turned her attention back to Xander as he was loaded into a car, the tires screeching as it sped toward the hospital.

Anastasia exhaled sharply, pushing away the flood of questions racing through her mind. She needed answers.

At the hospital, Xander had already been admitted, doctors working on his injury.

Anastasia lingered outside the hospital, arms crossed, her mind still reeling.

Then, her phone buzzed.

A message.

From Xavier.

I’m here.

She glanced up and saw him standing at the far end of a corner, leaning casually against the wall.

Without hesitation, she walked toward him.

The moment she was close, she didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Why did you do that?"

Xavier smirked slightly. "You already know the answer."

Her eyes narrowed. "We never planned to kill him—not yet. So why?"

Xavier exhaled through his nose, his amusement fading. "I wasn’t trying to kill him."

Anastasia crossed her arms. "Then what was that?"

"I needed to remind him that he’s not invincible," Xavier said, his tone cold. "Xander walks around like he owns everything. He needed a reality check."

Anastasia scoffed. "So, you just... shot him?"

Xavier tilted his head. "It got the message across, didn’t it?"

She wanted to argue, to tell him he was reckless, but a part of her understood.

Xander had been growing bolder, taking more risks. He had assumed he was untouchable. Xavier had just shattered that illusion.

Anastasia sighed, rubbing her temple. "You’re impossible."

Xavier smirked. "And yet, you’re still here."

Before she could respond, he reached out, gently pulling her closer.

"I missed you," he murmured.

Anastasia stiffened at the unexpected words.

Her heart tightened.

"...I missed you too," she admitted quietly.