Elona's trembling hands held the pregnancy test, the pink plus sign blurring as tears of joy and fear mingled. Her 21st birthday, once a celebration of independence, now marked a new, unexpected chapter.She wiped her tears off and once again took another look at the pregnancy test in her hands to confirm if it was not an illusion. Seeing that nothing changed, Elona Carter was ecstatic. She felt that this is by far the best birthday she's ever had. A perfect transition from childhood to adulthood."You see, my dear. I had told you that all your symptoms are typical of early pregnancy but you doubted me. Now that it is confirmed, I need to give you some medication and a diet plan. This will help prevent anemia as well as help control the morning sickness. If there is no problem, you should come for prenatal checkup every month. Oh, and these are your prenatal vitamins." Said the doctor with a kind smile on his face.The old doctor could not help but admire Elona. In his line of work, h
As Alaric burst into the room, his piercing gaze fell upon Elona's ashen face, contorted in a sneer of disdain. "You dared to orchestrate this elaborate scheme against me, didn't you?" he accused, his voice dripping with contempt. "Drugged me, manipulated those thugs into taking me to your lair in the morning, making a mockery of my integrity by suggesting I engaged in carnal acts with you utilizing Harley's discarded sheet. And all the while, you shamelessly accepted my compensation. Your audacity knows no bounds, Elona. You are truly despicable."Elona's eyes widened in confusion and disbelief as she tried to make sense of Alaric's accusations. "I... I have no idea what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice trembling with shock and disbelief.Alaric let out a scornful laugh before projecting his phone screen onto the wall, revealing a video confession from three rough-looking men. Each man detailed Elona's involvement in drugging both him and Harley, setting up the incrim
Harley's envy for Elona simmered deep within her, a shadowy green that twisted her thoughts. From her hidden vantage point, she watched Elona tackle each task with a fierce tenacity that was both inspiring and infuriating. With each determined stride, Elona seemed to radiate a light that Harley felt she could never match. It was no secret that Elona harbored a crush on the young master of the prestigious Royale family, the wealthiest lineage in all of country M. Yet, despite the symphony of mutual admiration that played from afar, their lives had never collided in the same room.What truly captivated Harley was the sheer resilience Elona exuded in the face of overwhelming adversity. Disowned by their father as a consequence of Harley's and Helena's cruel machinations, Elona refused to let despair claim her. Instead, she juggled a whirlwind of part-time jobs, her days a blur of busy streets and bustling cafes, all to support herself and fund her college education. Each drop of sweat
The extensive glass facade of the Royale Group gleamed under the midday sun as Elona stepped inside, her heart thumping against her ribs like a caged bird longing for freedom. Clutching her resignation letter with a trembling hand, she made her way to the HR department, her heels echoing against the polished marble floor. With each step, a mixture of dread and relief swirled within her.“Good morning, Elona!” chirped a cheerful voice, breaking through her reverie. It was Mara, the HR assistant, her bright smile contrasting sharply with Elona’s somber expression. “What brings you here?”Elona summoned a half-hearted smile, the weight of her decision pressing heavily on her shoulders. “I need to submit my resignation,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper.Mara’s brow furrowed as she extended her hand for the letter. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. You’ll be missed around here.” The faint scent of her floral perfume hung in the air, masking the sterile smell of paper and ink.Nodding, E
The plane ride to Country C was a grueling marathon, but Elona's determination to find the Chinese doctor who had once helped her kept her going. As she sat in her seat, the steady hum of the engines filling the cabin, Elona's mind wandered back to the events that had led her to this moment. Memories of her time at the Royale Group lingered, the sting of betrayal and deceit still fresh in her mind.Elona's fists clenched, her anger and determination reigniting her resolve to clear her name and seek justice. She thought about Harley's treachery, Alaric's blind trust, and the devastating consequences that had unfolded. A fierce determination burned within her, fueling her quest for truth and redemption. The long plane ride seemed to fade into the background as Elona steeled herself for the challenges ahead, her heart fixed on finding the doctor and uncovering the truth.As the plane touched down in Country C, Elona's heart skipped a beat with anticipation. A sense of hope swelled within
As Elona settled into the serene countryside of Country C, Master Fu welcomed her with open arms. However, his warm smile belied a surprising condition. "I have no heirs, child," he said, his eyes serious. "I am far from home, and if you wish to receive my support, you must give up design and become my closed-door disciple." Elona hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. But something about Master Fu's kind eyes and gentle demeanor put her at ease. She agreed to his terms, and soon found herself immersed in the ancient art of traditional Chinese medicine. Under Master Fu's guidance, Elona learned the intricacies of herbalism and acupuncture. She spent her days studying the properties of various plants, practicing the delicate art of needle placement, and assisting Master Fu in his clinic. But Elona's creative spirit couldn't be contained. As a side job, she began teaching art to a group of local children. She saw in them a spark of talent and potential, and was determined to h
Master Fu’s peaceful morning was shattered by the shrill ring of his phone. Grumbling under his breath, he answered, his tone sharp. “What do you want?”The voice on the other end was smooth, calculated. “Master Fu, this is Senior Royale. I’m calling about my grandson.”Before he could finish, Master Fu exploded into a tirade, hurling insults in his native tongue. “How dare you! Years of neglect, and now you grovel before me?” His anger wasn’t entirely for the man on the phone, it was for Elona, his closed-door disciple, whose life had been tangled with the Royales in ways he despised.As the old master vented, the door creaked open. Elona stepped inside, her expression calm despite the chaos around her. “Master, I need—”“Elona, Out!” he barked, waving her away. “Let me finish this nonsense, then I’ll take you and the triplets to the amusement park!”Though his words were spoken in his native language, Senior Royale caught them. His heart skipped a beat. The triplets?The realization
Elona stood in the opulent west wing of the newly acquired Royale villa, her gaze locked on the man lying motionless in the hospital-grade bed. Alaric Royale. The name that once brought a rush of joy and now only summoned a whirlwind of bitterness and pain. His chiseled features were untouched by time, but the vitality that once burned in his dark eyes was absent.She drew in a shaky breath, clutching the edges of her lab coat as if to steady herself. It had been years since their last encounter. A separation filled with anguish, betrayal, and secrets she had vowed never to revisit. Yet here she was, standing at the epicenter of her past.“He’s the patient,” she murmured, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain composed. Master Fu, standing beside her, gave a curt nod. “He is. You’ll treat him, as agreed.”Her stomach churned. “You knew,” she said, her tone sharper now, anger bubbling beneath the surface. Master Fu didn’t flinch. “I knew. And I also know you’re the only one
The cold evening air bit at Alaric’s skin as he pulled up to the gates of his villa. His mind was still reeling from his conversation with Senior Royale. The curse. The imposter. His mistakes.He had wasted over a year. A year living under the same roof as a fraud while his real wife was out there, alone. No. In the hands of another man. She didn't have her memories and that made her vulnerable. His grip on the steering wheel tightened. Never again. He will set things right. This was his vow to himself. As his car rolled to a stop, his sharp eyes caught sight of two figures standing near the gate. Edward Callahan. Tania. A frown settled on his face. What were they doing here? Hadn’t they just returned from abroad?Alaric stepped out of his car, his powerful frame cutting through the dim light of the villa’s entrance. The moment Edward spotted him, the man’s piercing blue eyes locked onto his like a predator finally finding its prey.Tania, on the other hand, looked livid, arms cross
Alaric sat in his dimly lit study, the ticking of the antique clock grating on his already frayed nerves. His fingers drummed against the polished wood of his desk, his mind replaying a detail that had been gnawing at him for days.Elona was five months pregnant when she arrived in Country M with Kian. That was nine months ago. He clenched his jaw. With the right calculations, she must have given birth. So, where was the baby? Or… babies, since Elona had a history of giving birth to multiples? Since he now knew the truth, it was obvious that he was the father. A shiver ran down his spine when the possibility of Kian claiming them as his flickered in his mind. His breath turned shallow, his obsessive compulsive need for order clashing violently with the messy reality he had allowed to unfold. He was a man who thrived on control, everything in its rightful place, everything accounted for.But this? This was chaos. An unprecedented kind of chaos. The real Elona was out there, with anot
Meanwhile, in Velmorah, Aria decided not to worry about Alaric's threats or the threats that loomed in the dark. She did not even want to deal with the imposter who stole her identity. For her, the past life she once had, did not matter at all. What really mattered were her children, the flesh of her flesh. Now that they had reconnected, she felt whole again.Aria sat in the warmth of her private study, her delicate fingers curled around a porcelain teacup as she watched the triplets animatedly recount stories from their past. The soft glow of lanterns cast flickering shadows on the walls, but the only thing that held her attention was the three little geniuses before her.She had barely known them for a short while, yet it felt as though her soul had recognized them long before her mind had. They were the missing piece of her heart, the heartbeat she didn’t even know she had lost.The triplets took turns to help her understand the life they shared before she was hurt whilst accompany
The prison wardens office swirled with a suffocating tension. The revelation hand a certain ominous feeling that was pressing down on everyone in the room. The forensic team stood frozen, the results on their screen a glaring contradiction to what had been believed for over a year.“This… this isn’t possible,” the warden stammered, his face turning ashen. His fingers trembled as he clutched the paper detailing the fingerprint results. Feeling the colad and fore doing aura emanating from the Royale grandfather and grandson, his knees nearly buckled. Alaric sat across from him, and his cold, calculating gaze drilling into the man like a sharpened blade. His posture was deceptively relaxed, but his aura was suffocating. Even the most hardened officers in the room dared not meet his eyes. “Explain,” Alaric said, his voice dangerously quiet.The forensic specialist cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Sir, according to our records, this woman”, he pointed to the prison cell's current oc
Aria paced the length of the study, her fingers curled into tight fists. The weight of the letter still lingered in her mind, but it wasn't fear that consumed her now, it was frustration."Who does he think he is?" she muttered, her voice sharp with anger. "He had an imposter by his side for a year, and now he thinks he can summon me like I owe him an explanation?"Kian leaned against the desk, his arms crossed. "Alaric is a desperate man, Aria. The fact that he’s finally figured out that the woman beside him isn’t you means he’s digging deeper. We need to be ahead of him." Aria exhaled sharply. "I don’t care about what he figures out. I care about keeping my children out of this mess."Master Fu, who had been silent until now, set down a document on the table. "We might not have the luxury of staying out of it anymore. Our sources have confirmed something troubling, Maribel is not working alone. There's someone orchestrating this deception from the shadows."Aria stilled. "What do yo
The days that followed were quiet but suffocating. The peacefulness of the Vortigen Grand Villa, which had once been a refuge, now felt more like a gilded cage. Aria's thoughts often wandered back to the time before her memories had been taken. Before she had learned the truth about her life, about Alaric, and about the world she had once belonged to. But those days seemed like a distant dream now.She focused on the present, on her children, and on the promise she had made to Kian. They would not let the past destroy what they had built. However, the threat of Alaric’s return still loomed over them like a dark cloud. The truth was out there, and it was only a matter of time before it reached him.Kian, ever the protector, was especially vigilant. He spent long hours studying the files and information Master Fu had gathered about Alaric’s movements, searching for any sign of weakness, anything that would give them an edge. He wasn’t about to let Aria slip through his fingers again. F
The ominous, foreboding feeling that lingered over Vortigen Grand Villa had settled into a tense silence. Master Fu paced slowly in the study, deep in thought, while Kian and Aria sat with the triplets, who were now playfully rolling around on the rug. Their laughter seemed like a distant melody, a stark contrast to the storm brewing on the horizon.Aria absentmindedly played with Allie’s hair, the feel of her daughter’s soft curls grounding her, anchoring her to the present, to the family she had found in Kian and these beautiful children. She had made her decision. The past, with all its pain and lies, was behind her.But even as she tried to savor this peace, her thoughts kept drifting to the woman who had taken her place in Alaric’s life. The imposter.A gnawing unease began to grow inside her, the certainty of what had been done to her, what had been done to the triplets. It was a heavy feeling, one she couldn’t shake. Kian noticed her growing quiet and placed his hand gently on
The Vortigen Grand Villa was silent, tension swirling around the whole place. Master Fu sat at the grand study’s desk, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished mahogany surface. The triplets sat on the plush couch with Kian and Aria, their small faces serious as they waited.In his hands, Master Fu held the DNA analysis results, sent directly from Alaric himself, who had unknowingly delivered the truth into their hands.The envelope was already opened, the paper slightly crumpled from his grip. He had read the contents twice, yet the the truth was a bittersweet revelation. Although he expected it, Aria had no recollection of her past. But it was also good for the triplets to know that they were right.Aria took a slow breath, her fingers entwined with Kian’s. Although she had braced herself, though she had always felt an inexplicable connection to the triplets, a part of her still feared, feared that this was all a cruel trick of fate.Master Fu exhaled sharply before looking
Forty-Eight Hours Later......Alaric Royale sat behind his massive oak desk, his fingers rhythmically tapping against the polished surface. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, but his mind was anything but calm.Forty-eight hours had passed. A whole two days since he had Maribel’s blood drawn under the guise of a routine check-up. Any minute now, he knew he'd be drawing closer to the truth.A soft ding echoed in the quiet office and his phone screen lit up with a message from Dr. Hastings: "The results are ready. You’ll need to see this in person."Alaric’s grip on his phone tightened. He rose from his chair, grabbing his coat with a sharp motion before striding out. Jimmy, who had been standing nearby, immediately fell in step beside him. “Sir?” Jimmy inquired, softly.“We’re going to Hastings’ clinic.” Alaric's response was clipped. Jimmy felt the suppressed rage and shuddered inwardly. Jimmy needed no further explanation. His sharp gaze darkened as he nodded. “Understood.”Dr. H