The next few days passed in a quiet rhythm. Elona found herself growing used to the subtle changes in Alaric’s condition. His vitals, though still fragile, were more stable. The room, once cold and sterile, now had a sense of life. The scent of herbs, remedies Elona had prepared herself, mingled with the soft sound of the triplets’ laughter drifting from outside.It was a delicate balance: her hopes rising with each small improvement, yet the weight of her past with Alaric, the hurt, the betrayal, never quite lifting. She would sit beside his bed, her hand on his, and talk to him for hours. She would speak of the triplets, of the life she had built without him, and of the quiet sacrifices she had made. There were moments when she would pause, her voice faltering, unsure if he could hear her. But each time, she returned, convinced that, somehow, he could feel the sincerity in her words.The triplets, as Master Fu had suggested, were the key. They were so young, so full of innocence, a
The days continued to blend into one another, each one bringing a flicker of hope, then the familiar pull of despair. Elona found herself locked in a delicate dance with her emotions. There were moments of strength, when the progress she saw in Alaric gave her courage to push forward, to believe in his recovery. And then there were the quieter moments, when the weight of the past seemed to close in on her, and the bitter sting of his betrayal resurfaced like an old wound that refused to heal.But despite it all, she continued to care for him. The triplets were her light, their laughter a balm to her weary soul. She knew that as long as she had them, she would survive. But Alaric, he was a different story.She could feel the bond between them growing stronger, in ways that terrified her. What am I doing? she thought, watching Alaric’s still face as she brushed his hair back, her fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary. I should be angry with him. I should hate him. But I
Harley’s frustration simmered beneath her polished exterior as she stared at the messages on her phone, each one an update on Alaric’s condition. Senior Royale’s words echoed in her mind, forbidding her from visiting the villa. “The Chinese doctor does not need family interference with his treatment.” Harley could hardly contain her bitterness. Every day she was kept at arm’s length, watching from the shadows as Elona, the very woman she had once orchestrated to be cast aside, now stood at the center of Alaric’s recovery.But Harley was not a woman to accept defeat easily. The situation was getting out of hand, and her jealousy grew like a poison, infecting her every thought. Elona had the audacity to call herself Alaric’s savior, and the triplets, those children who were so unmistakably his, only made matters worse. They were his legacy, his flesh and blood. Harley couldn’t bear the thought of them growing up with the man who was meant to be hers.She had thought of many ways to reg
The villa was quiet in the dead of night, the usual hum of activity now replaced by an eerie stillness. Harley paced back and forth in her private study, the dim glow from the desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. Her hands were steady, her mind sharp, even as her heart pounded with anticipation. The information had arrived, confirming what she already suspected: Alaric was starting to show signs of waking up. It was time to act.Harley knew better than to trust anyone fully, especially when it came to the old Chinese doctor. Master Fu had been a thorn in her side for far too long, and while she wasn’t one to underestimate anyone, she couldn’t risk him standing in her way. The dark web had its uses, and Harley had called upon her connections. A few well-placed words and she had orchestrated a distraction that would buy her the time she needed.Master Fu had left the villa, having received urgent news about his closest friend being poisoned in his home country. He had rushed
The wind howled outside the cabin, a sharp, biting gust that rattled the windows, but inside, it was eerily quiet. Harley stood before the fireplace, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames, her mind racing with the satisfaction of a plan coming to fruition. But there was something else, something she couldn’t quite shake. A feeling of unease lingered in the back of her mind, like a shadow at the edge of her consciousness.She had thought she’d won. She had thought Elona was defeated, her children now in her grasp. But there was something she didn’t know. Something deeper than Elona’s innocent demeanor. The woman she had believed to be a simple, helpless victim was far more dangerous than Harley had ever imagined.Four years ago, Elona had been framed. Harley had carefully constructed a web of lies, manipulating Alaric’s emotions and fabricating evidence that turned him against Elona. It was a flawless plan, and it worked. Alaric believed the lies, and Elona had been left broken and a
Alaric's eyes fluttered open, the bright light from the ceiling blinding him for a moment. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze that had clouded his mind for so long. Slowly, his senses returned. His body felt like it had been stretched, his muscles aching in places he didn’t know existed. But what struck him the most was the sound. The soft voices he had been hearing in his sleep.They were so familiar, almost like echoes of his own past. Sweet, innocent laughter. His chest tightened at the sound, the rhythm of the voices stirring something deep within him. It wasn’t just one voice, there were three. Three small voices, each filled with joy, each a perfect melody that sent waves of warmth through his body.He blinked again, his focus sharpening. His gaze flickered to the figure standing near his bed. Harley. Her face was beaming, her smile wide and proud, as if she had been waiting for this moment for ages."Alaric, you’re awake," Harley said, her voice a soothing melody that
Alaric stood, seething with anger, in front of his grandfather’s desk. The weight of the truth pressed down on him, suffocating him in its reality. He clenched his fists at his sides, fighting to keep his composure.“You mock me?” Alaric’s voice was low, a dangerous growl escaping his throat as he locked eyes with Senior Royale. “You dare mock me for wanting to make things right?” His jaw tightened, his teeth grinding as the anger bubbled within him.Senior Royale leaned back in his chair, a knowing smirk creeping onto his lips. “Shameless,” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with disdain. “You’re a fool, Alaric. A fool who will spend the rest of his life trying to fix the damage you’ve done. You threw Elona away like garbage, and now you want to claim her as your wife? After everything?” The old man’s eyes glinted, almost satisfied by the torment he knew was churning inside his grandson.Alaric’s fists tightened, the heat of rage flooding his veins. He refused to let his g
As he watched his grandson storm out, senior Royale could not help but think back to the first time he met the triplets. He did not need a paternity test to know that they were descendants of the Royale family. Flashback.....Senior Royale’s gaze lingered on the triplets. Allie’s bright giggles echoed in the room as she waved the design drafts triumphantly. “If we tell Grandpa, Mum will be in so much trouble!” Artie grinned, nudging his brother. “Blackmailing for ice cream? Genius.”The resemblance between the children and Alaric was undeniable. The boy’s stubborn jawline, the girl’s mischievous eyes, all mirrored the grandson son he hadn’t seen smile in years.“Children,” he called, stepping further into the room. His voice carried a commanding weight, firm yet tinged with curiosity. “Come here.” The triplets froze, exchanging glances. Artie frowned. “Who are you?”Senior Royale knelt to their level, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I’m your great grandfather,” he said softly,
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
Maribel had always prided herself on her ability to read people. It was how she had survived this long, how she had secured the life of luxury that should have never been hers. But lately, something had shifted.Alaric had been watching her differently. Not with the same warmth or admiration. Not even with suspicion. No, this was something far more unsettling. He was studying her. Calculating.It made the hairs on the back of her neck prickle, but she couldn’t let it show. She had worked too hard to let paranoia ruin everything.Still, as she stepped into the dining hall that morning, she forced her best smile onto her face, eyes scanning Alaric carefully as he sipped his coffee.He looked relaxed, his posture at ease, too at ease. For a moment, she hesitated. Then, as if sensing her hesitation, he glanced up at her with a small smile. "Good morning, my love."Maribel’s stomach twisted, but she returned the smile effortlessly. "Good morning, darling," she purred, sliding into the seat
The letter had been sent. Alaric paced the grand study of the Royale estate, his jaw clenched, his fingers twitching with restless energy. His heart pounded in his chest, an unfamiliar sensation clawing at his insides.Anxiety. For the first time in his life, he was afraid. What if she didn’t come back? No. That wasn’t an option. Elona, or Aria as she was now known was his wife, the mother of his children. He had wronged her, yes, but fate had given him a second chance. She would come back. She had to.A knock echoed through the room, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Come in," he ordered. The door opened, and his assistant stepped inside, his face carefully blank."Mr Royale, " the assistant said hesitantly. "The response has arrived." Alaric stilled. His throat tightened. His heart drummed against his ribs as he held out his hand.The assistant hesitated before passing him the letter. "You should prepare yourself, Chairman Royale." Alaric didn’t like the sound of that. His fingers