Ivan felt the anger boiling in his veins, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Andrine standing in front of him with her arms defiantly crossed. She had always been like this—sharp-tongued and impossible to get a straight answer from. But today, the stakes were too high, and he had no patience left."Where is your sister?" he demanded, his voice a low growl, trying to keep his temper in check.Andrine raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. “Which one?” she asked casually, as if discussing the weather.Ivan’s eyes flashed, and he felt the irritation rising. “What do you mean, which one?” he snapped, his patience wearing thin. “You have more than one sister?”Andrine’s eyes held a glint of challenge as she shrugged, refusing to be intimidated. “Maybe I do,” she said, her voice cool and distant. “But I don’t think I’ll give you that information. Who knows what you or the Hollands will do—cage the other one too, perhaps?”Ivan’s fists clenched, and he took a deep breath, trying to ke
Henry gave all the information to Ivan what happened that night with Alysha.Alysha, leaving the military camp alone at night. The thought alone sent a chill through him, but it was what Henry said next that truly froze his blood.“Wait, what?” Ivan managed to choke out, his voice filled with shock and a growing sense of dread. “She met with someone... and they showed her Sisi’s video?”Henry nodded, his face grim. “Yes. But it was a setup, Sir. They used the video to lure her out. A few men tried to kidnap her.”Ivan felt the blood drain from his face, his hands gripping the edge of a nearby table for support. “Alysha was almost kidnapped?” he whispered, his mind racing as he tried to piece it all together. “Who were they? And what happened after that?”Henry’s eyes darkened, and he let out a slow, frustrated sigh. “I don’t know exactly who they were, but they were definitely professionals. It was well-organized. But...” He paused, a slight hint of relief in his eyes. “Armin interven
Ivan moved swiftly through the hospital corridors, his mind a whirlwind of strategies and emotions. Seraphina, Charles, the Hollands— whoever was orchestrating this attack on Alysha knew precisely how to strike where it hurt most. They were calculating, precise, and ruthless. But he was ready to be even more ruthless. They had already come too close to hurting Alysha, and Ivan would burn the city to the ground before he let it happen again.As he reached the parking lot, he punched a series of numbers into his phone. It rang twice before a gruff voice answered. “Anderson.”“Activate the Boston team,” Ivan said, his voice cold and lethal. “I want eyes everywhere—every club, every hotel, every backstreet. If anyone from the Holland family or their associates make a move, I want to know.”“Understood. What’s the primary target?”Ivan’s eyes darkened. “Alysha Jarl. She’s top priority. They’ve tried to abduct her once. They’ll try again.”The voice on the other end hesitated for a moment.
Ivan’s world seemed to shift when the realization hit him. Alysha was gone. Every lead, every contact, every place she could have gone to—nothing had turned up. It was like she had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind. For the first time in a long time, Ivan felt a surge of panic clawing at his insides.He stood in his office, staring at the array of maps and surveillance photos that had been spread across the desk, each one a reminder of how fruitless the search had been. Henry and his team had scoured every known location—her family’s estates, the military villa, even the hospital where she worked. They’d spoken to cab drivers, checked CCTV footage, contacted everyone who might have had a clue. But nothing. It was as if she’d simply disappeared.Henry entered the room, his expression grave. “Sir... we’ve exhausted every option. She’s not in any of the locations we checked. It’s like she’s disappeared.”Ivan’s eyes flashed with frustration, his hands gripping the edge of
In Rodriguez Manor.Gabriel stood there, his face a mask of disbelief. The young woman before him was nothing like he expected. She was poised, her eyes filled with a fire he recognized—determination, resilience. And yet, the revelation that she was his daughter-in-law left him momentarily speechless. Andrine? The name echoed in his mind as he struggled to process everything.“You’re Bjorn’s wife?” he finally managed to say, his voice filled with shock. “I had no idea...”Andrine nodded, her expression serious. “Yes, Mr. Rodriguez. I am Andrine Jarl, Bjorn’s wife.” Her voice was calm, but there was an edge of coldness to it, as if she were holding back a wave of emotions. “I’ve been here, in Boston, ever since the day he had his accident.”Gabriel’s face softened into a smile, but there was still confusion in his eyes. “You’ve been in Boston all this time?” he asked, almost in disbelief. “Why didn’t you reach out sooner? We would have taken care of you.”Andrine’s eyes flashed with a
Gabriel’s eyes flicked over to Charles Sternly, his expression one of genuine gratitude. “Thank you very much, Charles. Thank you for bringing Andrine to me.”Charles offered a dry smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “She was alone in Boston, Gabriel. No one there to take care of her. And reaching out to your family is... well, not exactly easy.” He paused, as if weighing his next words carefully. “So, I brought her here. Along with Bjorn.”The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.Gabriel’s face went pale, his eyes wide with shock. “What?” he breathed, as if the very sound of his own disbelief was too much to bear. “Bjorn... here?”Charles’s expression remained flat, unreadable. “He’s in an air ambulance, right outside your gates.”For a split second, everything seemed to stand still. Then, without another word, Gabriel bolted. He rushed past Charles, his heart hammering in his chest as he tore through the mansion’s grand hall, the heavy wooden doors creaking open as he
Ivan’s entire body stiffened, the anger flooding through him like a tidal wave. He felt his pulse quicken, the rage boiling beneath the surface as he gripped the edge of his desk so tightly his knuckles turned white.“What the hell did you just say?” he hissed, his voice barely containing the fury brewing within him.Henry’s expression was grave, his tone steady but cautious. “Andrine disappeared from Holland hospital with Bjorn. No one knows where they went.”Ivan’s eyes blazed, and he slammed his fist on the desk, rattling everything on its surface. “Are you kidding me, Henry? That little girl—Andrine—managed to vanish with Bjorn right under everyone’s noses?”Henry remained calm, knowing that any more fuel to Ivan’s temper would only make things worse. “Sir, you have no idea. That ‘little chili’ is something else entirely. She’s not like her sister. She’s fierce, cunning... and she’s been planning this for a while.”Ivan clenched his jaw, his mind racing as he tried to piece togeth
In Holland Mansion.Neil Holland, the patriarch, stood at the center of the room, his face twisted with rage. His piercing eyes bore into Seraphina as she stood there, shifting nervously, her fingers rubbing against her palm in an anxious rhythm. Across the room, Maximilian’s expression was a mix of disbelief and fury, his knuckles white as he gripped the back of a leather chair.Neil’s voice thundered through the room, reverberating off the marble walls. “Andrine did what?!”Seraphina flinched, but she knew better than to show fear. She straightened, swallowing her nerves. “She ran away with Alysha’s neuro medicine formula,” she said, her voice strained but steady. “The key to the Jarl project.”The room fell into an electric silence, the magnitude of her words sinking in like a blade. Neil’s eyes darkened, and the fury that radiated off him was palpable. “How could you let this happen?” he roared, his face turning red with anger. “Do you have any idea what this means?”Maximilian’s
Ivan gently took Alysha’s hand in his, his movements deliberate and filled with purpose. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, a soft smile playing on his lips as he brought her hand to his mouth, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles.Alysha’s amber eyes widened slightly, her cheeks flushing faintly as she looked at him, unsure of what to say or how to react.“I told you, Alysha,” Ivan said, his deep voice smooth and steady, carrying the weight of his confidence. “Once you marry me, no one will dare to say a word against you. Because you have no idea the powerful place you’ve achieved.”Alysha’s heart raced at his words, her mind swirling with questions and emotions. What does he mean?Ivan’s smirk deepened as he glanced at Seraphina, whose face was contorted in a mixture of shock and fury. He turned back to Alysha, his voice growing quieter, but no less commanding. “This Seraphina,” he said, his tone laced with disdain, “is still struggling to claim her place as a Rodriguez. She
Maria, a long-serving household servant, entered with a warm smile, completely oblivious to the storm she had just walked into.“Lady Suegra!” Maria exclaimed, her voice cheerful and genuine. “Good to see you!”Seraphina froze, her sharp eyes widening in shock. Her body stiffened, her mind racing to process what she had just heard. Lady Suegra? Did she hear that correctly? Alysha Jarl—Lady Suegra?Alysha, equally taken aback, felt her heart skip a beat. She glanced at Ivan, her eyes wide with uncertainty. Ivan met her gaze with a calm smile, his head dipping in a small nod as if to confirm it.Maria beamed, stepping closer. “Oh my God,” she said, her hands clasping in delight. “You are so beautiful and young. Master Ivan is so lucky to have finally found such a lovely lady for the entire family!”Alysha’s cheeks flushed, her confusion mounting, but she forced a polite smile. “Thank you, Maria,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her.Maria conti
In Suegra State.The soft murmur of guests faded into the background as the unspoken battle between the two men filled the room.Armin Rodriguez Suegra stood with a rigid posture, his sharp features twisted in barely concealed fury. Beside him, Seraphina Holland clung to his arm like a vice, her manicured nails digging into his sleeve. Her daring gaze was fixed on Alysha, her lips curved into a mocking smirk as if silently declaring her victory.Armin belongs to me, her look seemed to scream.On the opposite side, Ivan Anderson Suegra stood tall and unyielding. His piercing blue eyes locked on Armin with an almost casual dominance, his arm wrapped protectively around Alysha’s tiny shoulders. Ivan’s grip was firm but comforting, pulling Alysha closer to his chest. It was a silent declaration, a clear message to everyone in the room:Alysha is mine. My wife. My family.Alysha stood stiffly beside Ivan, her amber eyes darting nervously between the two men. She felt the weight of Seraphin
Alysha’s heart ached, but she forced herself to remain steady, to hold onto the resolve she’d found in the quiet of her own reflection. She took a step back, her voice gentle yet firm. “Ivan, some things can’t be undone. Sometimes… letting go is the only way forward.”He stilled, his face shadowed with a heartbreak he hadn’t prepared for, his jaw tightening as he absorbed the truth in her words. Yet, as painful as it was, he didn’t move, his gaze fixed on her, his silence a quiet acknowledgment of the distance that lay between them.Without a word, Ivan moved closer, his expression dark and determined as he scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Alysha’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in surprise as he carried her toward the bed, the resolve she’d clung to slipping under the intensity of his gaze.He laid her down gently, his weight settling beside her, his eyes locked onto hers with a heat that made her heart race. She couldn’t look away, captivated by the vu
Alysha turned away, her hand clutching the strap of the bag as she stood, moving toward the bedroom. And as she left him standing there in silence, Ivan understood that this was only the beginning of a long journey—one he was willing to walk, no matter how long it took.Alysha stepped into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her, feeling the weight of the evening pressing down on her. The quiet hum of the house seemed to grow louder as she leaned against the door, exhaling a shaky breath, her hand pressed over her heart. She could still feel the intensity of Ivan’s gaze, his words echoing in her mind, a steady, relentless pull that she struggled to resist.She moved toward the mirror, her reflection staring back at her, raw and tired, emotions flickering across her face—anger, sadness, and something else, something that lingered beneath the surface, too complicated to name. Turning on the faucet, she let the water run, the sound filling the silence, grounding her as she let h
Heinz’s voice broke the tense silence in the foyer, his tone softer but carrying the weight of a command wrapped in concern. “Alysha, you must be tired,” he said, gesturing toward the grand staircase. “Why don’t you and Ivan go to your room? Take some time to rest.”Alysha turned to look at Heinz, her eyes wary, catching the subtle insistence in his tone. She could sense the layers beneath his words—the way he spoke as though her resistance were nothing more than fatigue, a temporary lapse that rest could fix. He was giving her no choice, and the authority in his voice reminded her just how deep the control in this family ran.Ivan, too, glanced at her, his gaze unreadable, though there was a flicker of something softer in his eyes, an unspoken plea. He took a step forward, his hand reaching out just slightly, as if to guide her. “Come on, Alysha,” he murmured, his voice low. “Let’s go upstairs.”Alysha held her ground, her jaw tightening. Her instinct was to refuse, to keep her dista
The convoy of sleek black cars pulled up to the sprawling gates of **Anderson State**, a place that had been shrouded in silence and mystery for decades. The estate was massive, its grand architecture looming against the gray Boston sky, surrounded by acres of well-manicured land that bore the scars of neglect. As the gates creaked open, Alysha peered out of the car window, her heart pounding. The sight of the mansion took her breath away—its towering columns and elegant stone façade exuded a timeless grandeur, but the faded paint and overgrown gardens hinted at years of abandonment. Sisi sat on Alysha’s lap, her tiny hands gripping her mother’s jacket tightly. She looked up at Alysha and whispered, “Mommy… big house.” Alysha managed a small smile, brushing her fingers through Sisi’s curls. “Yes, my angel,” she murmured, though unease prickled at the edges of her mind. Ivan, seated beside her, stared out the window, his jaw tight. His piercing blue eyes scanned the estate, hi
Little Sisi’s small legs carried her across the room as fast as they could, her soft giggles replaced by panicked cries. She didn’t understand the tension in the air or the argument unfolding between the adults, but she knew one thing for certain—she needed her mother, no matter what. “Mommy!” Sisi called, her voice trembling as she reached Alysha and grabbed the hem of her dress with her tiny hands. Alysha looked down, her amber eyes softening as Sisi clung to her, her little face scrunched with worry. Without hesitation, Alysha bent down and scooped her daughter into her arms, holding her tightly against her chest. Sisi buried her face in Alysha’s shoulder, her small body trembling as she whispered, “Mommy, no leave Sisi. Please.” Alysha’s heart shattered at her daughter’s plea. Tears welled in her eyes as she kissed Sisi’s head, her lips brushing against her soft orange curls. “Shh, my angel,” she murmured, her voice breaking. “Mommy’s here.” Sisi pulled back slightly, he
“What the fuck do you mean by ‘the decision is yours?’” Ivan growled, his piercing blue eyes blazing with fury. “You’re my wife! The mother of my child! And you think you can just stay inside a military camp surrounded by a bunch of men?”Ivan’s furious roar shook the room, his voice echoing off the walls like a thunderclap. Everyone froze, including Alysha, who stared at him wide-eyed, her breath catching in her throat.Alysha was stunned into silence, her body stiffening as the weight of his words settled over her. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.Ivan took a step closer, his towering frame looming over her as his voice dropped to a low, menacing growl. “You don’t even have your memory, Alysha. You don’t know your past, your enemies, or the people who would happily see you destroyed. And yet, you think it’s safe to live like that? Alone, unprotected?”Alysha’s throat tightened, but before she could respond, Ivan’s gaze darkened even further. “Even your little sister