As Neil held Sisi, Alysha felt upset because she knew he was hiding something important.Alysha’s gaze remained on Sisi, watching as her daughter nestled comfortably in Neil’s arms, relaxed and trusting.Even though she had a lot of memories and missing pieces in her mind, she couldn't deny that Sisi seemed at ease with Neil. He must have cared for her and treated her well. But Neil's words left her with new questions, questions that left her feeling as though she were falling through an endless void.Neil’s voice softened, calculated. “You had an accident three years ago. We found you badly injured. And you were already pregnant with Sisi.” He glanced down at the child in his arms, then back at Alysha, his face painted with a careful look of empathy. “In that accident, you lost your memory. You never could tell us who Sisi’s father was. But honestly?” He gave a faint, reassuring smile. “It didn’t matter. You and Sisi have always been our priority.”Alysha took a shaky breath, her min
Seraphina stormed into the villa, her eyes blazing with a barely controlled fury. Sisi, sensing the tension, immediately darted toward Alysha, clutching her mother’s leg with a trembling grip, her wide blue eyes filled with fear. Alysha instinctively placed a protective arm around Sisi, her gaze hardening as she looked at Seraphina. Neil cast his daughter a warning look, but Seraphina ignored him, forcing herself into a stiff, composed stance.“Doctor Arisha Holland,” Seraphina sneered, using the name with a hint of mockery. “May I have a moment with you?”Alysha glanced down at Sisi, who held her even tighter, her little body rigid with fear. Alysha ran a gentle hand over Sisi’s back, whispering softly, “It’s alright, sweetheart.” She looked back at Seraphina, her face impassive. “Yes, of course. Please, go on.”Seraphina’s expression sharpened, her voice cold as she continued, “You’ve already caused substantial damage to our project with your… unfortunate setbacks. Because of you, w
Alysha’s vision blurred, her chest tightening as if she’d just been punched. Her name is Cyndra? She’d lost not only her daughter’s name but her very identity, twisted and manipulated into something unrecognizable. Neil’s calm, controlled words were like a series of slaps, each revelation colder than the last.“She… she’s mine,” Alysha managed to whisper, her voice barely audible. “I don’t care what documents you forged. She’s mine.”But Neil’s expression didn’t waver. He tightened his grip on Sisi’s small hand, his face unreadable as he responded. “I’ve raised her. I’ve provided for her. I’ve kept her safe. And as far as the law is concerned, she’s my daughter, not yours. You may have given birth to her, Alysha, but she belongs to me.”Alysha’s hands trembled, rage and despair swirling in her chest as she met Neil’s cold gaze. She wanted to scream, to tear away the facade he’d built and reveal the truth. But she knew she had to stay calm, had to think carefully. One wrong move, and h
As fatigue set in, she collapsed, her fingers loosing their grip on her head. There was rage bubbling beneath the surface when they did this to me. Neil, Seraphina—all of them—they had erased her past, cut her off from her own life, her own daughter. They’d stolen her memories, her identity, and in its place, left her tangled in their lies.But when Alysha sat there and breathed heavily, she felt a strong determination inside her that she hadn't felt before. She wouldn’t let Neil control her forever. She would find a way to break through this fog and uncover every piece of her past that they had taken from her. She would reclaim herself—and her daughter.Slowly, she pushed herself up, her hands steadying her on the edge of the sofa as she forced herself to stand, the weight of her determination fueling her. They might have taken her memories, but they hadn’t taken her will.Alysha’s gaze fell on the newspaper, her eyes catching the image of Ivan Anderson Suegra. The headline seemed t
“Hear me out, Charles,” Andrine continued, her voice steady, her gaze fixed on him with a seriousness that belied her age. “The Holland family is playing a massive game. They’re using my sister and niece as pawns to secure their position in it, and I don’t think you fully understand the scope of it yet.”Charles nodded, his expression focused, waiting for her to continue.“You’ve heard about the project, right? The Neuron Medicine Project?” she asked, watching him carefully.“Yes,” Charles replied, “I reviewed everything I could find. The research is groundbreaking. It could change the landscape of neural treatments. What they’ve developed—it’s incredible.”“Right,” Andrine said, a trace of a smirk lifting the corner of her mouth, her eyes gleaming with a hardened intelligence. “And this incredible project is worth billions. And not just to the medical world, but to the military. It’s not just a treatment, Charles. It’s a weapon. A medical weapon.”Charles’s mind raced, his eyes widen
“Call it what you want,” Andrine replied, her voice softening but turning serious. “The point is, Charles, if we’re going to stop the Hollands from reproducing this medicine, then they need to know they’ll have to pay for it. Alysha deserves every cent they’ve robbed from her, and if I have to be the one to negotiate it, then I’ll make sure they never get away with it.” She met his gaze, unwavering, and Charles felt a newfound respect settle in.“All right, Andrine,” he said, nodding firmly. “Let’s make it happen. For Alysha—and for that commission of yours.”Charles watched Andrine closely, his gaze sharp as he spoke. "Do you know the Suegra family?"The moment the words left his mouth, Andrine’s face went pale, the color draining from her cheeks as if he’d struck a nerve. Her bold, unshakeable demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a flicker of something else—fear, perhaps, or a buried memory resurfacing too fast to hide.She quickly turned her head, avoiding his gaze, but Cha
Alysha sat at the desk in the villa, surrounded by a sea of project documents, files, and research notes. The weight of her work, the endless formulas and analyses, should have consumed her attention, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. She couldn’t focus, couldn’t even begin to make sense of the data before her. Her thoughts circled back to one thing: Sisi.She clenched her hands, her fingers digging into the edges of a file, her heart aching as she whispered, “My Sisi… my daughter.” The words hung in the empty room, a reminder of everything she’d lost, everything that had been stolen from her.Neil had taken Sisi, and with her, the one light Alysha had in this cold, tangled mess of memory and betrayal. She couldn’t shake the image of her daughter’s innocent face as she’d looked up at her, her small hands reaching out for her. Every instinct Alysha had screamed to protect her, to keep her close. And now Sisi was gone, taken from her by Neil’s smooth lies and cold control.Alysh
Alysha leaned back in the chair, her vision blurring as tears spilled down her cheeks. The memory of Sisi’s sweet voice, her bright giggle, her innocent face as she called out “Mommy,” played over and over in her mind like a haunting melody. The ache in her chest grew sharper, deeper, with each thought. How was it possible that her own daughter could feel so close yet be so far out of reach?Her gaze fell on the newspaper lying open in front of her, Ivan’s face staring back with that intense, piercing expression. Ivan Anderson Suegra. The name, the face—both pulled at her, stirred something inside her that she couldn’t place. But there was something there, a connection she couldn’t deny. It felt too strong to ignore, yet it remained just out of reach, slipping through her grasp like sand.Who is he to me? she thought, frustration mingling with the grief. She hated the gap in her memory, hated the fog that kept her from understanding who this man was, why he seemed so familiar. And Sis
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