The nurses and technicians were moving efficiently, collecting samples and preparing for the DNA test. Ivan stood by, his expression unreadable, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes never left Arisha and Sisi, who sat together on the hospital bed. He could sense Arisha’s fear and desperation, but he knew there was no turning back. The truth, whatever it was, needed to be uncovered.Arisha held Sisi close, whispering soothing words to her daughter. The little girl remained calm, her eyes curious as she watched the activity around her. She seemed unfazed, her small hand playing with the hem of her mother’s sleeve as the nurses swabbed her cheek. But Arisha’s eyes remained locked onto Ivan, a mixture of fear and pleading evident in them. She wanted to shield Sisi from everything—from this—but she was trapped, unable to do anything to stop it.Bjorn stood off to the side, his arms crossed, his face a mask of irritation and impatience. He watched the process with cold eyes,
The words were in the air and heavy. Bjorn let out a long exhale, his eyes darting between Ivan and Arisha, still trying to make sense of the situation.Arisha’s face crumpled, and her grip on Sisi tightened. She had known this was a possibility, but hearing it spoken aloud made it real. There was no more pretending, no more hiding behind half-truths and lies. She closed her eyes for a moment, the tears threatening to spill over. “Ivan, I...”But Ivan stepped forward, his gaze fierce but not unkind. “No more lies, Arisha. I want the truth—everything.” His voice was low, but there was an urgency in it, an undeniable plea. “Why did you disappear? And why did you hide Sisi from me?”Arisha swallowed hard, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks as she met his gaze.Ivan’s eyes softened, but his grip on the truth remained unyielding. “What were you running from?”Arisha looked down at Sisi, who clung to her, unaware of the gravity of the moment. She took a deep breath, her body trembli
At that moment, Seraphina’s arrival felt like a lightning bolt cutting through the tension in the room. She entered with quick, confident strides, but the moment she saw Arisha standing with Ivan and Bjorn, her breath caught, and she faltered. Her eyes went wide, panic flashing across her face before she quickly masked it with a calm expression. But there was no hiding the fear that flickered in her eyes.“Oh, no...” she muttered under her breath, trying to regain her composure. Forcing a smile, she stepped forward, her voice laced with false curiosity. “What’s going on here?”Bjorn’s face lit up with a devilish grin as he turned to Seraphina, seizing the opportunity to stir the pot. “Look, Seraphina, we found the real—”“Bjorn!” Ivan snapped, his voice sharp like a whip. Bjorn’s grin vanished, and he flinched, glancing at Ivan, who shot him a warning look. “Not now.”Seraphina’s eyes darted between them, suspicion clouding her face. “What do you mean?” she asked, but her voice lacked
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed, the confidence returning to her stance as she crossed her arms, trying to reclaim control of the situation. “Mr., I don’t know who you are, but I must tell you who I am,” she began, her voice cold and authoritative. “I am the CEO of this hospital. Do you get it?”Ivan didn’t flinch, his expression indifferent. “So?” he replied, his tone flat.Seraphina’s eyes flashed, and she stepped forward, trying to impose her authority. “You must know this is a military hospital,” she said, her voice sharp. “Not your private playground. You can’t do anything openly here.”Ivan’s lips curved into a smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “I get it,” he said calmly. “That’s why I’m taking my leave—with Arisha and Sisi.” His voice was casual, as if he were discussing the weather, but there was a steeliness in his gaze.Seraphina’s eyes widened, her confident mask faltering as she felt control slipping through her fingers. “Hey! You cannot take her away!” she shouted, her voi
The soldiers behind him straightened, their hands resting on their weapons, ready for any signal from their superior. The room felt like it was closing in, the tension thick enough to choke on.Ivan’s eyes darted between the soldiers and Charles, the situation turning into a standoff. He squeezed Arisha’s hand, feeling her tremble beside him, and kept his eyes locked on Charles’s, unwilling to back down. “I suggest you rethink that, Charles. You don’t want to start a war you can’t finish.”Charles’s cold gaze shifted to Arisha as he addressed her. “Arisha! Do you know this man?” His voice was like ice, and it sent a shiver down her spine. Arisha flinched, her eyes darting nervously between Ivan and Charles. She felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on her, and panic clawed at her throat. She shook her head quickly. “No,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but it was enough.Ivan’s expression darkened, confusion and hurt flickering in his eyes. “Arisha...” he murmured, trying to mak
Arisha flinched, but she forced a nod, her lips quivering as she tried to maintain her composure. “I—” she began, but her voice was shaky, her fear evident.Ivan’s eyes locked onto Charles, his fists clenching at his sides. “If you think I’m just going to stand aside, you’re wrong,” he said, his voice low, the promise of retaliation threading every word. “This isn’t over.”Charles arched an eyebrow, amusement flashing in his eyes. “Is that a threat, Ivan?” he asked, his voice taunting. “Or are you just making empty promises again?”Ivan’s gaze burned. “A warning,” he said. “I’m not walking away.” He stepped forward, his eyes hard, showing he wasn’t backing down. “You can call her your fiancée all you want, but I know what’s been done to her, and I’ll find out the truth.”Charles’s expression darkened, and he straightened, squaring his shoulders. “You’ve had your chance,” he said, his voice dropping to a chilling tone. “Take your leave now, or I’ll have you escorted out.” He gestured,
Arisha’s body moved on instinct as Ivan disappeared down the hallway, her eyes fixed on Sisi, but just as she started forward, Charles’s strong hand clamped around her arm, yanking her back. “Arisha!” he snapped, his voice rough and unyielding.Arisha’s eyes flashed with desperation as she struggled against his hold. “Charles, please—my daughter!” she cried, her voice cracking with panic.Charles’s grip tightened, his expression hardening. “Didn’t Neil tell you never to leave the house with Sisi?” he hissed, his eyes narrowing with frustration. “Why did you bring her here?”“She needed a doctor!” Arisha pleaded, her voice rising in frustration. “Why don’t any of you understand? I was trying to help her.”Charles’s face twisted with anger, but there was something else there too—fear. “You could have told me, Arisha!” he growled. “I could have brought her in myself. But look what you’ve done.” His grip tightened as he pulled her back another step, holding her in place. “Now they’ve got
Seraphina sat behind her desk, her fingers tapping restlessly against the polished wood. The air in her office felt suffocating, and her mind was a whirlwind of anger and frustration. Alysha—or whatever she called herself now—had shown up, right out in the open, and the chaos that followed was still unraveling in her mind. Her grip tightened, nails digging into her palm as she tried to calm the storm inside her.The door creaked open, and Neil Holland strode into the office, his face unreadable but his eyes sharp. Seraphina’s gaze flicked to her father, sensing the tension before he even spoke.“Where is Alysha?” he demanded, his voice cold but measured. There was a hint of suspicion laced in his tone.Seraphina leaned back, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t know,” she answered, her voice flat but filled with irritation.Neil’s gaze didn’t soften. “Did you do something to her again?” he pressed, his eyes piercing.Seraphina scoffed, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “If I’d had the