Seraphina’s voice quivered as she stepped forward, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. “Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, I don’t know why you hate me so much!” she pleaded, her hands clasped together, trembling. “I have always loved Armin since I was a child. What is wrong with me?”Lilian’s face twisted in anger, her eyes sharp as daggers. “What’s wrong?” she hissed, her hands slamming down on the table, making the glassware shiver. “The hell wrong is your blood! You are nothing but a bastard!” Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened. Her lips parted, and for a second, the room fell into a thick silence. Her body went rigid, as if Lilian’s words had physically struck her, leaving her rooted to the spot.Armin’s face darkened, and he stepped between them, shielding Seraphina with his body. “Mom!” he barked, his voice echoing off the high walls. “In which era are you living? People don’t need to get married to have a child.”Lilian’s gaze burned like a lit flame, and she s
Alora rushed toward Lilian, her small frame trembling as she clung to her mother’s waist, her eyes wide with fear. She shook, her body shivering uncontrollably as she tried to speak, but her words stumbled out, tangled and broken. Her lips quivered, and her eyes welled with tears, her desperation evident.Lilian glanced down, her expression softening as she stroked Alora’s hair. “My dear child,” she cooed gently, her voice a whisper against the chaos. “Mommy will play with you later, okay? Look, I’m talking to your brother now.”But Alora shook her head frantically, her grip tightening. “Mom! Seraphina... killed... Seraphina...” she stammered, her voice rising in panic. Her face was flushed, her breath coming in short gasps as she struggled to form the words.Lilian’s eyes widened as she and Gabriel exchanged a look, confusion clouding their faces. Seraphina stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she watched Alora, a flicker of alarm passing over her face before she masked it with a cold sn
Bjorn leaned casually against the marble pillar, with his arms folded and a smirk on his lips. He glanced at the various characters in the unfolding drama, including his parents, his brother, Seraphina, and the trembling Alora. The tension was thick, the air electric, but to him, it was nothing but another act in the endless play that was the Rodriguez family.He observed Alora struggling to speak, her face contorted with fear and confusion, and a sluggish smile slipped across his face. She tried hard, but no one was listening. He looked at Seraphina, her expression cool and composed, her words silky as honey as she twisted the situation. It was amazing how easily she could lie.Bjorn was not blind to the details of what Alora was trying to say. He knew when something was wrong and Seraphina looked very scared for a short time, which showed him something important: she had secrets. Big ones. He enjoyed uncovering those secrets more than watching his family fall apart.The smile of Bjo
According to Alton's plan, Henry escorted Bjorn and Alora to Holland Hospital the next day. Inside Seraphina Holland's CEO office, Seraphina's eyes were fixed on Alora, who clung tightly to Bjorn’s arm, her small frame trembling with fear. Alora's heart pounded in her chest, and she held on as if her life depended on it.Seraphina’s office was sleek and pristine, the cold, clinical air of Holland Hospital seeping through the walls. The blinds were half-drawn, casting thin beams of light across her desk. Seraphina sat behind it, her eyes locked onto Alora, who clung to Bjorn as if her life depended on it. Alora’s breath was rapid, and her small frame shivered uncontrollably. Her fingers dug into Bjorn’s arm, her eyes wide with fear.Bjorn, on the other hand, lounged back in his seat with a smug grin plastered on his face, watching the tension rise with amusement. He seemed almost delighted to be there, his eyes dancing as he looked between Alora and Seraphina.Bjorn, on the other hand
Seraphina’s steps were slow, calculated, as she closed the distance between herself and Alora. Her eyes glinted with a mix of false warmth and something far darker. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Alora’s cheek, her touch deceptively gentle. “You are so beautiful, Alora,” she murmured, her tone sweet. “Those big golden curls and those baby blue eyes... like a doll.” Alora, trembling, tried to muster a smile, her eyes flicking up to meet Seraphina’s. But it was a weak, fragile attempt, and the fear in her eyes was unmistakable.In an instant, Seraphina’s grip shifted from gentle to vicious. Her fingers wrapped tightly around Alora’s throat, squeezing with a sudden, terrifying force. Alora’s eyes widened, a choked gasp escaping her lips as her hands instinctively went to Seraphina’s wrist, her body jerking in shock.Seraphina’s face twisted, her teeth bared as she leaned in, her voice a hiss. “You saw Alysha Jarl, didn’t you?” she snarled, her grip tightening. Alora’s eye
Maximilian carried Alora out of Seraphina’s office, his hold on her firm and protective. Her small hands gripped his uniform tightly, her face pressed against his chest as he moved swiftly through the hallways. She trembled in his arms, and he felt every shiver that coursed through her. He kept his gaze forward, his jaw set, ignoring the questions burning in his mind. Right now, his priority was getting her somewhere safe—somewhere far from Seraphina.When they reached the military base, the sight was almost surreal. Alora clung to him as he stepped through the gates, his presence commanding immediate attention. Soldiers and officers, trained to be composed, faltered at the sight of their captain holding a girl who looked like she had walked out of a fairy tale. Eyes widened, and whispers passed between them as they watched the tall, imposing figure of Maximilian cradling a fragile, princess-like girl. Her golden hair cascaded down, catching the sunlight, and her diamond hair clip sp
Henry and Bjorn paced through the hallways of Holland Hospital, their eyes scanning each corner, growing more frantic with every step. Henry's face was pale, his breath quickening. "Where could she be?" he muttered, his voice tight with panic. "We can’t lose her here—Seraphina and Alora both gone!"Bjorn, his expression a mixture of frustration and anxiety, shook his head. "Alora’s impossible to find when she’s scared. She’ll hide somewhere and not make a single sound." He rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the situation. "Next time, we should put a dog’s tracking collar on her throat."Henry stopped in his tracks, taken aback by Bjorn’s casual suggestion. "What?" he blurted out, staring at Bjorn in disbelief.Bjorn shrugged, unbothered. "You know how it is with her. If she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be."Henry’s jaw tightened, his nerves fraying as he glanced around the bustling hospital. "This isn’t a joke, Bjorn," he snapped. "We need to find them—now."Henry swallo
Maximilian gently patted Alora’s back as she clung to him, her small frame trembling. "I’ll take you home, okay?" he said softly, trying to calm her.But Alora’s voice was shaky as she cried out, "Mom...!"Maximilian felt his blood run cold the moment Alora cried out, "Mom..." His mind raced, the image of Lilian Rodriguez flashing before his eyes—a woman known for her ruthless control, one who wielded power in the family like a blade. If Alora told Lilian anything about what happened, or worse, if Lilian suspected any danger to her beloved adopted daughter, it could unravel everything.Liam, sitting nearby, was taken aback by the name. “Who is your mom?” he asked, curiosity laced with something more dangerous.Alora, her innocent eyes still wet with tears, whispered, “Lilian.”Liam blinked, his mind racing. “Lilian and Gabriel only have two sons,” he said, frowning in confusion. “And you don’t look like either of them. You look more... European.”Alora’s lips trembled for a moment, th