After some precious time together, Zaylee finally whispered to Alaric, her eyes soft but tired:
Zaylee: “These past days… they weren’t good for me. But now… I’m okay. Thank you, Ally.”
Alaric’s lips curved into a gentle smile.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz9f1e6aKC
Alaric: “If anything happens, you tell me. Always.”
Zaylee: “Don’t you ever… had doubt on me?”
Alaric: “What doubt, my lady? Have you ever doubted me?”
Her smile bloomed again. For Alaric, that was enough—his Ayle had returned to herself. Somewhere else in the hall, Zayden watched quietly, relieved to see his little one’s light flicker back.
When Alaric and Zaylee parted ways, Zayden brushed past Alaric and leaned to his ear:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sGUCKDklC
Zayden: “You quickly solved that blog mess.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMMK0jNCBf
Alaric gave a short nod, then left.
Inside his car, Alaric immediately called Rhinya.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvn4wyevi3
Alaric: “That blog thing—I want it checked. Who paid for it, who ordered it. Everything.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1yaAsIozL
Rhiny: “Okay, brother. I’ll dig into it.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW3Uspe2fp
He hung up, frowning, mind restless. Who’s still carrying grudges… and why target Ayle?
Back at the Hawke estate, Alaric sat shirtless on the edge of his bed when Alana suddenly entered. Her eyes lingered on him, full of a twisted attraction.
Alana: “Brother… did you know that bitch is sleeping around with professors?”
Alaric’s expression hardened instantly.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYDKNAuDdX
Alaric: “WILL YOU SHUT UP? One more word, and you’ll see my other side. I always cherished you, spoiled you—but that doesn’t mean you can say anything, Alana. Go to bed.”
Her lips trembled.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA86xNN4hao
Alana: “Are you scolding me because of that bitch? I wish I could slap her—”
Alaric: “And I wish I could slap you.”
Alana froze, shocked—he had never spoken to her that way before.
Alaric: “From tomorrow, Richard will take you to HMS. Now leave.”
She muttered weakly, “Brother…”, but Alaric cut her off.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10FtR5DFTF
Alaric: “Out.”
Shattered, Alana turned and left, her fury quietly boiling.
Minutes later, Rhinya called back.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdLA93WBht
Rhiny: “I checked nearby footage. A man got down from a car, handed money to the blog creator at a café.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEAf1EMO2R
Alaric: “Do we know him?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV3cRxaLAD
Rhiny: “Not yet. No direct connections. He looks like someone following orders.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMvQCwIMuG
Alaric: “Keep at it, Rhiny. Take care.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRGaChCShp
Rhiny: “Always, brother. Bye.”
But in another room, Alana’s whispers spun poison. She dialed a number.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuDSqWuwt3
Alana: “Brother Alaric scolded me today…”
On the other end, a man’s voice growled—Ryan, another adopted son of the Hawke patriarch.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLHYpehMs2
Ryan: “That bastard. I’m coming soon, darling. Brother will see you soon.”
Meanwhile, at the Whitmore estate, Zayden entered his father’s study. While searching for documents, his eyes fell on an old photograph: a priest with his arm around their father, and beside them—Mr. Hawke. The back of the photo read:
“Little Flower Orphanage – Year 2000.”
Zayden’s brow furrowed. Suspicion deepened.
ns216.73.216.122da2
and then Add to home screen.