Zayden turned the photo of Little Flower Orphanage, Year 2000 over in his hands one last time. His doubts stirred, but he forced them aside. Not tonight. He slid it back into the drawer and went to sleep.
Days passed. Then Ryan arrived at the Hawke estate. Alana nearly jumped out of her skin with joy—her greatest supporter had finally come.
That morning, Alaric woke and went down to the dining hall, only to see Ryan lounging at the table. Ryan smirked, his eyes flicking to Alana, who quickly lowered her head.
Ryan: “Well, what a wonder. What a wonder. You haven’t been sleeping with women lately.”
Rhinya sat at the other end of the table, watching quietly.
Alaric: (leaning back, calm) “That’s how I used to be, isn’t it?”
Ryan’s smile faltered. He studied Alaric carefully, as if seeing something dangerous returning.
Ryan: “Why now? After all these years?”
Before Alaric could reply, Alana’s voice cut the air like venom.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmr92aQ32w
Alana: “Because he’s loving a prostitute now.”
Alaric’s chair scraped sharply as he turned, fury flashing in his eyes.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPjfz7byp8
Alaric: “ALANA HAWKE. Don’t provoke me.”
Ryan slammed his hand against the table.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3DcwcokCk
Ryan: “How dare you point at her like that!”
But Alaric ignored him, grabbed his notes.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OM0E13W9t
Alaric: “Bye, Rhinya.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKvbeoteey
He walked out without another glance.
Later, Ryan insisted on dropping Alana off. On the way, she showed him Zaylee from a distance.
Alana: “That’s the girl.”
Ryan’s eyes widened.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Qk0IjYUd
Ryan: “This? This is the one?”
The girl he saw was nothing like Alana’s description. Calm. Graceful. Untouchable. His chest tightened in sudden panic as he spotted Zayden Whitmore standing near her.
Ryan: “What the f**k… Alaric with Whitmore? Is he crazy?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqy7FiD8Q1
He let out a nervous laugh, but inside he felt cold. Ryan knew the truth: there were two people you never provoked—Zayden Whitmore and the old Alaric Hawke. And now… that old Alaric seemed to be resurfacing.
Later, back at the estate, Rhinya was buried in paperwork on the Hawkes’ drug operations when Ryan barged into her room.
Ryan: “Tell me about Ms. Whitmore. This is impossible. Whitmore and Hawke? It can’t be.”
Rhinya: (snapping) “Then how about you? Sleeping with Alana—is that any more right?”
Ryan’s jaw clenched.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm7CitbR3v
Ryan: “Don’t you dare say that to Alaric.”
Just then, Alaric’s voice came from the doorway.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXEFttVPvX
Alaric: “Say what to me?”
Ryan froze.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrZfeX1Wcy
Ryan: “Nope. Nothing… we were just—”
Rhinya: (smoothly) “Nothing, brother. He’s provoking me as usual.”
Alaric studied them briefly, then let it go. He picked up his project notes from the table and walked out.
ns216.73.216.122da2
and then Add to home screen.