Third Person’s POV

    Caldwell’s eyes were red, and his pupils dted with emotion.

    He asked, “Paisley, you must take responsibility for your words. Are you really sure?”

    “Absolutely sure. She shared some memories with me, things she remembers. Some of which you never told me,” Paisley said.

    “Like how your mother beat you with a switch? Or how you once fell into a ditch and couldn’t climb out? Or how you sold your grandmother’s chickens for candy?”

    Paisley’s voice was resolute, her gaze locked onto Caldwell as if to uncover buried memories.

    Caldwell whimpered, trembling with emotion. “How could she have mixed up her memories? Those things never happened to her. She must have confused them with another child’s experiences.”

    Adide and Paisley, observing his reaction, knew that child was him, and they were certain Asa was indeed Poly.

    These embarrassing childhood incidents could only be spoken of if witnessed firsthand.

    Caldwell was in a state of extreme agitation.

    He never dreamed Poly had been in the capital all along, living at Madison’s mansion.

    He had searched tirelessly, but deep down, he had resigned himself to the possibility that she was gone for good. Continuing the search had been more for his own sce and his family’s hope.

    With tears streaming down his face, Caldwell’s voice trembled as he asked, “How did she escape from the rogues? And how did she end up in the circus? Did she tell you about these things?”

    “She did,” Paisley replied.

    -Adide decided to discuss the matter thoroughly and asked Beata to prepare coffee first.

    Once the coffee was ready and the study door was closed, Paisley began.

    “She never remembered her true identity. Herst memory was of running a high fever and being left in a downpour by rogues in a small woods outside Fairfax County.”

    “Later, the circus troupe leader found her. Seeing she was still alive, he took her in.”

    “iBy /ithe Moon Goddess’s grace, she survived. The troupe leader named her Asa. Due to this fragmented memory, she always thought she had been abandoned by her parents. Over the years, she harbored resentment toward them and never considered searching for her family.”

    “Goodness me,” Caldwell’s lips/trembled, his eyes filled with profound fear and heartache.

    “She’s actually quite timid. She must have been terrified when bshe /bwas kidnapped. When scared, she tends to scream. I bet she got beaten a lot, perhaps beven /bscarred from the beatings or traumatized by fear.

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    s

    He took a deep breath and said, “What tormented us all these years was the uncertainty of what she might have endured. My dreams were often filled with her crying out, begging for help.

    “After Cedric was rescued, I had nightmares for a long time. I dreamed of her being treated the same only she might not have made it through.”

    way,

    Listening to Caldwell, Adide and Paisley felt a pangess.

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    After a deep sigh, Paisley continued, “Although the circus troupe leader found her in Fairfax County, after she recovered, he took her to Baker County and raised her there. The troupe made a living in Baker County as well.”

    “But as she grew older and more beautiful, she caught the eye of others. A local rich brat, along with some men, tried to take her back. The troupe leader and herpanions fought them off. Fearing retaliation they fled overnight back to Fairfax County.”

    “Initially, life in Fairfax County was manageable, but in recent years, frequent disruptions made it hard for the troupe to survive. Sometimes, after a full day of strenuous performance, they couldn’t even earn enough for a loaf of bread.”

    “The troupe leader, feeling his age, disbanded the group, letting everyone seek their own paths.”

    After sharing this, Paisley took a sip of water.

    Adide inhaled deeply and said, “Now Eugene faces a tricky issue—how to stall the mating with the Spectrehowl Pack.”

    The Spectrehowl Pack would surely push the matter, and it would depend on Eugene’s dying tactics.

    If Eugene refused, Poly would likely be abandoned by Madison.

    She would then have two options—be Alpha Quintilian’s breeder or be another elderly man’s breeder.

    epting the proposal was also problematic.

    Eugene–clearly had no interest in mating with Poly. Sibyl, though initially fond of Asa, would undoubtedly object upon realizing it was all a scheme.

    Moreover, if the mating were to be seriously discussed, the representative should be from Caldwell’s side, not the Spectrehowl Pack. Caldwell would never allow his sister to suffer any more indignities.

    After experiencing the rollercoaster of emotions, Caldwell also recognized this dilemma.

    He spoke up first, “My personal feelings are irrelevant. I’d sacrifice my life for her if need be, but she can’t go through with this. She’s a kind–hearted girl. We can’t rush into mating discussions for the sake of our ns and damage her reputation/

    Having regained his loved one, he wouldn’t tolerate any more harming her way.

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