AUTHOR’S POV.

    “What the hell?” Alina muttered, her eyes widening as the screen lit up.

    She stared in shock at the long list of missed calls, all from Elena.

    “Is everything okay, ma’am?” Mia asked, regarding her boss with concern.

    “I hope so.” Alina replied, brows creased as she tried to figure out why her adoptive mother had called her so many times.

    Just then, the phone rang again, Elena’s name shing on the screen.

    Alina picked up.

    “Good morning, Mother.” She greeted, her tone calm. !--

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    “Alina?” Elena’s voice was,ced with disbelief on the other end. She sounded shocked, clearly not expecting Alina to pick up after over three hours of waiting outside the ckwood estate gate.

    “You ungrateful brat! How could you?!” Elena’s scream exploded through the phone, making Alina flinch and quickly pull it away from her ear.

    Without hesitation, she switched it to speaker mode and set the phone down on the dining table, confusion etched on her face.

    “What’s going on?” She asked in a cautious tone.

    This was the first time Elena had ever spoken to her like this. Usually, both Elena and Ss would use a tone that was sweetly condescending, polluted with false warmth. In the past, Alina had mistaken that for kindness.

    “How dare you ask that?! We have been waiting at the gate for over three hours, and your dumb guards wouldn’t let us in! Did you ask them not to let us in?!” Elena’s voice was filled with fury, her words held usation.

    “Of course not,” Alina responded quickly in a leveled voice. “That’s just the estate’s security protocol. What are you doing here, though?” She asked, genuinely baffled.

    They never came to her without prior notice. If anything, they would summon her to their house. For them to show unannounced was unusual.

    up

    “How pretentious can you get? After getting your sister arrested, you want to act like you don’t know what you’ve done!”

    Alina pressed her lips into a thin line, relieved the phone was on speaker or else she would have gone deaf before the end of the call. Elena was practically screeching.

    “What are you talking about?” She asked in a calm tone but her confusion was growing.

    She looked over at Mia, who gave a clueless shrug, her expression also confused.

    “Stop pretending and get yourself out here right now so you can go to the police station with us and withdraw your charges!” Elena ordered in a sharp tone.

    “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, Mother. I didn’t get Seraphina arrested. Why would I?” She fought the urge to groan in frustration. Her appetite was far gone.

    “Stop lying, you, you-!”

    “Calm down, Mother. I’ll be right out and we can figure out what’s going on.” Alina said calmly, hanging up before Elena could spiral further.

    She could’ve let them in, but based on the way Elena was screaming, she knew they’d only cause a scene and she wasn’t about to let that happen, not in her home.

    It wasn’t that Alina cared about her adoptive parents, or what happened to Seraphina. But something still held her back from drawing a firm line. Something she hadn’t quite uncovered yet. Until she figured out what it was, she’d have to tolerate them, if only for the time being.

    “Mia, change of ns.” Alina said, rising from her chair and brushing invisible creases from her dress.

    “But ma’am, we’re supposed to sign with the investors today.” Mia reminded her, a small frown forming on her face.

    “I know, Mia, but I need to fix this mess before it causes us any more trouble. We wouldn’t want them showing up at the store now, would we?”

    “No, ma’am.” Mia sighed in reluctant agreement.

    “Good. Have Lee take you to the store. I’m sure you can handle the signing on your own. I trust your judgment.” Alina ced a reassuring hand on Mia’s shoulder, offering a small nod of confidence. “I’ll get to you as soon as I sort this out.”

    “Okay, ma’am.” Mia replied with resolve.

    “Jordan?” Alina called, already grabbing her purse.“Let’s go.” She said simply in a calm but determined tone, as she and Jordan exited the mansion.

    They drove outside the gate to find Ss and Elena pacing around restlessly.

    “Stop the car, Jordan.” Alina instructed quietly.

    The car came to a halt immediately. Alina stepped out and Jordan followed suit, instinctively walking beside her, alert and watchful.

    “Mother.” Alina called out, approaching Elena with calmposure.

    It was a mistake on her part.

    The moment Alina came within arm’s length, Elena’s face contorted in rage. She raised her hand suddenly, ready to strike.

    But Jordan was quick. He caught Elena’s wrist mid-air and pushed her back, not harshly, but firmly enough to make her stagger and fall into Ss’s waiting arms.

    “How dare you-”

    “How dare me?” Jordan cut in with a low and sharp voice. “How dare you.” He shot back narrowing his eyes at her.

    “What is it to you how I discipline my daughter?” Elena spat, seething at his interference.

    “I don’t care how you discipline your daughter,” Jordan said coldly. “But I do care about you raising a hand on the mistress of the house. Are you seeking death? Or would you like to exin to Mr. ckwood, why his fiancée has hand print marks on her face?” He leaned towards her slightly, his tone lower. “I don’t think that would end well for you. So you should be thankful, because I just saved you a trip to jail.”

    Alina blinked in surprise. Jordan had always been respectful and loyal, but this… this side of him was unexpected. Fierce.

    Protective. And even though it was his job, it still made something warm bloom quietly in her chest.

    “You-”

    Elena tried to speak again, but Ss stepped in quickly, grabbing her hand with a tight expression on his face.

    “Let’s just go.” He muttered, pulling his wife toward their car.

    Unlike his wife, Ss was thinking clearly. He knew better than to risk offending Lucian, not with so much at stake.

    Alina and Jordan got back into their own car and followed behind them.

    “Thank you.” Alina said softly, ncing at him.

    “Just doing my job, ma’am.” Jordan replied, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead.

    “I know,” she said, offering a small, appreciative smile. “But still… thank you.”

    Meanwhile, Lucian, who had watched the entire scene unfold from the iPad screen in front of him, turned slightly toward

    Ace.

    Give the kid a raise.” He said, voice cool and unreadable, but the praise was unmistakable.

    “Yes, boss.” Ace replied immediately.

    Lucian was a man of few words, but Ace knew what that meant. Jordan had just gotten back into the boss’s good graces, and firmly so.