bChapter /bb97 /b

    AUTHOR’S POV.

    Alina almost copsed to the ground from what she had just heard.

    She tried to will her legs to move, but they felt heavy,rooted to the spot, as she continued to listen.

    “Do you think he has some sick, twisted likeness towards her?” Elena asked her husband in a curious tone.

    “I don’t know, and honestly, I could care less about his sudden interest in Alinately,” Ss replied nonchntly. “At first, I thought she was just an unimportant piece in the game, but with his recent interest in her, I’m beginning to think she’s more important than he lets on.”

    Alina’s breath hitched.

    Ss began to scheme at the thought, the wheels turning in his head.

    On the other hand, Alina could barely process what she was hearing. It felt like she was dreaming, like she had fallen into a trance, but she wasn’t. This was real. This was actually happening.

    She couldn’t help but wonder if the “he” they were talking about was the same person who had called her phone months ago… the same one who had haunted her nightmares… the same one whose face was still drawn across the pages of her sketchpad.

    Who was he, and why was he so interested in her?

    “You think so?” Elena asked Ss.

    “I do. And that’s why we need to keep her close, as leverage, in case he decides to pull some stunt.” Ss told

    his wife.

    “What do you mean?” Elena asked, confused.

    “Don’t be deceived by his promises. Powerful men like that only care about their own interests. They don’t care who they crush on their way to get it.” Ss said darkly.

    “Are you saying he may let bus /btake the fall for what he did?” Elena asked, suddenly sounding terrified.

    “Now you’re getting it.” Ss nodded, his expression grim.

    “B–But… we had no hand in what happened years ago. He destroyed that family all by himself, killed and burnt the entire estate to the ground. All we did was take Alina from him!” Elena said quickly, desperate to defend them both.

    Alina’s heart mmed against her ribcage.

    What family were they talking about? Was it her family? Were they dead? Had he,whoever he was, killed her family? But why?

    55 vouchers

    “You need to calm down.” Ss told his wife, who was clearly panicking. “I guess he didn’t anticipate their child surviving… anding back to haunt him,” Ss said, a bitter edge to his voiceb. /b“Honestly, I’m more terrified of Lucian finding out about our involvement than I am of him.”

    That was the final nail in the coffin.

    Alina’s legs finally obeyed her and stumbled backward in shock.

    Lucian.

    His family… they were the ones being spoken about. His entire family had been wiped out, and somehow, somehow, she was in the middle of it.

    Not wanting to hear another word, Alina veered around and bolted down the corridor and down the stairs.

    “Oh! Hey, sweetheart, I didn’t know you were around.” Maria greeted her at the base of the stairs with a bright smile.

    Maria had always been kind to her during her time in the Dawn mansion. She’d been more of a mother to her than Elena ever wasb. /b

    Alina quickly collected herself, not wanting Maria to suspect anything.

    “Oh hey, Mrs. Maria. How have you been?” She asked with a forced smile.

    b“/bAre you okay, baby girl?” Maria asked, noticing how badly Alina’s hands were shaking.

    “Uhm, yeah. I’m fine,” she lied. “I came to see my parents but got a rather disturbing call, so I have to run. Can you please help me deliver this to my father?” Alina pulled the file from her purse and handed it over.

    The older woman took it from her with gentle hands.

    “Of course, sweetheart. I hope whatever that call was about gets sorted out. You look pale.” She noted.

    “I always look pale.” Alina replied with a weakugh, trying to make light of it.

    Maria chuckled softly. “I mean paler than usual.”

    “It’ll be fine, Mrs. Maria. Thank you.” Alina said as she made her way to the front door, Maria trailing behind.

    Just as she stepped out, she stopped and turned back.

    “Uhm, Mrs. Maria?” She called softly.

    “Yes, sweetheart?” Maria responded through the half–closed door.

    “Can you please not let my parents know I came inside? Just tell them you saw me at the front door, and I had to bleave /bbecause of something urgent.”

    Alina didn’t want to risk Ss and Elena suspecting that she may have heard something,

    b17:51 /bbThu/b, bSep /bb18 /bN

    …

    b53 /b

    55 vouchers

    bMaria /bstudied her with warm, motherly eyes. She knew Alina was lying about receiving an emergency call. Something had happened upstairs, something that made her want to leave so quickly, but Maria didn’t pry.

    “You have nothing to worry about, sweetheart,” bshe /bsaid with a knowing smile. “As far as I’m concerned, you bnever /bcrossed this front door.”

    “Thank you so much, Mrs. Maria.” Alina said in relief, pulling the woman into a brief hug before walking

    away.

    “Please drive me to Talia’s ce.” She told Jordan as soon as she was inside the car.

    Jordan noticed the shift in her tone, but he didn’tment. He simply nodded, turned on the ignition and drove off.

    The entire ride was quiet. Alina sat lost in thought. Originally, all she’d wanted was to make Adrian and Seraphina pay for the pain they caused her in her past life.

    But this, this was something else. She hadn’t–anticipated that the pain the Dawn’s family has cost her was much worse.

    In her past life, she had been so focused on pleasing the Dawn family. It had never even urred to her to ask questions about her birth parents, or to look for them.

    Would she have gone on living in blissful ignorance after her revenge, if she hadn’t overheard that conversation?

    The answer was yes. She would have.

    She was never meant to know this. She had stumbled upon it by pure ident.

    “We’re here, ma’am.” Jordan announced.

    Alina looked up to see the tall ss structure of Talia’s apartment building. She sat for a moment, staring out of the window before stepping out.

    “Should I wait for you, ma’am? Or would you like me toe with you?” Jordan asked.

    “You can retire for the day, Jordan. Come pick me up tomorrow.” She told him softly.

    Jordan stared at her in confusion.

    “I will be sleeping over tonight.” She rified.

    Jordan hesitated. “Uhm ma’am… does the boss know about this?”

    “Not yet, but I’ll tell him.” She assured him.

    Still, Jordan looked unconvinced, he didn’t want to get into trouble with Lucian.

    Noticing his expression, Alina let out a sigh and pulled out her phone from her purse. She dialed Lucian’s

    number.

    :

    “Hey, Doll.” He picked up after the first ring, his voice warm.

    Alina’s heart clenched painfully.

    17:52 bThu/bb, /bbSep /bb18 /bbN /b