Mag-log in"Send them away?" Isolde was stunned. "My real father is also a descendant of your family head, isn't he?"Even setting aside the rule that the successor must be a woman, Isolde's biological father should have had a closer claim to the family head.Mimi smiled. "In the Valeciels, women are supreme. You are the most noble person in the family. Everything revolves around you."Isolde's pupils tightened. Mimi's words truly shocked her.She had only intended to test the waters and secure a few guarantees for herself, perhaps a promise of protection or some authority and benefits. She had not expected to jump straight to the endgame.If she could directly banish the fake heiress and her family, then once she arrived in the Valeciels, the initiative would be entirely hers.Isolde rose to her feet. "Mimi, you've had a long journey and worked hard. I'll arrange a presidential suite for you. Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to the Valeciels.""Tomorrow?" Mimi hesitated.
The reception area was spacious and bright, with the Southbridge skyline visible through floor-to-ceiling windows.An elderly woman in a navy blue cotton robe stood before the glass with her back to the door. Her hair was neatly combed, with not a single strand out of place.At the sound of footsteps, she turned.Her face was lined with wrinkles, yet her eyes remained bright, carrying a quiet, settled warmth.She looked toward Isolde, her gaze moving slowly from head to toe. Then she folded her hands and bowed slightly in a precise, old-fashioned gesture. "Hello, Lady Isolde. My name is Mimi."Isolde did not break stride. She crossed the room and sat on the single sofa opposite her."Lady?" She tilted her head, feigning confusion. "My family is ordinary. I can't accept a title like that."She already knew the truth about the real and fake heiresses, but she could not reveal how she had learned it.As Viper had warned, Seraphina's urge to drag everything down with her would brin
Ezra's brow tightened. "Did he discover the tracker on his body and deliberately detour to the Boreas?"St. Brandir's Isle was the closest settlement to the Boreas. Beyond it lay true no man's land, a frozen expanse of ice and wind. Even a massive family like the Valeciels could not sustain a presence deeper inside. The environment simply was not fit for human survival.Bruce rolled a fountain pen between his fingers, his expression cold and precise. "If he had discovered it, he would have removed the tracker. There would be no reason to drag a severely injured body that far just to toy with us."'The Valeciels…' He pressed the pen to the paper and wrote the word Boreas. The force drove the nib through the page, as if the stroke itself carried killing intent."Gather the men. Head to St. Brandir's Isle in secret and scout for the Valeciels' location. Prepare backup in case anything goes wrong…" Bruce's gaze hardened. "Break into the Valeciels at all costs."Ezra drew in a sharp br
A withered branch, as thick as a finger, suddenly pierced the lead man's throat.Blood gushed out like a fountain.He clutched his neck and stared at the corpse before him in terror. Then the deathly gray face opened its eyes. "How are you… How are you still—"'Alive…'Before he could finish, Viper yanked the branch from his throat and drove it toward the others without hesitation."Get back!"The others tried to scatter, but even with their quick reactions, another man fell on the spot.They had heard that Viper's skills were eerily powerful, but they had not expected anything this unnatural. He killed two men in seconds under these conditions."Retreat!" They made a split-second decision and fled in all directions.A smile spread across Viper's deathly gray face, like an evil spirit returned to life. "Not a single one… of you… will escape."…Ezra hurried into the dining room. "Prince…"At that moment, Bruce was dining with Isolde and her parents.He set down his cutlery
"Still expecting to enjoy glory and wealth? Hahaha. Fool, your time of death is coming soon!"As soon as Viper finished speaking, Bruce's foot struck. The kick slammed Viper to the ground. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, along with a loose tooth.To everyone's surprise, Viper began to laugh. His expression turned frantic and grotesque. "Scared? Isolde, crawl to Miss Seraphina right now and beg for mercy. Then disappear under a false name. You might still have a slim chance of survival.""A slim chance of survival?" Isolde remained calm, her lips curling with sarcasm. "Do you believe that yourself?"Even if she gave up this wealth and power, even if she walked away from it all, those people would still see her as a threat. They would never let her go.Surrender would only hasten her death."Go back and tell your lady this. If she cannot kill me without anyone knowing, then she will have to accept the consequences. Tell her to stop these petty tricks. If she interferes with
Isolde picked up her phone and dialed her mother.The call connected quickly.Moira's gentle voice came through the line. "Izzie, why are you calling at this hour? Do you miss me?""Mom…" Isolde's tone turned serious. "I need to ask you something, and you must answer truthfully. I'm not your biological daughter, am I?"The line fell silent for two seconds, then erupted.Moira's voice jumped an octave as her gentle demeanor shattered. "Which bastard has been filling your head with nonsense? I carried you to term and worked so hard to bring you into this world!"When I was pregnant, I vomited until I couldn't tell which way was up. When I delivered you, the pain lasted two days and a night."I still have stretch marks on my belly, and you're saying you're not my biological daughter? If that's the case, did I go through all that pain just to give birth to thin air? You are my biological daughter. Nothing is truer than that."Isolde said nothing.She eased the phone away from her
Alan had run all over Rosta for Isolde, poured in 150 million dollars, and stayed awake for two days and two nights. Yet this was what he received in return. She treated him with utter coldness.He wanted to question her, but all he could see was her resolute, indifferent back.She crossed the dis
Just then, the doorbell rang.Bruce was not home. Isolde was alone and too lazy to cook, so she had ordered takeout.She assumed the delivery had arrived. She hurried over and opened the door, only to find Alan standing there.He held an elegant food container. "Isolde, takeout isn't healthy. I s
Bruce: [The child is not Alan's. A paternity test is useless.]Martin: [Two audio clips from Isolde are not strong enough. Alan is far too cautious, and there is a high chance we will never obtain direct evidence of adultery. (lighting-a-cigarette-in-melancholy.jpg)]Bruce: [If it does not exist,
"Actually… I do have something…" Isolde spoke slowly as she walked toward Bruce, step by step, her fingers resting casually on the solid arm exposed above the water.The warmth and firmness of his skin made her fingertips burn, as if touched by flame.Instinct told her to pull back, but when the c







