LOGINDiana wondered if she had heard him correctly. "What? A housekeeper?""What's wrong? Not up for it?" Oscar released her chin and stepped back. "Then forget it."He turned to leave.Diana gave in. "I'll do it. I'll be here tomorrow." It was just looking after people. Wasn't she already doing exactly that for Freya back with her sisters?"When you can get the rest of your family to come serve the Miller household too, I'll consider us even."He left the words hanging as he continued toward Jason's house.Diana might agree to something like that. The other sisters never would. They had grown up with every comfort handed to them. The thought of working as household staff would probably make them want to die.He had no real intention of forgiving any of them. Putting Diana to work was a way to make his point. She had humbled herself this far. The others could never do the same.Diana's heart filled with something that felt like hope. "I'll make it happen. If that's what it takes,
The anger should have burned itself out by now. And if it hadn't, then the sisters could make it up to Oscar. From now on, they would revolve around him, and that would settle the debt.Yes, that was how it could work.Diana had it all figured out. "I know you can't forgive us for throwing away everything you did for this family. So how about this? If you're willing to forgive Amara, we'll do things differently from now on. You'll be the center of the family. All nine of us will answer to you."If that's still not enough, if you need more, just say the word. We'll do whatever we can. Even if you wanted to marry one of us..."She stopped. The words had escaped before she had fully thought them through. But the moment she said them, the marriage documents came to mind.The sisters had eventually concluded that someone with Oscar's resources had no reason to fabricate something like that. If he had truly wanted to marry any of them, he had more than enough means to pursue it properly
Diana couldn't hide her shock.Before Oscar was driven out, he and the sisters had been close. He wasn't one of them by blood, but in some ways he had been closer to her than her own sisters. They had fooled around together, played games, and filled the house with the kind of noise only a family could make.What Diana had always secretly envied about Oscar was his physique. She had never seen him work out or diet. Yet he was built like a model, lean and defined in a way that looked completely effortless, the kind of body you could only truly appreciate when you actually touched it.But now her hands were wrapped around his arm, and it felt like a thin rod beneath his oversized clothes."You..." She forgot what she had been about to say. The guilt in her chest doubled.The nine of them had lost a brother. Oscar had lost nine family members all at once. He had lost an entire home. If a person divided his heart equally among nine people, each one received the same share. Most of Osca
That was the body of a dying man.Oscar slipped out without waking the old couple and pushed open the villa gate. He was about to leave when he noticed a figure crouched beside the building.Her arms were wrapped around her knees. She was trembling, and small, broken sounds escaped her throat, like a lost animal struggling not to cry aloud.Oscar recognized her.He had noticed Diana when he returned that afternoon. He had chosen to ignore her then. He had no interest in getting tangled up with any sister. He hadn't been keeping track of what had happened to them.Jason had only been allowed into the villa because his mother had died and because he was Arthur's biological son.Oscar didn't know why Diana had come, and he had no desire to find out.There was already one Chamberlain inside. His first instinct had been to leave the situation alone entirely.However, the old couple hadn't agreed."Oscar, don't take this the wrong way. We know the family has done unforgivable things
Oscar recoiled. He dispersed the vitalis at once, forcing it back before it could settle. The claws receded slowly, nail by nail, until his hands looked like his own again.A wave of weakness followed. His body felt even worse than before.There was a particular cruelty in glimpsing the light after spending so long in the dark. Once you had seen it, the darkness that returned felt heavier than the one you knew before.Oscar had been holding himself together for weeks. To everyone around him, he looked functional, composed, unremarkable.However, the complications from his brain cancer were wearing him down every moment. The only things standing between him and collapse were Caleb's medicine and his own stubborn will.Then, for a single instant, his body felt at ease. Every muscle loosened, as though every cell in him had exhaled at once. Every part of him cried out with the same message: "Keep going. It doesn't matter what you become. As long as you're alive."He absently tapped
Jason's mind stalled. How many Draconox Archons were there?He opened his mouth to ask, but the entity wearing Amara's face raised a hand. "Enough. I don't have much time, so keep this simple. Amara's mind is under my influence now. Her instincts will draw her toward you."What I need from you is straightforward. I don't care how you do it, but destabilize the Chamberlain sisters. Make them doubt themselves. Break them down until they can barely think straight."At the same time, watch for significant events in the northern regions. Gather whatever you can for the ritual offerings. Amara will help you."And don't worry. Under my guidance, your mother is nothing. If you want your ancestors standing in front of you, I can arrange it."When the last word fell, the strangeness drained from Amara's eyes, and the amber light faded. Her black pupils and white sclera returned to their ordinary, unremarkable state. The shadow at her feet darkened and settled, no different from anyone else'
Amara couldn't afford to lose her composure. The moment she did, the headaches came.Gentle words had accomplished nothing. She stepped back and slapped Jason across the face with all her strength. "Snap out of it! You're completing this verification today whether you want to or not. And if you don
Jason froze at the gate. One more step, and he would be out.He had joined the family for money. Brotherhood, family honor, and the weight of a name had never meant anything to him.Now the man the family had thrown out like garbage had returned in triumph, backed by every powerful figure in Silve
Oscar settled into his seat. Only after he sat down did the others behind him dare to do the same.Not one of them chose a seat in his row. Instead, they arranged themselves in the row directly behind him, orderly and unquestioning.Oscar crossed one leg over the other and swept his gaze across th
When Amara remained silent for too long, Stanley leaned in and spoke in a sharp, low voice. "What are you standing around for? Get over here and greet your guests."Amara glanced at Stanley, then turned back to Oscar."You're Oscar? The one we used to call Oscar Chamberlain? The one we drove out o







