LOGINThe estate doors stood wide open.No one moved.Amelia stared at the enormous entrance.The lights inside were on.Every single one.But there was no one standing in the doorway.No guards.No staff.No movement.Just darkness beyond the illuminated hall.Damian stepped in front of Amelia.“Stay close.”She nodded.The baby remained unusually quiet in her arms.His eyes were fixed on the estate.Almost as though he recognized it.Anastasia whispered:“He knows this place.”Amelia looked at her.“How?”“I don't know.”The oldest boy stepped forward.“I do.”Everyone turned.He stared at the estate.“This is where they brought us after the laboratory.”Amelia's heart sank.“You've been here?”“Once.”He pointed toward the eastern wing.“That was where they trained us.”Damian's face hardened.“In my home?”The boy nodded.“You didn't know.”Damian looked at the estate.“I should have.”“You were a child too.”Damian said nothing.Alexander stepped forward.“We don't have time.”Amelia l
Dozens of armed men emerged from the darkness.Amelia froze.Anastasia grabbed her arm.“Don't move.”Damian stepped in front of both sisters.“Stay behind me.”The men surrounded them.Weapons raised.Alexander stood among them, blood running down the side of his face.Amelia stared at him.“Dad…”Alexander looked at her.“Don't believe what you see.”The Curator smiled.“He still thinks he can protect you.”Damian's eyes narrowed.“You're not taking anyone.”The Curator looked at him.“I'm not here for everyone.”His gaze moved to the baby.“I'm here for him.”Amelia held her son tighter.“You'll never touch him.”The Curator smiled.“That depends on whether Damian makes the right choice.”Damian stepped forward.“There is no choice.”“There always is.”The Curator raised one hand.Every soldier lowered their weapons.Damian frowned.“What are you doing?”“Giving you a chance.”“A chance for what?”“To save your wife.”Damian's expression changed.The Curator pointed toward Amelia.
The ground shook again.Amelia screamed as Damian pulled her against him.“Hold on!”The floor beneath them cracked.A violent tremor ripped through the chamber, sending equipment crashing against the walls.The baby in Amelia's arms began crying.“It's okay,” she whispered desperately. “Mommy's here.”The moment she said it, the crying stopped.Damian looked at her.Then at the baby.Another tremor came.This one was stronger.A section of the floor collapsed.Adrian grabbed the edge of the doorway.“WE HAVE TO MOVE!”The seven children immediately began running toward the exit.“Amelia!”Damian reached for her.She clutched the baby tighter.“I have him!”“I know. Move!”They ran.Behind them, the chamber exploded into darkness.Something enormous moved beneath the laboratory.A deep metallic groan travelled through the walls.Then came a sound that didn't belong to any machine.A heartbeat.Slow.Massive.THUMP.Amelia stopped.THUMP.The baby in her arms opened his eyes.THUMP.Hi
The cry came again.Small.Frightened.But unmistakably real.Amelia's entire body went rigid.“Did you hear that?”Damian nodded.“I heard it.”Another cry echoed through the underground facility.This time, louder.Closer.Amelia looked toward the floor.“There's a child down there.”Adrian was already working at the terminal.“I'm trying to locate the source.”The first Subject stepped toward him.“Stop.”Adrian looked up.“Why?”“Because the system wants you to find it.”Damian's eyes narrowed.“Meaning?”The boy pointed at the screen.“The Curator knows exactly what we're going to do.”A third cry echoed through the walls.Amelia couldn't stay still.“We're going.”Damian caught her hand.“Wait.”“No.”“Amelia—”“That is a child crying down there.”Her eyes filled with tears.“I don't care what trap they prepared. I'm not going to stand here and listen.”The seven children exchanged glances.The oldest finally nodded.“There is another way.”He walked toward the far wall.“There
Amelia couldn't breathe.The words remained on the screen.MOTHER AND CHILD: REUNITED.Her eyes were fixed on the little girl.Dark hair.Small face.Those eyes.Her eyes.“No,” Amelia whispered.Damian stood beside her.He didn't speak.He couldn't.The entire room had gone silent.Even Alexander looked as though the world had just collapsed around him.Amelia turned slowly toward him.“Dad.”Alexander didn't answer.“Tell me she's lying.”His lips parted.Nothing came out.“Dad!”“I don't know.”“You don't know?”Amelia's voice cracked.“You knew about Anastasia. You knew about the Archive. You knew about the laboratory. You knew they took me.”She pointed toward the screen.“And now there's a child calling me her mother.”Alexander looked at the little girl.His eyes filled with tears.“I thought she was dead.”Amelia froze.“You knew about her?”Alexander closed his eyes.“Yes.”Damian's head snapped toward him.“You knew Amelia had a child?”Alexander shook his head.“Not exactly
“Anastasia?”Amelia's voice broke.The room remained completely dark.For one terrifying second, there was nothing.No movement.No answer.Then the speakers crackled.“Yes.”Amelia covered her mouth.Her knees almost gave out.Damian caught her before she fell.“Amelia.”“She's alive.”Her voice trembled.“She said she's alive.”Alexander stared at the speakers as if they had become something impossible.“No.”Amelia looked at him.“You heard her.”“I know that voice.”Alexander's face had gone pale.“I know that voice.”The speakers crackled again.“Dad?”Alexander froze.That single word destroyed whatever composure he had left.He took a step forward.“Anastasia?”“Yes.”His eyes filled instantly.“My God.”He covered his face with one hand.“I thought you were dead.”“I was supposed to be.”The words sent a chill through the room.Damian looked toward the ceiling.“Where are you?”A pause.“I don't know.”Adrian stepped toward the terminal.“The signal is coming from somewhere be
“Amelia!”The sound of Damian’s voice echoed through the apartment with a panic nobody had ever heard from him before.Sophie gasped.Nathan froze.And Adrian immediately lifted Amelia into his arms as her body went limp against him.“Move.”His calm tone cut sharply through the chaos.Years of med
For one terrifying second, Damian thought he misheard.The noise of the ballroom faded into the background.“What did you say?”On the other end of the call, the hotel manager sounded nervous.“Mrs. Vale collapsed near the west entrance. Security said she nearly fainted in the rain.”Damian’s grip
The moment Amelia signed the papers, the ballroom erupted into whispers.Some people pitied her.Most enjoyed the spectacle.After all, scandals involving powerful families were entertainment for the rich.Amelia could practically feel their eyes burning into her skin as she placed the pen down car
The crystal chandeliers of the Grand Orion Hotel glowed above the crowd, casting gold across silk gowns and tailored suits. Laughter echoed through the ballroom, champagne glasses clinked softly, and cameras flashed toward the stage where the powerful elites of the city gathered.At the center of i







