Your Old Life Is Over!

"We must take her now, sir. They're back!"

The world went black.

Selena didn’t remember collapsing. One second she was staring at the sky, numb and broken. And the next, nothing.

When her eyes opened, all she saw was a ceiling painted gold. This wasn’t heaven nor was it hell, it was familiar. She had seen this kind of luxury before, back at William’s residence. But this was something else entirely.

"You’re finally awake."

The voice was deep. It held no warmth, only a quiet intensity that made her heartbeat quicken. Selena tried to sit up, but her body screamed in protest.

"Easy," the voice continued. "You’ve been unconscious for two days."

"Two days? Where am I?" Selena rasped, her throat dry as ash.

The man stepped into view. He's tall and elegant. His eyes were sharp like a hawk’s, with the kind of presence that silenced any room he entered.

"Nice to meet you," he said simply. "My name is Martin. Martin Serpentine!"

"Serpentine?" Selena gasped with widened eyes. "You—"

"Your husband’s enemy?" He smirked, his thin mustache twitching. "Ah, my mistake. I mean your ex-husband’s enemy. He already divorced and dumped you, didn’t he?"

Selena said nothing. Her heart is beating faster and faster. She felt scared, but remained alert. Her brown eyes scrutinized the man in front of her. Conflicted, wary, and unreadable.

"Let’s set aside the ‘enemy’ label for now," he continued, voice calm and measured. "What matters more is this. I didn’t bring you here out of charity. I brought you here because we share a bond stronger than anything you’ve ever known."

Martin simply turned and picked up a sleek black folder from the table beside the bed. Without a word, he handed it.

Selena opened it with trembling hands. There is a stamped, sealed medical report. Her eyes scanned the top part that had the words.

Genetic Parental Analysis

Subject A: Selena Elvardra Velmond

Subject B: Martin Serpentine

Probability of Paternity: 99.98%

"W–what?"

"I'm your father." The man dropped the words like a bomb. "Your mother, kept you from me all your life. She said it was for your safety. Maybe she was right. But now, the truth can no longer be buried."

"No... You’re lying!"

"Unfortunately, you have seen the truth."

Selena's world tilted again. She gasped at the reality that was getting to her. Her breath hitched. The report slipped from her fingers and fluttered onto the blankets.

"I am Serpentine?" she whispered with her voice cracking.

"Yes, you are my daughter. And it’s time you started acting like it!"

Selena stared blankly at the ceiling again. Her tears finally broke. This couldn’t be happening. This was the name William had cursed, the family he warned her never to trust, the bloodline she was taught to fear.

"I don’t want this," she murmured, shaking her head. "I just want to go back to my old life!"

"Old life?" Martin’s eyes darkened, then softened into something cruelly sympathetic. "There’s nothing left to go back to, sweetheart. You were thrown away like trash. Accused of murder, betrayed, and hunted. Do you believe the noble Velmonds are waiting to forgive you with open arms?"

Selena's lips trembled, her eyes now glassy with pain. "But… you killed his mother."

"Me?" Martin arched a brow and let out a low chuckle. "Then prove it. I was angry when his father put me in prison back then, but I'm not crazy enough to involve an innocent woman in my cycle of revenge against him."

His calmness terrified her more than rage ever could. Selena fell silent again, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her thoughts ran wild, and she couldn’t even breathe.

"You and your children are in danger, Selena," Martin said softly, but again in a tone that cannot be ignored. "And whether you like it or not. I’m the only one standing between you and death!"

The room fell into a heavy silence. Slowly Selena's breathing became more and more labored. Martin leaned forward, his voice dropping into something sharp and steel-edged. 

"But sometimes protection comes at a price. Did you know that?"

"What price?" Selena asked hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer.

"You must give up your identity. Selena Elvardra Velmond must die metaphorically. Forget that William son of Velmond. Forget who you were, and become mine. Fully in name, in blood, and loyalty!"

Without waiting for any further response from Selena, Martin immediately showed her a headline from this morning’s news. The article turned out to be about Selena and William’s relationship. The rumors had quickly spread. But the most shocking thing for Selena was how William had organized a public contest to find her and attacked her with words full of hatred.

She is a murderer! To anyone who finds her. Whether alive or dead, I will give a worthy reward!

Selena broke into sobs. Her pale face was once again wet with tears, but this time, they didn’t dry on their own because another hand was there to gently wipe them away.

"Take my name, my daughter," Martin said gently but firmly. "Live under my roof, and become the sole heir to everything I’ve built. You’re not just a Serpentine by blood. You're the future of this family! The legacy!"

Selena looked down at her trembling hands. Her stomach shifted slightly, a reminder of one far more important than her own identity. The lives inside her are still growing, and still depending on her. 

After all, she had made a promise to someone to stick it out, to stick it out for the three new worlds that were forming in her womb.

"For them," she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I’ll do anything!"

Hearing that, Martin smiled triumphantly. He put his arm around Selena's frail shoulders. His brown-eyed gaze softened for a moment, before sharpening again as an image of someone appeared in his mind.

"Rise, my daughter," he said not hesitating, his voice echoing like a verdict. "Your old life is over! And a new one begins now as Serpentine!"