“You know my son, Amora?” Alejandro asked, growing more confused.“Not really. I’ve met him once before, but I didn’t know he was … your son,” Amora replied, still trying to process everything.Alejandro was stunned. He looked at his son, who appeared calm as he took a seat next to his mother.“Sorry I’m late, Dad,” Cedric said with a wide smile. “I just heard we had a special guest this morning.”Regis was a bit surprised by Cedric’s composed demeanor. He had assumed the man would show some open hostility.Though Regis had never met Cedric face-to-face, he’d heard plenty of rumors that Cedric was even more dangerous than Alejandro’s eldest son. And now, Regis was starting to understand why people said that.“Let’s put the past behind us,” Alejandro said, looking firmly at Cedric. “Everyone at this table is part of the Volker family now.”“Understood, Dad,” Cedric replied smoothly, still smiling.“Where’s your sister?” Steffany asked.“I already called her. She should be here any mome
Breakfast at the Volker residence went on as planned, even though Steffany’s arrival had clearly killed Alejandro’s appetite.Alejandro wasn’t about to pass up the chance to have breakfast with his biological daughter and grandson, no matter how unpleasant his wife’s presence made him feel.Still, Alejandro was somewhat relieved that Steffany was at least being friendly toward Amora. He’d worried she wouldn’t accept her. Even so, he felt her behavior was a bit too much.Steffany kept trying to make conversation with everyone at the table, even though she clearly knew her husband didn’t want her there. Between spoonfuls of her favorite seafood cream soup, she turned to Amora and said, “I heard from Dr. Wright that you’re pregnant. How are you feeling this morning? Any nausea?”Alejandro’s brows furrowed. His hand paused mid-spread with jam on his whole wheat toast.“Why are you looking at me like that, Honey? Am I not allowed to care a little about your daughter’s well-being?” Steffany
“Dad, where’s Uncle Xavier?”Rayden’s question broke the cheerful chatter in the dining room. He had slept in the same room as Xavier and his father last night, but when he woke up, only his father was there.“Xavier was here too?” Amora asked in surprise.She was still trying to make sense of everything that had happened so suddenly. Regis and Rayden showing up this morning was already shocking enough, but now her son had just revealed that Xavier was also here last night. That could only mean something had happened.“What’s really going on, Regis?” Amora asked sharply, her eyes narrowing, demanding the truth.But Regis simply smiled, gently took her hand, and said, “It’s nothing. Xavier just dropped Rayden and me off last night.”He had to lie. The last thing he wanted was to make her worry more than she already was.Backing up his father’s story, Rayden nodded when his mother turned to him. “Dad’s right. Uncle Xavier brought us here last night. Right, Grandpa?”Rayden quickly looke
After finishing up, Amora stepped out of the room. Marie was waiting, ready to guide her to the dining room.Amora was in awe of the luxury surrounding her. She never imagined she’d spend the night in a place this grand. And yet, despite all the extravagance, she felt no freedom as she walked through the elaborately decorated halls.The servants gave her polite greetings, bowing slightly as if afraid she might lash out. It made Amora feel like some kind of frightening stranger.The atmosphere in the mansion was heavy, almost suffocating, and all Amora wanted was to leave. Given the choice between this lavish estate full of rules and a modest home where she could live freely, she’d choose the latter without hesitation.Her thoughts were interrupted when Marie spoke beside her. “Miss, please … this way.”Amora’s eyes landed on the large, closed double doors in front of her. She swallowed hard, trying to settle her nerves.‘Whatever it takes, I need to convince him to let me leave today,
The truth Regis had just heard from Alejandro left him speechless. He never imagined that his own father was the one who took the life of Amora’s birth mother, who also happened to be Alejandro’s lover.“Does … Amora know about this?” Regis asked, his voice filled with concern. He had never heard anything about this from her before.Alejandro shook his head. “She doesn’t. And I hope she never will,” he murmured.Regis fell silent. He understood how Alejandro felt—and truthfully, he shared the same thought.He couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen if Amora ever found out that her mother, Patricia Lysander, had been killed by his father.“Is there anything I can do to make up for what my father did, Mr. Volker?” Regis asked, genuinely hoping this long-standing grudge between Alejandro and his father could finally come to an end.He had come to believe that hatred only gives birth to more hatred. Ambition and greed had blinded everyone to reason and humanity. Far too much bloo
The word “Dad” coming from Regis’s lips made Alejandro chuckle again. He patted his son-in-law’s arm, but Regis suddenly winced and hunched forward.“What’s wrong, Regis?” Alejandro asked, surprised.Regis shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just pulled at the wound a bit,” he replied.“Oh damn, I totally forgot you’re injured,” Alejandro muttered, clearly concerned. He moved quickly to check on Regis’s injury, but Regis stopped his hand.“I’m fine, Dad,” Regis said, trying to show there was nothing to worry about.Alejandro let out a deep sigh. “If you're hurt, you shouldn’t be drinking with me. Go get some rest,” he told him.Regis stiffened. He didn’t want to leave the room yet. There was still something he hadn’t had the chance to ask the older man.“Why are you just standing there? Go on. Ask one of my men to take you to Ray’s room. I’m staying here a while longer,” Alejandro said again.“But … there’s still something I need to ask you, Dad,” Regis said, reminding the man of his earli