Darlyn's gaze shifted from Philip to the elderly woman standing before him, and a wave of revulsion washed over her. Estella White, Anna's mother, bore a striking resemblance to a wicked stepmother straight out of a fairy tale. Her disheveled appearance and haggard expression only intensified Darlyn's disdain.Darlyn cleared her throat, preparing to introduce herself, but before she could utter a word, Estella's eyes widened with recognition. The woman's arms shot out, encircling Darlyn in a tight embrace. Darlyn recoiled, a mixture of disgust and irritation twisting her features."What are you doing, old woman?" Darlyn snapped, her voice laced with contempt. "A pathetic creature like you shouldn't dare to touch someone of my stature!”Estella's grip tightened, oblivious to Darlyn's disdain. A flicker of longing danced in her eyes, a deep-seated desire hidden behind her worn exterior. Darlyn couldn't fathom what could possibly draw such a woman to her, nor did she care to find out.Es

LYZAI made my way towards the meeting place with Dante, when a voice called out my name, causing me to turn in surprise. My eyes fell upon an elderly man standing a few feet away. His weathered appearance spoke volumes of a life filled with hardship and struggle. Yet, despite his disheveled appearance, I held no judgment, for I had learned never to judge someone based on their external circumstances.Approaching the old man with genuine curiosity, I offered a polite smile. “Hi! Is there something I could help you with, sir?” His eyes crinkled with a hint of warmth as he returned my smile. He mentioned feeling honored to see me in person and spoke of hearing favorable compliments about me within the Black Pearl Pack. “By the way, my name is Philip. I’m also a member of Black Pearl Pack. But my wife and I are just omegas,” Curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted from me. Was it merely a chance encounter, or did he harbor ulterior motives beneath his humble facade?

DANTEI paced back and forth in the office, my eyes constantly glancing at the wall clock as each minute ticked by with agonizing slowness. Lyza was never late, let alone two hours late for an important meeting like this. Something wasn't right, and my worry grew with each passing moment.I tried to convince myself to stay calm, to trust that there must be a reasonable explanation for her absence. Perhaps there was an unexpected complication, a delay beyond her control. But the nagging sense of unease gnawed at me, refusing to be silenced by logic.I reached for my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I dialed Lyza's number. The sound of the dial tone seemed to mock me, a constant reminder of the unanswered call. I tried again, hoping for a different outcome, but the result remained the same—her phone was out of coverage.My mind raced with countless possibilities, each one more troubling than the last. What if something terrible had happened to her? What if she was in danger and una

LYZA “I know I owe you an explanation, my daughter, Anna,” Estella smirked at me. Daughter? What? A wave of emotions crashed over me – disbelief, anger, and a deep-seated ache that I couldn't quite place. The very core of who I believed myself to be was unraveling before my eyes. "I'm not Anna! I’m not your daughter! I'm Lyza Pressman!" I protested, my voice quivering with a mix of frustration and confusion. Estella's eyes bore into mine, an unsettling mixture of triumph and malice dancing within them. "No matter what you say, Lyza. I knew it. You can't lie to me. I know it's you, my always good daughter, Anna!" My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms as her taunts grated against my already frayed nerves. "Stop talking too much! And tell me the fuck you want!" I shouted, the words escaping my lips before I could even fully process them. She chuckled, seemingly unfazed by my outburst. "Well, you are right. But since I'm too generous, I will tell you the truth about yourself