جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 50

“Uncle Eric.”Rafael stopped the moment he saw him inside their mansion. Kim, who stood just behind him, froze as well.They had come straight from the hospital after Rafael received a call from his father. Come to the mansion. We need to talk. That was all Bernard said. It was enough for Rafael to ignore his injury and leave without getting admitted.He didn’t expect this.Standing in the middle of the room was the man he hadn’t seen in years.Eric was not a blood relative, but he had been raised alongside Bernard like a brother. He was the son of a loyal subordinate who died saving Bernard’s father. To repay that debt, the old man took Eric in and raised him as his own.Then, one day, he left.No explanation. No return.Until now.“You look surprised,” Eric said, a faint smile forming on his lips.His eyes shifted to the woman beside Rafael.Rafael noticed it immediately. Without hesitation, he reached for Seren’s hand and subtly pulled her behind him.Seren glanced at him, confused

“What are you doing here?” Seren asked sharply when she saw her mother standing outside the university gate. Her gaze shifted, and there, not far away, stood Eric.It had been weeks since she last heard from her family, ever since the incident involving Vincent Bianchi.“Is that how you greet your own mother?” Eric said as he walked toward them, a faint smirk on his lips. “Or have you already picked up Rafael’s cold-hearted ways?”Seren frowned, her eyes narrowing at him. She didn’t know what he was planning, but whatever it was, dragging her parents into it crossed a line.“I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re the reason she’s here,” she said coldly.Eric only smiled. “You’re a clever girl.”He turned to her mother. “Now you see it for yourself. This is what she’s become. That family…” he paused deliberately,“…they’re not a good influence on her. I understand your circumstances forced you to sell Seren to Bernard… but look at what they

Just as Eric had promised, he called for a gathering of all the leaders under the De Luna organization.He invited them to the mansion.The meeting would be held there, and that very night, he planned to execute Rafael’s removal as the head of De Luna.For weeks, Eric had already been working behind the scenes, meeting the leaders one by one, quietly earning their sympathy. He knew Rafael’s youth would work against him. It made the others easier to sway.From her room, Seren watched as one car after another arrived at the mansion.It was unusual.The leaders rarely gathered there, despite it being the organization’s main headquarters. Most of the time, when Bernard called for a meeting, it was held in hotel conference halls.But tonight was different. Tonight, they were all here. Seren couldn’t hide her unease.Even though Eric had assured her that everything was under control, she couldn’t shake the fear creeping into her ches

“I knew you’d come to that,” Eric said calmly. “That’s why I prepared for it.” His lips curled into a faint smile.“If I can’t take De Luna through peaceful means,  then I’ll take it by force.”One of the sector leaders stepped forward. “We’re done here. The rest is yours.” One by one, they exited the hall.And the moment they did. Rafael’s men began to enter. The shift was immediate.Tense. Unstable “What a cheap trick,” Rafael said at last, breaking his silence.Eric stiffened. “What?” Rafael’s gaze was cold as it landed on him.“This is your grand plan?” he said mockingly. “Using a foolish girl as your winning card?”Seren flinched slightly at the words. Eric scoffed, then turned toward her.“Why would you even choose someone like her as your wife?” he said di

“Seren.”Lena’s voice carried a hint of surprise as she spotted her daughter sitting outside Anna’s hospital room, alone on a bench. At the sound of her mother’s voice, Seren lifted her gaze, her expression unreadable. She didn’t dare to approach Rafael, not after everything.For a moment, she thought about going back inside Anna’s room, but even that felt impossible. She didn’t belong there. Not anymore.Earlier, she had quietly made her way to the emergency room, forcing herself to be brave. She overheard nurses and doctors talking. Bernard had been taken into surgery after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. His condition was critical. A miracle, they said, would be needed to save him.Her eyes had drifted to Rafael, who was speaking with Kim. He was still wearing the same blood-soaked clothes. His arms were stained, his shoulder clearly wounded, yet he didn’t seem to care.And still, she cou