Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Bride He Refused to Lose : Kabanata 151 - Kabanata 160

The golden light poured over the cracked stone steps, bathing the battered survivors in a warm, almost ethereal radiance that seemed to wash away the acrid tang of gunsmoke and ancient dust.For three centuries, the Dimitri family had believed their bloodline was a fortress built entirely on brute strength, blood sacrifice, and the absolute authority of the King. They had fought wars, executed traitors, and buried their own brothers—all to protect a throne they believed was the sole axis of their universe.Now, as the brilliant luminescence expanded from the heart of the vault, that foundational myth shattered into dust.Leo stood locked in place, his small hand still hovering inches from the glowing emerald scanner. The warmth of the light hummed against his skin, vibrating through the silver medallion resting against his chest. He looked up at Lorenzo, his small jaw trembling."Lorenzo..." Leo whispered, his voice small against the deep, mechanical whirring of the vault's ancient gea

The face on the screens smiled. Lorenzo stared at him. Massimo went completely still. Even Elena looked frightened.The stranger slowly lifted a glass of wine.> "Twenty years, Massimo."> His voice was calm. Almost friendly.> "You've been hiding."> Massimo's jaw tightened. "I watched you die."The man laughed. "You watched a funeral. Not a death."Lorenzo stepped forward. "Who are you?"The man looked directly at him. For a moment, his expression softened. "You don't recognize me.""No.""Of course not." He touched the Dimitri ring on his finger. "You were only a child."Massimo whispered the name. "Adrian."The room fell silent. Lorrie looked at him. "Who is Adrian?"Massimo's face had lost all color. "My older brother."The stranger smiled. "The family remembers me. Father's first son. First heir. First mistake."Lorenzo frowned. "You were supposed to be dead."Adrian leaned back. "Apparently, everyone in this family is very good at pretending."His eyes moved toward Elena. "And

The cry echoed again.Soft. Fragile. Impossible.Lorrie stood frozen in the middle of the corridor. Another cry came from somewhere beneath the stone floor. Her heart twisted."That can't be a baby."Elena's face was still pale. "It is."Lorenzo looked at her. "You said the child died twenty-five years ago.""I believed he did.""Then who is crying?"Elena shook her head. "I don't know."Massimo's voice came through the communicator. "Everyone stay where you are."Lorenzo immediately answered. "Father, we're going down.""No.""You heard the crying.""I did.""Then you know we can't ignore it."There was a long silence. Finally, Massimo said, "There's something you need to know."Lorenzo's expression hardened. "Another secret?"Massimo sighed. "Yes."The corridor lights flickered. Then a hidden staircase opened beneath the floor.Cold air rushed upward. The sound of the baby's crying became louder.Lorrie looked at Lorenzo. "We have to go."He nodded. Together, they descended. Gabriel

The laboratory fell silent. No one moved. No one seemed capable of speaking.Lorenzo stared at the frozen image on the monitor: Isabella, his missing aunt, the woman his family had mourned for decades. Alive. And somewhere beneath Eden... she had another secret.A brother. Someone who looked exactly like him.Lorrie tightened her grip around Leo. "That woman......She said she's your sister."Lorenzo nodded slowly. "I heard her.""But that's impossible."Massimo's voice came through the communicator. "It isn't."Lorenzo turned sharply. "You knew?""I suspected.""That's not an answer."Massimo sighed. "Your grandfather had another child. His name was Daniel. Daniel Dimitri."Lorenzo's face hardened. "Why have I never heard that name?""Because he was erased."Gabriel immediately moved toward the main terminal. "I may be able to access the research center."Adrian stopped him. "Don't."Gabriel looked at him. "Why?""Because the system is designed to detect unauthorized access.""And?"A

"Run."The voice came again. Soft. Faint. Almost swallowed by the alarms screaming throughout the underground facility.But Lorenzo knew that voice. He had heard it in childhood dreams. He had heard it in old recordings. He had heard it in the last memory he had of the woman who raised him: His mother.Lorenzo's lips parted. "Mother?"Lorrie grabbed his arm. "Lorenzo, what's wrong?"He didn't answer. He stared into the darkness beyond the corridor. "She's alive."Massimo's dead communicator suddenly crackled, and her voice came through:> «"Lorenzo... Don't come looking for me."»> His heart slammed against his ribs. "Where are you?"Silence. Then—> «"Below the original laboratory."»> The connection died.Lorenzo immediately turned toward the others. "We're going down."Adrian shook his head. "That's exactly what your grandfather wants.""I don't care.""You should."Lorenzo stepped toward him. "That's my mother."Adrian stared at him. "And that's exactly why he'll use her."Elias