Julius was unable to believe his eyes, he had an album full of photos…of Rory ..from her childhood to the few days before he might have found her.She was right there captured perfectly in the photographs in different angles, different times, but the one thing that was common was that she was there with Duke David and his wife.He was aware of the fact that these photos can be faked, the birth certificate he was holding can be modified, everything the Duke has provided him as a proof can be staged, but there was …there was something in his eyes, that was making him not to question him once again and believe each and every word that he was saying.But even when he was ready to believe everything that Duke has said to him, there were few things that he still didn't have the answers for, it was true that he has the proofs that about the fact that he has caught few people who were following Rory and the payment links has traced directly to the Duke, but the Duke was saying the truth, thos

Lara stood silently in the middle of the grand drawing room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her eyes lingered on the shut door for a long moment, as if Esme’s exit had left her without any support for her overwhelming feelings. The flickering light from the furnace cast long shadows behind her on the wooden floor. But none of the warmth could reach her heart. It had been cold for weeks now, ever since her daughter had vanished. The Duke crossed the room slowly, his steps measured, but his face was not as composed as usual. There was a faint sheen of sweat along his brow, and his jaw was clenched harder than necessary. For a man known for commanding political chambers while remaining calm and collected, Beldham now looked like something entirely different… because apart from being a Duke and a supportive husband, he was a desperate father. A father who had turned everything upside down to find his daughter. He stopped a few feet in front of Lara and studied her fac

After announcing the roles of her favourite dolls, Rory was still sitting cross-legged amidst her scattered dolls, one in each hand, one tucked beside her knee. Her cheeks were flushed from excitement, and her eyes sparkled as she continued her story.“And now Rory is late for school, so Julius Papa has to fly her there on a dragon!” she announced happily, waving one doll in a sweeping motion.Julius stood just a few steps away, leaning lightly against the doorframe. He watched her, arms crossed loosely, a fond yet conflicted look in his eyes.There was an ache somewhere in his chest he couldn’t quite define… something between love, fear, and curiosity. The way she played, her confidence, her trust in them for keeping her safe, it all made him proud. But something still tugged at him. He stepped closer and crouched down beside her, his voice gentle. “Rory… do you remember your parents? Your real parents, I mean. From before Miley and Julius found you?”She didn’t even pause. Her ha

Rory had finally fallen asleep, her tiny body curled between layers of blankets, breathing soft and steady. Julius sat beside her bed for a moment longer, just watching. Her tear-streaked face had relaxed, though a faint crease of worry still lingered on her brow. He brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and stood up quietly.Miley followed him out of the room, closing the door gently behind them. She whispered, “Is she okay now?”“She’s asleep,” Julius murmured. “But whatever scared her… it’s not something a child just forgets.”Miley nodded grimly, squeezing his hand before stepping away to check the kitchen.Julius made his way into the study and sat in front of his laptop. The screen flickered to life, already open to the encrypted folder containing the information they had retrieved about the girl’s disappearance. He clicked through the files one by one, scanning timelines, security camera images, news clippings, and incident reports.He leaned back and muttered, “This isn’t m

The city blurred past the windshield, gray and bruised under the late afternoon sky. Julius kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting stiffly on his thigh, and tried not to look at the girl beside him.Rory, the seven years old, was completely quiet now, too quiet. She sat with her small hands folded around a faded stuffed rabbit Miley had given her, as if that was the only thing left in the world she trusted. Maybe it was.Or maybe Julius was thinking too much…as even though he has planned everything to expose Clara, he was too sure that if everything was going to go along as the plan, as this time he wasn't alone but Rory was also involved in this plan and risking the life of this innocent kid was making him die from inside.He told himself not to look at her. He couldn't afford to look.Because if he did…if he caught even a glimpse of the confusion in her eyes or the way she kept glancing at him when she thought he wasn’t looking…his resolve might crack. And he couldn’t let it