CHAPTER 132:Isabella felt like the world was tilting beneath her. "Stop. Just stop. You're lying. You have to be lying because if you're not...""Then everything you thought you knew about reality is wrong," Jean-Baptiste finished. "I know. I went through the same thing when Lucian first revealed the truth to me. It's overwhelming. Terrifying. It makes you question your sanity."He finally reached out and took her hand, squeezing gently. "But Isabella, please. Give your father a chance to explain everything. To show you the truth. To help you understand this world you've been protected from your entire life."Isabella yanked her hand away. "I don't know that man. Lucian Ashford is a stranger to me. You're my father. You've always been my father.""And I always will be," Jean-Baptiste said. "But Isabella, he's your father too. By blood, by biology, by the fact that he's loved you from the moment you were born, from a distance, yes, but loved you nonetheless.""Then why didn't he ever

Chapter 134Isabella felt the world tilt beneath her feet."You... you hunt vampires?" she asked slowly."I don't just hunt them," Lucian corrected. "I've dedicated my entire adult life to destroying them. To wiping their existence from this world. To protecting humanity from creatures that view humans as nothing more than food and entertainment."He stood again, walking to a bookshelf and pulling down a leather-bound journal. "I've personally killed over three hundred vampires in my lifetime. My organization...the Cazadores, has eliminated thousands more."Isabella's mind was reeling. "But you said... Jean-Baptiste said you were...""A vampire?" Lucian's laugh was bitter. "No, Isabella. I'm entirely human. As human as you are."He set the journal on the desk, flipping it open to reveal pages filled with names, dates, locations. Kill records."I'm a hunter," Lucian said simply. "The world's most effective vampire hunter, if the rumors are to be believed."Isabella looked at Jean-Bapti

Chapter 136Adrian was quiet, realizing with uncomfortable clarity that he knew almost nothing."She's a model," Adrian said weakly. "She does photoshoots for fashion brands. Her father is Jean-Baptiste Moreau, a successful businessman who..."He stopped, remembering Jean-Baptiste's reaction at the factory. The terror in the man's eyes when he'd seen Adrian's Primal form."Who knows about the supernatural world," Rafael finished. "We've established that. Jean-Baptiste clearly has knowledge of vampires, of supernatural politics, of power structures that normal humans shouldn't know about.""Which raises the question," Fabian said, "of how he knows. And why. And what connection his family—Isabella's family—has to the supernatural community."Adrian stood abruptly, beginning to pace. "So what, you think Isabella has been lying to me? Hiding something?""Not necessarily lying," Fabian said carefully. "She might not even know herself. If her supernatural heritage has been hidden or suppres

CHAPTER 138Adrian sat in the driver's seat of a sleek black SUV, parked across the street from one of Ottawa's most prestigious hotels, Le Château Laurier.The building was magnificent, a limestone masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture that had stood as a symbol of luxury and exclusivity since 1912.It towered over the surrounding area, all turrets and copper roofs, looking more like a French castle than a hotel.This was where the elite came to stay. Where prime ministers conducted private meetings.Where international business deals worth billions were negotiated over champagne and caviar.And it was where Adrian had scheduled to meet Isabella.He'd sent her a message that morning, brief, carefully worded, trying to sound casual despite the weight of what he was planning to do."Can we talk? I know yesterday was... complicated. But I'd like to explain. Le Château Laurier, 2 PM? The private lounge on the fifth floor."She'd responded after an hour that felt like an eternity: "F

CHAPTER 140Isabella's hand gripped Adrian's arm tightly as they ran, her breathing ragged, her eyes still wide with shock.Behind them, Le Château Laurier continued to burn, flames reaching toward the sky, smoke billowing in thick black clouds that could probably be seen from across the city.Emergency vehicles were converging on the scene, fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, their sirens creating a cacophony that made Adrian's sensitive hearing ache."Your car," Isabella gasped as they reached the SUV. "Where did you park?""Across the street," Adrian said, already moving in that direction.They reached the vehicle, and Adrian practically threw open the passenger door, ushering Isabella inside before running around to the driver's side.He slid behind the wheel, his hands shaking slightly from adrenaline as he started the engine."Wait," Isabella said, her hand on his arm stopping him from putting the car in drive. "We can't go back to your estate."Adrian frowned beneath his mask