Chapter 51The farmhouse had never felt so empty.Ethan sat on the porch, his back against the wall, his eyes fixed on the tree line. He had not moved since they returned. Hours had passed. The sun had risen and begun its slow arc across the sky. He remained still, a statue carved from grief and guilt.Sarah sat beside him. She had tried to speak to him twice. He had not responded. She understood. She had spent eighteen years in a cell, replaying every moment, every choice, every failure. She knew what it was to be consumed by what you could not change.Inside, Vincent worked at the table, his old hands methodically sorting through papers he could not focus on. Thorne had retreated to his corner, his muttering silenced for once. Ava sat by the window, her hand on her belly, watching the road as if Sophia might appear at any moment.Deanna stood apart, her phone clutched in her hand, waiting for a message that might never come. Elysia had gone silent after the raid. No texts. No calls.

Chapter 53The facility hummed with the quiet efficiency of machines and the muffled sounds of human misery. Elysia walked its corridors like a ghost, her footsteps silent against the concrete, her face a mask of perfect composure. She had always been good at masks. Better than anyone knew. Better than she wanted to admit, even to herself.She passed cells without looking inside. She knew what was in them. Knew the faces behind the small windows. Knew the sounds they made at night when they thought no one was listening. She did not look. Could not look.She passed guards without acknowledging them. They nodded as she went by, these men and women who worked for her uncle, who followed McCarthy's orders, who did things she did not want to think about. She gave them nothing. Not a glance. Not a word. Not a sign that they existed at all.She passed McCarthy without flinching.He fell into step beside her, his smile fixed and unpleasant, his eyes glittering with that constant hunger she ha

Chapter 55The interrogation room was small and windowless, lit by a single bare bulb that cast harsh shadows on the concrete walls. Ava sat in a metal chair, her wrists bound behind her back, her ankles chained to the floor. The position was designed for discomfort, for the slow erosion of hope. It worked.McCarthy circled her slowly, his hands clasped behind his back, his smile fixed and pleasant. He moved like a predator, unhurried, confident, certain of his victory. His footsteps echoed in the small space, a steady rhythm that seemed to match the beating of her heart."The drugs will take effect soon," he said conversationally. His voice was smooth, almost kind. "Nothing that will harm the baby, of course. I've been very careful about that. The dosage is calibrated precisely by my medical team. You'll feel relaxed. Cooperative. You'll want to tell me things."Ava said nothing. She stared at the wall opposite her, at the stains she did not want to identify. Her jaw was tight, her h

Lu Liangwei found the situation a bit strange because she had just eaten these dishes not long ago.It was impossible for two similar dishes to be served in a row during an ordinary banquet, let alone the emperor’s birthday banquet.She looked up only to meet Zhao Qian’s mischievous gaze.“Second Miss Lu, the Emperor noticed that you enjoyed these two dishes very much, so His Majesty ordered me to bring these to you. Please take your time enjoying your meal.”Even after Zhao Qian had walked away, Lu Liangwei was still unable to regain use of her senses.At the sight of the fish lips soup and hemp venison on the table, Lu Liangwei’s mouth began to water.However, no matter how delicious these two dishes were, she did not lose her rationality.She was puzzled at how the Emperor knew she liked these two dishes.The curiosity in her heart doubled as she pondered the emphasis Zhao Qian had placed on his words.Could it be that the Emperor had been watching her the whole time?Thinking of t

Zhao Qian shook his head, turned around, and walked into Hidden Dragon Palace.After Long Yang had taken a bath in his sleeping quarters, he donned a moon-white inner garment and lay sideways on the couch to read.When he saw Zhao Qian come in, he asked casually, “Has she left?”“Yes,” Zhao Qian stood beside him and replied respectfully.Looking up and seeing his cold and aloof master sitting under the light, Zhao Qian hesitated before dropping his voice and saying, “Master, what the Virtuous Consort truly wants is the Emperor’s sympathy. She looks rather pitiful to me...”When Zhao Qian sensed the master’s overwhelming gaze on him, his voice became softer and softer until he went completely silent.Long Yang could not help but snicker. Under the light, there was an unconcealable gloom on his stunning face. “How unexpected that a eunuch like you knows how to treasure women. Since you pity the Virtuous Consort so much, how about I give her to you?”Hearing this, Zhao Qian threw himself