2025-07-25 00:56:21
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Chapter 61: Whisper of Flame
The villa was quiet too quiet outside, the breeze stirred the olive trees cicadas buzzed. But inside, a strange heaviness lingered in the walls. As if something ancient had awakened. Verity walked barefoot down the corridor, cradling Kael against her chest. The baby had fallen asleep after another fit of shimmering light that had flickered from her tiny fingers. It wasn’t the first time. Sometimes, when he cried, the air would crackle when she laughed, small lights would dance around her head like fireflies. Verity had stopped trying to explain it. “You’re not just our son,” she whispered to the sleeping boy. “You’re something more.” A low chime rang from the villa’s entryway Damon appeared from the library, shirt half unbuttoned, a tablet glowing in one hand. “Wasn’t expecting visitors,” he said. Neither of them moved to open the door immediately. Then— A voice. “Zia,” he called softly. “Zia the Neural Rebellion. You’ve come home.” Verity’s heart leapt. “Zia?” Damon
Chapter 60
Rain drummed gently on the villa’s windows as Verity gripped Damon’s hand, sweat pouring down her brow. Her breaths came short and sharp, but her gaze was unwavering. Around her, a small team of medics worked in hushed, urgent motions the candlelight flickered. “He's coming,” the lead nurse said softly. “One more push, Verity.” Verity’s fingers crushed Damon’s he winced but didn’t complain. Not even when she cursed in three different languages. And then a cry it was high, clear, unlike anything human or divine. The sound vibrated in the air, ancient and new all at once. The baby’s wail wasn’t painful it was commanding. As if he'd announced his arrival not just to her parents, but to the entire world. “He’s here,” Damon breathed. The nurse gently wrapped the newborn boy in a soft white cloth and handed him to Verity. “Perfectly healthy. But… his eyes…” Verity looked down the baby stared up at her with wide, luminous silver eyes unnatural, otherworldly yet somehow familiar. She
Chapter 59: The Cellar Trap
Then a week later they moved in into her father's villa and changed the locks, and it seemed asleep beneath the moonlight. Warm terracotta walls, shuttered windows, and a breeze whispering through lemon trees in the courtyard. But inside, beneath the kitchen’s tiled floor and the wine racks of old prestige, a deeper chamber stirred. Damon crouched beside the antique lever and whispered into his earpiece, “Motion detected. West corridor. She’s here.” Verity stood beside him, one hand on her belly, the other clenching the necklace her father had left her. Her pulse raced not just from fear, but from the certainty that this was the moment everything changed. Isabel Alden had returned to Venice and she just parked in her father's driveway, her and Damon they were looking at her outside the window and she wasn’t alone. Three mercenaries, dressed in black with visors and silenced weapons, swept through the villa like shadows. They moved in formation, professional, methodical. Isabel trai
Chapter 58: The Heir and the Flame
She hasn't visited her fathers house in months after hiding from her fathers enemies not so long ago they were his friends. The marble floors of the Alden Villa in the northeastern part of Italy were silent beneath Verity’s steps. The scent of citrus trees floated in from the courtyard, but the sweetness didn’t mask the rot she could feel deep in the walls. She found Neri inside the villa of her fathers house because he is part of the investors in her fathers company, he had keys to the villa and access. He sat at the head of the table hands clasped, tie loosened, his dark eyes watching her like a vulture studying a lioness. “You shouldn’t be here in your condition,” he said casually. Verity’s hand moved protectively over her swollen belly. Seven months along now. The child stirred with life and quiet warnings. “I’m not here for comfort,” she said. “I’m here because you’re bleeding my father’s legacy dry.” Neri smiled thinly. “He gave me those shares. I was there when he needed
Chapter 57: The Invite
The invitation came encrypted, anonymous, and direct. “Zurich. One meeting. One truth. Come alone.” Verity stared at the message it had arrived through a private channel, masked behind three proxy servers. But the trace was unmistakable it came from inside the shell company laundering funds for Alden Industries. She knew the risk but she also knew one thing for certain: if she wanted to sever the last thread of corruption, this was her only chance. “Absolutely not,” Damon said. He stood with arms crossed as she packed a slim case. “You’re twenty weeks pregnant. And walking into a trap and I actually cant believe you kept your pregnancy a secret for 5 months.” Verity didn’t stop moving. “If I don’t go, this will never end.” “I’ll go instead.” “They asked for me. By name.” “Then it’s bait.” She turned, eyes hard. “Damon, I have to end this.” A tense silence followed. Then she softened. “You can follow. Just don’t let them see you.” His jaw flexed. “You think I’m
Chapter 56: The Hidden War
The new Alden Industries tower stood tall above the city like a blade of glass, sleek and shining, a monument to ideals that had once been lost. Verity stood before the main boardroom window, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her reflection stared back at her sharper now, colder around the edges. There were no more illusions left to hold. Behind her analysts were reporting sabotage. “Two project servers were wiped overnight,” said Mia, her new cybersecurity head. “We traced it to an internal breach someone still loyal to the old board.” Verity turned slowly. “Names?” Mia hesitated. “Not yet. But someone’s leaking classified files to outside bidders. We think they’re trying to sink the clean tech division.” Damon stood beside the door, silent until now. “We should lock down the department. Suspend all staff until we find the leak.” Verity nodded. “Do it.” The team dispersed quickly only Damon lingered behind. He closed the door. “You're pushing yourself too hard.” “I have
