2026-03-15 23:31:05
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 273: Family Reconciliation
"We need to talk," Aria said, catching Anna in the hallway after Elizabeth's funeral three days later. "Please. Just five minutes."Anna had been avoiding her sister since learning the truth about her heritage. Too much was happening too fast, and she did not have energy for Aria's usual drama."I am very busy—""I know. You are always busy saving the world or running the government or fighting demons." Aria's voice cracked. "But I need to say something before I lose my nerve."Anna stopped and turned to face her sister. Aria looked terrible, eyes red from crying and face pale from grief. But there was something else there too. Genuine remorse."Five minutes," Anna agreed.They walked to the garden where they had played as children, back when their relationship had not yet been poisoned by jealousy and cruelty. Aria sat on the stone bench and Anna remained standing, arms crossed defensively."I was awful to you," Aria began without preamble. "For years. I said terrible things, did ter
Chapter 272: Grandfather's Truth
"Everyone out," Ben Tate commanded, his voice carrying an authority Anna had never heard from him before. "I need to speak with Anna and Jacob privately."Aria and Kelvin protested but Ben was firm. "Your mother is gone. Grieve later. Right now there are things that must be said that you cannot hear."The siblings left reluctantly, closing the door behind them. Ben waited until their footsteps faded down the hallway before turning to face Anna and Jacob."I should have told you this years ago," Ben said heavily. "But I made a promise to Mei, and I kept it even when perhaps I should not have."Anna still held the jade medallion, its surface warm against her palm. "Tell me everything. No more secrets."Ben walked to the window and stared out at the night. "Mei arrived in Seron twenty-four years ago carrying an infant. You. She had no money, no connections, nothing but the clothes on her back and fierce determination to protect her daughter.""From who?""From her own family, apparently.
Chapter 271: Tate Family Crisis
"She knows who poisoned the wine?" Anna demanded, gripping the messenger's arm. "Are you certain that is what she said?""Word for word, my Lady. She said she knows who did it and why, and that you need to hear the truth before she dies."Jacob was already forcing himself to sit up despite Doctor Foster's protests. "We go now.""You can barely stand!""Then I will crawl. If Elizabeth knows something about the poisoning, we cannot wait."They reached Tate Manor within the hour. Jacob leaned heavily on Anna the entire carriage ride, still weak but determined. The mansion looked dark except for lights burning in Elizabeth's chambers on the second floor.Ben Tate met them at the entrance, his face haggard. "She has been asking for you for hours. The doctors say she might not last the night.""What happened?" Anna asked. "She was stable two weeks ago.""The illness accelerated suddenly. Almost like—" Ben stopped himself."Almost like poison," Jacob finished. "Someone got to her too.""We d
Chapter 270: Recovery and Vigilance
"Clear the room!" Doctor Foster barked, her hands moving with practiced efficiency over Jacob's convulsing body. "Everyone except medical staff and Lady Anna out now!"Guards attempted to remove Anna but she refused to budge. "I am staying.""Then help me or stay out of the way."Anna knelt beside Jacob, her hands already glowing with healing energy. She could feel the poison racing through his system, attacking organs and shutting down vital functions. This was not some amateur attempt. This was professional assassination."What kind of poison?" Anna demanded."Nightveil extract based on the symptoms," Foster replied, forcing a tube down Jacob's throat. "Fast-acting, nearly always fatal. We have maybe five minutes before organ failure becomes irreversible.""I need antidote ingredients. Charcoal root, silver leaf, phoenix tears if you have any—""We do not stock phoenix tears! This is a hospital, not a fantasy apothecary!"Anna ignored the sarcasm and focused her healing powers direc
Chapter 269: Peace Treaty
"I have made my decision," Jacob announced to the assembled council the next morning. "We accept Argo's treaty with modifications."Ambassador Thorne looked cautiously hopeful. "What modifications?""Minor war criminals receive amnesty. Officials who followed orders, low-level officers, soldiers who committed no atrocities. They go free." Jacob's voice hardened. "But major war criminals face justice. Anyone who planned attacks on civilians, ordered torture, or personally committed atrocities will be prosecuted by international tribunal.""That was not our agreement," Thorne protested."It is now. Take it or leave it."The room waited in tense silence while Thorne considered. She pulled one of her assistants aside for whispered consultation, then turned back to Jacob."How many officials are we talking about? How many face this tribunal?""Approximately thirty based on our intelligence. Mostly senior commanders who gave direct orders for civilian attacks.""President Zhao will want to
Chapter 268: Difficult Diplomacy
"Absolutely not," Jacob said, pacing his office while the council argued around him. "We do not forgive mass murder for the sake of trade agreements."Ben Tate sat at the table reviewing the treaty terms for the third time. "The prisoner exchange alone is worth serious consideration. Eight hundred people still languishing in Argo prisons.""Eight hundred people who were imprisoned by the same officials we would be granting amnesty to.""Those officials claim they were following Verons's orders.""Following orders is not a defense for war crimes. We established that principle at the collaborator trials."Anna had been quiet, listening to both sides argue for the past hour. Now she spoke softly. "What do the families of the prisoners want?"That stopped the conversation. Nobody had asked the actual families what they preferred."We should find out," Anna continued. "Before we decide their fate based on our principles, maybe we should ask what they value more. Justice for past crimes or
You may also like
Wake Up With Super Villain System
Oceanna Lee13.8K viewsI am the King of the Undead
Matthew 27.2K viewsThe Strongest Son-in-law
VKBoy29.1K viewsDao Masters Of Demonic Cultivation
Sweet savage18.7K viewsThe True Dragon System
Musey228 viewsSovereign of The Abyss
Manuel Sterling6.2K viewsREAWAKENED S-RANKED DRAGON LORD
Roth Raven 594 viewsRoad To True Freedom
SoShamefull00575 views