Chapter 231: SHEP - UH & WUH - NA
A shocking revelation has emerged from Whiltred village. A local doctor has stepped forward, admitting his crucial involvement in the notorious Project Kairo.
According to reports, this project traces back decades, beginning as a so-called “human farm” before expanding into darker and more dangerous experiments.
Sources allege that the mastermind behind this operation was none other than the infamous oil tycoon, Ethan Castellan. Following a raid, the operation was forced to relocate, eventually setting up on Delmere Island, where investigators say the most inhumane experiments were carried out, many of them on helpless toddlers.
The doctor has now released a detailed list of victims, further exposing how one particular village was systematically targeted.
Kirill switched off the TV, claiming he was bored out of his mind and needed a new project.
"Noah gave up the entire list of people involved and the evidence," Remi said, scrolling through the social media. "The public was going crazy. We have #JusticeForVictims and #PunishTheDuforts trending on social media." He zoomed his screen. "#Justiceforcattle and #animalwelfare."
He looked at Kirill, who was glaring at Killy the cow.
"How did you make him speak?" Remi asked him.
"I make everyone speak," Kirill answered casually as if it were as easy as making tea.
Layla shook her head, sitting beside Zaley on the couch in his office. "They are going to kill Arthur." She muttered more to herself.
"The Duforts. They will kill Arthur. Then they will get sympathy. Maxson will shed tears before the press, and once again, the tables will be turned."
She turned to him, worry clouding her gaze, "You need to save him before he gets killed. He is an important part of this. The chances of proving everything we worked for without his testimony are very slim."
Kirill nodded with agreement, "That's true. We have to save him."
Zaley took out his phone and kept it near his ear, "Kade?"
There was a pause.
"You won't?" Zaley asked on the phone. "Fine, let me call Seline."
Another paused, and Zaley said, Thank you, surprising everyone.
Arthur died that night with a heart attack.
The doctors confirmed it.
The media dogs under Duforts reported that Arthur collapsed after the accusations against his noble family.
The people with brains who are smart enough to realise that the public is being distracted still talked about the Project Kairo.
The others fell for Maxson's tears and his wife's.
"Shit." Kirirll hissed. "Shit, shit, shit. Maxson is gaining sympathy again. What did Kade do? Didn't he suppose to save him?"
Zaley smirked and took his car keys. "Keep watching the news, Kirill." And he stepped out of his office and drove to the cafe where Layla and her friends were planning Lilly's birthday.
Soon after he left, Kirill watched the most unbelievable shit on the news.
Arthur was murdered.
"Kade, you fuckard." He muttered.
Remi came running, "Did you watch the news? They are playing it on national TV. Maxson, killing his father. One of his cousins said it's for the best. This is better than any soap. I need to get my popcorn. Kade, that bastard even recorded where that injection was thrown."
Kirill sighed and closed his eyes, "Finally. I am taking a one-month paid leave."
Remi shook his head, "Here comes the twist in the story. Cillian Dufort is back. I am telling you, one day there will be a Netflix documentary on the Duforts."
"He will be the next mayor." Kirill guessed. "Zaley is finally getting what he always wanted."
"And what is it?" Remi asked, his eyes glued to the screen of his phone.
"Ylumia under him. He won't burn it, though. I guess he is trying to keep it alive." Kirill paused for a second. "There is fun in it."
Remi shifted his attention to him. "I always wondered why he hates this city so much when he is able to become a billionaire in the span of five years. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it was because of a woman. For a woman. Maybe I will retire and write a novel on Layla- Leon's story."
Kirill laughed. "Don't you dare."
Zaley almost reached the cafe before he decided to take a U-turn after receiving a phone call from Kade.
The only toddler among the girls was sold by her father.
Her mother died trying to protect her.
They can't get the hold of the father.
She was left alone in the world without a guardian.
So, he drove to the hospital to decide her future as Kade asked him to.
But Zaley is not sure how to decide the future of an innocent.
He never dealt with such kind.
Deciding the future of assassins? Easy.
The future of the City he lives in? Piece of cake.
But this is becoming difficult with each passing day.
The paediatrician set the chart aside, his expression sober.
“Mr. Zaley… physically, she’s stable. No dehydration, no serious injuries. But…” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Psychologically, this little girl has been through more than most adults could bear.”
Zaley’s jaw worked as he leaned forward. “Say it plainly.”
“She’s only two years old. At that age, a child’s entire sense of safety is tied to their parents. She’s lost both. And then, she was taken from everything familiar, kept among children she didn’t know. They may have been harmless, but to her, they were strangers. That is frightening enough to leave deep scars.”
Zaley’s eyes darkened. “How will it… show?”
The doctor exhaled. “She may become extremely clingy to the next adult she feels safe with, likely you. Even stepping out of the room without telling her could trigger panic. Expect sleep disturbances: nightmares, sudden waking, or refusal to sleep alone. She might regress in behaviour, acting younger than her age. Some children even stop speaking for a while after trauma.”
Zaley’s gaze dropped to his hands, tightening into fists.
The doctor continued gently, “She may also have moments of anger, lashing out without words, because she doesn’t know how to express grief or fear. Right now, her world has been shattered. You’re the one who pulled her out, so she’ll look to you as her anchor. That’s a heavy responsibility, I know. But if you give her consistency, patience, and care, she can recover. Children are resilient… but she’ll need someone she can trust absolutely.”
Zaley’s throat tightened. “…And if she doesn’t get that?”
The doctor’s eyes softened. “Then the fear stays. It grows with her, shaping how she sees the world. But I don’t believe that will happen here. Not if you’re willing to step into that role for her or if we can find someone who is willing.”
"Find someone willing. Surely there will be people who are looking for adoption, right?"
The doctor blinked at the question, then nodded. “There are waiting lists. Couples who can’t have children of their own. Good people.”
Zaley didn’t reply. He just stood and pushed the chair back with a dull scrape, walking the corridor until he reached the small room where the girl was resting.
The door creaked open softly. She was curled on the bed, a tangle of dark hair across her face, clutching the hospital blanket in her little fists. At the sound, she stirred.
Her eyes opened wide, searching, and the instant they landed on him, she sat up too fast, almost toppling. Her lips trembled before a small, broken word slipped out.
"Sep-uh."
The force of it hit him harder than any blade. She pushed off the mattress and ran toward him on unsteady legs. Zaley didn’t move. He should’ve stepped back, should’ve reminded himself she wasn’t his. But the child wrapped her arms around his leg, holding on with desperate strength, as if he were the only solid thing in her world.
Zaley looked down, frozen. She was so small. Fragile. And yet her grip was iron, begging him without words not to disappear.
A thousand thoughts pressed against him: adoption lists, other families, escape from the weight of this bond. What filled the room was only the sound of her tiny voice against his knee, muffled and fierce:
“Don’t go." She pleaded with those big eyes.
Zaley’s throat tightened. For once, he had no ready answer.
In her face, he caught a fleeting glimpse of Layla at that age. And of Lilly.
Now, he couldn’t unsee them.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he stepped back, ruffled the girl’s hair, and promised, “I’ll be back.”
But she clung tighter to his pant leg. “Shep-uh… stay. With Wuh-na…”
He lowered himself to his knees, something he had only ever done before his girls.
“Is that your name? Wuna?”
The little one shook her head. “Wuh-na?”
“Yoona?”
“Uuuu-nah.”
He paused, thinking, then tried again. “Luna?”
Her eyes lit up, nodding excitedly. “Wuh-na!”
She pressed her tiny palm against her chest and repeated with determination, “Wuh-na.”
Zaley looked away, unsettled. He didn’t know why he kept imagining Layla.
She was happy now.
She was safe now.
Yet the guilt gnawed at him, the memory of how much had happened to the girl he once guarded like fragile glass, terrified she’d shatter if he wasn’t careful enough.
And somehow, helping Luna dulled that ache.