Chapter 74
Adrian Valehart
Joseph paused, drew in a deep breath, and went on.
“She was engaged years ago… told me it had been arranged since she was a child, but she never loved him. Even though they grew up together. Serena said he loved her deeply, but she couldn’t return it. After she broke off the engagement, he started following her. And when we found out she was pregnant, we ran. She said no one could ever know. But even in hiding, even terrified, the threats kept coming.
His eyes lifted to meet mine — glassy, trembling.
“I told Serena to cut ties with her family. I begged her. But she couldn’t do it.” He let out a bitter laugh. “She said that despite everything, she still loved them. She really believed that one day they’d accept us… that we’d have a life together.”
The tears returned.
“The day she died, she got a message from her brother. That’s all she said before leaving. She said she’d be right back, that it was an emergency. But she never came home.”
My jaw clenched.
So… was it her family who executed Serena for betrayal? Or that ex-fiancé of hers?
It was all turning into a damn maze.
“And who did this to you, Joseph?” I asked, my tone low and sharp.
He hesitated, the kind of silence that already told me the answer.
Then, finally:
“It was them.” He looked at me, face swollen, eyes raw. “The Hines. Her father… he came after me. Said he hadn’t been able to reach Serena. When I told him she was dead, he lost control…” He swallowed hard, looking away. “But the worst came after.”
“After?”
“When he saw the pictures of us — me, Serena, and Sofia. He asked about her. He didn’t know he had a granddaughter. I told him Sofia was far away… that Serena didn’t want her anywhere near that world.” His voice cracked. “That’s when they lost it. Beat me. Knocked me down. They wanted me to tell them where she was. Said the girl should be with her real family… like Serena should’ve been. With her kind.”
He closed his eyes.
Silence settled again
“Why did you stay away from her?” I broke the quiet.
Joseph sighed — the kind of sigh that carries regret. He didn’t answer. Didn’t have to.
I crossed my arms, thinking.
So… the Hines didn’t kill Serena.
That left one suspect — the ex-fiancé.
Everything was starting to twist again, like the more I dug, the deeper I fell into something I couldn’t control.
“Do you remember the name of Serena’s ex-fiancé?” I asked, watching him closely.
“No… she never told me. Said it was better I didn’t know. That her world was a hell I couldn’t handle. Said it was wild, dangerous… and that a human like me was better off far away from it.”
Of course. That would’ve been too damn easy.
“Fine,” I muttered, turning toward the door. “About Sofia… don’t worry about her. I’ll handle whoever tries to hurt her.”
“Why?” His voice stopped me. “Why would you do that? Why should I trust you? You’re one of them, aren’t you? How do I know you won’t hurt her like the rest?
I turned slightly, just enough to catch his red, broken eyes over my shoulder
“That look…” he said, almost whispering. “You love her, don’t you?” There was a strange calm in his tone, almost relief.
“I… don’t know,” I said quietly, facing forward again.
“But you will,” he murmured. “Because that look... It's the same one Serena had when she talked about Sofia.”
I stayed silent.
Then walked down the hallway, feeling that damn weight pressing against my chest again.
A humorless laugh escaped me.
Love…
What the hell was that, anyway?
I had no idea if this kind of feeling really existed or if it was just something invented by humans... romantic idiots.
Actually, if I said I had never heard of love, I would be lying.
But this kind of thing doesn't really exist.
Not at all...
It's all just meaningless stories to keep one person tied to another.
Isn't it?
So... what was it then?
Excitement? Desire? Just lust?
What was this feeling I had for Sofia?
Why, when her scent hit me like a storm, I couldn’t control myself?
The vibration of my phone in my pocket cut through my thoughts.
It was him, my contact inside the Council.
I answered.
“Talk. Did you discover anything?”
“I found it, yeah…” his voice came through muffled. “I found who put the girl’s name on the list.”
I stopped mid-step, fist tightening at my side before I even realized it.
“And?”
A short pause.
Just long enough for my instincts to brace for impact.
“It was Elenna Valehart, Adrian… your mother.”
What?
What the fuck?!