Chapter 126 — Blood Ties and Broken Truths
“Who is Elara to you?” The question echoed inside the cold cell. The man on the floor, Felix Landon slowly lifted his head.
Shock flashed across his face that Damien couldn’t miss it. His eyes widened. For a second, something human broke through the tiredness in them.
Then just as quickly, the shock disappeared. Felix’s expression hardened. He understood something important at that moment.
These men were slave traders. Cruel and heartless. If they were asking about Elara, it could only mean one thing.
She could be in danger. His heart began to pound violently against his ribs.
How do they know her name? Is she alive? Did they find her? Is she here too?
But Felix did not speak.
He lowered his head slowly, returning to the exact position he had been in before Damien walked in.
He remained silent and still. As if he hadn’t heard anything at all. Damien watched him carefully.
“I know you heard me,” Damien said calmly.
No response.
Felix kept staring at the ground.
Damien crouched slightly, lowering his voice. “I also know why you’re keeping quiet.”
Felix’s fingers twitched, but he said nothing.
“You think Elara is in trouble,” Damien continued. “You think that if you say anything, you’ll put her in danger.”
Still, silence.
Damien leaned closer. “I promise you,” he said, his voice steady, “Elara is not in any form of trouble.”
Felix’s jaw tightened.
“In fact,” Damien continued smoothly, “she’s perfectly fine.”
There was the slightest shift in Felix’s breathing.
“And she’s trying to find you.” That was a lie. Not entirely–but enough.
That made Felix’s head snap up.
His eyes burned with disbelief.
“And why,” Felix asked slowly, his voice hoarse from disuse, “should I believe you?”
Damien didn’t hesitate. “Do you have a choice?”
Felix stared at him.
“You don’t,” Damien continued. “And wouldn’t you want to hear about your sister after so many years?”
The word sister felt heavy in the air. Felix’s face cracked. Just slightly.
“Wouldn’t you want to know how she’s doing?” Damien pressed. “Whether she’s alive?”
Felix swallowed hard. “Yes,” he whispered.
Damien leaned in closer.
“Then talk.”
There was a long silence. Then finally, “Yes,” Felix said, his voice breaking. “She’s my sister.”
Damien’s eyes narrowed.
Felix looked away as if the memories physically hurt.
“I thought she died,” he said quietly. “During the attack.”
“What attack?” Damien asked carefully.
Felix’s hands clenched into fists. “It was Alpha Thorne,” he said.
The name hit the air like a storm. “He attacked our family. Our home.”
Damien’s eyes focused on him.
Felix continued, his voice shaking with restrained rage.
“He killed my father.” A pause. “My mother too.”
Damien felt something cold settle in his chest.
“I was almost dead,” Felix went on. “I don’t even remember how I survived. When I woke up, I was already captured.”
He said bitterly. “By traitors like you.”
Damien’s jaw tightened but he said nothing.
“I thought Elara died that night,” Felix whispered. “There was fire everywhere. Blood everywhere. I never saw her again.”
His voice broke completely. The weight of that truth sat heavy between them.
Damien's mind was racing. Alpha Thorne, that’s Edward’s father.
This was bigger than he thought.
“Okay,” Damien said quietly.
He turned and began walking toward the door.
Felix’s head jerked up. “Wait!”
Damien didn’t stop.
“Wait!” Felix called louder, scrambling to his feet despite the chains.
“Where is she?” he demanded desperately. “You said she’s trying to find me!”
Damien kept walking.
“What’s wrong with her?” Felix shouted. “Is she safe? Is she hurt?”
His voice cracked.
“How is she doing? Won’t you let me see her? Please!”
Damien stepped out of the cell.
The guard shut the door.
“Tell me something!” Felix yelled from behind the bars. “I need to know!”
But Damien didn’t respond.
He walked down the hallway without looking back.
Felix’s voice echoed long after Damien had left.
Outside, Damien pulled out his phone and dialed Jasper. It rang, and rang, and rang. No answer.
Damien frowned and tried again. Still nothing. He lowered the phone slowly. “Where are you, Jasper?” he muttered.
Then he decided to head to the mansion.
Edward
The hospital room was quiet except for the sound of some equipment. Vivian laid on the bed, fully conscious.
Titan stood near the window. Edward sat in his wheelchair at the foot of the bed, his expression unreadable.
The doctor closed the file in his hand.
“She’s absolutely fine,” the doctor said calmly. “There’s no medical issue.”
Vivian blinked softly.
“Maybe stress,” the doctor continued. “Or emotional strain.”
Edward’s eyes flickered slightly. “But she’s okay?”
“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “She’s free to go.”
He gave a polite nod and left the room.
Silence filled the space. Edward looked at Vivian carefully.
“I think,” he said slowly, “it’s best for you to go home.”
Vivian’s heart jumped–but she kept her face calm.
“Home?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” Edward continued. “You’ll be better taken care of by your family.”
There it was. The moment she had prepared for. Vivian nodded gently.
“Okay,” she said.
She reached for her phone.
“I’ll call my father.” Vivian dialed the number.
The phone rang once before her father picked up.
“Vivian?” The call was on speaker.
“Dad,” she said gently. “Edward said I should come home.”
Her father’s voice immediately rose in panic. “No.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“No?” Vivian repeated softly.
“No,” her father said firmly. “You can’t come home.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Our house was broken into,” her father said loudly. “Just recently. Robbed.”
Edward stiffened.
“What?” Vivian gasped, pretending to be shocked.
“Yes,” her father continued. “We don’t know who did it. We don’t know if they’ll come back.”
Vivian glanced at Edward.
“We don’t feel safe here for now,” her father added. “It’s better if you remain at Edward’s mansion where you’re protected.”
Edward’s expression darkened slightly.
“I’ll call him,” her father said. “I’ll speak to him myself.”
Vivian nodded.
“Alright, Dad. I’ll call you later.” She ended the call. The room was quiet.
Edward’s jaw tightened.
“You didn’t know about this?” he asked.
She shook her head slowly. “No. He didn’t tell me.”
Titan exchanged a brief glance with Edward.
After a moment, Edward exhaled. “Fine,” he said finally. “You can remain in the mansion until the investigation into the break-in is done.”
Vivian lowered her gaze, hiding her smile. “Thank you,” she whispered softly.
Edward nodded once.
“Titan,” he said. “Get the car ready.” Titan nodded and left the room.
Vivian leaned back against the pillow, looking fragile.
But inside–she felt victorious.
Just as Edward turned toward the door, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen. Kian.
He answered immediately.
Kian’s voice was serious. “We’ve gotten a lead.”
Edward’s eyes sharpened. “On what exactly?”
“The Beta slave trade happening in the city.”
Edward went completely still.
“It’s tip-off,” Kian continued. “Someone sent information with their name and a location.”
Edward’s heartbeat slowed. “Is it reliable?”
“It looks that way.”
Edward’s mind began to work fast.
“Where are you?”
“At the office.”
“Come over to the mansion,” he said.
Edward ended the call. “Finally,” he said.
Edward glanced at Vivian. “We’re leaving.”