The message had been written by Maxine herself, and the words managed to sound both falsely sweet and deeply threatening at the same time. “My dearest Elliana, given your sharp mind, I’m certain you’ve already figured out my intentions after uncovering the secrets in the cave below. This future heiress is a debt that your mother left unpaid — and now it falls to you to settle that account in her place. Make sure you eat plenty. I wouldn’t want my precious successor to go hungry.”

After scanning through the note, Elliana released a harsh, humorless laugh. She crushed the paper into a tight ball in her fist and threw it away before settling down at the table to eat.

Her stomach was genuinely growling with hunger, and she knew the babies developing inside her needed nourishment as well. The timing of this meal was actually perfect. She had absolutely no concerns about the food being laced with poison or anything harmful. If anything, Maxine was probably even more worried about the safety of the baby girl than she herself was.

Once they’d all finished eating their fill, the three of them climbed aboard the rescue helicopter that had been patiently waiting for them and took off, watching the thick forest disappear beneath them.

They made a stop at a hotel first to clean up and get some much-needed rest before finally catching their flight back to Ublento later that same evening.

When Jason learned that his supposed death had destroyed Irene’s mental stability, a complicated tangle of sadness and remorse flooded through him. He acknowledged that this was the inevitable consequence after all the terrible things she’d done, but she was still the woman who had given birth to him, and knowing she was suffering caused him genuine pain. He immediately departed for the Evans family estate to check on her condition.

Elliana and Cole, meanwhile, had different priorities pulling them in another direction. They went straight to the secure location where Katrina and Jules were being kept prisoner, eager to question the two and extract whatever information they could about Maxine.

Following Elliana’s explicit instructions, both Katrina and Jules had been locked up at Rosewood Villa, where Adah and the Four Guardians kept constant watch over them.

Elliana hadn’t returned to Rosewood Villa in almost a full month, having chosen to remain at the Evans estate throughout that entire period. When Adah and the…

Others received the message that Elliana was returning from Yadnard, they were absolutely thrilled, gathering together at the front gates well ahead of time to properly welcome her home.

Heather had thrown herself into preparing an enormous, elaborate feast. Her enthusiasm for cooking had noticeably dimmed during the long weeks of Elliana’s absence, but the moment she heard Elliana was coming back, she channeled every ounce of love and skill she possessed into creating this special meal.

The people who worked under Elliana’s leadership held deep affection and respect for her, and she reciprocated those feelings genuinely — particularly when it came to Heather.

That was exactly why, before making the trip to Rosewood Villa, Elliana had deliberately asked Cole to make sure Hugh came along with them.

Cole had immediately understood what she was trying to accomplish. Not only had he ensured Hugh joined them, but he’d even taken the time to remind Hugh to dress in something nice for the occasion.