Third Person’s POV
:
<b>51 </b>
s
Samantha tapped Poly’s palm with a wooden ruler–one, two, three–each strike sharp enough to sting.
Poly knew it hurt, but every time Samantha finished, she’d wipe away a silent tear. Poly’d sh a grin and tease Samantha with silly faces to make herugh through her tears.
Poly swiped at her own tears, forcing herself to stay strong.
She knew her family had spent eighteen years searching for her, and those years had been anything but easy. She couldn’t bear the thought of them crying for her any longer.
Yet, the thought of the circus troupe leader still twisted a knife in her heart.
A flicker of bitterness crossed her face as she asked, “Will Madison be executed?”
“She’s guilty of treason. Even if they don’t kill her outright, her fate’ll be worse than death,” Paisley said, her tone grave.
Paisley helped Poly fix her hair, her voice softening. “Don’t you worry. The circus troupe leader’s death will be avenged. All you need to do is live well and be happy -that’s what he’d want.”
Poly’s tears welled up again, spilling down her cheeks.
Paisley gently wiped them away, her gaze earnest. “Don’t you dare me yourself for his death. The one truly responsible is Madison. You have every right to hate her, but never, ever hate yourself.”
Paisley’s words, though not perfectly structured, were sincere and heartfelt. They slowly began to soothe Poly’s frayed emotions.
When their car pulled into ckthorn’s territory, Poly’s heart hammered in her
chest.
1/4 <fn0209> This update is avable on F?ndNovel</fn0209>
18:32 Mon, Sep <b>8 </b>
:
<b>51 </b>
s
The wolf pack guards said that Caldwell and his parents had already arrived.
Poly stepped out, her knees weak with nerves. She clutched Paisley’s hand like a lifeline and took a shuddering breath.
“Don’t be nervous. They’re all inside, waiting for you,” Paisley said, squeezing her hand and leading the way.
Poly stumbled along behind, each step feeling heavier than thest.
The closer they got to the Packhouse, the more lead seemed to pour into her limbs.
They passed the pack’s square and entered the courtyard where the packhouse stood.
There, Poly spotted an elderly man with snow–white hair standing by the corridor. In front of him stood a young man supporting a woman in a te–blue dress.
When their eyes met, Poly froze, as if struck by lightning.
Fragments of memories suddenly sharpened into rity.
The Samantha in her mind’s eye was stern yet warm–hearted, still youthful and beautiful, her footsteps carrying the wind with every stride.
Her grandfather, Skemon, hadn’t been so aged back then. His hair was only lightly speckled with gray, and he still sported a beard.
She used to love tugging on it when she was little–it had been ck as night.
Now<i>, </i>the beard remained, but it was fully white.
And the young man… could he be her brother?
No, he bore too much resemnce to her father–always walking with his hands sped behind his back, a stern expression on his face, yet his eyes always held a softness just for her.
:
<b>51 </b>
s
Tears cascaded down Poly’s cheeks uncontrobly, blurring her vision of the figures before her.
She vaguely saw someone lunging toward her, heard a heart–wrenching cry: “My daughter! My Poly! I’ve finally found you…”
Poly felt arms wrap around her, and instinctively, she reached back to hold on.
But it wasn’t the embrace she remembered. The person she held onto now had slender shoulders and a fragile back.
In her memories, Samantha’s embrace had been wide and strong, her back a solid shield that Poly couldn’t even encircle with both her small hands.
In that daze, Poly let out a wail.
All the longing and grievances she’d suppressed for eighteen years burst forth like a river breaking its banks.
This was her mother—a mother she had never dared to dream of holding onto like this.
Caldwell supported his father, the elderly Skemon, as he stepped forward.
The family reunion was an emotional one, with tears streaming down the faces of Skemon and Caldwell.
In the conference room, Samantha clutched her daughter’s hand tightly, unable to let go.
In her mind, Poly was still that seven–year–old child, but now she was twenty–five.
Memories of her family gradually became clear in Poly’s mind. She remembered Samantha as a young, energetic woman with a powerful voice, but now Samantha was frail and weak.
Paisley and Adide watched the touching scene from outside the conference room, tears streaming down their faces.
…
<b>51 </b>
s
They listened as the family cried and shared stories of the past, and they too were moved to tears.
They learned that Caldwell had always been a caring and protective brother, that Samantha, now thin and weak, had once been outgoing and decisive, and that Poly, as a child, had been a mischievous girl much like they had been in the Shadow Peaks.
During the emotional gathering, Adide took a moment to receive her appointment documents.
Fabian had personally delivered the appointment letter, indicating that Lycan Erasmus had sessfully ovee the opposition of the royal elders and officially appointed her as themander of the Ironthorn Army.
18:32 Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>8 </b>