<h4>Chapter 740: You were born to be</h4>


    Glenice approached the table with a smile. She pulled it out quietly and sat down, smoothing the sleeves of her coat before looking at him.


    "What would you like to have?" Carlos asked, setting his cup down on the table.


    Glenice shook her head lightly. "No coffee for me at this hour," she replied. Then her expression softened slightly. "My condolences for your grandmother."


    Carlos’ eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You heard about it?"


    A faint, knowing smile touched Glenice’s lips. "Every witch has heard," she said calmly. "Ravenna was one of the greatest witches of her generation. The Ashfall family has always been meant to lead the witches and the mages alike." She paused, studying him carefully. "You are the only one who stepped away from that path. But fate has a way of correcting itself. If you refuse it, the deities will pull you back."


    Carlos leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers tightening around the cup.


    "I saw a vision," he said. "In it... I killed myself. Do you think that vision is the work of the deity I refuse to worship?" he asked.


    Glenice’s brows drew together immediately. "You saw something like that?" she asked, clearly unsettled.


    Carlos nodded slowly. "And I also found that old book, the one that had been buried in the library for centuries," he continued. "Everything in it points to the same thing." His voice carried frustration now. "I am deliberately defying my fate. I don’t want to carry those powers, and maybe that is why I have been left alone for so long."


    Glenice watched him for a moment before speaking again.


    "Carlos," she said gently, cing her hand over his on the table. "What happened to your parents was tragic. But it was an ident. It did not happen because you foresaw it."


    Carlos remained silent for a while, slowly sipping histte as he stared at the surface of the cup. The drink did little to settle the uneasiness in his chest.


    After a long pause, he finally ced the cup down and looked at Glenice.


    "Will Amelie be hurt next if I keep defying this fate?" he asked quietly.


    Glenice blinked in surprise. "Amelie?" she repeated, wanting to be certain. "Gabriel’s mate?"


    Carlos gave a small nod. "Hmm."


    Glenice leaned back slightly, considering his words. "She is not your family," she said carefully.


    Carlos shook his head at once. "She is," he replied firmly. "I considered her family from the moment I met her. Don’t misunderstand what I mean. She is like a younger sister to me."


    His gaze softened slightly as memories surfaced.


    "She saved my life the first time I traveled into the territories of the wolves while searching for answers about myself," he continued. "Back then, I was still drowning in grief after losing my parents. It had been three years since they passed when I met Amelie."


    Glenice listened quietly, her brows knitting together as she thought back.


    "Now that you mention it," she said slowly, "I remember hearing about that. You went through quite a lot to protect both Amelie and Gabriel from that old dark witch. Ophelia, wasn’t it?"


    Carlos nodded once. "Yes," he replied. "They managed to kill Ophelia."


    He paused before adding quietly, "I just want Amelie to remain safe."


    Glenice sighed softly, understanding the concern in his voice.


    "If you truly consider her family," she said, "then you must also understand something important. Those who wish to push you toward your destiny may use the people you care about as leverage."


    Carlos’s expression darkened slightly.


    "Your fate is to lead," Glenice continued gently. "The Ashfall bloodline was never meant to stay hidden or powerless. You are meant to carry those abilities and use them for the sake of everyone under your protection."


    She studied him carefully before adding, "I cannot fully exin why you saw that vision of harming yourself. But if it is connected to anything, it may be tied to your stubborn refusal to ept what you were born to be."


    Carlos didn’t say a word and kept staring at the center of the table.


    ~~~~~


    Ameliey awake long after the house had fallen silent. Her mind kept drifting back to the conversation she had earlier with Carlos, reying his words again and again. Sleep refused toe no matter how tightly she closed her eyes.


    After a while she sat up slowly in bed.


    Beside her, Gabriel was sleeping peacefully, who waspletely unaware of the storm of thoughts keeping her awake.


    Just as she was about to lie back down, a faint cry broke the quiet.


    Amelie turned her head toward the crib.


    Noah had woken up.


    His tiny face was scrunched up as he cried softly, clearly ufortable. Amelie immediately got out of bed and walked over to him. Gently lifting him into her arms, she realized the problem right away, his diapers were wet.


    "Alright, baby," she whispered softly.


    She changed him carefully, humming under her breath to soothe him. Once she finished, she held him close against her shoulder and began walking slowly back and forth across the room, patting his back in a gentle rhythm.


    Usually Noah would fall asleep again within minutes.


    But tonight he remained wide awake.


    He looked up at her with curious eyes, asionally babbling softly as if he had no intention of returning to sleep.


    Amelie smiled faintly despite her tiredness.


    Since he clearly wasn’t ready to sleep, she carried him quietly out of the bedroom so she wouldn’t wake Gabriel. The house was calm and dimly lit as she walked into the drawing room.


    Amelie stepped onto the balcony and lifted Noah slightly so he could see the sky.


    The night was clear, filled with countless shining stars scattered across the darkness.


    "Look at them," she whispered softly. "Those stars are very far away from us."


    Noah’s eyes widened with fascination.


    He lifted his tiny hands toward the sky, as if trying to grab the glowing dots above them.


    "Mama," he giggled happily, calling out to her as he stretched his fingers toward the stars.


    "I’m worried about your uncle, Noah," Amelie murmured softly as she held him close against her chest. The cool night breeze brushed gently against her face while she gazed at the sky. "Carlos seemed very troubled today. He didn’t even have dinner. It looked like his mind was filled with too many thoughts."


    Noah, who had been staring at the stars with wide curiosity, slowly turned his head to look at his mother. His small lips formed a tiny pout as if he were trying to understand the seriousness in her voice.


    Then he lifted his tiny fist and held it out toward her.


    For a moment his hand remained tightly closed, as if he were holding something precious inside it.


    Suddenly he opened it with excitement.


    "Aa!" he eximed with a cheerful giggle, as though proudly showing her what he had captured.


    To Noah, it seemed he had caught one of the stars from the sky.


    Amelie couldn’t help butugh softly at his innocent gesture. The heaviness in her heart eased a little as she looked at his bright, joyful face.


    "You caught a star?" she asked yfully.


    Leaning closer, she kissed his soft cheeks lovingly, smiling as Noah giggled again in delight.