"I’ll be saving a lot of girl’s lives with my ns, and Xander is sure to go down," she promised.


    Xavier’s eyes were on <i>Jennifer </i>the whole time, watching her every expression.


    He might just be <i>meeting </i>her for the first time, but he could feel the hurt in her tone whenever she spoke about taking Xander down.


    "Jennifer is making a trip to Regalith tomorrow. Do you want to follow her discreetly?" Tracie asked and both Xavier and Anastasia turned to look at her in unison. "The Regalith family also have some dark businesses they’re into. You also need to get rid of them," she added.


    "I feel like there’s something else they might be up to. I’m investigating deeper into their business and something doesn’t seem to add up quite well," said Anastasia.


    Xavier had heard of Regalith but hadn’t personally investigated the royal family.


    Anastasia faced Xavier.


    "If you agree to work with me, you’ll get closer to uncovering the truth you’re searching for," she finished.


    Xavier didn’t need to rethink because it was quite beneficial. With the help of <i>Jennifer, </i>he could keep an eye on Xander and watch his every move.


    "What city does Xander live in?" He asked.


    "He lives in Xattlewood, and all his hideouts and baby factories are also there. But you won’t be infiltrating anytime soon else the lives of the girls would be in danger. Especially the ones that are heavy with babies," she replied.


    Xavier could only sigh.


    Xavier had always held onto a faint, almost naive hope that he could steer Xander back to the right path. After all, they were family, bound by shared blood and history. But that hope was long gone now. Xander had fully embraced the darkness, bing the very devil who thrived on the misery of others. There was no redemption left for him—only consequences.


    Anastasia informed Xavier of the locations where the trafficked girls were being housed, ensuring he knew the safehouses in case their n was exposed. "If anything happens," she said, her voiceced with urgency, "You’ll know exactly where to find them and how to act quickly. They can’t be left vulnerable for even a second."


    "Please don’t tell anyone you met me or know my name," she requested. "And if you can, try to work more in private but don’t make it too suspicious that you’re aware there’s a traitor in your team. Try to keep it more casual. And if you were to call me, don’t call me Jennifer. We can create a code name for thatter."


    Xavier nodded in understanding as he watched the choir members sing humm as the head choir swayed his hand here and there, following his lead.


    Anastasia stood up and Tracie and Xavier followed cue. "I think that’s all for now. Tracie will share my contact details with you and when somethinges up, I’ll be sure to inform you so you can be ready."


    "Thanks for your offer," said Xavier offering his hand forward for a friendly handshake.


    Anastasia looked at it, briefly making eye contact with Tracie who urged her with her eyes to shake his hand.


    However, Anastasia didn’t.


    Xavier’s hand hung in the air for a few seconds before he brought it back to his side.


    "I’m sorry, I don’t like physical contact," she exined.


    Xavier could only frown at her, but he didn’t question the reason behind it.


    "I’ll be leaving now," said Anastasia. She gave a brief bow before she exited the chapel.


    Xavier’s gaze was on her back until shepletely disappeared.


    "There’s something odd about her," he said and Tracie’s head instantly snapped to look at him.


    "What do you mean?"


    "She looks..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It’s nothing."


    Outside, Anastasia’s hand was clenched against her chest as she got into the car.


    The tears she’d been holding in the chapel uncontrobly streamed down her eyes.


    She was d she’d been able to hold herself back in there and not cry in front of him.


    He was so close, they were talking, yet she couldn’t bring herself to tell him she was Anastasia, his missing wife the whole time.


    She couldn’t help but wonder how he would react if she’d told him the truth right there and then. Would he have been happy? Bted?


    Anastasia tried to sniffle her tears back in, but they still poured.


    "This will all be over soon, and then I’lle back to you," she promised.


    **


    Anastasia stopped in front of the massive pce, taking in the creamy yellow walls that seemed to shine under the sunlight. Guards were stationed at every corner, their weapons resting in their hands, ready but calm.


    In the middle of the courtyard, arge fountain caught her eye, surrounded by smaller ones that seemed to dance around it. The sound of the water trickling was oddly soothing, making the ce feel less intimidating.


    The whole setup looked like something out of a movie—almost too perfect to be real, like it belonged in a storybook.


    Unfortunately, the people that lived in that pce were theplete opposite.


    They stepped inside the pce with the help of a guard that led them inside.


    Before they’d booked their trip to Regalith, Xander had personally requested a meeting with the king and queen so they were not stopped at the gate like outsiders.


    It wasn’t easy for anyone to meet the royal family without a proper appointment, however, as soon as they heard they wanted to make a preposition, the king immediately agreed.


    As soon as they stepped inside, Anastasia’s naw dropped like she’d entered an animation.


    Every single thing was made out of gold and it was glistening so brightly it nearly blinded her.


    This was a pce after all, and it was only proper they had expensive furniture. Even so, the carpets seemed to be made out of gold as well.


    Running inside the living room only would feel like running a marathon for a race.


    Regaining herposure, Anastasia walked towards the couches.


    "Please take a seat. The royal family will join you in a while," said the guard who’s been leading them inside. He gave a deep bow before he excused himself and left.


    "Everything here is squeaky clean," Xandermented, touching the coffee table.


    "The family is known to be very rich, but I didn’t think that their living room was made of gold," Samanthamented.


    Meanwhile, Anastasia reyed the guard’s words in her mind.


    <i>The royal family will join you in a while.</i>


    ’Could it be that they were meeting every single member of the royal family?’ Anastasia thought to herself.


    A few minutester, they heard the clicking heels of someone walking down the stairs, and instantly, their heads were in that direction.


    It was none other than the king and queen they’d been waiting for with their children behind them as they strolled down the stairs in their fancy attire that seemed to be made out of silk due to how it moved with every step that they took.


    "Wee to Regalith pce," said the king with a huge grin stretching on his lips. "I’m King Theous Regalith and this is my queen, Jelzem Regalith. And these two right here are my children," the king introduced.


    The trio bowed their heads in respect to the royal family but they knew they couldn’t wait to start getting down to business.


    "Let’s take our seats and get down to business, shall we?