Atst, the entire family was reunited. Alyssa and Miley threw their arms around each other, clinging tightly as they sobbed, unable to find the words to express everything they felt.
This was the nature of kinship—no words were needed. Even if they rarely saw each other, the bond between them remained unshaken.
"Miley, have you visited Mandy and Damien at the hospital?" With tears brimming in his eyes, Ss spoke hoarsely. "Mandy is still unconscious, but Damien has regained his memories. He''s... He''s finallye back to us."
"I know. Lyse told me over the phone earlier." Miley''s voice trembled with emotion. "This is wonderful news. Truly wonderful. Damien is still alive, and our family can finally..."
She faltered, unable to finish her sentence. Both she and Jeremy knew that Anthony''s personal visit to Winston meant something life-altering was about to unfold.
Jeremy''s usually sharp,manding presence was gone. His eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, and he looked visibly gaunt.
"Lyse, Ss, Colene, and L... I''m really sorry," he said, his voice low with guilt. "I had urgent matters to handle back home, so I couldn''te to visit Mom. I''m really sorry. I haven''t been a good son-inw."
"Don''t say that, Jeremy. We understand," Alyssa replied, wiping her eyes. Then, unable to hold back her anxiety, she pressed on, "What exactly happened? Why did the kinge all the way here?"
Miley and Jeremy exchanged a nce, their expressions grave. It was as if they were silently deciding who should break the news.
Before either of them could speak, a deep voice cut in.
"It''s likely rted to Mrs. Taylor and the future heir to the Kontinian royal family."
Alyssa''s heart skipped a beat. She turned immediately to see Jasper, Jonah, and Julien hurrying toward them.
"J-Jonah, what happened to your eye?" Colene and L asked in rm, staring at the gauze over his left eye.
"I got hurt, but I''m fine," Jonah replied lightly, as if it didn''t matter.
Julien stayed behind him, head lowered, too afraid to speak. It wasn''t cowardice; he was simply overwhelmed with guilt. On the way here, Jonah had repeatedly reminded him to keep this matter a secret for as long as possible.
"Jasper, you know something, don''t you?"
Alyssa reached for Jasper, her fingers tangling with his as she squeezed tight, anchoring herself to his warmth. She was unwilling to let go.
Jasper''s breathing hitched. His fingers instinctively curled as her soft hand held his. His steady heartbeat began to quicken.
"I have a contact within the inner circle of the Kontinian royal family. He once helped
me investigate Mrs. Taylor. Based on that and my own analysis, I believe the king came here to take back a sessor.
"He needs to end the uncertainty surrounding the vacant throne, stabilize the unrest in Kontina, and reassure the people."
Everyone stood frozen in shock.
"Return with a sessor? Who would he take? Who is the heir?"
Ss suddenly let out a dryugh. "Wait... Don''t tell me it''s me? Fortune tellers used
to say I had the face of royalty when I was younger."
Jasper nced at him calmly. "You''re one of them."
Ss blinked. "What?"
At that moment, Liam and Axel arrived, catching the tail end of the conversation.
Axel scoffed. "Him? If he inherits the throne, the royal family is finished."
"Liam! Axel!"
Seeing the faint glow of relief on Axel''s face, Alyssa quickly realized something.
"Axel, has Amber woken up?" she asked urgently.
"Not fully, but she responded when I
II
called her name, Axel said, his voice thick with emotion. "The doctor said shes fighting to recover. Maybe, deep down, she knows I''ve been by
her side... and she wants to wake up ande back to me."
His voice broke as tears welled up in his eyes. "Amber is incredibly strong."
Alyssa nodded, her own tears falling. "She is. I know she''ll wake up."
It had been too hard-this entire journey had taken everything out of them. All Alyssa wanted now was for her loved ones to be safe and for everyone to find happiness with the ones they loved.
The moment Liam heard that the Kontinian king was here, his chest tightened. He seemed more on edge than anyone else.
"Jasper, you haven''t finished. Why would the heir be among us?"
"It''s because..."
Jasper lowered his gaze, hesitating before speaking in a hoarse voice. "It''s because of Mrs.
Taylor-Jonah''s, Ss'', Liam''s, Axel''s and Lyse''s mother. The Kontinian royal family has been secretly searching for her all these years. She was a fugitive. a spy wanted for treason."
Silence fell instantly. The air itself seemed to freeze.
"You''ve got to be kidding, Jasper!" Axel was the first to react. He stepped forward abruptly, his expression filled with disbelief. "Our mother was kind, gentle, and
fragile... How could she be a spy who betrayed her country?"
Ss was equally stunned. "Axel''s right! Where''s your proof?"
Questions erupted all at once as everyone turned on Jasper, refusing to ept the im. Only Alyssa remained still, her mind nk as memories of Felicity''s gentle, beautiful face surfaced.
She had only been four when her mother passed away. Yet, in those short four years, Felicity had given her enough love tost a lifetime.
She remembered how Felicity would often stand alone on the balcony, staring into the distance, her expression tinged with quiet sorrow.
The signs had been there all along.
Felicity''s sadness came from knowing she could never return home, never see her loved ones again, never set foot in the ce she had grown up.
Her love for her children was absolute, but her heart had never truly belonged to Winston. Without that spark of deep, romantic love, a genuine sense of happiness remained forever out of reach.
"The king''s sudden visit is proof enough."
Jonah took a deep breath, forcing down the storm of emotions inside him. His gaze turned steady as he looked at Jasper. "Jasper, if I''m not mistaken, the king sitting in that room is the biological father of me and my brothers. Am I right?"