Chapter 11 A Letter from the Detective Agency

Seraphina's Perspective:

I got an email from the detective who's been helping me look for Charles. This was the first time in years he had contacted me on his own.

[Dear Seraphina, I hope you're doing well. We finally found some info about the hospital where you gave birth. It went bankrupt two years ago, supposedly because of a criminal case. The whereabouts of the medical staff from that time are unknown, but one of them reportedly went to a major hospital in this state.

Having a background at a shady hospital but getting accepted by one of the top hospitals in the country, this person might be a lead.

We'll keep investigating. I hope you find your child soon.

— Sincerely, 404 Detective Agency]

I was shaking all over, my head spinning. I couldn't tell if it was because the screen was too bright or the night was too dark, but I could barely make out the words on the computer screen.

Instinctively, I wiped my face and saw my hands were wet. Only then did I realize I had been crying.

There was hope!

Even if it was just news about that doctor, I was filled with hope!

As long as I traced back through time, one day I would find my enemy! Then I would open my arms to Charles, who fell into the hands of bad people right after he was born and beg for his forgiveness. I would spend the rest of my life making it up to him.

I hoped he could come back to me soon!

The Next Day

Lucas's Perspective:

I woke up in my six-foot car-shaped bed, blinking my red eyes uncomfortably.

Last night, I dreamed of Mom and Saki. When I opened my eyes and didn't see them, I felt lonely.

I should leave here today. They must be going crazy looking for me.

I decided to freshen up first. But as soon as I opened the door, the annoying Cecilia was standing right there.

When she saw me, she immediately put on this gentle smile that seemed totally fake.

"I've been wanting to find you but didn't want to disturb you, so I waited here," Cecilia said as she picked me up.

I hated her smell; it was like insect repellent.

I screamed in protest and slapped her hard across the face, then broke free from her arms and hid to the side.

Mom always said that as a werewolf, I shouldn't start fights, but I shouldn't let myself be bullied, either. So this slap was payback for her pinching me yesterday.

"Ah!" My nails scratched Cecilia's cheek. When she felt the blood, she looked at me like she wanted to eat me alive.

Her expression scared me, and I shrank back, glancing at my hand.

I didn't mean to scratch her face, and I felt a bit guilty about it.

Cecilia, maybe afraid of getting in trouble with Silas if she hit me at home, quickly regained her gentle demeanor within seconds.

But this time, her smile seemed forced.

"Alex, did I scare you? I apologize," Cecilia said, squatting down and reaching out her hand gently. "It's time for some exercise. The weather looks great today. How about we go for a swim?"

I shook my head defiantly. "I have a cold. I don't want to go."

"That's exactly why you need to exercise more, so you can get better faster!"

"I don't want to!" I shouted.

Cecilia's mouth twitched when she heard me speak a full sentence, and then she squinted her eyes and gave a fake smile.

"Alex, you can speak normally now? That's wonderful. Your dad will be so happy to hear this."

I rolled my eyes secretly. Did she think Alex was mute? He was just withdrawn, not voiceless!

I turned to run, but two maids blocked me at the stairs. Despite my struggles, they picked me up.

"Ah!" I screamed and fought to get free.

"Alex, you'd better behave. Your dad isn't home, and no matter how much you cry, it won't help! I'm doing this for your good, so don't act like I'm bullying you." Cecilia's red-painted fingernails brushed my cheek, her tone light but laced with a chilling threat. The fierceness in her eyes sent a shiver down my spine.

No wonder Cecilia was so brazen. Silas wasn't home, so she didn't need to pretend.

"And," she said, her sharp red nails digging into the skin of my neck, causing a sharp pain in my throat, "You'd better not talk too much now that you're just getting better. Don't you agree?"

With a glance from Cecilia, a maid approached with a tray. On it was a glass bottle filled with a brown, unknown liquid. A wave of terror washed over me. "No! Let me go! Let me go!"

That had to be something bad, maybe even poison. If Alex died, there would be no one to compete with her for Silas's attention!

Cecilia must be trying to kill me!

I struggled violently. Luckily, Mom had made sure we learned martial arts from a young age, so even though we were poor, I was much stronger than kids my age.

I managed to break free from the two maids holding me. In my panic, I tried to run, but Cecilia grabbed my arm hard. In desperation, I headbutted her stomach, and we both fell into the pool.

The moment I hit the water, I felt trapped in a giant, suffocating jar. The world went silent except for the gurgling sound of water filling my ears.

My mind went blank, and I instinctively flailed my limbs.

I thrashed wildly in the water, but the pool was too deep. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reach the bottom.

"Help..." I wanted to call for help, but as soon as I opened my mouth, water rushed into my throat, making it impossible to breathe.

The maids above hurriedly pulled Cecilia out of the water, ignoring my desperate struggle.

I felt utterly hopeless. The pool, meant for fun, now seemed like a giant black hole, gradually swallowing my senses and my body.

My struggles grew weaker, and the sun above seemed to drift further away.

Was I going to drown here?

Mom. Saki.

Just as I was about to be completely consumed by the cold water, a hand reached in and pulled me out.