Chapter 14: The Trap at the Jennings Villa

The next morning, Emmett and I returned to Riverbend.

This time, we didn't enter through the main gates.

His guards surrounded the villa from every direction while we approached through the rear entrance.

“Your mother asked you to come alone,” Emmett said quietly.

“I know.”

“And you still agreed.”

I glanced at him.

“If she's telling the truth about my brother, I can't ignore it.”

His expression softened.

“I understand.”

We entered the Jennings villa together.

The place looked exactly as I remembered it.

The same marble floors.

The same expensive furniture.

The same family portraits lining the walls.

Except now, every familiar object felt strangely foreign.

Diana was waiting in the drawing room.

Robert stood beside the window.

Chloe and Nolan were there too.

The moment Chloe saw Emmett, her expression changed.

“Why is he here?”

I looked at her calmly.

“Because I'm not stupid enough to come here alone.”

Nolan's eyes narrowed.

“Laurel, this is a family matter.”

“It stopped being a family matter when my parents tried to erase me from their records.”

He fell silent.

Diana slowly stood.

“I didn't ask you here to argue.”

“Then tell me where my brother is.”

Her face went pale.

Robert immediately looked at her.

That single glance told me more than words could have.

They were hiding something.

Diana walked toward me.

“He's alive.”

My heart stopped.

“Where?”

“I can't tell you.”

“You promised.”

“I promised to tell you the truth.”

Her voice trembled.

“Not everything is safe to reveal yet.”

Emmett stepped forward.

“Then why bring her here?”

Diana looked at him.

“Because the people who took her brother are watching this house.”

Robert suddenly slammed his hand against the table.

“Diana, enough.”

She flinched.

I turned toward him.

“You knew.”

He looked away.

“I knew about the disappearance.”

“And you never told me.”

“I was protecting the family.”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“You mean protecting yourself.”

Robert's face hardened.

“You don't understand what was at stake.”

“Then explain it.”

He remained silent.

Nolan stepped forward.

“Laurel, maybe you should stop pushing them.”

I looked at him in disbelief.

“Why?”

“Because whatever happened twenty-four years ago, you survived. You have a new family now.”

I stared at him.

“A new family?”

His gaze flickered toward Emmett.

“Ironwood.”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“Ironwood didn't erase me. You did.”

Nolan's face tightened.

For the first time, he seemed unable to find an answer.

Chloe suddenly grabbed his arm.

“Nolan, let's leave.”

He didn't move.

His eyes remained on me.

I remembered another lifetime when I had stood in this same room, waiting for him to defend me.

He never had.

This time, I didn't need him to.

Diana suddenly walked toward a cabinet and unlocked a hidden compartment.

She pulled out a small black envelope.

“This belonged to your brother.”

I took it immediately.

Inside was a photograph.

A young man stood beside a lake, his face partially turned away from the camera.

He looked about my age.

On his wrist was the same silver crest as the pendant around my neck.

My breath caught.

“Where is he?”

Diana whispered, “He's in Aldwyn.”

My eyes widened.

“Where?”

Before she could answer, every window in the villa shattered at once.

Glass exploded inward.

Guards rushed into the room.

Emmett pulled me against him, shielding my body with his own.

Several arrows struck the walls behind us.

Someone was attacking the villa.

“Get Laurel out!” Emmett ordered.

His guards moved instantly.

But before we could reach the exit, the lights went out.

A dark figure appeared in the doorway.

His eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.

“The royal bloodline should have died twenty-four years ago.”

Emmett stepped in front of me.

“You'll have to go through me first.”

The stranger smiled.

“That's exactly what I came here to do.”