When she woke up, she thought she had gone blind because she couldn’t even see her fingers even though she was sure she was holding them in front of her face. She tried to move but there was a clanging sound as the chains she was held down with moved.“Hello!” She screamed into the darkness.She tried to figure out who could have summoned forbidden shadowkin and also ordered them to take her. The last thing she remembered was seeing shadowkin in the alleyway leading to her house. The leader said they knew what she had done, and the only thing she could have possibly done to warrant being seen as betrayal was going to visit Xaden and Adrian. She knew her husband wasn’t a good person after finding out what he had done to Xaden but could he really be responsible for this too? She was confused. She didn’t want to believe that she had been married to a monster all these years but there was no other explanation even if it was a bit confusing because she was sure that Syalas had been asleep

Xaden's heart pounded in his chest as he burst into the dimly lit warehouse, the stale air thick with tension. This was where Adrian's men said they suspected Dominique was and Adrian trusted their information. When the system gave the riddle to look into the forbidden, they agreed to do a thorough search into Sylas’ illegal business. Definitely, someone like Sylas could never keep his hands clean despite how much the Knight Consortium was worth. Greedy people never considered their wealth enough and Sylas was greedy to a fault and also covetous. This warehouse had been part of the chain of illegal trade Sylas was in charge of. It was in a secluded position and was the most ideal place to hide someone. The flickering light from a solitary bulb cast eerie shadows on the cold, concrete walls."Sylas!" Xaden's voice echoed through the desolate space, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He didn’t bother trying to be silent because he could feel that he wasn’t alone.“Don’t bother trying t

“So Miss Miller, what made you come here today to have an interview with us?” The reporter asked.Ashley was with a handkerchief and was prepared to do all she could to gain public sympathy. It was easy to do since she was pregnant and was already showing. She also came with proof of her marriage to Xaden and the divorce papers as well. This was the plan she had come up with after never hearing back from the president. She had thought that Adrian would make her get back together with Xaden after she had complained to him that day over the phone.She had no idea that the person she had spoken to that day hadn’t been the real Adrian. And even if it had been, the real Adrian knew the real truth behind how Xaden’s marriage crashed. Xaden had come clean to him after the episode with Sylas skin walking in the Villa, and Adrian was in no way interested in bringing Ashley into Xaden’s life after she threw him away like garbage. She figured out that since the president never messaged her back,

A nurse rushed in, overhearing the raised voices. "Miss, you need to get back in bed. You're in no condition to be moving around." Ashley allowed herself to be led back to the bed, defeat washing over her. Xaden gave her one last disgusted look before storming out. Xaden strode from the hospital seething with anger. The nerve of Ashley, trying to manipulate him again with her fake tears and lies. After everything she had put him through, he would not fall for it this time. Regret gnawed at his conscience, a relentless reminder of his outburst in Ashley's hospital room. Despite the turmoil raging within him, a flicker of guilt tempered his resolve, prompting him to contemplate the consequences of his actions. Even if Ashley was at fault, the baby was innocent in all this. He didn’t want her to lose the child because of him. He needed to be more careful around her. As he made his way back to the presidential villa, President Adrian was waiting for him anxiously.