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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 18
18Molly's tear-filled eyes widened the moment she saw Helen kneeling beside her. The tension and fear that had gripped her tiny frame broke all at once, and with a choked sob, she flung herself into Helen's arms.“Helen!” she cried, her little voice trembling. “Can you… can you be my mommy?”Helen blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden, innocent request. Her heart softened as she wrapped her arms around Molly, feeling the child’s tiny body tremble against her. She glanced up at Dylan, her cheeks flushing slightly as Molly continued, her words tumbling out between sobs.“Because… because you held Daddy’s hand yesterday,” Molly whimpered, her voice muffled against Helen’s shoulder. “And… and mommies hold daddies’ hands, right?”Dylan’s eyes widened, caught completely off guard. His mouth opened, but no words came out. A flush crept up his neck, but before he could say anything, Helen chuckled softly, her face pink but warm.“Well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” she said g
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19Helen didn’t flinch. She simply stared at Mrs. Carter, her expression unreadable for a long, tense moment. Then, with a soft sigh, she stepped closer, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement until she stood mere inches from the other woman.“You’re right about one thing,” Helen murmured, her voice soft but laced with venom. “I do have high standards. Which is why I don’t waste my time explaining myself to insecure, miserable women who can’t stand seeing someone else succeed.”Mrs. Carter’s smirk wavered.“But just so we’re clear,” Helen continued, her tone sharpening like a blade, “I don’t need a man to buy me anything. That car? It’s mine. Paid for in full. And as for performances?” She arched an eyebrow, letting the words hang in the air. “The only performance I see here is you, pretending to be something more than a petty bully.”The color drained from Mrs. Carter’s face, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. The crowd was silent now, every eye glued
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20 The middle-aged woman’s venomous words hung in the air like a toxic cloud. For a split second, the crowd held their breath, unsure of what would come next. But then, Mrs. Carter’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction, her lips curling into a sneer as she pivoted toward Dylan. “And you,” she spat, her voice oozing disdain, “what kind of man are you? Hiding behind your prostitute girlfriend just to scrape together some dignity?” Laughter erupted from the crowd. Sharp, mocking, and relentless. The kind of laughter that felt like knives digging into flesh. Some parents even doubled over, clutching their sides as if Mrs. Carter had just delivered the joke of the century. Others exchanged knowing glances, their eyes gleaming with cruel delight. The playground, once filled with the innocent chatter of children, now echoed with the harsh, hyena-like cackles of adults reveling in someone else’s humiliation. Dylan remained still. His hands stayed buried in his pockets, his face an un
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21The crowd was frozen, staring in stunned silence. All eyes shifted to Dylan, who hadn’t moved an inch. He raised an eyebrow, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.“That would be me,” Dylan said coolly.The man’s reaction was immediate—and shocking. He straightened up as much as his heaving chest would allow, then bowed deeply at the waist, his voice trembling with respect and fear.“Mr. Dylan, I-I’m sorry for the delay. Please forgive me!”The crowd gasped as if they were watching a magician pull off an impossible trick. The middle-aged woman, Mrs. Carter, gawked at the scene unfolding in front of her, her jaw practically hitting the ground. Mrs. Parker, the teacher who’d just moments ago puffed herself up with false authority, blinked rapidly, her face flushing a deep crimson. The confident sneers they’d worn so proudly had evaporated into stunned silence.The man in the suit straightened up, his breathing still ragged, but his posture was all deference as he turned to Dylan
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22Mrs. Carter’s mouth hung open for a heartbeat before she snapped it shut with an audible click. Then, her voice rang out, sharp and shrill, cutting through the tense silence.“This is unfair!” she screeched, stomping her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. “You can’t just expel my son because this nobody says so! Who do you think you are?”Principal Thompson straightened, his face devoid of any sympathy. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority. “Mrs. Carter,” he said solemnly, “Mr. Dylan isn’t just anybody. He’s the new owner of this kindergarten. As of this morning, he has full authority over all administrative decisions—including staff terminations and student expulsions.”BOOM!The words hit the crowd like a bomb.A collective gasp echoed around the courtyard. Parents and teachers alike exchanged stunned glances, their previous mockery melting into wide-eyed disbelief. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the space, leaving only shock in its wake.“Wait…
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23Mrs. Carter’s phone buzzed violently in her trembling hand, the screen flashing with Husband Calling. For a brief moment, a smug grin flickered across her furious face. She snatched up the call, turning her back to the crowd with exaggerated flair, ready to unleash her fury.“Darling!” she snapped, her voice dripping with indignation. “You won’t believe what these people are doing to our son! That damn principal—”But she didn’t get the chance to finish.Her husband’s voice exploded through the speaker, loud enough for those nearest to her to hear. “What the hell did you do, Amanda?!”Mrs. Carter blinked, her mouth falling open in confusion. “W-What do you mean, what did I do? I’m telling you what they—”“I DON’T CARE!” he roared, his voice cracking with fury. “Do you have any idea who you’ve messed with? I just got fired from Luxe Dynamics! FIRED! Effective immediately! No explanation, no nothing! They said it was your fault!”The color drained from Mrs. Carter’s face faster than
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24Principal Thompson cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of control over the crowd, but even he couldn’t hide the slight tremor in his voice. “I believe this matter is settled,” he announced, though his eyes flickered nervously to Dylan, silently seeking confirmation.Dylan gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod, his expression still unreadable.Mr. Thompson glanced down at Mrs. Carter, who was still crumpled on the ground, and then at the brat, who was now hiccuping between sobs. “I suggest you both leave the premises immediately.”Mrs. Carter didn’t move. She just stared blankly at the ground, her mind clearly struggling to process the ruin that had unfolded in mere minutes.Mrs. Carter, still collapsed on the ground, suddenly let out a guttural sob. She snatched up her phone, her fingers trembling so badly she could barely hold it.“I’ll fix this!” she wailed, more to herself than anyone else. “I’ll fix this, I swear!” But her husband’s furious voice still echoed in
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25Once they were gone, the tension in the room seemed to lift—though unease still lingered.The teacher, Ms. Parker, still on the ground, clutched her clipboard tightly as her face drained of color. She looked up at Principal Thompson, her lips trembling. “Sir, please! I—I wasn’t part of this. I just… I just—”“You laughed along,” Dylan said smoothly, his tone devoid of sympathy.Ms. Parker’s breathing hitched. “I—I was just caught up in the moment! I didn’t mean any harm! Please, Mr. Dylan, I need this job—”Principal Thompson pinched the bridge of his nose, his exhaustion evident. “Guards,” he sighed, “escort her out as well.”“No! Wait!” Ms. Parker shrieked, scrambling to her knees. She reached desperately for Principal Thompson’s pant leg, but he took a step back, looking disgusted. “Please, I’ll do anything! I’ll apologize—I’ll—”Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The guards stepped forward, towering over her. One reached down, gripping her by the arm.She kicked and struggled, her cl
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167Dylan stood there in the empty room, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. His hands still gripped the armrests as if he could hold onto something—anything—to keep himself grounded. But nothing made sense anymore. He had seen the truth in Seraphina’s eyes, even though she denied it. The girl was his. He could feel it deep in his gut.But Seraphina, with all her bitterness and anger, had left him in that cage of his own making. She walked out with the child, leaving him here, imprisoned not just physically but mentally, too.He wanted to follow her. He wanted to run after her, grab her by the arm, and demand she tell him the truth. But deep down, he knew she wouldn’t. Not like this. She had already said too much—he had hurt her too deeply, and nothing he said would ever be enough to fix that.The walls felt closer now. It wasn’t the literal ones of the room, but the ones he had built around himself, the walls he had put up all those years ago. He had walked away from Seraphin
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166Dylan’s mind raced as he stood there, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t shake the thought—that girl, the one Seraphina kept talking about, had to be his daughter. There was no other explanation. He had to know for sure.“Seraphina…” His voice came out hoarse, uncertain. He took a cautious step forward. “How old is she?”Seraphina’s gaze hardened, her jaw tightening at the question. “Five,” she snapped, her eyes flashing with an anger that almost made Dylan step back. “Why does it matter?”Five. Five years old. Dylan’s breath hitched, his heart doing an unsettling flip in his chest. Five years…He swallowed hard, trying to steady his thoughts. It couldn’t be a coincidence. He hadn’t seen Seraphina in five years. That was right around the time he had walked away from her—left them both. Molly was four, and this girl—this child—was five.His legs shook, but he forced himself to keep his composure. “Five… so that means…” He trailed off, eyes wide, trying to piece everything
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165Seraphina’s gaze softened just for a second before she turned away, her face hardening once more. “I don’t know,” she muttered, almost to herself. “But it doesn’t matter, does it? You had a chance to be part of her life, and you threw it all away. Just like you threw me away.”Dylan’s heart twisted in his chest, guilt flooding his veins. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor, his hands gripping the armrests as though he might fall apart if he didn’t hold on. “I never meant to hurt you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I never meant to leave you. I thought I was doing the right thing… but I was wrong. I was wrong about everything.”Seraphina didn’t respond right away. She stood there, her arms crossed, her eyes staring out the window as though she were seeing something far away. Her silence stretched on, thick and uncomfortable, until finally, she spoke, her voice quiet but cutting.“Don’t you dare try to make this about you,” she said, her tone icy. “You don’
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164 But his cries fell on deaf ears. The guards, clearly intimidated by Seraphina’s wrath, ignored him as they forcibly pulled the little girl away. Her protests grew louder, her tiny body wriggling in their grip.“Mommy, please! Don’t let them take me!” she cried, her voice breaking with fear.Seraphina stood there, her gaze unwavering as the child was dragged from the room. She didn’t flinch, didn’t move a muscle. Her expression was cold, emotionless, as if the scene unfolding before her didn’t affect her at all.Dylan’s heart twisted in his chest as he watched the child disappear down the hallway, her cries echoing in the silence. The sound of her desperation was like a dagger, cutting through his soul, leaving him with a hollow ache that he couldn’t shake.The guards left the room, their footsteps fading as they carried the girl away. Seraphina didn’t follow, didn’t make a move to stop them. She stood there, her back straight and her gaze fixed on the floor.Dylan, however, could
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163 Dylan was still reeling from Seraphina’s words when the unexpected sound of small footsteps echoed in the hallway. His thoughts were a whirlwind, tangled in the confusion and betrayal that Seraphina had hurled at him. He had thought he understood her—once. But now, all he was left with was the sharp sting of her accusations, and the painful realization that everything he had believed in was a lie.He stared at Seraphina, his chest tight with frustration. She stood there, her gaze cold and unwavering, as if she were the one who had been wronged. His heart ached, but there was no time to dwell on the past. The footsteps grew louder, drawing his attention away from her and toward the hallway.And then, in the doorway, a small figure appeared.“Mommy! Mommy!” The voice was high-pitched and innocent, filled with desperation. Dylan froze, his heart skipping a beat as the little girl ran into the room. Her face was familiar—strikingly so. She had the same dark hair, the same wide eyes,
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162 Dylan stood in the dimly lit cage, still reeling from the weight of Seraphina’s words. His mind raced as he tried to piece together the truth from the lies, the half-truths, and the manipulations. The anger, the betrayal—it all swirled in his chest like a storm that threatened to tear him apart. But despite the chaos, he knew he had to keep pressing, had to make her reveal everything.“You turned rogue, Sera,” Dylan said, his voice hoarse but determined. He lifted his chin, trying to hold her gaze, but her eyes were like steel, impenetrable. “I heard you wanted to take the lead of Dragonia. That’s what Victor told me.” He paused, a heavy silence falling between them. “He said you were making moves behind the scenes. That you wanted to reshape everything.”Seraphina’s eyes flickered with something—amusement? Frustration? It was hard to tell, but whatever it was, it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. She chuckled, a low, bitter laugh that sent a chill down his spine. H
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161Dylan’s pulse quickened, his head spinning with a cocktail of rage and confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?” His voice cracked, the rawness of his throat echoing his desperation. “I didn’t do anything to you. I was just trying to protect my daughter! I never wanted to hurt you, Sera. You don’t get to make me the villain here.”Seraphina’s gaze softened for a brief moment, and for the first time, Dylan saw the flicker of the woman he once knew, the woman who had once been kind, gentle. But just as quickly as it came, that softness disappeared, replaced by cold fury. She stepped toward the cage, her movements deliberate and slow, the sound of her boots echoing in the silence.“You never wanted to hurt me?” she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Is that what you tell yourself? You left me, Dylan. You walked away from me. Without a word. You didn’t care about what I was going through. And then, when you did show up again, you were with her. You were with her. And
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160“No…” Dylan’s voice cracked, his body trembling with a mix of horror and sorrow. “You’ve lost yourself, Sera. You’ve let all this hate consume you.” He staggered toward her, but his movements were slow, weak. “This… this isn’t you. You’ve changed. You’ve become… a person I don’t even recognize anymore.”Seraphina’s expression hardened, her face transforming into an unreadable mask of indifference. “I don’t care what you think,” she spat, her tone dripping with contempt. “I don’t give a damn about your opinions anymore. You made your choice, Dylan. Now live with it.”The words hit him like a slap to the face. Live with it. What choice had he made? He had never wanted any of this. He had never asked for any of it. And yet here they were—he, broken and defeated, and she, consumed by a twisted version of vengeance. There was no room for understanding, no space for forgiveness. Just anger, regret, and a shattered future.Dylan swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving hers. “I never wante
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159 “I didn’t want to leave you, Sera,” he said, his voice barely audible now, strained with the weight of his own pain. “I didn’t know how to stay. I was scared. I thought I had to fix things on my own, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I didn’t know how to come back to you.”The silence between them stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Seraphina didn’t turn around, didn’t acknowledge him. He could feel her standing there, her back to him, but the distance between them had never felt greater.“I thought you were dead, Dylan,” she whispered again, this time more to herself than to him. “And then you come back with her, and everything is… it’s just a lie. You lied to me. You lied about everything.”Dylan’s chest tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. He had lied. He had hidden the truth from her, kept secrets that had cost them everything. And now, even if he apologized a thousand times, it wouldn’t be enough to undo the damage.He tried to speak again, but the words stuck
