The woman, who still looked beautiful despite being over 50 years old, walked gracefully toward Edward. Her eyes held both regret and longing as they locked onto his, and she spoke with a gentle yet sad voice, saying, "I'm so sorry for leaving you all those years ago."Edward felt a mix of cnfusion and disbelief. He had grown up without a mother, always wondering about her absence. Now, standing before him, his mother seemed like a dream come true."I... I can't believe it's you," Edward whispered, tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to find the right words. "I've missed you so much, Mom. Why did you leave?"The woman's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to gently hold Edward's trembling hands. "I never wanted to leave you, dear. Circumstances forced me to make a difficult choice, but I've never stopped loving you."Edward's heart ached with a bittersweet blend of joy and pain. It was a strange feeling, like when you eat something that tastes sweet but also a little bi
"Me?" Edward's surprise deepened. He hadn't anticipated that his abilities would be known to the White Zodiac, let alone be the cause of such commotion. "Why do they want to see my abilities? What do they expect from me? And North Pole?"Edith let out a resigned sigh. "The White Zodiac is seeking answers, dear. They want to uncover the truth behind Xavier's words and understand the nature and origin of your abilities. Until now, we knew that the Zodiac Files was the only source of power beyond reason. But for them, and for me personally, your abilities represent a range of possibilities, both good and bad, and we want to unravel them."Edward was gloomy. He had always regarded his abilities as a burden, something to be kept hidden and controlled. To suddenly be thrust into the spotlight, with the White Zodiac eager to explore his powers, was both terrifying and intriguing.Edith's eyes filled with pride and love as she looked at her son. She reached out and gently squeezed his hand. "
Gabriel and the others exchanged confused glances. As holders of the powerful Zodiac Files, they were well aware of the extent of their abilities. While they knew their powers had limitations, they had never encountered a situation where someone remained unaffected by Xavier's hypnotic powers.Andrew Chang, from Gemini family, stepped forward. "Xavier, this changes everything. We've relied on your ability to manipulate minds as a cornerstone of our plans. Now, we must face the possibility that there are others out there who possess similar resistance. Our entire strategy may need to be reevaluated."Xavier let out a disdainful snort and responded, In just a few days, he will assume my position, so he is not an outsider. Mark my words, Andrew, and all of you. Don't ever dare think of controlling my grandson. He belongs to himself and himself alone, with powers that surpass even my own."Andrew's brows furrowed. "Are you saying that Edward has abilities that exceed ours?"Xavier nodded
Edward watched as Gabriel Cross, the calm and collected Virgo File user known for his remarkable healing abilities, lazily approached Marcus with a deliberate slowness in his steps.With a sly grin playing on his lips, Gabriel leaned against a nearby wall, his arms casually crossed over his chest. He exuded an aura of indifference, as if Marcus's attack was nothing more than a minor inconvenience."You really can't control your impulses, can you, Marcus?" Gabriel sighed, his voice filled with mockery. "Attacking the heir of the Aries family without provocation? That's a new low even for you."Marcus gritted his teeth in pain, his injured hand throbbing with each heartbeat.Finally, Gabriel sighed and pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer to Marcus. He raised an eyebrow, his expression filled with condescending pity."Fine, I'll help you. But don't think this act of kindness makes us friends," Gabriel muttered, his tone laced with both annoyance and superiority.Extending his ha
Edward's gaze followed Marcus's retreating figure, his expression remaining calm and composed. Edward didn't show any signs of anger or fear, but inside his heart, a fire ignited. In this moment, Edward made a silent vow to himself. He swore to find his father, whether he was alive or dead. Nothing would stand in his way, not even Marcus Frey or even Xavier himself.As Marcus disappeared from sight, Xavier quickly approached his grandson. He placed a gentle hand on Edward's shoulder and asked, "Are you alright?"Edward offered a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Grandpa. Mr. Frey hits like a woman."Xavier let out a hearty laugh, his tension momentarily dissipating. But his amusement was not shared by Gabriel and the other patriarchs in the room. Their expressions remained serious.Gabriel, always the voice of reason, spoke up. "Young man, don't underestimate the Frey family. Marcus may be reckless, but there is a depth of darkness in their history."Edward's smile faded, and he nodded, ab
Gabriel's expression shifted from defeat to intrigue as he listened to Edward's confident words. He was aware that Ivan and Mikhail Petrovich had met their demise at Edward's hands, but he was unaware that Mikhail had actually been killed by Alexei. Knowing the vengeful nature of their father, Andrei, Gabriel believed that retaliation would surely follow. Yet, in Gabriel's eyes, Edward displayed a fearless determination that both impressed and astonished him."You truly have no fear," Gabriel remarked. "To think that you would willingly face the Petrovich family, one of the most powerful and dangerous families in the Blavk Zodiac... It is remarkable. But there's one thing I'm curious about. You've just returned to the Windsor family, and , I assume you don't hold any specific animosity towards the Petrovichs. What exactly do you want to do?"Edward's mind drifted into deep contemplation. As far as he knew, the Cross family, with their Virgo File, had no known enemies, yet Gabriel's in
Edward's gaze shifted from Xavier to Gabriel, and then back to Xavier. He shook his head slightly, his expression grave yet determined. "No, the decision regarding the Zodiac Families rests solely with me. While 'they' have entrusted me with this mission, they have not dictated the specific families to target. It is a choice I must make based on my own judgment and the information I have gathered. For now, I have made a preliminary decision to focus on the Petrovich family, because their power and influence have caused immeasurable suffering and oppression."Gabriel Cross furrowed his brows, still finding it hard to believe that he was now engaged in a conversation of this nature. The reality of Edward's powers was undeniable, but Gabriel remained skeptical of the full extent of his claims, particularly regarding the enigmatic entities.Nevertheless, one thing Gabriel believed without a doubt was Edward's ability to accomplish anything with his surreal powers. He had witnessed firstha
Edward's smile turned wry as Gabriel's proposition struck a chord within him. It was undeniable that, as a man, he harbored desires for multiple women by his side. The notion of companionship and the allure of a second wife briefly danced through his mind. However, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside.Edward knew that the pursuit of personal desires, especially in the realm of relationships, needed careful consideration and timing. His focus was on the imminent battle against the Black Zodiac. The idea of marriage was not something he had contemplated at this moment, nor was it something he felt was appropriate given the circumstances.Gabriel, being astute and perceptive, noticed the hesitation in Edward's eyes. It was a fleeting moment, but Gabriel caught the subtle reluctance in Edward's expression. Sensing the underlying emotions, he decided to signal Xavier, who had been observing the conversation.Xavier, catching Gabriel's signal, nodded imperceptibly. He understood Gabriel'