Chapter 197 The next morning unfolded under a pale gold sky, the kind that promised heat long before the sun reached its peak. Lara returned to Isla at the side of Randell Belmont, her presence calm but deliberate, as though she already knew this visit would stir more than dust.

Chapter 196 Lara and Amelia stepped out of the bunkhouse just as the last traces of sunlight slipped beneath the horizon. Twilight should have claimed the island by now. On any other night, Isla would have sunk into a deep, breathing silence—darkness stretching across the land, broken only by the

Chapter 195 Lara did not answer—at least, not in any way that could be called direct. But something in her eyes shifted when they settled on Amelia, something quieter, deeper… almost reverent. So that was it. No wonder Amelia had always felt different to her. From the very first moment

Chapter 194 That afternoon, Lara rode back with Liam, Persius, and Amelia. The vehicle rumbled steadily across the uneven terrain, its tires crunching over gravel and loose stone as the southern sector came into view. Dust trailed behind them like a fading shadow, swallowed by the heat-heavy air. Inside, no

Chapter 193 “Amelia… tell me something.” Lara’s voice dropped to a near whisper as she finally cornered herself away from the others. “Why are you here p> Amelia hesitated, her fingers loosely clasped in front of her, as though weighing how much to reveal. “It’s my grandpa,” she said softly.

Chapter 192 Minutes blurred into hours, slipping past unnoticed in the sterile glow of artificial light. The technician barely moved from his station, his eyes fixed on the data streaming across the screen. Numbers, sequences, patterns—each line pulling him deeper, tightening his focus until the outside world ceased to exist.

Chapter 191 Randell Belmont’s eyes caught the light with a faint, calculating gleam as his attention drifted toward the East Gate. There, Lara stood, wholly absorbed in conversation with Amelia, as if the rest of the world had faded into irrelevance. A few paces behind her, Ares lingered in silence—rigid,

Chapter 190 Liam stared at the bottle in his hand. It was half-empty. For a brief moment, he hesitated, his fingers tightening slightly around the plastic as if weighing something far heavier than water. Then, without another thought, he lifted it to his lips and drained the remaining contents in

Chapter 189 Ares didn’t waste time. He assigned Asher to investigate the snake incident—his tone leaving no room for questions, while he and Lara boarded the transport to Isla. Grandpa Randell insisted on coming along, as he often did since he arrived in Laguna, his curiosity about the excavation rivaling

Chapter 188 Ares and Asher emerged from the direction of the mansion, their expressions tense. Ares’s gaze immediately dropped to the lifeless snake on the ground. His face darkened. “Security,” he called sharply. Within seconds, the head of security rushed forward, posture stiff with urgency. Ares didn’t waste time. “How,”

Chapter 187 “Lara,” Yannis called, his voice carrying just enough firmness to cut through the quiet. “It’s getting late. We should head back p> Lara inclined her head in silent acknowledgment. She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she began walking toward him—slowly, almost cautiously—as though each step required thought. The

Chapter 186 “Let’s head back. You haven’t had breakfast yet p> Yannis’s voice was even, almost casual—like nothing had shifted between them. Like the air hadn’t turned cold. Lara didn’t answer right away. She stood still, the wind brushing past her again, softer now, as if urging her to stay.

Chapter 185 She drew in a shaky breath, trying to anchor herself but the man did not stop convulsing. He convulsed violently. The table rattled. Lara stumbled back, horror flooding her face, her mind blanking in an instant. “I p> “Don’t panic p> Yannis again. His voice firm and grounding.

Chapter 184 Yannis led Lara down the southern path of the mansion grounds, where the world seemed to quiet into something almost intimate. Above them, ancient Narra trees arched overhead, their branches weaving into a living canopy. Sunlight filtered through layers of green, breaking into soft, shifting patterns that danced

Chapter 183 “Young man,” Grandpa Persius said, his voice calm yet edged with quiet authority, “why do you address only me? Amy is here as well p> His sharp gaze flicked from Liam to his granddaughter, lingering just long enough to make the tension in the air palpable. Startled, Amelia

Chapter 182 In the northern sector of Isla, where the terrain was rougher and the winds carried the sharp scent of salt and stone, another group of arrivals stirred the otherwise disciplined rhythm of the excavation. “Dad! Brother p> Layla’s voice rang bright and unrestrained as she ran across the

Chapter 181 Meanwhile, Amelia and her grandfather, Persius Nades, boarded the first flight out of Lanura, arriving in Isla just as dawn broke across the horizon. The island greeted them in a hush of gold and green. Dew clung stubbornly to every leaf and blade of grass, catching the early

Chapter 180 Lanura was calling her back. “You have to come back here, Scarlet,” her aunt’s voice echoed in her mind, sharp and unyielding. “You already committed to that shoot. Your father will be disappointed if the schedule is delayed p> Disappointed. The word lingered, heavier than it should have

Chapter 179 Ares crossed the room in long, urgent strides, his pulse roaring in his ears. He didn’t spare Yannis a glance as he pushed past him, all focus locked on the still figure on the bed. “Move,” he muttered, already bending. His hands slid beneath Lara with practiced strength,

Chapter 178 Yannis Fenn received the message at dawn. It came from the assistant of Ares Zuvel—brief, urgent, and impossible to ignore. But his phone lay face-down on the bedside table, muted. And Yannis… was asleep. When he finally saw it— Everything changed. His eyes snapped open, the last traces