Chapter 127: Fate’s Reckoning-1
Claint
Maya stood frozen. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, her breath shallow as panic and grief swirled together. She wanted to move, to help, but her legs felt like stone.
“Damien…” her voice broke, soft and uncertain, as if she feared speaking would make the reality sharper.
“Stay back, love,” Damien said quickly, his tone gentler but firm as his eyes flicked to her. “It’s okay… I’ve got her.” Yet beneath the steadiness in his voice, his jaw was tight, his shoulders tense. He had never looked so torn between two worlds-his role as Dahlia’s son and his instinct to shield Maya.
He lifted Dahlia carefully onto the couch, adjusting her head against the cushions with practiced care. Her hand slipped from his grasp, cold and trembling, and Damien swallowed hard.
“Mom… wake up.” His voice lowered to a murmur, coaxing, pleading.
Maya finally found her footing, stepping closer despite her nerves. Her eyes locked on Dahlia’s pale face, her lips trembling as guilt and confusion pressed down on her chest. Did I cause this? Did the truth about my mom break her this much?
Ashcroft placed a steadying hand on Damien’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Don’t lose your head now.” But even his voice lacked conviction.
Not long after, another knock came at the door-this one sharper, urgent.
James moved quickly to answer, ushering in the resort’s in-house doctor, a man in his forties with a calm but efficient demeanor. He carried a leather medical bag and immediately crossed the room.
“What happened?” the doctor asked briskly, already checking her pulse and lifting her eyelids. “She fainted. Her pulse was unsteady,” Damien replied, his voice clipped with tension. The doctor nodded once, pressing his stethoscope to her chest. After a moment, he straightened, his tone steady but decisive. “She needs to be moved to a bed where she can lie flat. The couch won’t do-it’s too rigid. May we move her to one of the bedrooms?”
“Yes,” Damien said instantly, his tone leaving no room for question. He looked at James.” Prepare the second bedroom.”
“Right away, sir.” James disappeared down the hall, returning moments later with the door open and the bed turned down.
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Chapter 1 kate Bevkimu-t
Claim
Damien rose, lifting his mother carefully into his arms, her slight frame seeming too fragile in that moment. His jaw was tight, his shoulders squared, but his grip was protective, unyielding.
“This way, sir,” James guided, leading them toward the spare bedroom. The doctor followed close behind, already pulling gloves from his bag.
The door closed softly after them, leaving the suite’s living area suddenly hushed.
Maya stood frozen where she was, her eyes fixed on the hallway Damien had disappeared down. Her chest tightened with every breath, the echo of Dahlia’s cries still raw in her mind. She wrapped her arms around herself unconsciously, as if trying to hold her trembling body together.
Ashcroft lingered nearby, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. His usual grin was nowhere to be found. Instead, his eyes tracked her, sharp and knowing, though softer than she expected.
“Not exactly how you pictured meeting your future mother-in-law, huh?” he said at last, his tone light but not mocking.
Maya blinked at him, lips parting, but no words came out. The weight in her chest was too heavy.
Ashcroft tilted his head, his gaze lingering on the closed bedroom door before shifting back to Maya.
“I don’t know all the details,” he admitted softly, “but I do know your mom was… very important to her.” He let out a slow sigh, running a hand across the back of his neck. “Aunt Dahlia’s spent years searching for her-seven long years of chasing leads, traveling, hoping, and always ending up with dead ends.”
His voice dipped lower, more careful. “And now, to find out the person she’s been desperate to see again is already gone…” He trailed off, eyes flicking toward Maya, who kept her head bowed, shoulders trembling.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.