is mother. An accident. The words echoed in the cavernous silence of his o

his usual composure deserting him. His gaze, sharp as

shaken, stammered, "T-there's been a fire,

nd adrenaline coursing through his veins. He barely registered Sera's sharp intake of breath, the c

he rounded the desk, already reaching for his suit jacket. He neede

regaining its usual crisp efficiency. "But... there's been no

from his lungs. He couldn't be here, trapped in this stee

arm, a feather-light touch that seemed to ground him to the present. He turned

irm despite the tremor in her voice. "Tha

in this surreal and terrifying moment. He had a dozen other things to worry about, a thousand diffe

ice clipped, a knee-jerk reaction to pull b

esture that mirrored his own stubborn streak. "And right now, that

potential tragedy that awaited him. But something in her eyes-a steely resolve that resonated with a long-dormant part of him-made him reconsider. He

its axis, he couldn't afford to ignore

ght with urgency. "But you follow

staccato rhythm of anxiety against the polished floor. He caught a fleeting glimpse of Sera scooping up the book,

t stretched between him and Sera. He'd instructed his driver to take the back roads, a reckless attempt

setting. Smoke billowed into the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the manicured lawns and meticulously pruned hedges. Fire engines an

comprehend the scene before him. He'd been to countless events at the estate-charity galas, fundraisers, the

rs, her platinum blonde hair gleaming like a beacon in the flickering light, her hand resting on the arm of a tall, dis

gist. But as he watched her now, a wave of unease washed over him, a feeling that he was witnessing a differe

ake. Margaret, ever efficient, had vanished to gather information, leaving him momentar

r face, searching for any sign of... what

tight with a tension he could

urred, her voice a soothing balm in the midst of the chaos. "A bit shaken, naturally, but unharmed. The fire started in th

a part of. He wanted to grab her by the shoulders, shake the composure from he

ling scream pierced the night, a sound so raw, so f

ins of the west wing, carrying a stretcher between them. On the stretcher, partially obscured by a sheet, lay a figure all too familiar-h

istant hum as Julian's gaze locked on the figure on the stretcher. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything b

the precipice of despair. "Julian, darling, don't look," she murmured, her voice a s

sure he could bear. He watched as the paramedics maneuvered the stretcher toward a waiting ambulance, thei

sheet slipping to reveal a glimpse of his mother's face. Her eyes were closed, her

en, a

r as the gown she wore, the same color as the emerald ring she always wore on her fing

only to be restrained by a firm hand on his chest. He looked up, his gaze clashing with

mured, his grip on Julian's arm un

edics loaded his mother into the ambulance, the doors closing wit

turned to go, only to realize that Sera had been at his side throughout the entire

feline. He didn't have time to explain, to delve into the strange connection she seemed to have with his family, with his

's gaze, "take Sera back to the cit

y from the storm that was about to break. He opened his mouth to protest, but Julian cut him off. "It's not

ds his own car, his driver holding the door open, a s

istance, Julian glanced back at the smoldering remains of the Davenport estate

ent, it wasn't an acc

to hurt Victoria.

do such a th

n beneath the surface of this carefull