Chapter 9 The Descent Of The Last Night

• "Six years ago, I was in a car accident..."
• Allacia's senses were overwhelmed by the intensity of his gaze, as if flames were licking at her skin, leaving her entire being ablaze with a crimson hue. The latter part of Zishan's speech became a distant murmur as she was lost in the tumult of her thoughts.
• "Allacia! With me around, you and Denea won't face such danger again!" he stated with determination.
• "I..." Her response caught in her throat as she grappled with her inner turmoil.
• Sensing her unease, he exercised restraint. He opened the car door and escorted her back to her apartment.
• "Allacia, give me an answer in three days. I hope you won't disappoint me."
• With that, he scooped up Levell and left the apartment.
• Allacia spent another sleepless night, her body exhausted but her mind unable to rest.
• The proposition of becoming Zishan's partner seemed like a mere whimsical fancy.
• Being of humble origins, how could she ever catch the eye of the illustrious Lloyd Family?
• To quiet her racing thoughts, Allacia immersed herself in the mundane task of tidying her apartment. She only managed a brief nap as dawn approached.
• At noon, she received a call from an unfamiliar number, inviting her to meet at a teahouse.
• …
• In the cozy ambiance of a teahouse, Allacia had just settled in, savoring a sip of water, when a distinguished elder with grey-streaked hair and an air of authority approached and took a seat beside her.
• With half his face concealed behind oversized sunglasses, the elderly man's presence still triggered a sense of familiarity in Allacia.
• "Have we crossed paths before?" she inquired tentatively, but her query was met with indifference as he promptly tossed an envelope onto the table with a sharp thud.
• A dozen photographs spilled forth and scattered across the tabletop. Allacia's gaze darted over them, each image sending a shiver down her spine as if she were ensnared by an unseen force. As such, her complexion turned ashen.
• "Are you affiliated with the Lloyd Family?" she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper as her heart pounded at the sight of the intimate snapshots featuring her and Zishan.
• "How much is it going to cost for you to stay away from Zishan?" the elderly man demanded bluntly.
• Just the day before, the elderly man had celebrated his great-grandson's birthday, yet both the latter and his son had been consumed by thoughts of the same woman to the extent that they had dispatched a helicopter in the dead of night to search for her.
• Only through subsequent investigation did the elderly man uncover that this woman was none other than the mother of Zishan's children, conceived six years earlier.
• What a twist of fate! After all the twists and turns, they unexpectedly cross paths again!
• But six years ago, Allacia already had a boyfriend, and her humble background didn't match up to his grandson's, let alone qualify her to be recognized by his great-grandson.
• To nip any potential problems in the bud, the old patriarch, Calvin, personally came to drive her away!
• Calvin exuded a natural sense of authority, leaving Allacia feeling somewhat intimidated in his presence, yet she couldn't allow herself to be humiliated by him.
• "I don't want a penny. If you can convince Zishan not to bother me anymore, I'd appreciate it!"
• Compared to six years ago, she had become much more articulate. Her words struck right at the heart of the matter, leaving him struggling for a response.
• If only he could dissuade his grandson from further contact, this confrontation would have been unnecessary.
• Fortunately, he had prepared two tricks up his sleeve.
• "This is a DNA report. I know your daughter has leukemia, and I've already found her biological father for her. In Lyonesse, he's still comatose, and your two sons are already six years old."
• Upon hearing these revelations, Allacia's heart raced with disbelief.
• How does this individual possess such intimate knowledge of my past? she mused.
• With a mix of curiosity and skepticism, she skeptically opened the file and saw that the DNA test confirmed their blood relation!
• Finally, she had found him! After tirelessly searching, she finally found the father of her children. It was a momentous occasion. The prospect of seeing her two sons after so long filled her with a mixture of relief and excitement.
• Tears of joy welled up in her eyes, and her heart pounded with emotion as she embraced the reality of this long-awaited reunion.
• Observing her hesitation, Calvin displayed a look of disdain as he handed her a check without a hint of warmth, a transactional gesture in exchange for his assistance with her daughter's medical bills.
• "This is 11 million. I can sponsor your daughter's treatment, but on the condition that you never return to Tralis for the rest of your lives," he declared coldly.
• Allacia's expression remained indifferent as she pushed the check back toward him. "No need," she replied calmly. "In three days, I will leave."
• With that, she picked up her bag and the test report and left the teahouse.
• …
• Back at home, Allacia began to pack her bags, but her thoughts were in disarray. Despite her attempts to focus on organizing her belongings, her mind was filled with echoes of Zishan's words. He had asked her to become his woman, giving her three days to consider his proposal...
• Am I really going to leave everything behind like this? she pondered.
• "Mommy, what's wrong?" Denea's gentle voice broke through her turmoil, bringing her back to the present moment.
• Protecting her daughter's health was paramount. The opportunity to travel to Lyonesse held the promise of a solution: two potential bone marrow donors awaited her there.
• She tenderly kissed her daughter's sweet face and said softly, "Denea, we're going to Lyonesse. Soon, you'll be reunited with Daddy and your two big brothers!"
• Denea's eyes widened in a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "Really?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with anticipation before drifting into a pensive silence.
• "Mommy, can I have Levell's daddy as my daddy? He's so handsome, and I really like him!" Denea's innocent request left Allacia momentarily speechless, grappling with how to respond.
• Unbeknownst to her, Denea's heart held a special fondness for Zishan, Levell's father.
• "Denea, he's Levell's daddy, so we can't become a family with him." Allacia's tone was gentle as she tried to alleviate her daughter's disappointment.
• "Oh, okay," Denea replied softly, her gaze falling with a hint of sadness.
• "Don't be sad, darling. In Lyonesse, you'll meet your two big brothers. They'll play with you and spoil you!" Allacia reassured Denea, a smile playing on her lips.
• "Really? Then I can't wait to go," Denea exclaimed, her face radiant with excitement as she eagerly assisted in packing their belongings.
• For the sake of her daughter, Allacia's determination to leave grew stronger with each passing moment.
• They continued packing their bags well into the night, with Allacia resolving to set off first thing in the morning.
• A single day's delay could lead to unforeseen accidents.
• …
• After getting caught in the rain during an afternoon outing, Allacia was feeling a bit under the weather, her incessant coughing leaving her brain foggy and her body weak. Unintentionally, her hand brushed against her phone lying on the bedside and dialed a number.
• "I'm feeling uncomfortable. Cough, cough—"
• Zishan detected the strain in her voice and hastily dressed before hurrying to her apartment.
• Armed with the door code passed down from Levell, he effortlessly gained entry.
• Inside, darkness cloaked the surroundings, broken only by the soft glow of a nightlight in Allacia's room.
• He pushed the door ajar, and his eyes fell upon Allacia, who was sprawled in bed, her senses dulled by fever.
• With a furrowed brow betraying his concern, he moved toward her, stooping down to lift her tenderly into his arms. He gently patted her flushed cheek.
• "Allacia, are you feeling alright?" he inquired softly, his voice laced with genuine worry.
• The touch of his hand, which felt cool against Allacia's feverish skin, brought her a welcomed sense of relief, causing her to draw closer instinctively.
• Observing this, Zishan's gaze darkened slightly, his worry deepening as he took in her frail state.
• He noticed the opened medicine box on the bedside table and deduced that she had already taken her medication, so he poured her a glass of warm water to drink.
• The warm water soothed her parched throat as she let out a contented sigh. Her eyelids fluttered open, focusing on the man standing before her. The sight sent a sudden jolt of surprise coursing through her, instantly snapping her back to full alertness.
• "Mr. Lloyd, what brings you here?" she inquired, her voice a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
• His response was calm and collected, delivered with a demeanor that betrayed no hint of irritation. "You called my number. I heard you weren't feeling well..."
• Allacia felt a warmth bloom within her chest, a sensation tinged with both sweetness and melancholy. It had been a long time since someone had displayed such genuine concern for her well-being. At that moment, she almost dared to believe that she was worthy of being cherished again.
• But she knew deep down that his kindness would likely fade with the passing of the day.
• She switched off the bedside lamp, allowing herself to be engulfed by the comforting embrace of darkness.
• In the darkness, she could hear the frantic pounding of her own heart, mingled with the shallow breaths of the man beside her.
• Trembling, she reached out her hand, her fingertips grazing the edge of the man's belt. With eyes tightly shut, she surrendered herself like a warrior offering her all in a fearless sacrifice.
• "Mr. Lloyd, shall we sleep together tonight? Haven't you always desired me..." Her voice trailed off into a husky whisper.