In the private room of a luxurious Chinese restaurant, the aroma of jasmine tea filled the air. Isabella sat upright in her chair, wearing a simple, cream-colored dress, yet still exuding authority. She had chosen this location because she felt uncomfortable keeping her guest in her office for too long. Sothing instinctively repelled her from having a prolonged conversation in her office.
Before her sat a middle-aged man in a dark gray suit, with a gentle yet powerful gaze—Mr. Demon Alegra. Behind them stood two assistants: Siva, Isabella’s loyal assistant, and Marco, Demon’s right-hand man. Both stood at attention, as if this conversation could turn dangerous at any mont.
Demon stared at Isabella’s young face with a mix of emotion and disbelief. She looked calm—too calm for a woman who had just learned that she might be related to the Alegra family. But it was precisely this calmness that convinced Demon that their family’s blood truly flowed within Isabella.
"Miss Isabella," Demon said in a deep voice, trying to contain his emotions. "You must be wondering why I suddenly sought you out. But there’s a big reason behind all this. One I’ve been keeping for years. This isn’t a decision I made lightly."
Isabella remained silent. She simply stared at the man with sharp but polite eyes. "Please continue, Mr. Demon. I want to hear everything before jumping to conclusions. I don’t like making decisions without complete and accurate information. And I expect you to be honest about all of this."
Demon took a deep breath, then looked down at the photo he pulled from the brown folder in his hand. "This may be hard to believe... but I am your biological father. I ca to XX City tonight for one reason only: to see you, and to bring you ho. To the family that has been searching for you for 22 years. The family that has never stopped hoping to find you. Every day we pray that you are safe out there."
Siva spontaneously glanced at Isabella in surprise, while Isabella herself maintained her stoic expression. "Biological father?" she murmured softly, almost to herself. "That’s a serious accusation, Mr. Demon. You realize the implications of that statent, right? This isn’t sothing to be taken lightly."
Demon opened the folder, revealing several old docunts, photos of Alegra’s extended family, and even a police report from a plane crash years ago. He began to tell his story in a low voice.
"Twenty-two years ago, our family’s private plane was attacked mid-air. We were forced to make an ergency landing in L—the only place nearby at the ti. The conditions were dire, the plane nearly destroyed. My wife was heavily pregnant. But after giving birth, the baby... you... was kidnapped by soone at the local hospital." His voice began to crack. "We lost you just like that. In an instant, my life turned into a nightmare. For years, we searched everywhere, but to no avail. Even with all the power and money at our disposal, we couldn’t find you. I hired the best detectives, contacted various sources, but to no avail."
Demon paused, took a sip of the tea in front of him, and then continued. "Until three months ago, one of my n at MGS Corporation happened to see you on television. At that ti, you were attending a charity event as a representative of the MGS Group. Your face... was strikingly similar to your late grandmother, Grandma Marta, in her youth. Even the way you smiled was exactly the sa. That’s when we began tracking you down. We gathered all the information about you with great care. We scrutinized every detail, every trace."
Isabella stared at the photos expressionlessly, though her heart trembled slightly. However, she knew for certain that she was not the child the man was looking for. ’I’m just Arlina, given a new identity by the Phoenix System,’ she thought to herself. She knew that all her docunts, her face, and even her current 22-year-old age were rely the product of that mysterious system’s manipulation.
Isabella finally looked at Demon with a serious look. "Mr. Demon, I appreciate your sincerity, but I think you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not your daughter. I’m absolutely certain of my identity. I know who I am and where I co from."
Demon stared at her deeply, then smiled faintly. "You can deny it, but let the facts speak for themselves. How about we do a DNA test to prove it? I don’t want any doubts at all. This is for both of our sakes. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize and won’t bother you again."
Isabella tapped her fingers on the table, thought for a mont, then replied, "Okay. I don’t mind. When should we do it? I’d rather have this done quickly. I don’t like waiting in uncertainty."
Demon seed relieved to hear this. "How about after dinner tonight? I’ve already arranged everything at the best hospital in XX City. I’ve contacted the best doctors to handle this privately. They will maintain complete confidentiality."
Siva, standing behind Isabella, wanted to whisper to her boss to refuse, but Isabella just smiled. "Okay. After dinner, we’ll go straight there. I don’t like leaving things hanging. It’s best if we finish this tonight. I still have a lot of things to take care of tomorrow."
That night, they enjoyed a Chinese al of roast duck, fish fin soup, and dim sum. As they ate, Demon continued to strike up small talk.
"So, what do you do now, Isabella? I hear you’re quite successful at your young age," Demon asked softly.
"I’m working on several projects with the Lulass Corporation, and also working with the Royal Scott Bakery, owned by the Alfred Scott family," Isabella replied calmly. "My life is quite simple. Not luxurious, but stable. I’m focused on building a sustainable business. I also have several stationery shops and a thriving café."
Demon nodded, his eyes soft. "You’re really like your mother. Cold on the outside, but warm on the inside. Even the way you speak reminds of her. She was also a very smart and independent businesswoman."
Isabella simply sipped her tea. "I don’t know if I should be flattered by the comparison. But thank you for the complint."
Demon’s assistant, Marco, looked at the two of them with a smile that held back emotion. He had never seen his master so calm before. It had been a long ti since he saw hope in his master’s eyes.
After dinner, they headed to the best hospital in XX City. The blood sampling process went quickly, and Isabella remained calm throughout.
"The results will be out tomorrow afternoon. We’ll contact you as soon as they’re ready," said the lab worker after receiving so extra money from Demon.
Demon nodded in satisfaction, while Isabella simply replied, "Okay. I’ll co by tomorrow afternoon to review the results. Please make sure there are no errors in the process. This is very important to both of us."
By the ti they left the hospital, it was late at night. Isabella bowed slightly, politely. "Thank you for the hospitality tonight, Mr. Demon. I hope everything will be clear tomorrow and there will be no more misunderstandings. Whatever the outco, I hope we can accept it with open hearts. Without any regrets later."
Demon smiled sadly. "If the results are correct, I hope you’ll welco the family who’s been waiting for you for decades, Isabella. We’ve never stopped looking for you. Not even for a day. Even in the worst of tis, we still hope."
"If it’s correct," Isabella replied flatly. "We’ll see. I don’t want to get my hopes up. I’ve been disappointed too many tis in my life."
She then turned and got into her car, followed by Siva. As the car drove off, Siva looked at his boss with a worried look.
"Miss Isabella... if the results are correct, will you go with her? I an, leave everything you’ve built here? All your efforts, all your hard work?"
Isabella was silent for a long ti, then answered softly, "Siva, I don’t know. But for now, I just want this to be over quickly. I don’t like uncertainty. I need clear answers."
anwhile, Demon stood in front of the hospital, staring up at the night sky. Marco approached slowly. "Sir, don’t be disappointed yet. The young lady is probably still in shock. Twenty-two years of living alone, then suddenly hearing she has a large family... it’s certainly not easy to accept. She needs ti to process all this. Maybe she’s afraid to hope."
Demon smiled bitterly. "That’s right, Marco. But I can see the look in my wife’s eyes. I’m sure she’s my daughter. I just need ti to prove it. Just one more night. One last night of this uncertainty."
Marco patted his master’s shoulder gently. "Tomorrow everything will be answered, Sir. I’m sure the outco will be as you hope. After all this ti, you will finally et your daughter."
The Demon stared into the distance, as if speaking to the past. "If my wife were still alive... she would surely cry with joy when she saw this. She always wished she could hold our daughter again. Until her last breath, she never stopped calling Bella’s na."
Elsewhere, in the Alesio Xander family mansion, the atmosphere was tense. After returning ho, Alesio imdiately installed CCTV caras in all the rooms and corridors. He no longer cared about privacy; all he cared about was his family’s safety.
Based on initial information Isabella had gathered, it appeared the Xander family had a long-standing connection to a mysterious organization called Rose Evil. Alesio tried to provoke his grandfather, Nikson Xander, with vague questions, but the old man always evaded him.
In his room, Nikson sat pensive, his eyes glazed over. "Does he know sothing?" he muttered anxiously. "No... that’s impossible. I’ve buried that past. It’s so deep. No one knows."
He closed his eyes, trying to push away the terrible mories of decades past. He believed that he alone should bear the burden. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren should not know anything about their family’s dark past.
anwhile, Alesio was in his study trying to delve deeper. But all access to information regarding Rose Evil stopped at one point: the na of Juan Murder, the forr head of security for the MGS Group, who had mysteriously disappeared.
He leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily. "Isabella... it seems I’ll have to wait for you to find the answer. You’re the only one who can help now. Only you."
He stared into the mirror in front of his desk, and imdiately straightened, shaking his head slowly with a bitter smile. "Damn... just saying his na makes my mind uneasy. What’s happening to ? Why can’t I stop thinking about her?"
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