In the parlor, Albert stood straight, refusing to sit even after the maid invited him several tis. His n remained behind him, standing just as rigid as their boss.
Victor stood firmly at his left side.
Their heads turned at the sound of Rosalba’s footsteps as she descended the stairs.
Albert’s eyes darkened when they settled on her calm expression. Yet her face looked more lined than before, as if her body had been worn down by the imnse stress she’d endured since the last ti they t.
She smiled and greeted them. "Why don’t you sit down, Albert?"
Albert clenched his fist.
"I’m not here for a visit. I’m here to take your daughter with ."
"Pardon , Albert." Rosalba frowned, feigning confusion, as if she had misheard.
"Don’t pretend you know nothing about your daughter’s wrongdoing."
Rosalba released a quiet sigh. "What is this about? What has my daughter done wrong?"
The woman’s eyes narrowed. "Did you forget that I was the one who should have taken your daughter in law, the woman responsible for my son’s death? I spared her and let her go. So tell , what is the problem now?"
"Enough with the unreasonable excuses about my daughter in law. Your daughter is in serious trouble now. You’d be wiser to hand her over. Otherwise, I will find her myself, no matter what it takes," Albert said, his tone leaving no room for argunt.
"My daughter is in serious trouble?" Rosalba scoffed. "Then explain what cri she has committed. Don’t accuse my daughter without proof."
She smirked as she challenged him. This was why she preferred dealing with him. She knew how to handle Albert far better than she ever could handle his son.
Albert tilted his head toward his man.
At once, Victor stepped forward and placed a recorder near Rosalba. Voices filled the room as soon as he pressed play.
Three perpetrators could be heard begging for forgiveness, repeatedly naming Cala as the one who had hired them.
When the recording ended, Victor took the device and stepped back as Rosalba burst into laughter, utterly unshaken by the audio. "That’s it? Just a voice recording?"
She scoffed as she wiped at a tear that never ford at the corner of her eye. "Anyone can shout accusations. It proves nothing."
Albert also smirked, going along with her laughter. "Don’t worry. We have plenty of evidence."
Victor stepped forward and showed her a surveillance video from the airport.
Cala appeared on the screen. Though half her face was hidden behind dark sunglasses and her coat pulled up, her hair and height were unmistakable her.
The footage continued. The sa woman who had shoved Lyra into the car removed her sunglasses and unzipped her trench coat, fully revealing her face. It was Cala.
Rosalba’s face stiffened. She was about to say sothing, but her lips pressed together as she realized they had co fully prepared.
"Rosalba, I ca with a warrant. The police are outside, waiting. She’s also the mastermind behind other cris. Hand over your daughter, or you’ll be considered an accomplice."
Albert warned her, clearly no longer willing to play along with her act. He wanted to end this quickly and leave.
Rosalba smiled after regaining her composure. "I’m sorry but whatever may have happened, she isn’t here."
Albert frowned. "Still with the lie. We have a witness, and she said your daughter ca back here last night."
Hearing that, Rosalba’s face darkened. They had tried to find her the night before and found nothing. So what witness was claiming Cala had been here?
"I said she’s not here, and she’s not here. You’re free to search around my house if you want."
Albert wasted no ti and ordered his n to scour her house for Cala.
Rosalba bit her lip, her eyes restless as they followed the movent of people in her house. At this rate, she feared that what they said was true. She feared they would find her.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the garden at the back of the mansion.
She rose abruptly and strode toward the noise.
A maid cried out, "They found her, Madam. They found her. Please, beg them. Don’t take the young miss."
An elderly maid pleaded through tearful eyes. She had taken care of Cala since she was little and loved her dearly.
It was she who had hidden Cala in the servants’ quarters behind the mansion since the night before.
Rosalba felt heart shattered the mont she saw her daughter being dragged into the parlor.
"Don’t touch her!" Rosalba cried in fury as she rushed to Cala’s side. She shoved the n who were gripping Cala’s arms, then pulled her into an embrace, shielding her with her own body.
The n stepped back, and Rosalba released the embrace. She cupped her daughter’s face, regret and guilt written all over her own. She was the one who had started all of this.
"I’ll ask Dante to help you. I promise," Rosalba said, gazing into Cala’s eyes.
But Cala shook her head.
"No, no. I don’t want to go back to Dante. He’ll punish brutally," Cala said.
She leaned closer to her mother’s ear and whispered, "...I’d rather be caught by Pierce than fall into Volkhan’s hands."
Cala realized that no matter where she hid, they would eventually find her. It was better to surrender than to fall into Volkhan’s cruel hands.
She cupped her mother’s face.
"Don’t worry about . Just live out the rest of your life in peace. You’re old. You shouldn’t have to carry this burden anymore."
She forced a smile.
The police moved in and handcuffed Cala. She followed them out through the mansion doors, not daring to turn back and look at her mother.
Rosalba ran forward and collapsed at Albert’s feet, dropping to her knees as she begged.
"My daughter is pregnant. Please, I’m begging you. Let her go."
He stepped back, avoiding her hands, but Rosalba moved again, clutching at his shoes.
Albert frowned.
"I’m not the one making this decision. Besides, your daughter has gone too far. My daughter in law is safe for now, but she still lay unconscious, fighting the drugs in her system."
He turned away and walked to his car, where Victor waited for him at the open door.
Rosalba called out to Albert desperately, trying to make him stop so she could beg more, but he ignored her, leaving her on the floor, helplessly wailing as the car drove off.
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