Whenever that other woman suggested that they be honest and be together openly, he had refused, maintaining the façade of a pure and disciplined man.
"I hate to be this hypocrite... I can’t deceive my fiancé for you," he had claid.
The truth, however, was uglier.
It was eventually uncovered that he had been deeply jealous of Maria’s success.
She was on the verge of receiving admission into one of the most prestigious international schools, while he stagnated in his own diocrity.
His jealousy rotted into resentnt, and from there, into cruelty.
He had never hesitated to destroy her life if it ant preserving his fragile pride.
Now, exposed and disgraced, he was consud by regret.
"I want to et Maria," he pleaded.
When Maria learned the truth, her heart ached as though it were being torn open again. Yet after nights of reflection, she made a choice.
’If I keep holding onto this,’ she thought, ’I’ll never move forward.’
And if she couldn’t move forward, how could she ever repay those who had saved her when she was drowning?
That realization changed everything.
She abandoned the path of despair she had once walked so close to and chose a new future.
She applied to an international school, her resolve firm.
"This ti," she whispered to herself, "I won’t waver."
She decided to beco a lawyer.
Not just any lawyer, but one who would be respected. One who could bring justice to those who had none... just as justice had once been brought to her.
And when she succeeded, she wouldn’t charge those who were truly in need.
As that thought settled in her heart, another notification arrived.
Soone had opened a charity under her na.
Along with it ca a lump sum transfer... five hundred thousand dollars.
Maria stared at the screen, stunned.
With the remaining five hundred thousand from before, she now had nearly one million dollars again.
With inflation, it wasn’t a fortune. Perhaps it was only enough to sustain her for a year in a foreign country.
But she smiled softly.
’As long as I work hard,’ she thought, ’I can double this money... and one day, I’ll return it.’
That thought filled her with renewed determination.
What Lana didn’t know was that her single act of kindness had quietly created a future legend.
Only years later, when their paths crossed again, would she realize that the woman she had helped in passing would beco a brilliant star.
anwhile, Lana and Monica remained hidden outside Garin’s house.
"Today," Monica murmured, "he’ll definitely make a move."
Sure enough, Garin began cautiously. Guards swept the surrounding area, scanning every corner.
But Lana had already prepared an interdiate invisibility talisman... one of the most complex talismans she had mastered just that morning.
She hadn’t slept for an entire day to perfect it.
Even though she had only managed to create five in total, it was more than enough.
Both Lana and Monica activated the talismans, vanishing completely from sight.
After confirming there was no threat, the guards signaled to one another and relaxed.
Then the children were brought out, one by one, loaded into a truck.
Monica’s eyes widened.
Even though she had believed Lana almost entirely, the sight still shocked her.
’How heartless can he be?’ she thought. ’How could he do this to his own child?’
She took a deep breath and waited for the truck to move before issuing commands through her controller.
anwhile, Lana narrowed her eyes, morizing the vehicle’s number. Her lips moved silently as she repeated it.
Monica noticed and turned toward her.
"What is it?"
Lana shook her head lightly.
"Nothing."
After a pause, she added, "Can you monitor the car from here?"
"We can," Monica replied.
Soon, they reached a van parked a short distance away. Once inside, they began tracking the truck.
Half an hour later, the vehicle reached an intersection and turned left.
Lana’s eyes sharpened instantly.
"That’s not the sa car."
Monica frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"The original plate was 258436," Lana replied quietly. "This one ends in 38."
Monica leaned forward, her pupils shrinking as she confird it.
Her heart sank.
’Did we lose it... or did Lana rember wrong?’
Lana shook her head firmly as if sensing her thought.
"I didn’t make a mistake."
"If Garin had been clever enough to hide the children, clever enough to kidnap even his own flesh and blood and place them sowhere nearly unreachable, then he would certainly be clever enough to switch vehicles as a precaution."
’Then what should we do now?’ Monica wondered.
Before the question could fully form, clarity struck her.
Her eyes sharpened, and she imdiately issued a new set of commands through the communicator.
Lana released a quiet sigh of relief.
’At least she’s not like those people who freeze and demand answers for everything,’ Lana thought. ’She can make decisions on her own.’
With Monica taking charge, Lana allowed herself to relax, if only a little.
After relaying the instructions, Monica kept her gaze locked on the monitors.
Soon enough, the original vehicle appeared back on their screens.
"There," Monica muttered. "That’s the original car."
Without hesitation, she spoke into the communicator.
"Circle it. Close the net. Don’t give it any room to escape."
Her worry was evident. If the driver switched vehicles again, they could lose precious ti. By then, no one knew how far the children would be taken.
Lana nodded faintly.
’This is the right call,’ she thought.
Monica’s subordinates moved swiftly. Vehicles converged, tightening their formation around the target.
Inside the car, the driver felt the pressure instantly.
’They’ve found ,’ he realized, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.
He had already received his master’s orders. If capture was inevitable, there was only one way out.
Crash the car. Kill the children. Leave no witnesses.
As long as the children were dead and he followed them, no one would ever uncover the truth.
He was ready to die.
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