Chapter 369: Be a good daughter.

Ava’s patience snapped a few seconds later and she turned to the others. "Spread out, try to find Leif. Maybe he is somewhere here, trying to eat a human."

She didn’t mean it literally, but they all got the message. A twenty-minute search proved useless, and the maidens returned, one by one.

Kirsten trotted back from a vendor carrying cups of fresh juice that she handed out to some. She took a sip, sat down, and nudged Ava. "Hey, did you guys hear the rumors? They’re saying a ’True Divine Maiden’ appeared in the wild lands!"

Yuda rolled her eyes so hard they almost got stuck. "I heard about that too. It’s nonsense."

Ava nodded, taking a sip of juice. "Tyrese told me about it too. Our goal is to eradicate that kind of nonsense once and for all. That so-called ’True Divine Maiden’ will end up being just as fake and power-hungry as Trinity. The entire position of Divine Maiden needs to be scrapped."

"Amen to that," Yuda agreed. Her gaze drifted toward the high VIP booth, where a smiling Trinity sat safely perched behind thick bulletproof glass, looking like an untouchable goddess.

******

Meanwhile, over at the Kaelion estate, Sabrina was staring at Trinity’s smiling face on the big lounge screen, her expression dripping with pure disgust.

Things had gone downhill fast recently. Sabrina had been placed under strict house arrest as she was under investigation. The few loyal officers she had left in the police had whispered to her that there wasn’t even a proper investigation going on.

All the high-ups said was one word: Confidential. Her connections were ignoring her, in fact they had cut her off completely. Everyone looked at her as a monster and yet she was innocent.

Sabrina was living in total misery. The only single piece of good news in her life right now was that Lita was pregnant. The news had brought light into their dark lives especially Elliot, he was suddenly nicer and more responsible.

She glanced over at Lita, who was fidgeting in her chair. "Why are you squirming around like you’ve got ants in your dress?"

Lita forced a weak smile. "Just_ morning sickness, Mother."

Sabrina scoffed, rolling her wrists. "Ah, don’t get me started. I had it quite easy with Elliot and Andrea but Hunter! Let me tell you about that pregnancy_ it was awful! Carrying Hunter was the absolute roughest nightmare of my life. I hated every single second of it! If my life was not under threat, I would have terminated it. Horas threatened to divorce if I left."

Lita silently rolled her eyes behind Sabrina’s back. She wasn’t restless because of morning sickness at all. She was panicking because Jimmy was alive! He was currently lying in a deep coma, but he was breathing! She could have ended him already if not for her controlling husband who had ordered her to stay inside the house 24/7. He had promised that whatever she wanted would be brought right to her feet.

She was stuck in a terrible pickle and had no idea how to slip out to check on Jimmy.

The old butler stepped into the living room and bowed respectfully. "Madam, Mr. Samuel Frood has arrived."

Sabrina’s face twisted into an expression of utter disgust, like she had just smelled rotten eggs. "Ugh! I am in zero mood to entertain that man today!" She waved her hand dismissively at Lita. "Take your father out to the flower gardens and host him there. Don’t let him ruin my house and taint your pregnancy with his bad luck."

Lita reluctantly stood up, smoothed her dress, and followed the butler out toward the gardens, her mind racing with a million worries.

She met her father right by the grand foyer. Samuel was dressed head-to-toe in black_ a dramatic sign to the world that he was still bitterly mourning his late wife.

"I shall have the servants bring tea and light refreshments to the gardens for you both," the old butler said, bowing politely.

"Thank you," Samuel said with a smooth, sorrowful smile.

"No, thank you," Lita cut in immediately, waving her hand. "My father won’t be staying long enough to drink tea."

Samuel’s sorrowful face melted away instantly, replaced by a dark frown. He tilted his head at her.

Lita crossed her arms and glared at him. "If you came all the way here to beg for money, save your breath. I have zero stones to give you."

Samuel let out a dramatic sigh, adjusting his black cuffs. "A daughter shouldn’t be so cold to her father. The least you could have done was reach out and offer your poor father some condolences after Teddy’s unfortunate death."

Lita chuckled bitterly. "Offer condolences? Why would I do that? Teddy was no one to me."

Samuel glanced left and right, making sure the butler had walked out of earshot, and no sneaky guards were lurking near the pillars. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to an icy whisper. "You should show a little remorse, my dear. After all, Teddy died because she found out your little secret about the baby."

Lita froze, even her breath hitched in her throat. A cold chill ran straight down her spine. She stared at her father, her stomach dropping into a bottomless pit. There is no way. How could he possibly know the baby isn’t my husband’s!?

Driven by sheer panic, she grabbed Samuel by the hand and dragged him deeper into the gardens. "What are you talking about?!" she demanded, her voice shaking as soon as they were alone.

Samuel casually sat down on a smooth stone bench, crossing his legs like a king relaxing in his court. A triumphant grin spread across his face. "Judging by how hard your hands are shaking, Teddy was was right."

Lita began pacing back and forth on the stone tiles like a trapped animal, frantically fidgeting with her fingers. Her mind was in total chaos. She whirled around to face him. "You killed her, didn’t you?"

Samuel gave a calm, effortless nod. "Of course. Just like I was originally planning to eliminate your birth father."

Lita gasped, her face draining of all color.

"Oh, don’t worry about that useless investigator you hired, by the way," Samuel added casually, flicking a speck of dust off his knee. "The man is dead and buried. As for your precious little lover, Jimmy? I had my men scoop him right up from the hospital and hide him in a very secure place."

Lita’s eyes went wide. "Jimmy_"

"He is still in a coma," Samuel smiled, his eyes glinting with pure, sinister mischief. "I’m keeping him safe, as a little insurance policy. Just to make sure I have you on a very tight leash. From now on, my dear daughter_ you are going to be a good daughter. An obedient one. Because, if you are not, I will ruin you."

Lita stared at him in horror, her knees trembling so hard she could barely stand. She was coming to learn, that Samuel was one hundred times eviler than she imagined. If he could kill his pregnant wife, what about a bastard daughter?

She swallowed the lump of absolute terror in her throat and began nodding her head vehemently, terrified to even blink wrong. "Okay_ okay! I will be obedient."