Claimed By My Husband's Enemy novel Chapter 193

Chapter 193

(Ari)

:

96

55 vouchers

My phone rang. It was the same number from earlier. It was from the woman who dialed a random number to tell me about her daughter. I slid out of the limousine and pressed the answer button.

“Hi,” the woman on the other line greeted softly. “It’s me again.”

Her voice didn’t sound as sad as before. I had a feeling that she would call again but I didn’t expect that it would be this soon.

“Hello,” I rasped.

Creed held my free hand. I still wasn’t sure when I’d get to call him the way he wanted me to. The term ‘Dad’ still sounded foreign to me when it came to him. The people inside paused altogether upon the arrival of the limousine. As soon as they saw Creed Black, the wolves lowered their heads, the dragons nodded in acknowledgement, and the mages slightly bent their bodies.

When their gazes landed on me, curiosity and shock crossed their faces.

I hadn’t dropped my façade yet. I wasn’t confident to do it yet. It must have been weird seeing the lord they adored and respected holding a man’s hand while his wolf planted himself on my other side, wagging its tail at me. Creed didn’t seem to notice other people.

He put his jacket over my shoulders. His eyes were only on me as he said, “Welcome back, sweetheart.”

I thought the dragon castle would feel strange, but my wolf was already comfortable in it, inside the place that looked like it was owned by people who bathed in golden water. When Creed urged me to come home, he used a portal to bring me into the dragon realm. It was colder here since this castle was surrounded by the

mountains.

Tomorrow, if the heavens would permit me, if I hadn’t woken up from this dream yet, I’d roam around the massive lawn. I’d explore the maze garden. I’d also shift and run around the flowers. Creed led me inside while my chest was pounding as I gripped the phone.

“I called to thank you,” the woman said, her voice cutting through my wandering thoughts.

“For what?”

“For whispering to the universe on my behalf.”

“You found her,” I confirmed with a smile on my face.

“I did. And I am going to see her again very soon.”

The guards opened the double doors. All the high-ranking officials were gathered here tonight because even if the dragon queen refused to have a party, the lords of her council, particularly her uncles, still prepared this for her birthday. They claimed it was a symbol of hope for the queen and for the realms.

We crossed the long hallway before we stopped in front of another set of double doors where Aidan was

9:41 Thu, Apr 30

Chapter 193

,()

65 vouchers

standing and waiting for me, looking so regal in his dark suit. He lowered his head and greeted me with a gentle smile.

“Welcome home, princess.”

I thought I was done with the tears, but they still spilled. His voice echoed in my mind.

‘I promised you would come home tonight, didn’t I?’

And he delivered that promise. What he sent Creed became the most valuable thing needed to bring me back home. He told me on the way that Aidan kneeled outside the castle premises for hours for this.

‘Thank you,’ I mouthed.

‘Anything for you,’ Aidan responded before he personally opened the double doors for us. ‘I hope that from this day onwards, you will only be crying happy tears, Mari.

“Did you know that I also whispered to the wind for you?” The woman on the phone added, her voice cracking. “You said your wishes are not heard often and so I whispered on your behalf, hoping it will be different this time.”

“What did you wish for?”

“For our paths to cross.”

I swallowed.

“And for you to find your way home, Mari.”

Up there, in the grand staircase, I saw a very beautiful woman holding a phone in her long, lavender gown. I felt her before I saw her. Our gazes met. Her eyes lit up brighter than the dazzling lights from the chandeliers that were scattered all around us. She dropped her phone.

Who would have thought that the woman I talked to this morning was the dragon queen herself? The same woman who had given birth to me? And the mother that I’d always been curious about?

Surprising her guests, she broke into tears as she hurried to my direction. And when she pulled me in her embrace, my soul wept. Before I knew it, I dropped my façade. Maybe because a big part of me was now convinced that I was finally safe. My… father wrapped his embrace around me and around my… mother. So this was what it meant to have parents. To have a family.

My broken pieces found their home.

I closed my eyes to relish their warmth. I’d been so cold for years.

For the first time in a really long time, my heart, my mind, and my soul were able to rest.

(Eli)

I had always wondered why even if we did all the necessary spells, I still failed to see the colors. I could still not retrieve my eyesight properly. I questioned the gods and goddesses numerous times. There were nights

9:41 Thu, Apr 30

Chapter 193

96

when I even blamed them. If I were able to see better, I could have done better. I could have used my mana to help search my child.

Tonight, it all made sense.

In the sea of black and white, I saw her clearly. She stood out. Because she was the only thing with colors.

My baby.

Silver hair, purple eyes, and rosy lips. Navy-blue shirt, dark jeans, and brown boots. Aidan had told me everything I needed to know. I would have gone to the academy myself had it not been for the sudden explosions in different parts of the dragon realm. I could not bring her here when there were still threats that I had to take care of. I could not lose my daughter the second time.

Zane personally led the soldiers to handle the situation while my husband vowed to send our daughter home. My mom and uncles had also used their mana and escorted Creed and Mari to ensure that tonight, she would be able to return safely.

I stroke her cheeks with my trembling hands. I could not believe that after so long, she was back in my arms. She was gorgeous, silver hair and all that. She had the most amazing pair of eyes I had ever seen.

Despite the hundreds of guests watching, I sobbed.

For the seventeen years we lost.

For the seventeen years we could have had together.

For the tears, pain, and heartbreaks we went through in different places, especially for the things someone as young as her had to go through by herself. As soon as the truth was exposed, everyone who was involved in killing the light in my daughter’s eyes would suffer.

By my hands.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “Oh, God. Can you ever forgive us, Mari?”

She didn’t speak. But the tears in her eyes did the talking for her.

“I miss you so much, baby. I love you. You’ve been through a lot. But you are now safe. We will take better care of you. We will keep you safe from now on.”

She sniffled. “Say it again please. Say you love me. Please assure me that everything is going to be fine.”

“I love you.” I pressed my forehead against hers. “Everything is going to be fine from now on. Welcome home, princess. Thank you for granting my birthday wish.”

While Creed whispered the same words of assurance, I looked around, searching for a particular face in the crowd. I saw Lizbeth and our friends wiping their tears away, especially Silver who stared at Mari with delight and utter surprise in her eyes while Aidan stood in one corner, the young man who abandoned his pride and kneeled regardless of the people watching outside.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify