Chapter 1796:

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He narrowed his eyes and muttered, mostly to himself, “If that’s true, then there’s no point pretending you can compete with a real princess through charm alone. You’ll need another way entirely.”

That night, he brought the two girls to a red-light district. If his original plan wasn’t going to open the right doors, he reasoned, then perhaps they needed a different kind of education — one that would teach them how to draw men in by other means. He was convinced that if they spent enough time in that environment, they would adapt and learn to use it.

Alexander sat back and smiled coldly to himself.

Hours passed.

Then he realized the girls were gone.

He found the doorman and demanded an explanation. The man scratched his head. “A fellow in a suit came by and left with them. Looked like the girls went willingly enough. No fuss at all.”

The words hit Alexander like a blow to the face.

His voice cracked as it rose. “Help! Someone has taken my daughters!”

The music from inside swallowed his cry whole.

𝘑o𝘪𝘯 t𝗁e с𝗈𝘮m𝘂ո𝗂𝘁у 𝖺𝘵 𝗀𝘢𝗅ո𝘰𝗏𝘦𝗹s.𝘤𝘰𝗺

He sank to the floor, his shoulders caving inward as he pressed his face into his hands. The tears came fast and without warning. Why had the world never given him a fair chance? Why did it keep turning its back on him, over and over again, no matter what he did?

At the gates of the orphanage, Cedric crouched down to the girls’ level.

“This will be your home from now on,” he said quietly. “Let go of what came before. Listen to your teachers. Work hard. Learn to stand on your own feet. And one day, become people this world can depend on.”

The two girls looked at him, wide-eyed and uncertain. Still holding each other’s hands, they spoke at the same time. “Thank you, sir.”

A small smile crossed Cedric’s face.

They turned to go inside. Then one of the girls spun back around and pointed at him. “I know you! You’re the man from television with the pretty twins!” And with that, she walked through the door.

Cedric straightened and turned to the caretaker. “Please look after them well.”

Then he walked away. The light in his eyes dimmed, quietly, with each step.

He drove through the dark until he reached a crumbling house on the edge of the city.

A figure stepped outside.

They stood apart, facing each other in silence.

Behind Cedric, the city glowed — towers of light stacked against the night sky. Behind Alexander, there was nothing but peeling paint, sagging beams, and the particular darkness of a life that had caved in on itself.

Their surroundings said everything that needed to be said.

Alexander narrowed his eyes. “Proud of yourself, Cedric? Your little victory won’t last.”

Cedric let out a short, dry laugh. He loosened his cuffs and rolled his fingers slowly.

Alexander flinched and stepped back, his voice cracking. “Wait. What are you going to do?”

“Take a guess,” Cedric said, his eyes fixed. “Worried I’m going to hit you?”

His gaze moved to the marks surgery had left on Alexander’s face. “I’m not here to hit you. I came to kill you.”

Alexander’s knees nearly gave out. His entire frame shook.

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