Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Adopted Daughter’s True Identity

Caleb’s POV

Father was in a bad mood today.

I could tell the moment I entered his study—he’d lit his cigar in a hurry, not even bothering to flick the ash. It had fallen on the front of his custom-tailored suit, like an ugly scar.

“Close the door.” He didn’t look up. His fingers swiped rapidly across his tablet, which displayed a brief on the Hale Group’s latest acquisition.

I did as he said, closing the door and stopping three paces from his desk—a distance drilled into me since childhood: close enough to show respect, yet far enough to avoid offense.

“Penelope’s mother just called.” He finally looked up, his gaze sharp. “She wants Lila to attend the engagement party. In her words, ’to let that adopted daughter witness it firsthand, lest she entertain any wishful thinking.’”

I frowned. “She’s Mrs. Hale now. She might not be willing to play along with this sort of performance.”

“She has to be.” Father’s tone was ironclad. “You arrange it. Just say… your mother misses her and wants her to come home for dinner.”

That last part made me relax slightly. Mother did often talk about Lila. Just last week, she had someone send Lila’s favorite almond cookies to her school. She didn’t know Lila had already moved into Moon Hidden Villa, thinking she was just ’temporarily staying with a friend.’ In her eyes, Lila would always be that timid little girl who’d lost her parents at ten, standing nervously in our entryway.

“I’ll contact her,” I said.

“It’s not just about dinner.” Father leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Things have been going too smoothly for her with the Hale family lately. Her internship is going well, her social circle is clean, and even Penelope can’t get close to her. That’s not right.”

I nodded. Lila was supposed to be a timid little wallflower—an abandoned adopted daughter, a contract marriage, an awkward identity. But now, she had actually found her footing in the Hale family and was even starting to participate in the old city renovation project. It made me faintly uneasy.

“You have two tasks.” Father held up two fingers. “First, ensure that next Wednesday’s engagement party goes off without a hitch and that Penelope is satisfied. Second, maintain contact with Lila. The Goodrich home is always her home—don’t let her leave our surveillance.”

“Understood,” I answered crisply. ’He means: don’t let her start thinking she’s really the queen of the Hale family.’

He leaned back in his chair and suddenly muttered, as if to himself, “…it’s so damn strange. That Derek Hale fellow actually said the Great Elder recognized some ’Destined Aura’ on her, and something about a ’Moon Crown Ceremony’…”

He stopped abruptly mid-sentence, his gaze sweeping over me warily.

I pretended I hadn’t heard the unfamiliar name. ’Derek Hale? Who’s that? Some information broker? Or one of Father’s business informants?’

But the words “Great Elder” and “Destined Aura” still struck a chord in my mind.

’The Hale family has a Great Elder?’

’Lila was recognized as having some special status?’

I kept my expression neutral and tilted my head slightly. “What was that, Father?”

He waved a hand, his tone back to normal. “Nothing. I’m getting old, just muttering to myself. Go on, get to it.”

I turned and left, but I committed that name to memory: Derek Hale.

’I’ll have my assistant look into him as soon as I get back. Anyone with access to the Hale family’s internal affairs is no simple character.’

Once I was out of the main building, I immediately called my assistant. “Look into someone for me. Derek Hale. His background, whereabouts, recent contacts—especially his status and history within the Hale family. Compile everything.”

“The Hale family?” my assistant asked, confused. “Is that…”

“Just do it,” I cut him off. “Also, send an invitation to Lila in Mother’s name: come home for dinner Saturday night. Say she isn’t feeling well and misses Lila terribly.”

“Yes, sir.”

After hanging up, I walked to the garage.

Penelope had just sent a message saying her wedding dress alterations were done and that I should go over in the afternoon to try on my suit with it.

I replied with an “Okay” and casually opened Lila’s social media account. She rarely posted, but this morning she had shared a photo of an architectural model with the caption: “Community library, rounded-corner safety test for the children’s area passed!”

Zoe had left a comment below: “My dad says you’re amazing! I’ll make sure you get an extra dish tonight!”

I stared at the comment for three seconds before closing the page.

’Jasper Hale actually cares what she eats?’

’Absurd.’

’But what’s even more absurd is that I actually care.’

Shaking off the thought, I started the car.

’Lila’s life is going too smoothly right now. So smoothly that she’s close to forgetting how timidly she used to trail behind me, and how she begged when she confessed her feelings to me!’

She needs a little reminder.

A reminder that Goodrich is her only real refuge;

that a contract marriage will eventually come to an end;

and that the Tear of the Moon God she wears around her neck might have to be taken off and returned one day.

And sure enough, she came on Saturday night.

She wore a simple beige knit dress, her hair loosely pinned up, and she looked more relaxed than she did at school. The moment Mother saw her, her eyes reddened. She took Lila’s hand and said, “You’ve gotten thinner. Are the people at the Hale family not treating you well?”

Lila smiled and shook her head. “They’re wonderful. Please don’t worry, Uncle, Aunt.”

—She still called them “Uncle” and “Aunt” out of habit, which put me slightly at ease. At least she hadn’t completely severed her emotional ties to the Goodrich family.

During dinner, Mother kept putting more food on her plate, asking if her internship was tiring and if she wanted to move back in. Lila answered each question gently, saying the Hale family was taking good care of her and that Zoe often kept her company.

“That’s good, then.” Mother sighed. “I just worry you’ll be mistreated out there. If you run into any trouble, you must tell us. Especially Caleb—you two have always been so close, growing up together.”

Lila glanced at me, her expression calm. “I know, Aunt.”

I looked down and cut my steak, not saying a word.

The calmer she was, the more dangerous I found her. She wasn’t having an emotional outburst or crying; she was calmly severing her past. She didn’t even seem like the Lila I knew anymore.

After dinner, Mother went to the kitchen to get dessert, leaving the two of us alone in the living room.

“Are you really safe at the Hale residence?” I asked bluntly.

She raised an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”

“I’ve heard that some of the old-timers are very unhappy with Jasper,” I said. “Not to mention you, his fragile new wife.”

She watched me quietly, then suddenly smiled. “Brother, if you’re so worried about me, aren’t you afraid Penelope will get jealous?”

I was momentarily speechless.

“I’m just reminding you,” I finally said. “The Goodrich home will always be your home. Don’t let a moment of peace make you forget who truly loves you.”

She didn’t answer, merely looking down to smooth her dress.

In that moment, I suddenly realized—she didn’t need my reminders anymore.

She had found her sense of belonging with the Hale family, and I had become the one trying to pull her back into her old cage.

Mother came out with a lemon tart, and the atmosphere instantly warmed. Lila ate happily, saying it tasted exactly the same as when she was a child.

As she was leaving, Mother held her hand. “If you ever want some, just come back anytime.”

Lila said softly, “Thank you, Mom.”

—She called her “Mom.”

Not “Aunt,” but “Mom.”

For some reason, my heart tightened.

I walked her to the door and watched her get into a white Mercedes, its headlights cutting through the night.

I stood on the steps until its taillights disappeared around the corner.

Back in my room, a message from my assistant popped up:

Derek Hale: Former Guard Captain of the Hale family. Failed in a coup attempt three years ago and defected to the Northern Wilderness. No recent public activity, but intelligence suggests he has been in secret contact with multiple factions, including… the Goodrich Group.

I stared at the last line for a long time without moving.

’Father… what exactly is he plotting?’

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