Olivia’s face twisted with fury. “You shameless brat! Search her! The seal must be on her!”
I laughed coldly. “Finally dropped the act, have you? That fake smile of yours made me nauseous.”
She snarled. “You little bitch. If you were half as obedient as your sister, I might’ve let you crawl at my feet like a dog. But you're wild—completely untrainable. Fine, I’ll send you to Romania. A few months there and you’ll learn your place.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“When I get that seal, Sigil of the Serpent will be mine. What’s left to be afraid of?”
“Madam! I found it!” A bodyguard came forward, holding up my half of the Sigil of the Serpent Seal.
Olivia’s eyes lit up with greed. She snatched it and gleefully joined it with the other half hanging from her neck.
“Finally!” she gasped. “Sigil of the Serpent is mine at last! The power across United States and Europe, the wealth, the influence—all mine!”
I gave a cold smirk. “You’re celebrating too early. All you’ve got is a token.”
She raised her chin. “The Sigil of the Serpent Seal controls over 8,000 branches. With it, I am the Grand Matron of the Serpent Order!”
“Someone like you? You’re not worthy.”
Her face darkened. “Still stubborn? Fine. Take her and Cathy away. Ship them both to Romania!”
I glanced at my watch. Perfect timing.
At that exact moment, the heavy oak doors burst open. A tactical unit in dark suits flooded into the manor—quick, ruthless, and expertly trained. In seconds, Olivia’s guards were disarmed and neutralized. The squad formed a tight perimeter around Catherine and me.
Olivia staggered backward, eyes wide in shock. “Who the hell are you?!”
One of the men stepped forward, his voice crisp and authoritative. “We’re the Sovereign Guard—direct protectors of the Aurelian Line.”
Olivia’s eyes lit up with false pride. “Perfect! I’m one of you—of the Aurelian Line!” She raised the completed seal. “Behold! The Sigil of the Serpent Seal! I am your new Grand Matron. Now follow my orders—seize Alice and Cathy!”
But the men didn’t move.
Olivia’s voice rose. “Are you deaf?! I have the seal!”
The lead guard ignored her and handed me an envelope. “Miss, we’ve brought what you requested.”
I took it and turned to Edmund. “Dad, take a look.”
He took the envelope hesitantly. Olivia rushed over, trying to peer inside. The moment he pulled out the documents, his face went pale.
