+25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My\u00a0mother\u00a0walked over\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0dresser\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0far\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0rummaged\u00a0through\u00a0an\u00a0old\u00a0antique\u00a0box\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0had\u00a0gifted\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0anniversaries\u00a0years\u00a0ago.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0she\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0golden\u00a0necklace\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0rare\u00a0pink\u00a0diamond\u00a0encased\u00a0in\u00a0white\u00a0diamonds.\u00a0Next\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0pendant\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0golden\u00a0key.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u00a0it\u00a0is,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0walking\u00a0over\u00a0to\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0drawers\u00a0and\u00a0pulling\u00a0it\u00a0open.\u00a0I\u00a0waited\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0distance\u00a0with\u00a0Judy\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0white\u00a0box\u00a0with\u00a0engravings\u00a0on\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0seen\u00a0that\u00a0box\u00a0before,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0it\u00a0meant\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0she\u00a0handled\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0placed\u00a0the\u00a0box\u00a0down\u00a0on the\u00a0dresser\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0the\u00a0key\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0gem\u00a0is\u00a0right\u00a0in\u00a0here,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0from\u00a0over\u00a0her\u00a0shoulder.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0take\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0unless\u00a0necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stepped\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0peering\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0box\u00a0from\u00a0over\u00a0her\u00a0shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0demanded\u00a0it,\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0too\u00a0gruffly.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0frowned\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0still\u00a0your\u00a0mother,\u201d\u00a0she said\u00a0hotly.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0speak\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath;\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0on\u00a0edge\u00a0after\u00a0she\u00a0hurt\u00a0my\u00a0mate;\u00a0kindness\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0a\u00a0thing\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0show\u00a0her\u00a0right\u00a0now,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0right.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0my\u00a0mother,\u00a0and\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0do what\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0watch\u00a0my\u00a0tone\u00a0with\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI apologize,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0lowering\u00a0my\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0important.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0longer\u00a0before\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0flickered\u00a0to\u00a0Judy.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0growl\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0dismissive\u00a0way\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0mate,\u00a0but\u00a0then,\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0surprise,\u00a0her\u00a0gaze\u00a0softened,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0sighed,\u00a0almost\u00a0defeatedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery\u00a0well,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0breathed,\u00a0turning\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0box.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0turned\u00a0the\u00a0key,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0it\u00a0click\u00a0unlock.\u00a0She\u00a0brushed\u00a0her\u00a0fingers\u00a0along\u00a0the\u00a0seams\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0open\u00a0and\u00a0pressed\u00a0a\u00a0button,\u00a0allowing\u00a0the\u00a0top\u00a0to\u00a0open.\u00a0Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0drifted\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0box,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0her\u00a0entire\u00a0body\u00a0froze.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0I\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0her,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0the\u00a0color\u00a0draining\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0face,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0confused\u00a0look\u00a0turned\u00a0into\u00a0utter\u00a0shock\u00a0and\u00a0horror.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0stepping\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0peer\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0box.\u00a0Her\u00a0hands\u00a0trembled,\u00a0and\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0knew\u00a0\u2026\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0a\u00a0word\u00a0about\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0gone,\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0feared\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0knew\u00a0the\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered\u00a0hoarsely.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0taken\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0box.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0here.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0here\u00a0since\u00a0passed\u00a0away\u2026\u00a0how\u00a0could\u00a0it\u00a0just\u00a0disappear?\u201d<\/p>\n
your<\/p>\n
father<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u00a0the\u00a0Moon\u00a0Gem\u00a0is\u00a0missing?\u201d\u00a0Judy\u00a0asked,\u00a0a\u00a0nervousness\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0fone\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0kept\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0glued\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u2019s\u00a0pale\u00a0face;\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0the\u00a0gem\u00a0had\u00a0gone\u00a0missing.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0learning\u00a0about\u00a0this\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time\u00a0were\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0frustrating\u00a0because\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0really\u00a0nobody\u00a0to\u00a0blame\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand\u00a0how\u00a0it\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0possible,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered,\u00a0staring\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0us.\u00a0\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time\u00a0you\u00a0saw\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0sure\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0opened\u00a0this\u00a0box\u00a0in\u00a0years.\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0open\u00a0it.\u00a0The\u00a0gem\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0work\u00a0for\u00a0me.\u00a0It\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0an\u00a0Alpha\u00a0born\u00a0from\u00a0your\u00a0bloodline,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0explained.\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0no\u00a0reason\u00a0it\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0missing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0anybody\u00a0else\u00a0know\u00a0about\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cSomebody\u00a0you\u00a0told?\u00a0Or\u00a0somebody\u00a0who\u00a0found\u00a0out?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0grew\u00a0wary;\u00a0she\u00a0traced\u00a0the\u00a0necklace\u00a0pendant,\u00a0her\u00a0mind\u00a0clearly\u00a0elsewhere.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stepped\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0her,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0her\u00a0attention.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0685<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0blinked\u00a0and\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered.\u00a0\u201cOnly\u00a0one\u2026\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0see\u00a0why\u00a0she\u00a0would\u00a0take\u00a0it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u00a0is\u00a0it,\u00a0Mom?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her,\u00a0an\u00a0urgency\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0helped\u00a0me\u00a0remove\u00a0this\u00a0necklace\u00a0from\u00a0around\u00a0my\u00a0neck\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0gifted\u00a0me\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0necklace\u00a0for\u00a0last week\u2019s\u00a0event\u2026\u201d\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0murmured,\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0own thoughts,\u00a0\u201cShe\u00a0wouldn\u2019t,\u00a0though\u2026\u00a0would\u00a0she?\u201d\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0forgotten I\u00a0was\u00a0standing\u00a0right\u00a0there.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0put\u00a0my\u00a0hands\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u2019s\u00a0shoulders\u00a0to\u00a0jostle\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u00a0who\u00a0did\u00a0you\u00a0tell?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her\u00a0firmly\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0louder.\u00a0\u201cWho\u00a0gave\u00a0you\u00a0that\u00a0necklace?\u00a0Who\u00a0else\u00a0knew\u00a0about\u00a0this\u00a0gem?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0finally\u00a0met\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0sobering\u00a0slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaisy\u00a0Baldwin\u2026\u201d\u00a0(1<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 685 +25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0 \u00a0 My\u00a0mother\u00a0walked over\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0dresser\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0far\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0rummaged\u00a0through\u00a0an\u00a0old\u00a0antique\u00a0box\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0had\u00a0gifted\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0anniversaries\u00a0years\u00a0ago. After\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0she\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0golden\u00a0necklace\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0rare\u00a0pink\u00a0diamond\u00a0encased\u00a0in\u00a0white\u00a0diamonds.\u00a0Next\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0pendant\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0golden\u00a0key. \u201cThere\u00a0it\u00a0is,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0walking\u00a0over\u00a0to\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0drawers\u00a0and\u00a0pulling\u00a0it\u00a0open.\u00a0I\u00a0waited\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0distance\u00a0with\u00a0Judy\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0white\u00a0box\u00a0with\u00a0engravings\u00a0on\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0seen\u00a0that\u00a0box\u00a0before,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0it\u00a0meant\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0she\u00a0handled\u00a0it. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21754\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}