CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 95.

Adrian froze, his fork pausing mid-air as the words sank in. His mind raced, trying to process what Cain had just revealed. Jesper, noticing Adrian’s reaction, quickly placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, his silver eyes filled with concern.

"Adrian, sweetheart, I know this might be a lot to take in, but..." Jesper began softly, but Adrian shook his head, his voice barely a whisper.

"What do you mean... my uncle Jael kidnapped Ethan?" His gaze shifted between Cain and Jesper, searching for clarity, for something to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions now coursing through him.

Cain, ever the stoic and composed patriarch, folded his hands on the table and met Adrian’s confused gaze. "It happened long before we found you, Adrian. Jael was once a brilliant mind in our family, deeply involved in experimental research. But somewhere along the way, his ambitions turned dark. He believed that the boundaries of ethics and morality were mere obstacles to true progress."

Yuin, who had been standing quietly near the staircase, stepped closer, his usually warm demeanor tinged with unease. "Jael believed he could manipulate life itself, Adrian. His experiments were dangerous, unethical... and illegal. When Ethan got involved—by chance or design—it escalated the entire situation."

Adrian’s heart clenched. "Ethan? How did Ethan get involved? And Yuin, you too?" His voice rose slightly, a mix of fear and anger bubbling up.

Yuin sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from Adrian. He rested his chin on his clasped hands. "It’s complicated. At the time, I was young, rebellious, and fascinated by Jael’s work. He had this... charisma. He made it seem like he was doing something revolutionary for humanity. But I realized too late that his so-called advancements were crossing lines no one should ever cross."

Jesper interjected, his tone more tender as he glanced between his two sons. "Jael used his connection to Yuin to get close to Ethan. Your uncle believed that Ethan’s background—his rare bloodline and certain genetic markers—could be the key to unlocking something he was working on."

Adrian’s breath hitched. "My husband... was a part of Jael’s experiments?" His voice broke on the last word, and he covered his mouth, his mind flashing to Ethan lying unconscious and fragile. "Did Ethan know? Did he consent?"

Cain shook his head grimly. "No, he didn’t. Ethan was taken against his will, just like Yuin. By the time we realized what was happening, it was almost too late."

Adrian’s hands clenched into fists. "And Jael? Where is he now? Is he... is he still out there?"

Cain’s expression hardened. "No. Jael was arrested and stripped of his title within the Sebanil family. His name is no longer spoken here. Officially, he is serving a life sentence under the watch of a high-security facility. Unofficially..." Cain’s voice trailed off, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I made sure he will never see the light of day again."

Adrian’s mind swirled with questions, but one in particular lingered. "If Jael was working on something so dangerous, what happened to his research? Is it still out there?"

Jesper hesitated, looking toward Cain for permission to answer. Cain sighed heavily, his expression guarded. "Most of it was confiscated by the authorities and destroyed. But Jael had backups—encrypted files and hidden laboratories. Even now, we can’t say for sure that every trace of his work has been erased."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, his appetite completely gone. The revelation was overwhelming. Ethan, the love of his life, had been part of something so horrific, and he hadn’t even known. And his own family—his uncle—had been the one responsible.

Jesper reached out again, squeezing Adrian’s hand. "I know this is a lot to process, sweetheart. But you’re not alone in this. Whatever happened in the past, we’re here now, and we’ll face whatever comes next together."

Adrian nodded weakly, though his mind was still clouded with thoughts. He looked at Yuin, who gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Does Ethan know any of this? Did anyone tell him?"

Yuin shook his head. "Not in detail. We wanted to protect him from the worst of it. By the time we rescued him, Jael’s facility had already been dismantled. Ethan didn’t remember much, and we didn’t want to dredge up memories that might hurt him more." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Adrian swallowed hard, guilt twisting in his chest. Ethan had endured so much, and now Adrian was learning about it after all this time. He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "I need to know everything, Yuin. Everything Jael did, everything Ethan went through. If there’s even a chance that his research is still out there, I need to be ready."

Cain nodded approvingly. "Good. You’re stronger than I gave you credit for, Adrian. But this isn’t something you can face alone."

Adrian met Cain’s gaze, determination flickering in his silver eyes. "I know. But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Ethan, our children, and the people I care about. No matter what."

Jesper beamed proudly, his expression softening. "That’s my boy. You’re stronger than you realize, Adrian. We’ll support you in whatever you decide."

Adrian looked at the three men around him—his real family, people who had risked so much and lost so much—and felt a spark of hope. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he wasn’t just a bystander in his own story. He was ready to take charge, no matter how daunting the path ahead might be.

Adrian picked up his fork and took a bite of the roasted duck, savoring the tender flavors that Jesper had clearly overseen with great care. Jesper, delighted to see Adrian eating, smiled warmly.

"You’ve barely eaten since you arrived, darling. It’s good to see you enjoying something," Jesper said, pouring a glass of fresh juice for Adrian.

Adrian smiled faintly. "It’s delicious. Thank you, Jesper."

Jesper chuckled, brushing a strand of his long blonde hair behind his ear. "Call me ’Mom.’ I’ve been waiting to hear it from you."

Adrian blushed slightly, his soft silver eyes lowering to his plate. "Mom," he murmured, shyly testing the word. Jesper lit up with joy and clapped his hands in delight, his enthusiasm contagious.

Cain, who had been quietly observing, smirked at Jesper’s overreaction but said nothing. Instead, he turned to Adrian. "How’s Ethan doing? It’s been a while since I last saw him."

Adrian hesitated for a fraction of a second before giving a polite smile. "Leclair said he’s on a business trip right now. I suppose it’s something important since he hasn’t been back for a few days."

Jesper frowned slightly, concern creeping into his eyes. "A business trip? Right now? It must be exhausting for him to leave you and the children, especially with the twins so young."

Adrian’s smile faltered for a moment but quickly recovered. "Ethan works hard, but he always makes time for us. I’m sure he’ll be back soon."

Cain, always perceptive, narrowed his eyes slightly but didn’t press further. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his commanding presence filling the room. "The twins—how are they doing? I hear Aurelius is already showing signs of being quite the handful."

Adrian chuckled, his voice softening as he thought about his children. "Aurelius is definitely the more energetic one, always reaching for things he shouldn’t. Seraphina, on the other hand, is so calm and observant. It’s like she’s already studying the world around her."

Jesper’s face lit up with pride. "They sound wonderful. I can’t wait to spend more time with them."

Cain nodded in agreement. "You should bring them here soon. It’s time they got to know this side of their family."

Adrian’s expression turned apologetic. "I’d love to, but they’re still just seven months old. Traveling would be difficult for them. Besides, I need to be there with them. They’re still so young."

Jesper reached out, placing a hand over Adrian’s. "We understand, darling. But you should stay the night here. It’s been so long since we’ve all been together, and you could use the rest."

Adrian shook his head gently, a warm smile on his lips. "Thank you, but I really need to get back to them. They need me. And... I need them."

Cain’s stern demeanor softened as he nodded in approval. "Spoken like a true parent. But remember, Adrian, you don’t have to shoulder everything alone. You have us now."

Adrian looked around the table at his family—Jesper’s affectionate gaze, Cain’s steady support, and Yuin’s playful grin—and felt a warmth he hadn’t known he’d been missing. "Thank you," he said softly. "That means a lot."

As dinner came to an end, Jesper insisted on packing some food for Adrian to take home, fussing over what dishes would reheat best. Yuin walked Adrian to the door, his arm casually draped around his younger brother’s shoulder.

"Take care, little bro. And if you ever need someone to vent to, I’m just a call away," Yuin said with a wink.

Adrian smiled, feeling a little lighter despite the weight of everything he’d learned. "I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Yuin."

As Adrian stepped into the cool night air, Jesper called out from the doorway, "Come back soon, and bring the twins next time!"

Adrian nodded, waving goodbye as he walked toward the waiting car. His heart felt full, but his mind remained restless. There was so much he still needed to understand, so many mysteries surrounding Ethan, his uncle Jael, and now even himself. But for the first time in a long while, Adrian felt like he had a foundation to stand on—a family to lean on.

As the car drove away from Sebanil Manor, Adrian looked out the window, determination hardening his gaze.

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