Sean Laurence paced in the shadows of his dimly lit hideout, eyes alight with a dangerous mix of fury and desperation. His plan to bring down Rafael had failed, but that didn’t matter now. What gnawed at him, fueled his obsession, was Xian. Xian—untouchable, slipping further into Rafael’s clutches, leaving Sean with nothing. Except for one last move.
Morgana. The girl was Xian’s heart, the beating soul of the orphanage. If he took her, Xian would have no choice but to come crawling.
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At the orphanage, the afternoon stretched quiet, tension lingering beneath the surface as the kids tried to distract themselves. Xing, Gael, and Alisha were inside, their game of cards subdued, thoughts weighed down by Renzo’s absence, who still lay in the hospital, his condition unchanged—coma.
Outside, Morgana hummed softly as she tended to the garden Renzo loved, the flowers a reminder of him. She didn’t notice the black SUVs speeding down the road toward the orphanage until it was too late.
The vehicles screeched to a halt at the gate. Doors flew open, and men dressed in dark clothes rushed toward her, moving with swift, terrifying precision. Morgana gasped, backing away, but before she could run, a hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled, eyes wide with terror, as she was dragged toward the waiting vehicle.
Inside, Xing’s eyes flickered toward the window. His heart slammed in his chest.
“Morgana!” he screamed, bolting from his seat. Alisha and Gael followed without a second’s hesitation, fear and adrenaline coursing through them.
Xian, emerging from the kitchen at the sound of Xing’s shout, immediately sensed something was wrong. “What’s happening?”
“They’re taking Morgana!” Xing yelled, already sprinting for the door.
Xian’s stomach dropped, a surge of panic propelling him forward. They burst out of the house just in time to see Morgana being shoved into the back of the SUV. The vehicle lurched forward, tires screeching as it sped down the road.
“Morgana!” Xian roared, racing after the disappearing cars, but they were already too far ahead. He stopped, panting, helpless fury surging through his veins as he watched the SUVs vanish around the bend.
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Elsewhere, in the back of another black car, Rafael’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, jaw tightening as he read the incoming message from his men: “Laurence’s men have taken the girl. We’re tracking them.”
His eyes darkened as he clenched his fist, already on the move. Next to him, Shawn scanned the map on his tablet, tracking the SUV's route in real-time. His expression was sharp, lethal.
“They’re heading toward the abandoned factory on the west highway,” Shawn reported. “I’ve got a team closing in.”
Rafael’s voice was low, dangerous. “Good. We stop them there. No mistakes.”
Without hesitation, Rafael dialed Xian’s number. The phone rang once before Xian’s tense voice answered.
“They took Morgana,” Xian said, breathless.
“I know,” Rafael replied, his voice cold and calculating. “We’ve tracked them. Meet us at the west highway. We’ll intercept them.”
“I’ll be there,” Xian said, his voice hard with determination.
Alisha, standing beside him with clenched fists, stepped forward. “I’m coming too. We’re getting her back.”
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Shadow's Embrace
FanfictionIn a city cloaked in darkness, Xian runs an orphanage, a sanctuary of hope and warmth for lost children. His selfless dedication nurtures their spirits, but danger looms as Rafael, a powerful man, becomes obsessed with him.
