At Wenridge Residence, Julian and Lilia Sangster were always their mother Serena's little shadows.
No matter how large the house, they never wandered. Wherever Serena went, the two followed.
After they turned three and started preschool, they clung to Serena even more tightly at night.
The three of them would sit together—Julian always reading, while Lilia drew, played with blocks, or dabbled in whatever caught her fancy.
Now and then, their laughter would echo through the room—most of it from Lilia.
Only in moments like these did Serena feel truly alive.
But today, after coming home from school, Julian seemed distracted. His eyes kept drifting toward Serena.
Feeling his gaze once more, Serena looked over, a gentle warmth softening her features. She waved at him.
Julian walked over. Though he and Lilia were twins, he was already slightly taller.
Seated on the thick, cream-colored carpet, Serena pulled him into her arms, kissed his forehead, and asked softly:
"Julian, what's wrong?"
Seeing this, Lilia shuffled over, pressing herself closer to their mother.
She leaned in and gave Serena a kiss on the cheek.
Julian reached out and gently touched Serena's forehead like a little grown-up.
"Mom, you're sick."
Serena shook her head but noticed the sweat on his fingertips.
"No. Just a little warm."
It was June, and the rain had just passed. The air was cool and fresh.
Julian glanced at the window, then back at her, clearly suspicious. He thought she was lying.
But Serena's mind was elsewhere.
She gathered Lilia into her lap as well and said to both of them:
"Tomorrow, I'm taking you to meet your great-grandpa and great-grandma."
She had prepared them mentally for this a while ago.
Lilia looked excited, while Julian, ever the little adult, frowned and asked insistently:
"Why do we have to meet them?"
Serena looked directly at him. "Not only will you meet them, you'll be staying with them for a while."
"They're old now. You should spend more time with them."
The sudden emergence of the Pryce family's eldest legitimate heir was sure to stir waves. According to her agreement with Edric Pryce Senior, the children would be with him for the time being.
Partly to guard against the rest of the family.
And partly… to guard against Adrian.
Lilia nodded sweetly. "Lilia will listen to Mommy and keep Great-grandpa and Great-grandma company."
But as she lay against Serena's shoulder, a damp warmth seeped through her clothes.
"Mommy… Lilia and Julian will miss you…"
Though she didn't want to, she still forced herself to agree.
Even the little man couldn't hold back the tears welling in his eyes.
Serena could only pat them both gently, sighing inwardly. Guilt twisted around her heart like vines.
The children had always lived with her at Wenridge—quiet, careful, well-behaved. They never gave her a moment of trouble.
She didn't know what might happen to them… once they entered the Pryce family home.
…
Every fifteenth day of the month is the day when every member of the Pryce family was expected to return to the ancestral manor.
This was a tradition established by Edric Pryce Senior himself. This time, he even had Jason personally notify all family members in the country that attendance was mandatory.
Such a measure usually signaled something important.
The Pryce family did not dare treat it lightly.
At exactly 10 a.m., a Pryce car arrived at the gates of Wenridge.
Serena held her children's hands. She had dressed them up a little for the occasion.
Julian wore his first tiny suit and even a little bow tie, while Lilia was in a white puffed princess dress—the very one she'd been begging to wear on her birthday.
The driver glanced back at them through the rearview mirror. When he saw Julian's stoic face, his heart skipped a beat.
That face—he suddenly thought of the Third Young Master.
His hands nearly slipped off the steering wheel.
Does the Third Young Master… know about these kids?
From Wenridge to the Pryce manor at Glassridge Hill was exactly one hour.
Glassridge Hill stood at the highest point of Brightmoor. Not only was it home to the Pryce estate, but it was also the most elite and mysterious neighborhood in the entire city.
They said that standing at the top of Glassridge Hill allowed one to overlook all of Brightmoor.
And standing at the Pryce estate… meant overlooking the entire Thirteen Provinces.
The car wound along mountain roads, passed through numerous security checkpoints, and finally approached the summit where an imposing cluster of French-style châteaus appeared.
Before even stepping out, Serena saw the silhouette of someone waiting by the gate—seated in a wheelchair.
Her vision blurred slightly, but she could guess who it was.
"Great-grandma is waiting. Let's get out."
Stone towers, golden domes, and ornate balconies—so different from the Chinese style of Wenridge.
Servants lining the path couldn't help but glance over. Some were startled by Serena's beauty, but when their eyes fell on Julian, a trace of fear flickered across their faces.
What is this, a horror film?
The demon lord hasn't returned, but now there's a mini one?
Serena didn't miss their expressions.
She gave Julian's hand a gentle squeeze.
The sins of the father… the sins of the father…
The woman in the wheelchair was Madam Pryce Senior—Vivienne Pryce—wife of Edric Pryce Senior.
Her hair was silver, but she looked unusually spirited today. She kept glancing toward the gate, clearly anticipating someone's arrival.
As Serena approached, what surprised her was that Madam Vivienne didn't rush to greet her great-grandchildren. Instead, she studied Serena's face, took her hands, and burst into tears.
"My dear child… you've suffered so much…"
Serena didn't know how to respond.
She didn't even know this woman.
An older maid standing nearby gave Serena a kind smile and explained, "Miss Sangster, Madam Vivienne was a dear old friend of Madam Eleanor."
"The Sangster family only lost touch with the Pryces after moving out of the Thirteen Provinces."
So that's what it was. Serena never knew her grandmother had such a connection.
Seeing her, Madam Vivienne became overwhelmed with emotion—not the kind of reaction you'd expect from someone ill. Serena gently patted her back to soothe her.
Madam Vivienne finally caught her breath.
"You've arrived. Come in quickly."
No one knew how long Edric had been standing by the doorway of the parlor.
Only then did Madam Vivienne pull Julian and Lilia toward her, glancing at them with joy as they entered.
"So good!"
"So beautiful!"
"So well-behaved!"
"You look just like…"
Julian and Lilia had always been obedient. Julian was quiet, Lilia cheerful and sweet. Within ten minutes, the elderly couple were all smiles and laughter.
As the afternoon passed, the rest of the Pryce family arrived one after another.
None of them expected strangers at today's family banquet.
But when they saw Julian's face, it was as if thunder struck.
Still, no one dared speak under Edric's watchful eye.
Julian lowered his eyes but couldn't ignore the curious, probing stares around him.
Eventually, Serena couldn't hold back and pulled him gently into her arms.
He buried his face in her shoulder, inhaling her familiar green bamboo scent, wishing he could run far away.
He hated this place.
He wanted to go back to Wenridge.
But he knew he couldn't.
Mom said he had to be strong.
The manor gradually filled with people, yet the atmosphere remained heavy and silent.
Only Madam Vivienne was chatting happily with Lilia. Everyone else had quietly taken their seats.
Until Jason walked over to Edric and said, "Sir, we can begin."
Edric set down his newspaper and swept his gaze across the room.
The first and second branches of the family were present.
Only one person was missing.
Adrian hadn't arrived.
Edric's expression darkened. He flicked the newspaper shut.
"Wait."
Outside, tires screeched to a halt. A car pulled straight into the courtyard.
Moments later, keys clattered through the air, and the door—left ajar—was kicked open.
"So I heard the old man, bored out of his mind on Glassridge Hill, decided to find me a wife?"
His voice came before he entered, wrapped in wind and rain.
His disrespectful tone instantly angered Damien Pryce—Adrian's father and current head of the family.
"What nonsense are you saying!" Damien snapped.
Adrian clicked his tongue, casually glancing at everyone in the room.
"Let's see who was stupid enou—"
His words died in his throat.
His eyes locked onto the woman sitting on the sofa directly across from the entrance.
Serena's long lashes lowered gently. She knew he had seen her.
Sensing something, Julian and Lilia stepped to her sides.
Lilia clutched the back of her dress nervously. Julian's little fists were clenched tight.
But both children held their ground like guardians, returning Adrian's gaze.
Then, a female voice pierced the stillness of the grand hall.
"Adrian, this time the mess you made isn't small."
It was Yvonne Pryce, Damien's eldest daughter. She chuckled coldly, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"You just slept with some woman and made two little bast—"
"Enough!" Edric interrupted.
He lowered his newspaper and swept a stern gaze over everyone in the room.
"Allow me to introduce… this is Serena Sangster, Third Young Madam of the Pryce family."
The moment they heard her surname, everyone present was stunned.
A Sangster?
Was it the fallen Sangster family? Or the one that had somehow survived?
"These two children," Edric added—his tone now noticeably gentler—"are the Pryce family's eldest heirs: Julian and Lilia Pryce."
Now that they were back in the family, they would take the Pryce name.
A storm stirred in everyone's hearts as their eyes fell on the two three-year-olds.
Only one gaze burned on Serena, from the moment she entered to now.
Jason stepped forward, holding out a document folder.
"Third Young Madam, here is your marriage certificate with the Third Young Master."
Serena saw the red booklet inside but didn't open it.
She hadn't registered the marriage with Adrian. The Pryce family had handled it all.
Then Jason handed over another document.
Serena was surprised—they had already signed everything back at Wenridge.
But when the rest of the Pryce family saw the format of this new document, their expressions shifted.
"Third Young Madam, this is a small token from the Master and Madam for the children."
Serena took it and saw—it was a stock transfer agreement.
"Master and Madam have voluntarily transferred 3% of their respective shares to Julian and Lilia."
Three percent—neither a lot nor a little.
But in a structure where Edric controlled most of the family's holdings, two separate 3% stakes were quite significant.
Faces around the room darkened.
Edric truly valued these two great-grandchildren.
Serena was surprised too, but this was for the children. Better something than nothing.
At least it showed Edric and Madam Vivienne genuinely cared for them.
With the message clear, it was time for dinner.
Jason guided Serena to her seat. The children were placed next to Madam Vivienne.
Serena sat quietly alone, trying to ignore the sharp, burning stares around her.
The scent of dark agarwood drifted faintly to her nose after all these years.
From the moment he saw her, he hadn't spoken a single word.
And Serena knew—
This was the calm before the storm.