Chapter 11 The estate managers words hit like a bomb . Before Alaric could react , Lilia suddenly seemed stone sober . Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow . Alarics exhausted . The manager , noting Lilias new status , hesitated . Shes right . Nothing could be wrong on our wedding day . Alarics agreement made Lilia relax . The manager tactfully withdrew . Minutes later , after sending Lilia to freshen up , Alaric returned to the living room . His face had turned to granite . Tell me what happened . Hed waited to ask because somehow , he knew this involved Hestia . The managers face crumpled . Sir , its Ms. Shes … gone . Gone ? Alarics grip on the leather armchair turned his knuckles white . What do you mean , gone ? Theres been a fire at her penthouse . She … she didnt make it out . Alarics world tilted on its axis . If this is some sick joke … The manager almost collapsed . The fire department fought it for hours . When we finally got inside …. the body was … she couldnt be saved . Silence fell like a shroud . Alarics face went through shock , denial , horror . Finally , he exploded . Why wasnt I told immediately ? What the hell do I pay you people for ? I called and texted repeatedly , sir . Astoria said you were busy and not to disturb the ceremony . Impossible ! Alaric grabbed his phone , ready to prove the manager wrong . Then he saw them deleted calls and messages in his spam . Only Lilia could have … 09:38 O and Went Crazy After 38.34 Chapter 11 The color drained from his face . His heart hammered against his ribs . Take me to her . His voice shook . Winters is already- TAKE ME TO HER ! Blood rimmed his eyes . The drive to their old penthouse felt eternal . When Alaric stepped out , he barely recognized the place where theyd built their life together . Their memories were ash now . Nothing remained . He wandered through the blackened ruins , choking on smoke that still hung thick in the air . The fires fury was written in every charred surface . Where was his Hestia ? In a cleared space at the back , he found what remained . His breath caught in his throat . Alaric fell to his knees . He couldnt bring himself to touch the body , afraid it would crumble to dust . Is it … His voice cracked . Is it really her ? Yes , sir . Only her alone in the apartment . The confirmation broke something in Alaric . A tear fell silently to the scorched floor , the first of many . Five-year-old Annie, who can understand animals, saved Landon Hawthorne, a wealthy businessman, from suicide. Now she's his whole world and he's her legal cheat-code against every villain fate throws ...