Consort Melinda had known from the start that she and the child were just pawns, and now it was time to sacrifice the child in her belly. Consort Melinda felt a deep reluctance because this child was the result of her love with... the man she adored. Moreover, she was more than five months pregnant, and feeling the baby’s movements had become a daily habit. "Consort Willow, I..." Consort Melinda hesitated. "What is it?" Consort Willow cast a sinister glance at Consort Melinda. "Do you have any objections?" Consort Melinda’s face turned pale. She feared Consort Willow greatly and immediately shook her head, "No, whatever you say, I will comply." Only then did Consort Willow withdraw her hand, "That’s good. Consort Melinda, you must understand this game doesn’t give you any choice. Obey my commands, and you can continue to enjoy your current wealth and power. But if anything goes wrong, if you ruin my plan, you’ll face the consequences!" Consort Melinda was trembling in fear. Serena Sterling left the royal palace and walked toward her luxurious nanny car. At this moment, Hayden Crawford approached her, speaking in a low voice, "Are you really going to get engaged to Axel Ashworth?" Why was he here? Like a ghost that wouldn’t leave. Did he come over just to question her about the engagement to Axel Ashworth? Serena nodded, "Yes, Mr. Crawford, I have other matters, so I’ll be going." Cherie had already respectfully opened the rear door, and Serena was about to get in the car. However, at that moment, a large, defined hand reached out, grabbing her delicate wrist. Hayden pulled her close and pushed her forward, directly pinning her against the body of the luxury car. Serena, completely unprepared, looked up only to meet Hayden’s dark and displeased handsome face. He dominantly trapped her between his strong chest and the car. Serena quickly furrowed her eyebrows and began to struggle, "Hayden Crawford, what are you doing? Let go of me immediately. We are still outside the palace, and someone will see us." The rightful source is novel(ꜰ)ire.net Hayden let out a soft scoff from his throat, "What are you afraid of? Afraid that if Axel Ashworth learns about our relationship, you won’t become the King of Nine Peaks’ consort?" Cherie saw her princess being restrained by Hayden Crawford, and her expression changed drastically, "Mr. Crawford, please release Her Highness immediately, otherwise..." "Otherwise what?" Hayden gently lifted his handsome eyelid and gave Cherie a cold glance. Cherie, who was used to seeing big scenes as Serena’s lady-in-waiting, suddenly felt an unfamiliar fear under Hayden’s gaze. "Cherie, stand down," Serena commanded. "Yes, Your Highness," Cherie could only comply. Serena lifted her bright eyes to look at Hayden Crawford, "Hayden Crawford, what exactly do you want to do? There’s nothing left between us. You have so many other women by your side. If you’re only here to avenge me, for entangling me, then in the City of Aethelgard, I’ve accompanied you a few times already in that regard. What more do you want? Hayden Crawford, let me go, and let yourself go too." Hayden’s narrow eyes were as impenetrable as ink, "Are you done?" "If you’re done, then it’s my turn to speak. Serena Sterling, you are not allowed to get engaged to Axel Ashworth. Call off the engagement immediately!" "I will not call off the engagement," Serena refused firmly. "Ha," Hayden let out a low, dangerous laugh, leaning closer to her with his tall, imposing figure, "Serena Sterling, what is your purpose in marrying Axel Ashworth, or rather, your purpose in coming to The State of Westria?" Serena’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Had he guessed something? "I heard that the disappearance of Alani was due to their ancestor securing the ancient weapon, the Sky Sword, into Alani’s foundation. I have studied the old maps, researched them, and if I’m not mistaken, the Sky Sword has now fallen within Westria’s royal temple." "The palace temple is a restricted area, no outsider can enter, but on the day you marry Axel Ashworth, as per ancestral custom, you’ll have a chance to go in for the ritual. Then, you can retrieve the Sky Sword, unravel the mystery of Alani’s disappearance, and let Alani bask in the sun once more, restoring the kingdom." "Serena Sterling, am I right?" Serena’s heart was pounding furiously. Even Axel Ashworth couldn’t fathom her intentions on this trip, yet Hayden Crawford had figured it out. Over the years, the Crawford family had become the preeminent business family, while Hayden had risen to be the world’s top financier. But being a businessman was merely his surface identity; his covert operations extended into all corners, likely already entangled in Westria’s political intrigue. He held a lot of intelligence, including the sealed secrets of Westria and Alani. Hayden’s eagle-like sharp eyes looked at her, "Serena Sterling, what would happen if I told Axel Ashworth about your plan to extract the Sky Sword? Would Axel Ashworth still marry you? Once the Sky Sword is pulled out, the gravitational forces will trigger an earthquake at Westria’s ancestral temple, destroying it. Alani will rise again amidst upheaval. Is Axel Ashworth prepared for this?" Serena felt alarmingly overwhelmed, realizing this was the first time she saw Hayden Crawford for who he truly was. No matter how she tried to conceal her lineage, within him flowed the hundred-year-old blood that was destined to one day ascend to the supreme throne of Westria, ruling the nation. With Westria and Alani locked in such an insoluble deadlock, she and he would walk diametrically opposed paths. Serena’s eyelashes trembled slightly, "Hayden Crawford, don’t tell Axel Ashworth about this." Hayden slightly raised his heroic eyebrows, "Why should I help you?" "What do you want?" Serena asked directly. Hayden leaned in, his thin lips almost touching her white ear lobe, his voice lowering, "Come to my place tonight, don’t go back." Serena’s pupils contracted; he actually wanted... her to spend the night at his place. Serena wasn’t naive and sweet; she wasn’t foolish enough to think that spending the night at Hayden’s wouldn’t involve anything but talking under the covers about stars and life’s philosophies, doing nothing more. "I can’t..." Serena said, softly yielding due to her current circumstances, "Hayden Crawford, you can have any woman you want now. Could you stop troubling me... I have my own mission and responsibilities. The Sky Sword is crucial to Alani’s restoration; you must not tell Axel Ashworth. And could you refrain from getting involved in these matters, return to Aethelgard..." As she continued to speak, urging him to leave, Hayden abruptly kissed her passionately on her lips. He kissed fiercely, intentionally causing her discomfort, and Serena immediately felt her breath being seized. The clean and fresh masculine scent of him overwhelmed her instantly.