Chapter 314: Return Of The Lost Daughter

Artemio remained in the darkness of his room, seated motionless beside the window.

A parabolic microphone was aimed precisely toward Leonard’s backyard, its sensitive receiver capturing every conversation that carried through the night.

He listened.

Most of the conversation was meaningless to him—casual remarks, laughter, the clinking of dinnerware. But whenever Madeline’s voice drifted through the receiver, the corner of his lips curled upward.

Sweet as ever.

He adjusted the device, trying to isolate Lara’s voice from the others.

But Lara barely said anything of consequence.

She spoke mostly about Amelia’s book and the upcoming film shoot. Nothing about her past. Nothing about her plans. Nothing that gave him the information he needed.

Logan, however, talked enough for everyone.

He entertained the family with jokes about his recent investigations, occasionally drawing laughter from the others.

Artemio listened carefully.

Logan never mentioned the kidnapping directly.

He didn’t need to. Artemio knew exactly what he was investigating.

His fingers tightened around the armrest.

So they’re getting closer.

That was a problem.

He had already given Lara enough time.

If she could still be controlled, she remained useful. But if she had truly slipped beyond his reach, keeping her alive would become a dangerous gamble.

Artemio leaned back, his expression hardening.

He would have to find out quickly. And if Lara could no longer be used, there was only one choice left.

He would eliminate her.

Better to remove a useless pawn than allow her to become the blade hanging above his own neck.

He remained there for hours, listening to the Norse family laugh and talk as though the world outside their walls were perfectly safe.

Only when the family finally returned to the house after their long dinner did Artemio switch off the receiver.

Once inside the house, the receiver would be useless. All houses in the General’s Quarters were protected from all types of listening devices.

Artemio finally lay back on his bed, staring into the darkness.

For the first time that night, his eyes were cold.

Lara... I hope you remember your mission.

...

Leonard Norse called all of his children—including Layla—into the study.

Liam had only just returned after escorting Amelia to her grandfather’s quarters on the northern side of Isla.

One by one, everyone took a seat.

Leonard and Madeline sat together on the two-seater couch, while the others settled into the chairs scattered around the study.

For several seconds, Leonard said nothing.

Then he drew in a slow breath.

"I have an announcement to make."

His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words that immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Madeline turned her head toward her husband.

She knew Leonard too well.

Whatever he was about to say, it was important.

"We found a lead on the whereabouts of our daughter, Lara."

Lucas and Layla both gasped.

Madeline, however, remained strangely composed.

Over the years, Leonard had said those same words more times than she could count.

We found a lead.

And every time, their search had eventually reached a dead end.

Every lead had ended with another disappointment. Another shattered hope. Another reminder that their daughter had disappeared without a trace.

Eventually, Madeline had learned not to hope.

Hope hurt too much when it was taken away.

So she sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, her expression almost blank.

Layla’s eyes flickered with surprise.

"Really? That’s great," she said, forcing enthusiasm into her voice.

Leonard looked at his wife.

His brows drew together when he saw the complete lack of excitement on her face. He understood immediately. She no longer dared to believe.

"We actually found her," he said quietly.

The room fell silent.

The words seemed to hang in the air.

Found her. Not a lead. Not a possibility. Not another false trail.

Liam and Logan already knew the truth, yet even they found it difficult to believe that the sister they had spent years searching for was sitting only a few feet away from them.

Madeline’s composure finally cracked. Her eyes widened. Then her lips began to tremble.

"Really?"

Her voice broke.

"You found her?"

Tears instantly filled her eyes.

"Is this real?"

She reached for Leonard’s hands and clutched them tightly, as though she needed to hold on to him to keep herself from collapsing.

"Where is my daughter?" she demanded through her tears. "Where is she? How did she survive all these years? Where has she been?"

The questions came one after another, her sobs making some of the words almost impossible to understand.

Layla stared at her father.

"Dad... is it true?"

Her voice trembled.

"Dad, where is my sister?"

Her carefully maintained composure finally shattered.

"I knew it," Lucas whispered, tears gathering in his eyes. "My gut feeling was right. My twin sister is alive."

Across the room, Liam and Logan exchanged a look. Neither said a word.

Their eyes slowly shifted toward Lara.

Lara caught Liam’s gaze first.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Then her eyes shifted to Logan.

There was something in their expressions that made her heart beat faster.

She already knew. Yet somehow, hearing it from Leonard would make it real.

Leonard finally spoke.

"She’s right here."

He stood.

The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

Leonard walked toward Lara.

When he reached her, he gently took her hand and squeezed it.

Then he looked around the room.

"Stand up, Lara."

Lara slowly rose.

Layla’s heart seemed to stop. Not just for a beat.

For several suffocating seconds, she couldn’t breathe.

A strange fear seized her.

She suddenly knew what her father was about to say.

And somehow, she wasn’t ready for it.

Leonard looked at Lara.

Then he turned toward his family.

"Larissa Reyes..."

He paused.

"...is our Lara."

The words detonated across the room.

For Madeline, Lucas, and Layla, it was as though the entire world had shifted beneath their feet.

No one spoke.

Madeline stared at Leonard. Disbelief filled her eyes. Then her gaze slowly moved toward Lara. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Her lips parted as realization finally sank in.

"No wonder..."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"No wonder I felt drawn to her the first time I saw her."

She stared at Lara as if seeing her for the first time.

"So... she is my Lara."

Madeline pushed herself to her feet.

Her knees trembled so violently that she nearly lost her balance.

Liam immediately reached out and steadied her arm.

But Madeline barely noticed. She couldn’t take her eyes off Lara.

She took one trembling step. Then another.

Lara remained frozen.

She imagined this scene so many times in the past.

She imagined discovering who she really was.

But she never imagined being claimed by a mother who had spent years grieving her.

Madeline finally reached her.

For one brief moment, she simply stared.

Then, without warning, she pulled Lara into her arms.

The force of the embrace caught Lara off guard.

Madeline held her as though she was afraid that if she let go, her daughter would disappear again.

"My baby..."

Her voice broke completely.

"You are finally back."

She sobbed against Lara’s shoulder.

"My baby... my Lara."