Chapter 316: Keep The Secret

"Let’s keep this a secret for now," Leonard said calmly.

"There are still things we need to clear up before the truth can be made public."

His gaze shifted toward Layla.

"Layla, do you understand?"

Layla froze.

Of all the people in the room, why had her father singled her out?

She quickly forced a smile onto her face.

Of course she understood. Even if her father hadn’t warned her, she would never tell anyone that Larissa Reyes was actually the long-lost daughter of General Leonard Norse. Where would that leave her?

But the revelation still left an uncomfortable ache in her chest.

What would Lara’s return mean for her?

Would everything change now?

Would her parents look at Lara the way they had always looked at her?

Would her brothers begin treating Lara as the sister they had lost—and eventually forget the sister who grew up with them?

Would they still dote on her and cast her aside?

Layla pushed the thoughts away.

"Don’t worry, Dad. My lips are sealed."

She even mimed zipping her mouth shut.

Everyone laughed softly. Everyone except Layla.

Lara studied her for a moment.

There was something in Layla’s expression that Lara couldn’t quite read. Still, she didn’t doubt her sincerity. Layla had always been part of the family, and Lara believed she would keep the secret.

After all, the truth was not exactly a blessing for Layla. It could change everything she had always believed about her place in the Norse family.

"Dad, Brothers..." Lucas finally spoke, his brows drawing together. "When did you find out?"

His gaze moved between Leonard, then to Liam, and then to Logan and back to his father.

"Why do I feel like you’ve known about this for much longer?"

Leonard exchanged a brief glance with his older sons.

"We confirmed it three months ago," he admitted. "But we had our suspicions long before that."

Lucas looked genuinely aggrieved.

"Then why did you keep us in the dark for so long?"

"Because it wasn’t the right time."

Leonard’s answer was simple, but the finality in his voice left no room for argument.

A few moments later, Leonard dismissed Madeline and Layla.

Layla lingered at the door.

Before leaving, she glanced at Lara.

The look was brief, but there was something almost hostile in it.

She moved closer to Madeline and slipped her arm through hers, staying unusually close as she escorted her mother out of the room.

Lara noticed. She said nothing.

Once the door closed behind them, Leonard turned toward Lara.

"Lara, my daughter..."

The words struck her harder than she expected.

My daughter. It sounded like music to her ears.

Artemio never called her that. Nor did Armand. But then, they weren’t her parents after all.

Now, hearing Leonard call her that still felt unreal but at the same time warm.

"I know this is difficult for you," Leonard continued gently. "But can you tell us what you remember about your past?"

"Yes, Sis," Logan added softly. "How did you end up with Armand Reyes?"

Lucas remained silent. He simply watched Lara. His fraternal twin sister.

The sister he had lost years ago and somehow found again.

Lara lowered her eyes.

For a moment, she considered telling them everything.

About Artemio Fuegerro...

About the manipulation, and the endless suffering...

About the years of being treated as though she was nothing but a forged weapon.

About what had been taken from her...

The memories she still couldn’t bear to touch.

Her fingers slowly curled into her palm.

No. The time is not yet right.

There were wounds that were still too raw to expose.

And Artemio...

That man’s fate was hers to decide.

The innocence he had stolen from her, the pain he had inflicted, and every injustice she had endured—those were debts she intended to collect herself.

She couldn’t bear the thought of her family carrying that pain with her.

"My memories are still a little foggy," she finally said. "I can’t remember everything clearly."

Leonard immediately softened.

"Then don’t force yourself."

His voice was gentle, almost protective.

"It is enough that you came back to us."

Lara’s eyes stung. She quickly lowered her gaze.

Lucas, however, wasn’t fooled.

He had known her for only a short time as his god sister, and now as his sister, but something in him already recognized her.

She remembered. Perhaps not everything, but enough.

He could tell she was deliberately keeping certain memories from them.

And instead of exposing her, he chose to protect her secret.

"Dad is right," Lucas said quietly. "We shouldn’t force Sis to remember anything before she’s ready."

Logan nodded.

Then another thought occurred to him.

"Dad, now that Lara’s identity has been confirmed... can she live here with us instead of staying with Ares?"

Leonard gave him a knowing look.

"And what do you think would happen if she suddenly moved into the Norse residence?"

Logan paused.

"It would tell the entire world that she’s our family."

"Exactly."

Leonard leaned back.

"For now, we maintain the status quo. Remember, we already accepted Lara as our goddaughter. Nothing needs to change publicly until we’re certain that the time is right."

His three sons stared at him.

Something about their father’s voice made them exchange glances.

Their intimidating, iron-willed father was speaking with astonishing tenderness.

They had heard that tone before.

He only ever spoke that gently to their mother.

And now...

He was using that same gentle tone with Lara now.

"Daughter," Leonard said, turning toward her. His gaze softened. "I want you to spend more time with your mother. Can you do that?"

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"She has suffered a lot these past several years. She never stopped missing you. Even when she tried to hide it, I knew how much your absence hurt her."

His voice grew quieter.

"Now that you’re finally back, I don’t want her to lose another moment with you. Let her make up for all those years she missed. Let her be your mother."

Lara’s heart tightened at his words.

She had spent so many years wondering what it would be like to have a family that wanted her, and now her father was asking her to give her mother the one thing neither of them could ever get back—the time they had lost.

"I will, Dad," Lara said softly.

She glanced toward the door through which Madeline had disappeared.

The thought of finally spending time with the mother she had lost for so many years filled her with an emotion she couldn’t quite put into words.

Leonard smiled faintly.

"How about you sleep with her tonight?"

Lara’s eyes immediately brightened.

"I’ll sleep in the study. You can stay with your mother."

For a moment, Lara simply stared at him.

Then a soft smile spread across her face.

"I’ll follow Dad’s arrangement."

Leonard chuckled.

And for the first time in many years, the Norse family had something they had thought they would never have again.

Lara was home!