Chapter 26 - Chapter 26 {Carter Ross}

Austin and Ryder exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes filled with curiosity and surprise. They had never seen Magnus behave this way before, and they couldn't help but wonder what was so special about Sierra. Ryder leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper,

"Is she... the one they call the Fourth Miss?" Austin's eyes widened, and he nodded, his gaze fixed on Sierra.

"It's possible. But what's her connection to Magnus?"

"No bro they is no connection between them."

*Austin's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Then why is Magnus behaving like this? He's never shown interest in anyone before, let alone being gentle and kind. And to think he's actually feeding her... it's just not like him." Austin's voice was laced with skepticism, and he glanced at Magnus, who was still gazing at Sierra with an intensity that made Austin uncomfortable.

"Something's not right here, Ryder. I can feel it."

Sierra was about to speak angrily but piece of Snj meat was stuffed in her mouth it was warm wet and extremely spicy just to her liking. The entire time Sierra was feed by Magnus who just looked at her with gentleness in his eyes.

Sierra's eyes widened in surprise as the spicy meat was stuffed into her mouth. She was taken aback by the sudden invasion, but as the flavors exploded on her tongue, she couldn't help but let out a small moan of pleasure. The spiciness was just right, and the warmth of the meat was comforting. She looked up at Magnus, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, she forgot to be angry. Magnus's gaze was gentle, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled at her. He seemed to be savoring her reaction, and Sierra felt a shiver run down her spine. She tried to speak, but her mouth was still full, and all that came out was a muffled sound. Magnus just chuckled and continued to feed her, his fingers brushing against her lips as he offered her another piece of meat. Sierra's eyes never left his, and she felt a strange sense of intimacy wash over her. It was as if they were the only two people in the room, and nothing else mattered except for the food and the gentle touch of his fingers on her skin.

Sierra's eyes flashed with anger as she smacked Patriarch Magnus's hand away, the momentary intimacy shattered.

"What is wrong with you?" she spat, her voice venomous. Patriarch Magnus's smile faltered, and he looked at her with a mixture of surprise and hurt. Ryder and Austin exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes wide with amusement.

"I think the moment's over," Ryder whispered, chuckling.

"Are you full?" Patriarch Magnus gently asked.

Sierra's expression softened slightly at the gentle tone, but she still looked wary.

"I... yes," she replied, her voice a little softer. She glanced down at her hands, which were still clenched into fists, and slowly relaxed them. Patriarch Magnus nodded, his eyes never leaving hers, and gently placed the plate on the table. The atmosphere was still tense, but the anger seemed to have dissipated slightly. Ryder and Austin watched with interest, wondering what would happen next.

"I need to go thanks for the food," Sierra muttered and she walked off she let out a sigh she felt so tired she went to her apartment and she fall asleep on her bed the triplets also claimed on her bed.

Sierra's eyes closed as soon as her head hit the pillow, and she let out a deep sigh. The stress and tension of the day seemed to melt away as she felt the softness of her bed and the warmth of her triplets snuggled up against her. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, and before she knew it, she was fast asleep. The triplets, sensing their mother's relaxation, also drifted off to sleep, their small bodies tangled together with Sierra's. The room was quiet, except for the sound of gentle breathing and the occasional snore from one of the triplets. Sierra slept soundly, unaware of the events that would unfold in the coming days, and the way her life was about to change forever.

As Sierra slept, Patriarch Magnus stood outside her apartment, his eyes fixed on the door. He seemed lost in thought, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. He stood there for a long time, as if trying to make sense of the complex emotions that Sierra stirred up in him. Finally, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night, leaving Sierra and her triplets to their peaceful slumber.

Sierra's phone buzzed, a text from an

unknown number: Meet me at the rooftop garden at midnight. Come alone.

Sierra: Why

The response came quickly: Because I want to talk to you about your past. About the Fourth Miss. Come alone, Sierra.

Sierra: The person who replace me? Why should I care?

The response was immediate: You should care because it affects you directly. The person who replaced you as the Fourth Miss is not what she seems. And I have proof. Meet me at midnight if you want to know the truth.

Sierra: Patriarch Magnus you really do not like leaving me alone even after we ate together.

The response was a simple: I'm not Patriarch Magnus. And I'm not the only one who's been watching you, Sierra.

Sierra sat up right away if it's not Patriarch Magnus then who is this person? Sierra wasn't scared nor did she care but she was curious.

Sierra: Oh?

The response was: Someone who knows the truth about your past, Sierra. Someone who can help you uncover the secrets that have been hidden from you for so long. Meet me at midnight, and I'll show you the proof you need to take back what's yours.

Sierra: I don't care about the past but will meet you.

The response was: I'll be waiting for you. Come alone, Sierra. And don't think about bringing anyone, or you'll regret it.

The message was followed by a single sentence:

Unknown number: I'll be watching you.

Sierra: Do I look like a person who will back down? I won't bring anyone as long as you promise you won't do the same

The response was: I promise you, Sierra, I will come alone. But don't think that means you're safe. I'm not someone to be underestimated.

The message was followed by a single sentence: I'll see you at midnight.

Sierra didn't respond after that she set an alarm and she went back to sleep.

The Zeken device went dark, and the room was silent once again. Sierra's alarm was set, and she drifted back to sleep, surrounded by her triplets. The anticipation of the mysterious meeting hung in the air, but Sierra's calm and collected demeanor suggested that she was not one to be easily rattled. The hours ticked by, and the night wore on, until finally, the alarm blared to life, signaling that it was time for Sierra to get ready for her midnight meeting.

Sierra's eyes snapped open, and she quickly silenced the alarm. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The triplets, sensing their mother's movement, stirred and snuggled deeper into the blankets, still fast asleep. Sierra stood up, stretching her arms over her head, and yawned. She walked over to the closet, pulled out a simple black dress, and began to get dressed. She moved with a quiet efficiency, her movements practiced and economical. As she finished dressing, she glanced at the clock on the wall, and her eyes narrowed slightly. It was almost midnight. She took a deep breath, and headed out of the room, leaving the sleeping triplets behind.

As Sierra walked towards the rooftop, the dimly lit hallways seemed to stretch out before her like a dark canvas. She moved with a quiet confidence, her eyes fixed on the stairs leading up to the rooftop. Her messy bun and oversized hoodie gave her a relaxed, almost careless air, but the techno glasses perched on her nose hinted at a more complex, high-tech reality. The glasses, equipped with the AI Lia, hummed softly as they scanned the surroundings, feeding Sierra a constant stream of data and information. Lia's virtual presence whispered in Sierra's ear, her voice a soft, melodic whisper.

"Sierra, we're approaching the rooftop. I'm not detecting any unusual activity, but I'm still running scans. Be careful." Sierra's eyes flicked towards the glasses, her gaze acknowledging Lia's warning. She continued up the stairs, her movements fluid and unhurried, as she approached the mysterious meeting on the rooftop.

As Sierra reached the rooftop, the cool night air enveloped her, carrying the scent of city streets and distant neon lights. The rooftop was dimly lit, with only a few flickering LED strips to illuminate the area. Sierra's eyes adjusted quickly, and she scanned the rooftop, taking in the layout. A figure stood at the far end of the rooftop, shrouded in shadows. Lia's voice whispered in Sierra's ear.

"I'm detecting a single individual, Sierra. No visible threats, but I'm still running scans." Sierra's gaze narrowed, her eyes fixed on the figure. She took a step forward, her movements deliberate and controlled. The figure didn't move, but Sierra sensed a subtle tension, a coiled energy waiting to be unleashed. She continued to approach, her eyes locked on the figure, as Lia continued to feed her information and scan for potential threats.