Chapter 381
Alex froze at Lucia’s fading voice.
“Doctor!” he barked, shoving Josephine toward him. “Test her blood-now! Maybe we still have a chance p>
The doctor’s brow furrowed, hesitation flickering in his eyes. “Are you certain p>
“No,” Alex shot back. “But if they’re related, there’s hope. A miracle, maybe. Unless you’ve got something better to offer p>
The doctor’s eyes flicked to Jose, trembling with tears, then to Lucia, already slipping into unconsciousness.
Time was running out.
A gamble, but one worth taking.
“All right,” he said quickly, pulling Josephine toward the lab. “Better to try than do nothing p>
Alex knelt beside Lucia, taking her frail hand in his.
He poured his inner energy into her, helping her heart to hold on. Jose stood silent at her other side, tears streaming down his face, powerless.
Minutes crawled by.
Then the doors burst open-doctor and nurses rushing in, their faces glowing with relief.
They shoved Alex aside like a storm and worked at lightning speed, pumping fresh blood into Lucia’s veins.
Jose gasped, stunned, watching the impossible unfold.
“Doctor His lips trembled. “Please… tell me p>
The doctor’s voice was firm, confident. “We found a match. Mrs. Governor will live p>
Jose broke down, sobbing with relief, clutching Lucia’s hand as if he’d never let go again.
Alex stepped out into the hall. Josephine was standing there, pale and shaken. “What are you doing out here?” he asked.
She lifted her eyes to him. “It’s my blood. It matched with hers. She… she called me her granddaughter p>
Silence hung heavy between them. Josephine swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she forced out the words.
“Does that mean something p>
Hope flickered in her eyes—small, fragile, yet burning bright.
Every orphan knew that feeling.
The dream.
One day, a real family would come.
They’d smile and say, I’m sorry I left you alone.
I should’ve come sooner.
The child would forgive any excuse, no matter how pathetic, and cry out, Take me home.
Love me like other parents love their children.
But for most, the dream faded-day after day, month after month, year after year —until nothing was left.
Some grew bitter, vowing, If you forgot me, I’ll forget you too.
Others searched for their parents, only to uncover cruelty-parents who were irresponsible, heartless bastards, or something even worse.
They were simply unwanted.
And the children who once believed the world was kind learned instead that life was harsh, filled with betrayal, and they swore not to become the monsters their parents were.
Josephine stared at Alex, her lips quivering, eyes wet.
She wanted to ask the question out loud but couldn’t.
Can I believe in this dream?
If it’s not true, will it break me?
Alex’s heart ached. He stepped forward, pulled her into his arms.
“Silly girl,” he whispered, holding her tight.
In that moment, he remembered the orphanage, when they were small, when
dreams were all they had.
Josephine’s smile was always bright, wild, and full of life.
“Hey, Alex-who do you think your parents are p>
It was the orphans’ favorite game.
Pretending, imagining, weaving stories about who their parents might be. A game
of dreams, colorful and fun.
Back then, Alex was small, sickly, thin as a reed.
His voice wavered. “I… I don’t remember anything p>
“Oh, come on, Alex. You’re so dull sometimes.” Josephine smacked his back
lightly, teasing but sharp.
“That’s why people pick on you. You’ve got to dream big. Imagination makes you strong-strong in mind, strong in body p>
“I… I don’t know,” Alex stammered, his little frame trembling.
Josephine dragged him out to the wide green lawn.
They sat together on the grass, looking up at clothes flapping on the line under the bright blue sky.
She leaned close, her eyes glowing with mischief.
“I’ll tell you a secret I’ve never told anyone. But you’ve got to keep it between us. Deal p>
Alex nodded.
“I remember my mother,” she whispered, her smile soft and radiant. “She was
beautiful. Gentle. She loved me so much p>
Alex listened quietly, nodding again.
“And do you know who my father was p>
Alex shook his head.
“You really swear to keep this secret?” she pressed, eyes narrowing with mock seriousness.
Alex nodded harder, nervously.
Josephine straightened proudly. “My mom told me my father was a king. From another country p>
Her eyes sparkled. “That’s what she always said to me p>
“No!” a mocking voice cut in from behind.
A group of bullies had overheard.
One sneered, “Your father’s no king. He was just a farmer who sold you off
because you ate too much p>
Another chimed in. “My father’s a king too—he rules in heaven p>
“My father’s the king of this whole country!” shouted another.
Before long, the orphanage yard rang with voices.
Children screaming out their parents were kings, queens, rulers of Mars, the moon, the heavens-anything that sounded grand and untouchable.
Now, back in the hospital’s hallway, Alex guided Josephine to sit on the bench against the wall.
“Josephine… I don’t know what to say. This is a shock to me too. Honestly-l knew nothing. Pure chance brought this up p>
“But let me tell you what I do know about Jose and Lucia. Will you listen?” Josephine nodded.
“Jose is the governor of Vinland. But people call him the ‘Poorest Governor.’ He and Lucia chose to live in a small farmhouse instead of a mansion p>
Josephine frowned. “If even the governor lives on a farm, does that mean Vinland is a poor state p>
“Yes… and no,” Alex explained.
“About forty years ago, Vinland was
the poorest place. The governor back then was a tyrant, bleeding the
people dry. Farmers finally rose up, rebelled, and won p>
He paused, his eyes narrowing with respect.
“Jose and Lucia were part of that rebellion. When the tyrant fell, the people chose
Jose as governor p>
“And instead of hoarding wealth, he used government money to lift the farmers, to
raise up the poor. That’s who they are p>
“In this country, Vinland had risen from poverty to power. Once broken and
starving, now it was the richest state, feeding the entire nation p>
“Its people were proud, hardworking, and, by all accounts, the happiest citizens in
the land p>
Alex exhaled slowly. “But even the brightest families carry tragedy. Jose and
Lucia’s daughter, Maria… she fell in love with a man who had no name, no past,
no background p>
Josephine’s eyes flickered.
“At that time, the country was at war. Anyone without identity could be accused of being a spy, and not just them-whole families executed the king’s command. Lucia only wanted to protect Maria. She refused the marriage p>
Alex’s voice lowered. “But Maria chose love. She ran away with that nameless
man p>
Before Josephine could respond, a sudden commotion erupted in the hospital’s front hall.
Heavy boots echoed. A police inspector marched in with four officers at his back.
They stopped directly in front of Josephine.
“Are you Miss Josephine?” the inspector demanded.
“Yes,” she answered, her face confused and pale.
“You’ll come with us to the station p>
Alex shot to his feet. “What the hell is this about p>
The inspector’s voice was cold, clipped. “She’s the prime suspect in the murder of
William and the assault on Madam Lucia. Officers, seize her p>
The policemen moved in fast.
“Stop right there p>
The voice was sharp, commanding. Jose stepped out of Lucia’s hospital room, his presence filling the hallway.
“Governor The inspector forced a smile, but his eyes held no warmth. “We’re only doing our duty p>
“That young woman is my granddaughter,” Jose said, his tone hard as iron. “You
will not take her p>
The inspector sneered. “With respect, sir, you may be governor, but you are not above the law p>
Jose’s old eyes narrowed, cutting like steel. “Sounds to me like you’re listening more to Bernard than to justice p>
“No, sir,” the inspector replied mockingly. “I follow the law. This girl killed William
and injured Madam Lucia. I’m taking her in for questioning p>
Jose stepped in front of Josephine, his frail frame standing like a wall.
“Then tell Bernard to come here himself. Only then will I let anyone lay a hand on
her. Until he comes, she stays with me p>
The officers hesitated, glancing at each other, unwilling to move against the
governor.
At that moment, a portly, middle-aged man with a round belly came rushing down
the hall, his face flushed.
“Governor Jose! I heard William is dead, and Madam Lucia hurt-what is going on
here p>
Jose’s voice thundered.
“Bernard. should have stopped you
you
the moment I sensed your hand in William’s schemes. And now send police to drag away my granddaughter? Do you think I’m too old and senile to see through you p>
Bernard’s lip curled, his words dripping with contempt.
“You are senile, old Jose. And blind. This girl isn’t your granddaughter. She’s a scammer like the rest-an impostor trying to steal her way into your family.” “Worse, she’s William’s killer and the one who harmed Lucia. I’m protecting you, as I always have. You should thank me p>
Jose’s hand trembled but not with weakness. With fury.
“Then help me now p>
Before anyone could react, Jose moved like a man half his age. He ripped the
inspector’s handgun from its holster, turned, and pressed the barrel against Bernard’s forehead.
Gasps tore through the hall. Officers froze in shock.
Jose’s voice roared, echoing down the sterile white corridor. “Stay. Away. From.
My. Granddaughter p>
And then he pulled the trigger.