When Shadow returned to the King's mansion with Anthony, the night was stormy. His first encounter with them was not pleasant, but he knew they were terrified of him.

All they know about him is that he was a ruthless killer. Shadow made his way into the King's garden, where he used to spend time with Sofia. He noticed Elizabeth there.

As she waited for the sun to rise, Elizabeth curled up in the long grass that covered the freshness of rain, breathing in the air of freshly fallen rain. This was her favourite sensation: sitting on the moist ground with mud under her fingertips, soaking in the peace of the early morning hours.

She was completely unaware of what was going on inside the mansion. But she was praying for Bella and Anthony's safety. It was just her, the dawn, and the dew. Her chest was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Her shoulder was touched by a warm hand. Elizabeth gasped, surprised, and spun around to see who had intruded on her privacy.

She was too shocked to react or express herself. He was present. He assassinated her only granddaughter.

He assassinated Sofia.

Elizabeth shoved him hard. She stared at him, her eyes cold. "What exactly are you doing here? Are you also involved in Bella's kidnapping?"

"Please allow me to explain something, Grandma." Shadow said in hushed tones. His eyes were welling up with unshed tears.

"I had no desire for Sofia to perish. It was all a misfortune, and I'm still sorry I took her away from you. But please understand that I never intended for things to end this way." and he explains Wonton's wrongdoing and how he became the killer everyone feared.

Elizabeth was taken aback when she heard this. She could feel his anguish and suffering. Suddenly, she noticed Shadow looking at her with hope.

"I have something to say to you. Sophie is the name of our daughter born to Sofia. Your great grandchild. She'll be here shortly." He stated confidently.

Elizabeth rose to her feet and returned her gaze to the kneeling Shadow.

"Come inside or you'll catch a cold," she said, extending her hand to pull him up. Shadow was taken aback.

"Thank you," he said gratefully to her.

"Just call me Grandma like you always did." "All right, Elijah." She smiled at him warmly. And that was the moment he finally broke down and hugged her tightly, releasing his emotions, pain, and tears over the loss of his life's love, his family, friends, and daughter.

Elizabeth rubbed his back, making him feel better. Nothing had changed; it was still the same as when she used to comfort him.

The sky was still obscured by dark clouds, but she could feel the moonlight piercing through the gaps.

X-X

Anthony summoned Silas and his men to his mansion to begin the final plan to rescue Bella from Wonton. As a result, it was the only night they had before departing for the mission in the morning.

He was aware that it had been more than a month since he had seen Anna. He yearned for her craziness. He jumped onto the branch of a tree just outside Anna's window.

The battle technician tricks he used to climb the building come in handy here.

He braced himself, inhaling an unneeded breath of air. He didn't need it, but he was psyching himself up for the first time in weeks to see Anna.

He was on his way to see her, his love. He'd been waiting for this for what felt like years, and he wasn't afraid to admit to himself that just hugging her made him cry.

He leapt through the window and landed gracefully on the wooden floor in less than a heartbeat. He raised his gaze to meet Anna's.

She held a book in her hand, her arms tightly wrapped around her petite frame. Her tears streamed down her lovely face in rivulets. She was overcome with emotion upon seeing him.

Silas noticed how frail she had become and how lifeless she appeared. Her eyes were no longer the deep rich chocolate he remembered, but a dull brown with no lustre.

She's been through a lot in her days.

Silas fell to his knees as he realised he was the root of what was happening in front of him. With all the pain and troubles, he should have been there to hold her and protect her.

"What have I done?" he lamented.

How could he do this to Anna, his helpless kitten? He had no idea his departure would cause such anguish. He had no idea how much she would suffer.

"I apologise. I'm in here. I'm not going to abandon you."

She approached him, She stood before him, the hole in her heart slowly filling and healing as a result of Silas' words. He'd spiled his heart to her. His words had moved her.

She reached out her hand and brushed her fingers through his hair, his head still bowed. It was exactly as she remembered it, soft and silky. Anna never expected to feel any resemblance to him again. But she was now touching him. This was true.

He was in her bedroom. She allowed herself to smile for the first time in weeks. He was going to be here for a long time. She allowed that knowledge to fill her, relieving her heartache.

Silas drew her to him the moment her fingers touched his hair, crashing their bodies together. His arms wrapped around her waist like a cage, his face buried in her stomach. He sobbed, clutching her close, vowing never to let her go again. He was terrified.

Not now, when he's just gotten her back. He'd be happy to spend the rest of his days with her in his arms if she'd just let him.

Anna slowly raised her hands, gently hugging him to her body, allowing his coolness to envelop her. She stroked his hair in vain, hoping to calm him. She couldn't think of anything to say. She'd never seen Silas in this condition before. In their relationship, he was always the strong one, the one who comforted her and soothed her pain. Not the other way around, he was the one who chased her worries away.

Silas was on his knees in front of her, and it broke her heart. She couldn't blame him for doing what he thought was best for him. He was a soldier before he fell in love with her.

She didn't agree with his actions, but she sympathised with him. For she realised that if she were in his position, he would have had to leave and would do so in the future. People were driven insane by love. After all, she was and continues to be willing to sacrifice her normal life for him.

With the ache from his absence finally gone, Anna was able to say the one word she had been unable to say since his departure.

"Silas," she sighed softly. Saying his name felt good. It just felt right. She had overlooked it.

He looked up at his beloved, who had a radiant smile on her face because she adored him. Her eyes were still watery from her tears, but her smile shone brightly. But they were no longer tears of sadness, as they had been in the past, but tears of pure joy. He raised his hand and brushed his fingertips against her cheek.

The sensation of her skin against his still sent electricity coursing through his body. The spark was still there; it had never gone away, even when he had. He yearned for that pure, unadulterated bliss. Nothing will ever compare to that sensation. Nothing.

She knelt in front of him, her gaze never leaving his. It was as if she was memorising him, though she never forgot what he said.

His lips trembled, and his eyes were heavy with sadness. He brought his other hand up to rest on her cheek, cradling her delicate face with both hands. She moved her hands to either side of his face, mimicking his movements.

"Anna." The word came out strained, almost painfully, as if he was struggling to speak. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I'm truly sorry. Please accept my apology."

Without saying anything, Anna brought her lips to his, and everything else faded away as soon as they touched. There was no more suffering. There was no more ache in her heart where the hole used to be. All of Anna's pain since his departure washed away as if it had never existed. It had been as if he never left.

Her skin was like fire against his, and the moment her lips touched his, something snapped in Silas. Keeping one hand against her cheek, he wrapped his other arm around her back, drawing her in closer.

He kissed her with a fervour he'd never shown her before; there was an urgency to it. He needed her to know how much he loved her, how much she meant to him, in that single kiss.

Her heart began to race, as it always did when Silas was nearby, and her body temperature rose, flushing a delicate pink. She clung to him tighter and tighter, never wanting the kiss to end. She'd been apart from him for far too long. She couldn't stand it.

She buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent that could only be described as Silas. It was manly, yet sweet, with a honey undertone. She was enamoured with it.

Silas drew Anna into his lap, leaning against her bed. He rested his cheek against her hair as he cradled her to his chest. It still had a strawberry scent to it. The smell of strawberries would always and forever be associated with Anna for Silas.

They stayed that way for a while, just caressing and holding each other. Anna raised her head to face the love of her life. He was the only man she'd ever love, in this life or the next. Her face was calm, and she smiled.

Her voice was strong when she spoke, never cracking as she had feared. "Never leave me again," she vowed. Her eyes were demanding, not sad or pleading. She would never let him hurt her again.

Silas looked at his love, knowing full well that he could never leave her again. He was barely able to complete it the first time; if he did it again, it would undoubtedly kill him.

He stared deeply into her eyes, watching life slowly return to them. He gently cupped her face in his hand, and she leaned into the icy touch.

"Never," he said emphatically. "I will never leave you again." "I will always be yours." He paused, his gaze fixed on her, before proceeding. "For all eternity," he said quietly.

His words widened her eyes. Anna was unsure if she had understood him correctly. He shouldn't promise her forever if he's not willing to give it to her.

"Eternity?" she inquired. Her voice was soft, as if she didn't want to say the word too loudly for fear of Silas changing his mind.

He nodded slowly and firmly.

Silas had made up his mind that he would eventually ask her to marry him.

This was the last thing he wanted for her, but if eternity with him was what she desired, he would no longer refuse her. He couldn't deny her anything, so why should he deny her the happiness she craved? Silas would be lying if he said he didn't yearn for eternity with Anna as well.

She smiled brightly, a tidal wave of peace washing over her. She would finally have her happily ever after with Silas. That was all she had ever desired.

"That's exactly what I'm looking for, Silas. It's something I've always desired." She said, placing a hand over his still heart, "You are everything I have ever desired. Forever."

He leaned in, resting his brow on hers.

"I love you Anna."

"I love you too." she said warmly.

As he raked a hand through his already dishevelled hair and sighed loudly, his eyes began to dance across her face nervously.

"What?" Anna gently prodded.

He locked his gaze on her, determination written across his face. "Marry me."

Anna was rendered speechless for a brief moment. She couldn't speak, couldn't even think coherently. Silas, did you just propose ?

She looked at him, his face becoming more tense by the second. She cracked a grin. "Ask me again with the ring," she insisted.

Silas' eyes shone brightly, and he smiled broadly. He picked up Anna and gently placed her on her feet. Kneeling in front of her, he took her left hand in his, affectionately squeezing it with the ring he'd been carrying since eternity.

"Anna Clive, you are more important to me than you know. I am nothing without you. Life isn't worth living if you're not there to share it with. I love you with everything I am, and I promise to love you forever; every day of the rest of my life. Are you willing to marry me?"

The familiar sting of tears began to coat her eyes. "Yes," she said quietly. "Yes, Silas, I'll marry you."

Silas jumped to his feet and kissed her passionately, disregarding boundaries. He'd never been happier in his life than he was right then. Everything was back to normal; he had his life back, and he had Anna. He never expected her to greet him with open arms when he returned, but she did. She never stopped surprising him.

He didn't know what he'd done to deserve such joy, but the incredible woman in his arms made it possible simply by giving him a chance.

X-X

Anna knew it was not the right time to tell him the news, but she was also pregnant. She and Silas had spent so much time together, and she had stayed with him, that it was unavoidable. However, Bella was still not present. So she wanted to keep it to herself for the time being.

But she wanted to see Anthony because she felt he should be aware of what was going on.

When she left to meet Anthony in his study room, she noticed Silas was sleeping.

She opened the study room door and saw Anthony sitting and looking at Bella's photos without a second thought.

"Don't be concerned. Tony, you'll find her." She approached him and placed her hand on his back.

Her grip tightened as he continued to speak.

Her grip tightened as he softly traced Bella's face in the photo frame. "It's been nearly a week and they still haven't found her." But I'll do it now. "I've got my people and my information."

She despised Wonton for stealing Bella from him. He didn't deserve to be in this much pain. He was tired of living a troubled life.

"All I want is for my babies and Bella to be safe. Even if it means sacrificing my own life for them. But, please, God, send her to me safe and sound." Anthony's voice was desperate and tired.

Her vision was clouded by tears of rage and frustration. But she was also saddened by the thought of Bella in pain.

Anna understood what it meant to be a mother. She was expecting her first child.

She despised Wonton.

Anthony was never going to let him live. She wouldn't even let him live if that jerk did something to her Bell babes.

She took a step forward and hugged Anthony tightly.

"Tony I'm engaged. I've one other news but I'll tell you when Bella will be back."

"Really? I'm happy for you." he hugged her back. He was happy for her.

X-X

Silas was sleeping when his buzzer began to beep furiously. His eyes were open, and he instinctively grabbed his guns. He took a look around and plugged in his Bluetooth. It had to be Jackson.

"We have detected a threat near the King's mansion. But we can't seem to find it." Jackson alerted him.

Silas was still shirtless and only wearing his pants, but he choose his weapons and took his position. His heart was pounding.

Where had Anna gone?

X-X

When the world came to a halt, Anna was still hugging Anthony. They were close to the window. Which faced the vast majority of the garden area.

But when a gunshot rang out, everything came to a halt.

Anna was initially unconvinced. When the bullet made contact with her body, she stumbled back. But she was too taken aback to notice.

It felt like there was a rush. Her body ached.

Her stomach was pierced by a bullet, and blood was pooling around her.

Anthony went insane. He screamed like a raging storm. And everyone in the house was called down. He drew his own gun from the drawer and was about to leaped out the window to pursue the gunman.

Knowing what he was going to do, Anna sprang into action to stop him. It was risky to travel at night.

But when they heard another gunshot, she recognised Silas. He killed the man with a single shot to the head.

Her vision seemed to be going blank. The bullet struck her in the stomach. Her child.

"Silas!" In fifteen minutes, Anthony had called every medical team he could find. Fortunately, the medicine room had already been installed in the mansion. As a result, the team was on its way.

Anna's heart stuttered a few times. She couldn't decide whether to cry or be relieved when she saw Silas running inside the room, followed by the others.

Silas remained shirtless, tears streaming down his cheeks. He hugged her close and examined her wound. It was profound.

"Anna? Baby. Don't doze off. It will be fine. "I'm here," he choked out.

"Pre..." she gasped through the agony.

" Bab..." Silas was nodding in agreement "I'll save Bella, who is pregnant. Don't be concerned. We'll get her back."

She wanted to tell him that she was pregnant with their child as well. But he must have assumed she was referring to Bella. But she had something to say about herself.

She was going to die maybe. As she tried to speak, tears streamed down her cheeks.

" Sil.. " she couldn't say anything because her body was tired. Silas' hand was placed over Anna's belly.

"baby..." Her heart broke when she realised she'd never see her baby again. . She discovered it two weeks ago, and everything was ruined.

Anna had no idea whether it was twins like Bella.

She was losing her vision, but she noticed Silas frozen expression. He understands now. She can tell he picked up on her message.

With her hazy vision. Silas gave her a broken look.

"Are you pregnant too?" Anthony expressed his shock and sadness.

Megan appeared with other teams of doctors as they placed her in medical care.

The last thing Anna saw was Silas looking at Elijah, who was running alongside the doctors. And witnessed the heinous scene there.

It was Elijah who drew her attention away from Silas. She couldn't believe it when she saw tears in his eyes.

She'd never seen Elijah cry before.

Ever. But she saw it right in front of her eyes.

Silas took her hand in his.

"Please save her," he begs Megan. "I'll do anything to help you save her. Please."

Anna possessed no physical strength. As she slipped into the darkness of the unconscious, she caressed his cheek one last time.

X-X

When they saw the dead body of the killer, they knew it belonged to the Wonton's gang and called an immediate meeting.

Elijah was present, and Silas was staying with Anna, so it was his responsibility to fill his brother's vacancy.

Even though Silas was an important member of the team right now, Anthony was not going to call him. Anna requires him more than ever.

Elijah was taken aback when he saw James and Era. Sophie's legal guardians were they. But they were frozen when they saw him.

"I know about Sophie," he said quietly.

James knew he'd return to take their daughter one day. And he wasn't prepared for it. But he knew Silas would take Sofia's final remembrance. Era sobbed because it was too much for her. But she knew Elijah was exactly what Sophie required.

"We received a call from Wonton this morning, and we can hear the birds in the background." I believe we know where Bella is.

"The location where we will never be able to find her."

"Where?"

"The starting point for everything. Aunt Irene grew up here. Anthony spent his childhood with Zachary. In their previous residence."

X-X

A/n: Hello!! Cupcakes!! This chapter was difficult to write because there was no Bella or Anthony, but I wanted to keep Silas and Elijah in the same chapter. So that's what I did. The next