Sim had insisted on going to the park with Maera. Truth be told, it was entirely Sim's idea—she had been feeling suffocated at home and needed air. That's why, despite the freezing cold, she'd dragged Maera out for a walk.
They strolled side by side, fingers intertwined, their hands warming each other.
Out of nowhere, Sim turned to Maera with an unusual request.
"Mae, I want ice cream."
Maera stopped and stared at her in disbelief. "Sim, for God's sake—it's freezing out here and you want ice cream? Do you want to freeze to death?"
Sim pouted. "But I want it… I don't know why, but my heart feels weird."
Maera paused, then understood. "Alright, wait for me on that bench. I'll get it."
She had just started to leave when Sim grabbed her arm. "Bring one for yourself too."
Maera gently pulled her arm away. "Little blue bird, I don't have a death wish in this cold."
With that, she walked off. Sim giggled and wandered ahead alone.
Just then, a girl approached her.
"Hey, sweety."
Sim blinked. A stranger? Talking to her out of nowhere? It felt odd. But she didn't want to be rude.
"Hey... you are?"
"I'm Zetheria, but my friends call me Zith," the girl said, cutting Sim off mid-sentence.
"Oh, Zith," Sim replied simply. She normally didn't talk to strangers, but Zith seemed alright. They walked together and began chatting. Sim warmed up quickly to her, and before long, the two were laughing as they neared a park bench.
Just then, Maera returned.
"Hey, babes," she greeted, slipping her arm around Sim's waist and handing her the ice cream.
Sim glanced from Maera to the other girl. "Mae, this is Zith."
Maera looked at her. "Oh hey, Zith. So what do you think of my little wife?" she asked casually, extending a hand toward her while gazing affectionately at Sim.
Zetheria grew a little awkward. "Oh, I'm sorry—I didn't know she was your wife. I won't bother you two. Please enjoy your time."
She smiled at Sim. "Bye, Similia."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Sim turned to Maera, frowning. "Mae… she was just talking to me. Are you jealous?"
Maera scoffed. "I'm not jealous. And my little blue bird, I know exactly how people look at you. I meet thousands of people every day, and I can read every pair of eyes—especially when it comes to you."
She took Sim's hand and kept walking.
"Okay fine, you're not jealous. But she was funny though," Sim teased, winking as Maera walked ahead.
Maera suddenly turned. "Oh really? So now you find her funny? Then why don't you just go back to her?"
Sim burst into laughter. "See? You are jealous!"
Maera stared at her silently, amused despite herself.
"Okay, okay—I'll stop teasing you," Sim surrendered.
Maera smiled. "You know, Sim, one of these days I'm going to hang a name tag around your neck. So everyone knows you belong to me, and only me."
Sim wrapped her arms around Maera from behind. "Aww, my Mae…"
Maera turned, cupped Sim's chin, and smiled softly. "Let's have lunch outside."
Sim lit up. "Yes! Let's go! I'm ready!"
And with that, they left the park hand in hand.
_______________________________________________________>>>>
Sam woke up to find himself lying on a couch. He sat up groggily, eyes scanning the unfamiliar room. Just as he was trying to make sense of where he was, Jacob walked in.
"Good morning, bro," Jacob said casually, placing breakfast on the table before taking a seat beside him.
Sam held his head—he was dizzy.
Jacob poured a glass of juice and slid it toward him. "So… are you ready to talk now?"
Sam straightened up. "Bro… a lot has happened, and I don't even know where to begin. But—long story short…"
Over the next ten minutes, he told Jacob everything.
Jacob listened in silence. When Sam finished, Jacob lowered his gaze and took a slow sip from his juice.
"The night Zero came to the bar," Jacob said finally, "he told me… that the person he loves is you. That his love was one-sided. But—"
Sam, who had been listening intently, looked up at him. "But?"
Jacob noticed the question in his eyes, then smiled faintly. "But… never mind. My 'buts' rarely mean much anyway."
He seemed to change his mind and steer the conversation away.
"Jacob, you…"
But Jacob cut him off. "So, you had a fight with your dad too? Because you want to open a coffee shop?"
"Exactly," Sam nodded.
"Well, I think I can help. With the legal processes, taxes and all. But tell me—how much do you have in your account right now?"
Sam checked on his phone. "It's enough to cover the basic legal and tax formalities."
"Perfect," Jacob said. "I have this old bar property. I've shifted my business to a new place, so that space is just gathering dust. I can give it to you. You can pay me back in installments."
Sam's face lit up. "Thanks, bro…"
Jacob smiled. "No need for thanks. I'll be glad to help you build your dream. I just want to see you happy in the days to come."
He finished his juice in one gulp.
Sam, now energized and excited, quickly finished his breakfast. By then, Jacob was already dressed.
"Sam, get ready. Let's start the process today. The sooner the better."
With that, he grabbed his keys and headed out.
As Sam was about to follow, he noticed Jacob's phone left on the table. He picked it up, and the fingerprint scan unlocked it immediately. That surprised him.
The lock screen wallpaper was a picture of Jacob, Zero, and himself—taken during their school days.
Sam smiled quietly, memories flooding back. Back then, the three of them were inseparable. Jacob was the oldest, the anchor of their trio. But after Jacob moved away, it was just the two of them—Sam and Zero.
Still holding the phone, Sam stepped outside
____________________________________________________________>>>
Li Cheng had just opened the door to his car when his phone rang.
He answered, and Sara's voice came through. "Mr. Li, can you come to my house? There are some things I'd like to discuss."
Li Cheng responded formally, "Of course."
He climbed into the car, changed his destination, and sped off toward Sara's house.
Minutes later, he stood outside her home. As he stepped forward, the guards moved to stop him.
But this was Li Cheng. He silently flashed his ID, and without another word, walked into the house.
The heavy double doors of the mansion creaked open as Li Cheng stepped inside, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the silence that loomed like a shadow over the marble floor. His coat, still wet from the light drizzle outside, trailed behind him. Despite the warmth of the central heating, the air in the grand hall felt unnaturally cold—like something unspoken was waiting to rise from the walls.
Sara was already there.
She stood beneath the crystal chandelier, back straight, arms crossed tightly against her chest. Her eyes met his with the weight of someone who had waited a long time for answers, and was now too tired to ask kindly.
"You're late mr. li," she said, her voice calm but loaded.
Li Cheng gave a slight bow of his head, but said nothing. His gaze briefly flicked toward the spiral staircase. His instincts warned him—this was not a conversation that should take place under a roof shared by too many ears.
But Sara had other plans.
"Come," she said shortly, turning and walking ahead. "They're waiting."
Li Cheng's jaw tightened. They.
As he followed her down the hallway and into a side room, he saw them—Sara's younger siblings, seated on the bed and floor, looking lost and confused. Their eyes lit up a little at the sight of Sara, but dimmed again the moment they caught the tension etched in her face.
Sara closed the door behind them and faced Li Cheng, holding something tightly in her hand—a pair of old, weathered amulets. One silver snake amulet, one obsidian black dragon amulet.
She raised them toward him.
"What do these mean?" Her voice cracked, but she didn't let the tremor last. "These were in my mother's belongings. I know they're not ordinary."
Li Cheng remained silent, arms crossed over his chest like a wall.
"And this letter…" Sara's voice dropped. She pulled a folded parchment from her coat pocket—its edges crinkled, the ink slightly smudged with age or maybe tears. "She wrote that I am the new guardian. That after her death, I must take control. That I must bring justice. She said I'm capable of doing anything. Why would she write this to me, Li Cheng? Why not to my father? Or to anyone else?"
Still, he was silent.
Sara's hand tightened around the amulets. Her voice rose. "Who was my mother? Why did she hide everything from me? Why did you hide it? I want to know the truth—all of it."
Li Cheng's eyes flicked toward the children sitting behind her. They were watching—wide-eyed, breathing shallow, sensing the storm even if they didn't understand it.
"No," he said finally. His voice was quiet but firm. "Not here."
Sara stepped forward, desperate. "Why? Because they'll hear it? Because you think they can't handle it?"
"Because you can't," Li Cheng said coldly. "Not here. Not like this."
Sara flinched, but didn't break.
"Then take me somewhere I can."
Li Cheng paused. The fire in her eyes reminded him of someone he'd once sworn an oath to protect. Someone who was now gone.
He gave a single nod.
"Get your coat."
After ten Minuts
The drive was long and quiet.
Li Cheng refused to speak. His hands gripped the wheel, jaw clenched, eyes never leaving the road. He had known that one day he would have to face such situtation, but not like this. Sara sat beside Li Cheng .The streets blurred past the window, but her mind was racing faster—questions clawing at her thoughts like wild fire.
Then the scenery began to change.
From city to countryside. From quiet lanes to heavily guarded territory. The road narrowed, winding between tall, dark trees, until a pair of iron gates appeared before them—embossed with the sigil of a coiled black dragon.
Guards in tailored black suits and discreet earpieces stepped forward. One of them leaned in, saw Li Cheng, and nodded sharply.
The gates creaked open.
The car rolled into the estate.
Ahead stood a towering black mansion—ornate and unyielding, like it had been carved out of shadow and steel. Its roof stretched high into the dusk sky, windows tinted, and at its very center, a massive dragon sculpture coiled along the front, its eyes made of black opal.
Sara stepped out of the car.
She could feel it in the air—power, tension, a history hidden behind every brick.
Guards lined the driveway, statuesque and alert. Some watched her curiously. Others—coldly.
Li Cheng walked ahead without a word, and Sara followed. Her boots clicked against the obsidian stone as they entered through tall arched doors.
The moment she stepped into the grand hall, her breath caught.
The interior was unlike anything she'd ever seen.
A massive chandelier of black crystal hung from the ceiling, glittering like frozen lightning. The walls were draped in deep crimson velvet and obsidian stone, etched with ancient symbols. Columns of polished black marble rose toward the vaulted ceiling. The lighting was warm, yet muted—like dusk trapped in gold.
And in the center of the floor—a massive black dragon emblem, embedded into the marble itself. Its wings spread wide across the hall, talons curled, eyes fierce.
There were people—men and women dressed in sleek black uniforms, all of them stopping to acknowledge Li Cheng with slight bows. Some glanced at Sara—others whispered—but no one dared approach.
Then Sara saw her.
At the far end of the hall, seated on a raised platform throne that looked half regal, half battlefield command post—sat an elderly woman. Her hair was silver, braided tight against her skull, her eyes sharp and alert. Lines marked her face, but none of them were soft. Her presence commanded silence, reverence, and perhaps a little fear.
Despite her age, she sat like steel.
This was her grandmother.And now, Sara could see it.
The aura. The fire. The spine of iron.
She didn't look fragile.She looked like someone who could break bones with her bare hands—someone who had led armies, not families.
Li Cheng stopped and bowed slightly.
"Matriarch," he said.
Her eyes moved to Sara.
"So… this is her."
Sara froze.
The room held its breath.
Her grandmother rose from her seat slowly—graceful, deliberate. And when she stepped down from the platform, there was a stillness in the room as if the walls themselves were watching.
"I've been waiting a long time to meet you," she said. Her voice was deep, textured with age, but unshaken.
Sara swallowed.
"Why am I here?" she asked softly, trying not to sound shaken.
The old woman's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "Because your mother wasn't just my daughter—she was my successor."
Sara's eyes widened.
"And now," the woman said, walking closer, "it seems that title passes on… to you." she kissed her forehead with pride.
At her grandmother's signal, Li Cheng gave Sara a nod, silently instructing her to follow.
Without a word, she walked forward.
She didn't know what was happening. She didn't understand any of it—but still, she kept going, doing exactly what she was told. No questions, no resistance.Even though her mind was bursting with them.
They walked through the hall and arrived at a large room moments later. It wasn't as vast as the main hall, but it held a similar sense of grandeur. The floor bore the same dragon emblem. The walls, the chandeliers, the presence—everything echoed the same power, though this room had curtains and wide windows that let in more light.
Sara turned her head to take in the full view.
Her grandmother gave another quiet gesture, and instantly, everyone in the room silently left.
"Sara, dear—sit down," her grandmother said gently.
Sara sat on the nearby sofa.
Li Cheng took a seat across from her, and her grandmother sat down beside her.
This was the same woman she had seen in the throne room just minutes ago—but now, she felt completely different.
That sharp, commanding aura was still there, but her expression had softened. Her eyes held warmth. A strange tenderness.
She reached out and gently brushed Sara's hair behind her ear.
"I'm your grandmother," she said with a small smile.
Sara, who had been sitting with her head bowed for a long time, finally looked up at her. "Grandma…"That was all she could say.
Her grandmother gave her a nod. "You sit here and rest.", she said patting her head"we can talk later"
This is your room now. Li Cheng will tell you everything."
With that, she stood up and quietly walked away, leaving them alone.
For the first time, Sara exhaled fully. Her body relaxed slightly, sinking into the cushions. She felt… strangely safe.
Li Cheng had been silently watching her the whole time—studying every flicker of emotion.
Sara reached for the jug of water on the table, poured herself a glass, and took a long sip.
Meanwhile, Li Cheng pulled off his gloves. Then, rising to his feet, he walked toward the tall windows, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the city outside.
Sara watched him for a moment before speaking.
"You brought me all the way here," she said softly. "Are you going to tell me what's really going on now?"
He heard her.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Adjusting his glasses, he finally spoke.
"I don't even know where to begin,
"Your mother wasn't who you think she was," he began. "And you aren't either."
Sara's breath caught in her throat.
He continued, "These amulets are not jewelry. They are seals—keys, if you will. One unlocks legacy. The other… vengeance."
Sara's eyes widened.
"Your mother___Selene__ belonged to an order __older than your family's name. She walked away from that life to protect you and your siblings. But her past caught up with her. And when she realized___ her time was ending… she didn't trust anyone else to finish what she started."
"She trusted me," Sara whispered.
"She chose you," Li Cheng corrected. then he turned and came to sara and sat beside her at a proper distance, he continued, "Because you're the only one with the fire to burn it all down and the strength to rebuild.you are the elder daughter of BLACK DRAGON and the Heir of Cobra.....and this...this is The Dragon Citadel, from where your mother belonged"
Sara looked down at her hands, shaking.
"So all this time," she said softly. "All this pain. The nightmares. The memories I couldn't explain. They were real."
Li Cheng nodded.
"You carry a bloodline that was never meant to sleep. And now, it's waking."
Sara felt tears brim at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"What do I do now?" she asked.
"You become what she trained you to be," Li Cheng said. "But make no mistake—there will be no turning back"
Sara stared at the letter again. Her mother's final words echoing inside her chest like thunder:
"You are the guardian now. You must take the throne which is belonged to you, you have to take revenge and show the world , the true power of cobra,
love you,
your mother."
She swallowed hard
"so..what now, what is this cobra ?",
she asked still a bit confused,
licheng said " you mother created her own syndicate "cobra" , but she couldn't cut her ties with BLACK DRAGON, black dragon is the second part of cobra in shadows, which no one knew, i am the manger of cobra, and the company your mother created just to put cobra in shadows,____but her past is like anight mare__hauted her till death___she gave me your resposiblity ___alexa is also a part of black dragon___her real name is Irelyn.
after your mother's death, the other part of cobra which no one knew, black dragon is working in shadows,"
li cheng paused for a second, sara was focused , then he continued:
"you have to train your self, to take revenge of your mother's death,
and ascend the throne of cobra so that you'll be the keeper of the legacy"
when li cheng stopped, sara let out a long "sigh", then she said"why didnt you bring my siblings here",
li cheng adjusted hi glasses again, as if he doesnt have a proper answer, then he said"you can bring them here later but not now",
as he said he stood up and said"ms sara, please have a rest, You will soon understand the environment here." and he walked out from the room..
After Li Cheng left, Sara remained seated for a while, unmoving. Eventually, she rose to her feet, slipped off her coat, and slowly walked toward the large maroon bed before her. But she didn't sit—she collapsed. Her body fell onto the mattress with a quiet surrender, and she lay flat, eyes fixed on the ceiling above.
So much had happened in just a matter of days.
She lifted both hands before her eyes, staring at the faint lines etched into her palms, as if searching them for answers—wondering what twist of fate awaited her now. She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to decipher a language only destiny spoke. But her hands looked ordinary, nothing divine or cursed about them.
With a quiet sigh, she let them fall, resting them on her chest. Thoughts churned in her mind like a stormy sea—until somewhere between confusion and exhaustion, sleep claimed her. Her body drifted into slumber, half-sprawled across the bed, her legs dangling loosely over the edge.
TO BE CONTINUED...