"You really have some nerve!" Edmund raised his hand again to strike me.

Olivia hurried to stop him, putting on a show of restraint. "Enough, the child’s still young and ignorant. There's no need to lower ourselves."

She turned to me with a falsely gentle tone. "Alice, it’s not that I’ve been harsh with your sister. She’s simply unwilling to study. She said she preferred the freedom of being a dog."

"I never wanted her to stay in the kennel," she added with a sigh. "But every time we refused, she’d starve herself for days. In the end, we had no choice but to give in."

"If you don’t believe me, ask your father. Or better yet, let Cathy explain it to you herself."

Edmund gave a cold snort. "It’s Cathy who’s the problem. She won’t study, skips school, and would rather bark like a dog. A child like that isn’t worthy of being called my daughter!"

I felt a tug on my sleeve. My sister’s voice was hoarse and trembling. "Sister... I don’t like school. I like being a puppy. I like living in the doghouse."

Then she dropped to all fours. "Woof... woof... I’m a puppy!"

"You’re not a dog, Cathy. You’re a person!" I snapped, my heart breaking.

I looked around the yard. No familiar faces—no housekeeper, no old nanny, no bodyguard. Everyone had been replaced. And they all stared at me with wary, almost predatory eyes.

"I don’t care what happened before," I said, voice steady with fury. "Now that I’m back, my sister—Alice—will no longer be treated like an animal!"

Olivia chuckled and played the innocent. "Then, Alice, you take responsibility for her from now on. We clearly can't manage her."

As she spoke, she picked up a ball at her feet and tossed it across the yard.

Without hesitation, my sister dropped to all fours again and chased after it. She bit the ball with her teeth, ran back, and dropped it into Olivia’s open palm.

Olivia threw it again. Cathy eagerly prepared to run after it.

I rushed over and pulled her up. "Cathy! You are human. You stand on two legs. You use your hands, not your mouth!"

"Please," I said gently, "promise me you won’t pretend to be a puppy anymore, okay?"

But she only shook her head again and again. "No, I like it... I’m a puppy, I want to be a puppy..."

Olivia burst into laughter and dangled the ball again. "Want to play some more?"

My sister’s eyes lit up. She stuck out her tongue, panting happily. "Yes! Yes!"

"Enough!" I snapped, spinning toward Edmund. "My mother begged you to protect her before she died. Is this how you honor her wish?"

He shrugged without emotion. "She brought this on herself. I can’t help it if she turned out useless."

"Give me the key. I’m removing that chain from her neck!"

Silence. Not one servant moved.

I turned to them, eyes blazing. "Are you all deaf?! I said, get the key!"

Only after Olivia gave a nod did someone finally spring into action.

That’s when I realized—I had no authority in this house.

Once the chain was removed, Cathy panicked. She shrank back, scrambling toward the kennel.

"I don’t want to live in a house! I’m a puppy—I live in the doghouse!"

I grabbed her tightly and whispered, "It’s okay, Cathy. Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you to a doctor right now."

There was no time to gather our things. I rushed her straight to the hospital.

After the examination, the doctor’s expression turned grim.

Not only was her psychological state deeply damaged, but her body had been ravaged. Scars covered her chest and back—just hidden by clothing. There were signs of repeated whippings, burns, and blunt trauma. Several of her ribs had been fractured, and her skull had sustained damage as well.

As I listened to the doctor's report, tears spilled uncontrollably down my cheeks.

How could anyone do this to a child?

I pulled my sister into my arms, holding her tightly.

"Don’t be afraid, Cathy. From now on, I’ll protect you. No one will ever hurt you again."

I brought my sister back to the villa, only to be greeted by Olivia waddling out with her pregnant belly leading the way.

"Alice," she said with fake warmth, "do you have the Sigil of the Serpent Seal with you?"

Inside the living room, I saw my luggage already opened, its contents rifled through like someone was looting.

"Who gave you permission to touch my things?" I snapped.

Olivia pretended not to notice my anger. "Alice, hand over your half of the seal to your mother. You know she's carrying your baby brother, and in the future, he will be the one to inherit the family's legacy."

I couldn’t help but laugh, cold and sharp. "The Sigil of the Serpent reveres bloodline. Only direct descendants of the Downing Family can carry on its power. And you think the bastard in your belly qualifies? You’re delusional."

Edmund’s face turned an ugly shade of green. "Watch your mouth! That’s your brother, not a bastard!"

I looked directly at Olivia. "Does she believe that?"

Olivia quickly leaned into Edmund’s arms, eyes brimming with false tears. "Your father is the only man I’ve ever loved. How could you accuse me of something so vile?"

"Apologize to your mother!" Edmund barked.

But I ignored him and took my sister upstairs.

Behind me, Edmund continued his rant. "Your mother even had your room cleaned and stocked with your favorite fruit. How can you be so ungrateful?"

I slammed the door behind us and locked him out. He tried to shout orders, wanting to throw me out, but Olivia made a show of calming him down, pretending to be the bigger person. It wasn’t until much later that the hallway finally quieted.

I gave my sister a bath, changed her into clean clothes, and stayed with her until she fell asleep. Only then did I finally lie down beside her, mentally preparing to confront them properly once my people arrive tomorrow.

I must’ve drifted off close to dawn. When I woke up, my sister was gone.

Panic hit me instantly. I jumped out of bed and tore through the villa looking for her.

I found her in the dining room—kneeling on the floor, obediently serving food to Olivia’s nephew.

Marshall looked up and smirked when he saw me. "My aunt said she’d give Cathy to me as a wife. Said she was born to serve me."

He tore off a piece of bread, chewed it, then spat it on the floor. "You were good today, little dog. Here’s your reward."

My sister immediately crawled forward, about to eat the chewed bread with her mouth.

Marshall burst into laughter. "You really are a dog! Eating what I chewed? Disgusting!"

Then, to my horror, he climbed onto her back. "Let’s go! Run faster, dog, or you don’t get dinner!"

My sister got on all fours and crawled through the room with him on her back.

"Faster!" Marshall barked. "You want food or not? If you’re this slow, you’ll starve tonight!"

He tossed a few pieces of dog food onto the floor. My sister scrambled to pick them up.

"All you care about is eating, just like a mutt!"

I couldn’t take it anymore. I stormed forward and kicked Marshall off her.

He hit the floor hard with a loud thud, then scrambled up, shouting, "You bitch! You dare hit me?"

"Someone tie her up! Now!"

"Don’t you dare," I said coldly, pulling my sister into my arms. "Marshall, kneel and apologize to my sister. Do it now, and I might let you keep your life. Refuse, and I swear you’ll regret it."

"You’ve got a lot of nerve!" he sneered. "This isn’t like when your mother was around! This house is ours now. The Downing name? That’s dead. The Serpent’s Sigil? Belongs to the Fowlers! My uncle runs the show now—who the hell do you think you are?"

"Grab her!"

The guards lunged at us and held me and my sister down.

Olivia strolled in, playing the kind-hearted matron. "Alice, don’t be angry. My nephew is just a bit spoiled, but he meant no harm. He was only playing with Cathy."

Then her tone shifted, coy and calculated. "How about this—give me your half of the seal, and I’ll make him apologize to both of you. Isn’t that fair?"

I glared at her with utter disdain. "You want the Sigil of the Serpent Seal? In your dreams."

Olivia’s face twisted with fury. “You shameless brat! Search her! The seal must be on her!”

I laughed coldly. “Finally dropped the act, have you? That fake smile of yours made me nauseous.”

She snarled. “You little bitch. If you were half as obedient as your sister, I might’ve let you crawl at my feet like a dog. But you're wild—completely untrainable. Fine, I’ll send you to Romania. A few months there and you’ll learn your place.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“When I get that seal, Sigil of the Serpent will be mine. What’s left to be afraid of?”

“Madam! I found it!” A bodyguard came forward, holding up my half of the Sigil of the Serpent Seal.

Olivia’s eyes lit up with greed. She snatched it and gleefully joined it with the other half hanging from her neck.

“Finally!” she gasped. “Sigil of the Serpent is mine at last! The power across United States and Europe, the wealth, the influence—all mine!”

I gave a cold smirk. “You’re celebrating too early. All you’ve got is a token.”

She raised her chin. “The Sigil of the Serpent Seal controls over 8,000 branches. With it, I am the Grand Matron of the Serpent Order!”

“Someone like you? You’re not worthy.”

Her face darkened. “Still stubborn? Fine. Take her and Cathy away. Ship them both to Romania!”

I glanced at my watch. Perfect timing.

At that exact moment, the heavy oak doors burst open. A tactical unit in dark suits flooded into the manor—quick, ruthless, and expertly trained. In seconds, Olivia’s guards were disarmed and neutralized. The squad formed a tight perimeter around Catherine and me.

Olivia staggered backward, eyes wide in shock. “Who the hell are you?!”

One of the men stepped forward, his voice crisp and authoritative. “We’re the Sovereign Guard—direct protectors of the Aurelian Line.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up with false pride. “Perfect! I’m one of you—of the Aurelian Line!” She raised the completed seal. “Behold! The Sigil of the Serpent Seal! I am your new Grand Matron. Now follow my orders—seize Alice and Cathy!”

But the men didn’t move.

Olivia’s voice rose. “Are you deaf?! I have the seal!”

The lead guard ignored her and handed me an envelope. “Miss, we’ve brought what you requested.”

I took it and turned to Edmund. “Dad, take a look.”

He took the envelope hesitantly. Olivia rushed over, trying to peer inside. The moment he pulled out the documents, his face went pale.