THE TRUE DRAGON BLOODLINE HEIRESS

The Enemy Within

The morning sun poured over the Fox estate, turning the enormous gardens into a sea of gold.

Aura and Drake were running through the grass, laughing as they chased each other between the fountains.

Drake suddenly stopped and pointed toward a tree.

"You're not catching me!"

Aura grinned.

"Wait until I catch you!"

She ran after him.

Their laughter carried across the estate.

From the terrace, Mrs. Sterling Fox watched them.

She had several documents spread across a table in front of her, but every few moments, her attention drifted away from the papers.

She would look at Drake.

Then Aura.

Then Amy, who was sitting beneath a tree reading a book while occasionally keeping an eye on her younger siblings.

Sterling smiled.

For a woman who controlled businesses, governments, and powerful people around the world, these three children were the only things that could completely disarm her.

She picked up a document.

Read two lines.

Then looked up again.

Drake had fallen onto the grass.

Aura was laughing.

Sterling smiled.

"Children..."

A voice came from behind her.

"Madam."

Sterling turned.

Chief Justice stood there.

He walked toward her and lowered his voice.

"Your daughter, Aura..."

Sterling looked toward the garden.

"What about her?"

Chief Justice's eyes remained fixed on the little girl.

"She will be our victory against our enemies."

Sterling's expression became more serious.

"Yes."

Chief Justice stepped closer.

"Especially against..."

He paused.

Sterling knew exactly what name he was about to say.

"Veronica Hale."

The atmosphere seemed to change instantly.

Sterling's smile disappeared.

Chief Justice's eyes darkened.

The name carried memories neither of them wanted to revisit.

Veronica Hale.

A woman feared by powerful people.

A woman who had mastered an ancient form of dark magic.

She had once been married to Lord Frederick Hale, but her ambition had always extended far beyond her husband's influence.

Veronica was cunning.

Manipulative.

Ruthless.

And terrifyingly powerful.

For years, Sterling had been the only person capable of standing against her.

Their battles had cost Sterling dearly.

Business empires had fallen.

Allies had disappeared.

People she loved had been placed in danger.

And more than once, Sterling had come dangerously close to losing everything.

Chief Justice remembered it all.

"She nearly destroyed us," he said quietly.

Sterling's eyes remained on Aura.

"But she failed."

Chief Justice looked at her.

"Because you stopped her."

Sterling shook her head.

"Not alone."

Her gaze moved toward Aura.

"Perhaps this time, the Dragon has given us something Veronica cannot defeat."

Chief Justice watched Aura carefully.

"The Dragon Rite."

Sterling nodded.

"The most powerful inheritance our family has ever possessed."

Chief Justice's expression remained troubled.

"Then we must protect her."

Sterling looked at him.

"I know."

Before Chief Justice could say anything else, hurried footsteps approached.

Tabitha entered the terrace.

"Madam."

Sterling turned.

"What is it, Tabitha?"

"The children's doctor has called."

Sterling immediately became attentive.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, Madam."

Tabitha shook her head.

"He has an appointment scheduled for the twins, but he cannot come to the estate today. There are several pressing matters at the hospital."

Sterling frowned.

"He wants them to come to the hospital?"

"Yes, Madam."

Sterling glanced toward the garden.

"I'll go with them."

Tabitha nodded.

"Of course."

Then she added casually,

"Amy already had her checkup several days ago. She doesn't need another one yet."

Sterling nodded.

"Very well. Drake and Aura, then."

Chief Justice said nothing.

But something about the situation bothered him.

He looked at Tabitha.

Then at Sterling.

Something didn't feel right.

He couldn't explain why.

Sterling turned toward Tabitha.

"Prepare the car."

Tabitha smiled.

"Of course, Madam."

She turned and walked away.

Chief Justice waited until she was gone.

Then he looked at Sterling.

"Are you sure you want to leave the children with the hospital staff?"

Sterling looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Now?"

Chief Justice hesitated.

"I simply wonder if this is the best time."

Sterling smiled.

"Chief Justice, their doctor is busy. I don't want to make his job more difficult."

Chief Justice gave a small, disbelieving smirk.

"But, Madam..."

He shook his head.

"You are Mrs. Sterling Fox."

Sterling raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"The entire hospital should be on the edge because you are coming."

Sterling laughed.

She walked over and gently patted his shoulder.

Chief Justice actually flinched at the sudden gesture.

"Relax."

She smiled.

"Everything will be fine."

She turned away.

"And besides, when did my name give me the right to terrify an entire hospital?"

Chief Justice stared after her.

"But—Madam..."

Sterling continued walking.

"Everything will be fine, Chief Justice."

He sighed.

"That is exactly what people say before something goes terribly wrong."

---

Later

The convoy moved through the streets of Crete.

Sterling sat in the back of the main vehicle with Drake and Aura.

Aura pressed her face against the window, watching the city pass by.

Drake was playing with one of the small toys he had brought from home.

Suddenly—

A vehicle moved across the road ahead of them.

The driver slammed on the brakes.

The security vehicles immediately reacted.

"Hold position!"

The convoy stopped.

Sterling looked out the window.

A man stepped out of the vehicle.

He raised both hands.

"Mrs. Fox!"

Sterling recognized him.

"Mr. Adams?"

She lowered the window slightly.

Mr. Adams approached.

He was clearly in a hurry.

"Mrs. Fox, it's good to see you."

Sterling stepped out of the vehicle.

"Good to see you too."

She glanced at his car.

"What are you doing here?"

Mr. Adams gave a nervous smile.

"I know you're not exactly a free woman."

Sterling folded her arms.

"That's one way of putting it."

He chuckled.

"Business. Business. Business."

Sterling sighed.

"What do you need?"

Mr. Adams became serious.

"I need someone who can c***k a code."

Sterling raised an eyebrow.

"A code?"

"For a project."

He stepped closer.

"I remembered you're one of the best people I've ever seen when it comes to breaking encrypted systems."

Sterling looked toward the hospital.

"I'm taking my children for a medical checkup."

"I know."

"So I can't simply leave them."

Mr. Adams nodded.

"I understand."

Then his expression became urgent.

"But we have a twenty-four-hour window."

Sterling's eyes narrowed.

"Twenty-four hours?"

"Yes."

"How much time has passed?"

"Sixteen hours."

Sterling's expression changed.

"Sixteen?"

Mr. Adams nodded.

"We have eight hours left."

He stepped closer.

"If we don't c***k the code before the window closes, we lose everything."

Sterling looked at him.

Then toward the hospital.

Then back at her children.

Drake was staring at her through the window.

Aura was watching too.

Sterling hesitated.

Her responsibilities were pulling her in two directions.

Finally, she sighed.

"Fine."

Mr. Adams smiled with relief.

"Thank you."

Sterling turned toward the vehicle.

"Drake. Aura. Come here, sweethearts."

The twins climbed out.

Sterling crouched until she was at their level.

Drake smiled.

"Mommy?"

Sterling touched his cheek.

"Sweetheart, Mommy has something important to do."

Drake looked confused.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to help Mr. Adams."

She looked at both children.

"You'll go inside with the security team and see your doctor."

Drake nodded.

But Aura didn't.

She stared at her mother.

"You're not coming?"

Sterling smiled.

"I'll be back."

Aura's expression hardened.

"Is that thing more important than us?"

The question struck Sterling harder than she expected.

She stared at her daughter.

For a five-year-old, Aura had an unsettling ability to speak like someone much older.

Sterling's heart tightened.

"No, sweetheart."

She touched Aura's hair.

"Nothing is more important than you."

"Then come with me."

Sterling smiled.

"I promise I'll come back."

Aura shook her head.

"I want you to come now."

Sterling sighed.

She knew her daughter.

When Aura made up her mind, changing it was almost impossible.

So Sterling leaned closer.

"I'll bring you those candy sticks you love."

Aura immediately shook her head.

"No."

Sterling blinked.

"No?"

"I want you."

Sterling couldn't help smiling.

"Alright."

She gently tickled Aura's sides.

Aura burst into laughter.

"Mommy!"

Sterling continued.

"Maybe I can use a little magic."

Aura laughed harder.

"Like me?"

"Exactly."

Sterling tickled her again.

"Just like you made your brother fly."

Aura finally smiled.

"Okay, Mommy."

Sterling released her.

"Good."

Inside, Sterling was relieved.

Thank God.

She looked at her daughter.

Sometimes she acts like an adult.

She glanced at Drake.

I wonder if Aura is actually my daughter...

A smile crossed her face.

Or my older sister.

Sterling stood.

She called one of the security officers.

"Take them inside."

The guard nodded.

"Yes, Madam."

Sterling knelt one final time.

She hugged both children tightly.

"Mommy loves you."

"We love you too, Mommy."

The twins hugged her.

Sterling closed her eyes for a moment.

Then she let go.

The security officers carefully escorted Drake and Aura toward the hospital entrance.

Aura turned around.

"Mommy!"

Sterling waved.

"I'll be right here when you come out."

Aura smiled.

Drake waved enthusiastically.

"Bye, Mommy!"

"Bye, my babies."

Sterling watched until they disappeared through the hospital doors.

Then her smile faded.

She turned toward Mr. Adams.

"Alright."

She straightened her jacket.

"Show me the code."

Mr. Adams smiled.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me."

Sterling walked toward his vehicle.

Neither of them noticed the dark vehicle parked across the street.

Its windows were tinted.

Someone inside was watching.

Watching the hospital.

Watching the security guards.

Watching the entrance where Drake and Aura had disappeared.

And inside the vehicle, a phone slowly rose to someone's ear.

A quiet voice spoke.

"They're here."

A pause.

Then:

"The twins have entered the hospital."

The call ended.

And the vehicle remained perfectly still.

Waiting.