My Accidental Husband is a Billionaire

845 Chapter 844

Jodie wasn't bound with ropes, nor were there shackles on her feet. She walked in wearing her favorite dress, surrounded by armed guards, her head held high without a trace of panic. She looked less like someone taken hostage and more like someone being escorted to safety.

She had always been this way—calm and composed, even if the world crumbled around her.

Keira's gaze locked on her mother's face.

Her face was clean and her hair impeccably styled. If it weren't for the paleness of her lips, she would look exactly as she had years ago in Oceanion, as if life had treated her well.

But Keira, ever perceptive, caught the unsteadiness in her mother's otherwise graceful steps. Beneath the façade of poise was exhaustion and frailty.

Keira's mind flashed to the lashings her mother endured the night before. Jodie hadn't cried or screamed, yet those around her had howled and wept as if they were the ones suffering.

Keira felt her eyes sting with tears. She blinked hard, refusing to let them fall.

Jodie looked up and caught sight of Keira. A flicker of surprise crossed her face. "Keera?"

Keira immediately understood—her mother was prompting her to play along. Keira gave a small, detached nod.

Keera had never grown up with her mother, so their first meeting was meant to carry a sense of unfamiliarity.

Jodie smiled gently. "I never thought our first real meeting as mother and daughter would be under such circumstances."

Jessica scoffed. "First meeting? What first meeting? Don't pretend we don't know she was in Oceanion when we dragged you out of Crera."

softly, the picture of calm. "That day was too chaotic. I only caught a brief

forward, took Keira's hand, and said with a tinge of emotion, "Keera, you look just like your sister, Keira. The resemblance is uncanny.

dabbed at

pulled her

forced

faintly. "I'm

would bring me freedom, but life in Oceanion was just another cage. These years have taught me that. Staying with the South family is

She lowered her gaze.

"Life was fine? Then why wouldn't you take the lovers

turned to her, her demeanor still composed, her tone gentle yet sharp. "It's not about purity. I simply didn't want to be reduced to a tool for reproduction. Just like you don't. We're both failures in this system, so why mock

coldly. "Failures? You had twenty-odd years of peace and comfort in Oceanion, hiding away. You think that makes us

now you've stolen my daughter from me, too. What's the point of talking

couldn't acknowledge her as your daughter. And as soon as your other daughter met you, she was dragged right back to

tone was

voice remained calm as she replied, "If I have to thank you for taking Keera, it's because it meant at least one of my daughters survived. Otherwise… she might've ended up like her sister, killed

from Country M,

Keira's pupils contracted sharply.

immediately realized her mother was passing

work of

now. The South family, desperate for heirs, wouldn't have eliminated her and her sister. But the infighting among successors? That was another matter

Eagle…

clenched her fists. That was a rival she could never afford to

told

nine successors left, but four had already joined her side, while three had pledged allegiance to Eagle. The power struggle