The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: The Weight of a Father’s Heart

For a long time, Maximus didn’t answer.

He just looked at Serena. His eyes were deep, unreadable, and heavy with thoughts only he knew.

Serena waited quietly, her hands clasped together on her lap. Her heart was pounding, though her face remained calm.

The silence stretched until it almost hurt to breathe.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Maximus spoke.

"...I don’t have a photo of her," he said slowly.

His words fell softly, but each syllable cut through Serena like a blade.

Her eyes flickered, and the small, faint hope faded away before it could take shape.

"Oh..." she murmured, her voice almost too quiet to hear.

For a second, she looked down. Her fingers trembled just slightly, then stilled again.

Her face didn’t show much emotion, but her eyes told the truth that something inside her had just broken a little more.

Maximus saw that look. It was small, but enough to make his heart twist painfully in his chest.

He wanted to reach out. To say something. To explain. But he didn’t. Because he knew he couldn’t.

Because the truth was, he did have a photo of Elara. Hidden safely away, where no one could find it.

He’d kept it for years with himself, her smile frozen in time, the one thing that still kept him sane on his darkest nights.

But how could he show it to Serena?

How could he let his daughter look at that face, the face of the woman who had been his mate, his love, but not Serena’s mother?

He couldn’t risk it.

He couldn’t bear the thought of Serena hating Elara.

Because Elara was innocent.

And so was Serena.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was fate, which was cruel and merciless to them.

So he only watched her quietly, forcing himself to stay silent even though every part of him wanted to tell her everything.

Serena didn’t look up again. She sat still, her expression calm, but her thoughts were far away.

Maximus took a slow breath. "Serena..." he said softly.

She finally looked up. Her eyes were dry but tired.

"You should rest," he said gently. "It’s been a long day. You’ve gone through a lot. Don’t think too much tonight. I’ll send someone to check on you later. Make sure you eat something before sleeping, alright?"

nodded faintly. "Yes,

was polite but

his eyes. He stood up slowly and looked at her once more before turning toward

there for a second, as if he wanted to say something else,

night, my daughter," and then walked out

him with a soft

silence for a long time

room felt too big but empty at the same time, or maybe it was her heart that was

her gaze to her hands and whispered to herself, "You don’t have her photo... or you don’t want to show

curved in

kind that hides

in the background, and the only

the couch, her eyes staring blankly

faded from

drifted to the name

woman who had been his mate. The one he had loved for his entire life. The woman who wasn’t her mother.

angry that he didn’t show her the photo, but she was disappointed that she couldn’t see it, because maybe seeing Elara would explain many things and would prove

***

walked out of Serena’s room with his heart clenched so tightly

He didn’t look back.

closed behind him, he felt something

breath and tried to steady himself, but his chest

Vaelen waiting for him near

Vaelen said quickly, stepping forward. "How is she? Is Serena

genuine and pure. It reminded him of how different things were before... when

voice sounded rough even to

the closed door behind him. He looked like he wanted to

nodded. "Alright... I’ll check on

room before

his gaze on the door. Then he let out a long sigh...one that

slowly, each step heavy. The hall felt

of thoughts that refused to quiet

wasn’t

saw her eyes that quiet disappointment,

he tell

that he was nothing more than a selfish man

long ago, he had walked away from a woman who loved him because he had found the one the

him as after that? Would she not only think that he abandoned her mother for

The guilt was like a chain around his

only he

Never betrayed his mate, even

and kind. She didn’t

night... everything

in the haze of emotions and longing and had thought he

morning came... he

It wasn’t Elara.

It was Elarliya.

truth hit him, he had wanted to