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?"

faintly. "Yes,

was polite but

gave a weak smile, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. He stood up slowly and

second, as if he wanted to say something else, but no

"Good night, my daughter," and then walked

door closed behind him with a soft click.

silence for a long time after

at the same time, or maybe it was her

gaze to her hands and whispered to herself, "You don’t have

curved in a faint, bitter

hides pain behind

quietly in the background, and the

the couch, her

faded from her

the name he

had loved for his entire life. The woman who wasn’t her mother. Or maybe she was not even his daughter, and they are all just

it, because maybe seeing Elara would explain many things and would prove that she

***

room with his heart

He didn’t look back.

moment the door closed behind him, he felt

and tried to steady

saw Vaelen waiting for him near the end. The young

stepping forward.

looked at him. He could see the concern in Vaelen’s eyes; it was genuine and pure. It reminded him of how different things were before... when life was simpler, and no one had been

His voice sounded rough even to his own

He looked like he wanted to ask more,

Vaelen nodded. "Alright... I’ll check on

at Serena’s room before turning and

the door. Then he let out a long sigh...one that came from deep inside his chest and turned away

slowly, each step heavy. The hall

was a mess of thoughts that

wasn’t a good

saw her eyes that

could he tell her

he tell his daughter that he was nothing more than

a woman who loved him because he had

she see him as after that? Would she not only think that he

even more. The guilt was like a chain around his

only he

crossed that line. Never betrayed his mate, even when fate itself

the past. Gentle, loyal, and kind. She didn’t deserve the pain she

one night... everything

was lost in the haze of emotions and

morning came...

It wasn’t Elara.

It was Elarliya.

truth hit him, he had