Chapter 95.
Adrian froze, his fork pausing mid-air as the words sank in. His mind raced, trying to process what Cain had just revealed. Jesper, noticing Adrian’s reaction, quickly placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, his silver eyes filled with concern.
"Adrian, sweetheart, I know this might be a lot to take in, but..." Jesper began softly, but Adrian shook his head, his voice barely a whisper.
"What do you mean... my uncle Jael kidnapped Ethan?" His gaze shifted between Cain and Jesper, searching for clarity, for something to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions now coursing through him.
Cain, ever the stoic and composed patriarch, folded his hands on the table and met Adrian’s confused gaze. "It happened long before we found you, Adrian. Jael was once a brilliant mind in our family, deeply involved in experimental research. But somewhere along the way, his ambitions turned dark. He believed that the boundaries of ethics and morality were mere obstacles to true progress."
Yuin, who had been standing quietly near the staircase, stepped closer, his usually warm demeanor tinged with unease. "Jael believed he could manipulate life itself, Adrian. His experiments were dangerous, unethical... and illegal. When Ethan got involved—by chance or design—it escalated the entire situation."
Adrian’s heart clenched. "Ethan? How did Ethan get involved? And Yuin, you too?" His voice rose slightly, a mix of fear and anger bubbling up.
Yuin sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from Adrian. He rested his chin on his clasped hands. "It’s complicated. At the time, I was young, rebellious, and fascinated by Jael’s work. He had this... charisma. He made it seem like he was doing something revolutionary for humanity. But I realized too late that his so-called advancements were crossing lines no one should ever cross."
Jesper interjected, his tone more tender as he glanced between his two sons. "Jael used his connection to Yuin to get close to Ethan. Your uncle believed that Ethan’s background—his rare bloodline and certain genetic markers—could be the key to unlocking something he was working on."
Adrian’s breath hitched. "My husband... was a part of Jael’s experiments?" His voice broke on the last word, and he covered his mouth, his mind flashing to Ethan lying unconscious and fragile. "Did Ethan know? Did he consent?"
Cain shook his head grimly. "No, he didn’t. Ethan was taken against his will, just like Yuin. By the time we realized what was happening, it was almost too late."
Adrian’s hands clenched into fists. "And Jael? Where is he now? Is he... is he still out there?"
Cain’s expression hardened. "No. Jael was arrested and stripped of his title within the Sebanil family. His name is no longer spoken here. Officially, he is serving a life sentence under the watch of a high-security facility. Unofficially..." Cain’s voice trailed off, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I made sure he will never see the light of day again."