The following morning dawned bright and clear, the Parisian sunlight streaming through the windows of the Leroy mansion. Anastasia awoke feeling marginally refreshed, though the lingering fatigue remained a constant companion. After a brisk run to maintain her physical conditioning – a habit ingrained from countless years of rigorous training – and a light breakfast, she decided to venture out and indulge in some retail therapy. It was a mundane activity, but she found a certain appeal in immersing herself in the everyday rhythms of human life.
She strolled through the bustling streets, admiring the elegant boutiques and charming cafes. Her keen eyes scanned the surroundings, assessing potential threats and identifying escape routes – a subconscious habit born of necessity. She was acutely aware of her vulnerability, despite her formidable abilities.
As she crossed a busy intersection, lost in thought, a speeding car careened out of control, narrowly missing a group of pedestrians.
The screech of tires pierced the air, shattering the idyllic tranquility of the Parisian morning. Anastasia's instincts kicked in instantly, her senses heightened to an almost superhuman degree. She registered the trajectory of the outofcontrol vehicle, the panicked expressions on the faces of the surrounding pedestrians, and the potential for catastrophic injury.
But before she could react, a sudden wave of debilitating pain surged through her body – a searing agony that stole her breath and blurred her vision. The world tilted precariously, and she stumbled, collapsing onto the pavement with a sickening thud.
Since she was reborn into this world it was her first having hemophilia. Because of that since she was young everyone in the sect shielded her like a little angel that would drop at any second. The moment she was taken to the hospital they called an emergency number which was Benny on it.
The chaos of the scene unfolded around her, a cacophony of sirens, shouting voices, and the frantic activity of paramedics. But Anastasia's awareness was fading, the pain intensifying with each passing moment. The world narrowed to a tunnel of swirling colors and distorted sounds.
Her hemophilia – a condition she had long suppressed through rigorous Qi cultivation – had been triggered by the impact. The sudden trauma had disrupted her internal balance, causing her blood to thin uncontrollably. It was a weakness she had painstakingly concealed for centuries, a vulnerability that threatened to expose her true nature.
The last thing she registered before losing consciousness was the frantic voice of someone shouting her name—Benny's voice—filled with an urgency she hadn't heard from him before.
At the hospital, a flurry of activity surrounded her as doctors rushed to stabilize her condition.
The sterile scent of the hospital room assaulted Anastasia's senses as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and her body felt heavy and sluggish. As her vision cleared, she found herself staring into the face of a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to herself – a mirror image with different coloring.
The woman's eyes, a striking shade of sapphire blue, were filled with an overwhelming mixture of relief and tenderness. Her wavy brown hair cascaded around her shoulders in soft, luxurious waves. There was an undeniable elegance about her, an air of refined grace that commanded attention.
"Oh my baby! I finally found you?" the woman whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She reached out and gently caressed Anastasia's cheek, her touch featherlight and hesitant.
Anastasia felt a surge of confusion wash over her.
The revelation hit Anastasia with the force of a physical blow. A mother? A brother? A family she had never known existed? The concept was utterly foreign to her, a jarring disruption to the carefully constructed narrative of her existence.
The DNA test confirmed it – the woman before her, Rosemary, was indeed her biological mother. And the handsome young man, Maddox, was her older brother. The realization sent a ripple of disorientation through her, threatening to unravel the foundations of her identity.
She stared at Rosemary, searching for answers in her sapphire blue eyes. Who were these people? Why had they kept this from her? And what did it all mean?
"My baby, are you hungry? Let mummy buy some food," Rosemary whispered, her voice laced with a tenderness that felt both alien and strangely comforting. She reached out again, stroking Anastasia's hair with a gentle affection that sent a confusing warmth through her. It was a sensation she hadn't experienced in centuries – the simple, unconditional love of a mother.
A handsome, twentysixyearold man stepped forward, his face beaming with an almost boyish enthusiasm.
"Little sis! I am your older brother!" Maddox exclaimed happily, his eyes sparkling with genuine joy.
"Maddox, get your sister some soup!" Rosemary snapped playfully at her son, then turned her attention back to Anastasia, her expression softening.
"Are you alright, darling? You look so pale."
Anastasia was indifferent but she nodded her head she is overwhelmed. She had lived before even mankind came to be. When she was punished by the Divine Celestial Heavenly God she did not know she would be reborn and the fact she was reborn as a human was also shocking. But when she was born at nine months old she was kidnapped and well the rest she ended up being raised by the sect. So to her she doesn't understand family since she has always been alone.
She looked at Rosemary who kept on hugging her.
"You have seven brothers, three older sisters, a twin brother," Rosemary said and Anastasia was shocked such a big family.
The sudden intrusion of Hope and Benny, bursting into the room with their characteristic youthful energy, disrupted the fragile sense of calm that had begun to settle over Anastasia. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and apprehension, their eyes darting between Anastasia, Rosemary, and Maddox.
The revelation that these individuals were connected to the Marcani Family sent a jolt of alarm through Anastasia's system. The Marcani name was synonymous with power, wealth, and ruthless ambition – an international powerhouse with deep roots in both legitimate business and the shadowy underworld of organized crime. They were a mafia family powerhouse, feared and respected in equal measure. What possible connection could they have to her?
"Young Master Maddox," Benny said respectfully, his voice subdued.
"Ah Benny, welcome back to France. Are you going to return back to the capital?"
Maddox nodded his head, continuing to feed Anastasia with a gentle hand. The scene was surreal – a powerful mafia heir doting on his newly discovered sister while surrounded by bewildered friends and a bewildered Anastasia herself.
"No, no, I need to finish high school," Benny replied, a touch of defiance in his voice.
Maddox offered a reassuring smile.
"Good for you, Benny. Focus on your studies." He then turned his attention back to Anastasia, carefully wiping a stray drop of soup from her chin.
"Ana! What is happening?" Benny whispered urgently, pulling Hope closer.
Anastasia took a deliberate bite of her soup, buying herself a moment to process the unfolding situation. She needed to remain calm, to gather information before reacting.
"Oh," she said casually, attempting to downplay the extraordinary circumstances.