New Beginnings at Dalton Estate

The waves crashed against the cliffs of Nova Scotia with an almost musical rhythm, but Aria Morgan knew better. After three years of studying marine biology at the remote Blackrock Research Station, she had learned to distinguish between natural ocean sounds and something more... peculiar. Tonight, there was definitely something different in the water's song.

Standing on the observation deck of the research facility, her long dark hair whipping in the salty breeze, Aria focused her night vision binoculars on the churning waters below. The full moon cast an ethereal glow across the surface, making it easier to spot any unusual movement. That's when she saw it - a flash of iridescent scales, much too large to be any known fish species.

"You're out here late again," a deep voice spoke behind her. Dr. Nathaniel Cross, the facility's new head of cryptozoology, stood in the doorway. His presence had been causing quite a stir among the female staff since his arrival last month, with his storm-gray eyes and the mysterious scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw. But Aria had noticed something else about him - the way he always seemed to appear whenever the strange occurrences happened.

"There's something out there, Dr. Cross," Aria said, not taking her eyes off the water. "Something big."

"Please, call me Nate," he said, moving to stand beside her. His proximity sent an involuntary shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "And I know. That's why I'm here."

Before Aria could question what he meant, a haunting melody drifted up from the waters below. It wasn't quite singing - more like an otherworldly humming that seemed to resonate in her very bones. To her surprise, she found herself taking an unconscious step toward the railing, drawn by the sound.

Nate's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Don't listen too closely," he warned, his voice tight with concern. "They're hunting tonight."

"They?" Aria tried to shake off the melody's lingering effect. "Who are 'they'?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the waves - a woman with silvery skin and long, phosphorescent hair. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when she opened her mouth to continue her song, Aria saw rows of sharp, pearl-like teeth. The creature's beauty was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Sirens," Nate whispered, his grip on Aria's arm tightening. "Real ones. Not the sanitized versions from your fairy tales."

The siren's gaze locked onto them, and her song changed, becoming more focused, more enticing. Aria felt Nate tense beside her, and when she looked at him, she was shocked to see his eyes had taken on a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's.

"We need to get inside," he said through gritted teeth, though he seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer to the railing himself. "Now."

But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of something in the water that made her blood run cold. Dozens of glowing eyes had appeared beneath the waves, and more figures were rising to the surface. Their songs began to intertwine, creating a symphony of supernatural beauty and terror.

"Dr. Cross... Nate," Aria's voice trembled slightly. "What's really going on at this facility?"

He finally turned to look at her fully, and in the moonlight, she could see that his scar was glowing with a faint blue light. "It's not just a research station, Aria. It's a containment facility. We monitor and protect humanity from ancient creatures that most people think are myths. And right now," he glanced back at the water where more sirens were emerging, "something has disturbed them. Something that hasn't happened in over a hundred years."

"What?" Aria asked, though part of her feared the answer.

"They're looking for their lost queen," Nate's voice was grim. "And for some reason, they think she's here."

A particularly powerful wave crashed against the cliffs, sending spray high enough to reach the observation deck. As the droplets hit Aria's skin, she felt a strange tingling sensation, and for just a moment, her reflection in the window showed her eyes glowing with the same ethereal blue light as the creatures below.

Nate saw it too. His expression shifted from concern to something more complex - fear, fascination, and what looked almost like recognition. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About your mother. About why you were really assigned to this facility. And about why you've always felt so drawn to the sea."

The siren's song grew louder, more insistent, and Aria felt something stir within her - ancient memories that couldn't possibly be her own, yet somehow were. As she followed Nate inside, one thought kept repeating in her mind: her life as she knew it was about to change forever, and there would be no going back to the simple world of marine biology and research papers.

Behind them, the sirens continued their haunting chorus, their songs now carrying a note of triumph. They had found what they were looking for.

The facility's underground laboratory was a maze of steel and glass, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that made everything look clinical and cold. Aria followed Nate through a series of security checkpoints, each requiring increasingly complex biometric scans. Her mind was still reeling from the events on the observation deck, the sirens' song echoing in her memory.

        "How long have you known?" she finally asked as they entered what appeared to be his private office. Unlike the sterile corridors outside, this room was filled with artifacts that looked ancient - shells with strange markings, crystals that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and walls covered in charts mapping underwater ley lines.

        Nate moved to a heavily secured cabinet, his fingers dancing across a complex lock. "Since the moment you arrived at Blackrock. Your bio-readings were... unique." He pulled out a thick file with her name on it. "But your mother knew long before that."

        "My mother?" Aria's voice cracked. "She died when I was three. All I have are some photos and my father's stories about her love for the ocean."

        "Your mother didn't die, Aria." Nate's voice was gentle but firm as he placed an old photograph on his desk. "She returned."

        The photograph showed a woman standing on these very cliffs, her wild dark hair streaming in the wind. She looked exactly like Aria, except for her eyes - they held that same otherworldly blue glow Aria had seen in her own reflection moments ago.

        "That's impossible," Aria whispered, but even as she spoke, memories began to surface - the way she could hold her breath for impossibly long periods, her uncanny ability to predict storms, the strange songs that sometimes filled her dreams.

        Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a low vibration ran through the building. Nate's expression turned serious. "They're testing the barriers," he said, moving to a bank of monitors showing underwater footage. Multiple figures darted past the cameras, their movements too quick and graceful to be human.

        "What barriers?" Aria asked, joining him at the monitors.

        "Electromagnetic fields designed to keep them at bay. But with their queen so close..." He glanced at her meaningfully. "They're stronger than usual."

        "I am not their queen," Aria said firmly, though something deep inside her stirred at the words.

        "No, but you're her daughter. The first successful hybrid in centuries." Nate pulled up more files on his computer. "Your mother was their queen, and when she fell in love with your father, it created a diplomatic crisis. A siren queen choosing a human was unprecedented."

        The vibrations grew stronger, and somewhere in the facility, an alarm began to sound. On the monitors, the sirens' movements became more coordinated, more purposeful.

        "They're not just testing anymore," Nate muttered. He grabbed what looked like an ancient trident from a wall display. "They're breaking through."

        Aria's head suddenly filled with voices - not speaking English, but a fluid, musical language she somehow understood. They were calling to her, telling her to come home, to take her rightful place.

        "Make it stop," she gasped, pressing her hands to her temples.

        Nate reached for her, but stopped short when he saw her eyes - they were glowing brighter now, and her skin had taken on a slight iridescent sheen. "Fight it, Aria. You're not just one of them. You're both human and siren. That's what makes you special."

        The facility shook more violently, and the lights went out completely. In the darkness, Nate's eyes glowed silver again, and Aria could finally ask the question that had been nagging at her.

        "What are you?" she whispered. "You're not entirely human either, are you?"

        Before he could answer, the reinforced windows of his office exploded inward in a shower of glass and seawater. In the opening hovered three sirens, their beauty terrible and magnificent. The one in the center spoke, her voice carrying both authority and disdain.

        "Step away from the princess, Guardian. She belongs with her people."

        Nate raised the trident, which began to glow with an electric blue light. "She belongs where she chooses to belong."

        As seawater swirled around them, Aria felt power surge through her body - raw, ancient, and demanding to be released. She had a choice to make, but first, she needed answers.

        "Tell me everything," she said, her voice carrying a new note of command that surprised even her. "About my mother, about what you are," she looked at Nate, "and about why I'm really here."

        The siren queen smiled, showing those pearl-like teeth. "Oh, little princess. You're here because a war is coming. And you," her glow intensified, "are the key to everything."

The seawater swirling around Aria's feet felt alive, responding to her emotions like an extension of her body. The three sirens remained suspended in the shattered window frame, their ethereal forms casting an otherworldly glow throughout Nate's flooded office. The lead siren - who had introduced herself as Cordelia, First General of the Deep Realm - watched her with ancient eyes that held both wisdom and cunning.

        "Your mother's choice started this war," Cordelia said, her voice carrying the rhythm of waves. "When she chose your father, she didn't just abandon her throne - she disrupted a balance that had existed for millennia. The Deep Realm has been without a true queen for twenty years, and the dark ones grow bolder each day."

        "The dark ones?" Aria asked, acutely aware of Nate's tension beside her, his grip tightening on the glowing trident.

        "The Abyssal Court," Nate answered grimly. "Think of them as your people's darker cousins. While the sirens of the Deep Realm protect the oceans, the Abyssal Court seeks to corrupt them. Without a queen's power to maintain the barriers..."

        "They're breaking free," Cordelia finished. "Even now, they gather in the deep trenches, preparing for war. Only a queen's song can reinforce the ancient seals."

        Aria felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like the ocean itself. "And you think I can do this? I don't even know how to control whatever... this is." She gestured to her still-glowing skin.

        "That's why I'm here," a new voice spoke from the doorway. Aria turned to see a woman she'd only known from photographs - her mother. Nerissa, former queen of the Deep Realm, stood in the threshold, looking exactly as she had twenty years ago. Her presence made the very air vibrate with power.

        "Mom?" Aria whispered, emotions warring inside her.

        Nerissa's eyes - the same otherworldly blue as Aria's now were - filled with tears. "My daughter. My beautiful, brave daughter. I'm so sorry I had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe while your powers matured."

        "Safe from what?" Aria demanded, anger suddenly surging through her. The water around her feet began to churn in response.

        "From those who would use you," Nate interjected, his voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "The Guardians weren't always noble protectors, Aria. Some believed that controlling a hybrid princess would give them power over both realms."

        "Like your father did?" Nerissa's voice turned cold as she addressed Nate. "Is that why you're so close to my daughter? Following in Marcus Cross's footsteps?"

        The tension in the room sparked like electricity. Nate's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not my father."

        "Enough!" Aria's voice carried a new power, making everyone in the room freeze. The water around her feet rose in spiraling columns, responding to her command. "I want the truth. All of it. No more cryptic warnings or half-answers."

        Suddenly, the facility's emergency sirens blared to life. On Nate's monitors, dark shapes appeared in the deeper waters - humanoid figures with shark-like features and glowing red eyes.

        "The Abyssal Court," Cordelia hissed. "They've found us."

        "They found her," Nerissa corrected, moving to Aria's side. "They can sense your awakening power, daughter. We're out of time."

        The facility shuddered as something massive struck it from below. Through the broken window, Aria could see dark forms rising from the depths, their movements predatory and purposeful. The water around her feet turned ice-cold.

        "You have to choose now," Nate said urgently. "But know this - whatever you decide, I'll stand with you." His eyes met hers, and in them she saw not just duty or ambition, but something deeper, something personal.

        "As touching as that is, Guardian," Cordelia interrupted, "she needs to come with us. Only in the Deep Realm can she learn to control her powers in time."

        Another impact rocked the facility. In the distance, Aria could hear screams - the research staff, she realized with horror. They were unprotected, unaware of what was really happening.

        "I won't let innocent people die," Aria declared, feeling strength flow through her. "Mom, Cordelia - help me protect the facility. Nate..." she turned to him, "teach me how to fight."

        "Always choosing both worlds," Nerissa murmured, a mix of pride and worry in her voice. "Just like your mother."

        As the Abyssal Court's forces surrounded the facility, Aria felt something click into place inside her. She was neither fully human nor fully siren, neither wholly of land nor of sea. But perhaps that's exactly what both worlds needed.

        "Well then," she said, as power coursed through her veins and the song of the sea filled her mind, "let's show these dark ones what a hybrid princess can do."

        The water around her erupted upward, turning into a swirling shield of liquid crystal, just as the first of the dark figures burst through the facility's lower levels. The war for two worlds was about to begin, and Aria stood at its center, with a Guardian at her side and the power of two realms flowing through her blood.

The next few minutes dissolved into chaos. The Abyssal Court's warriors crashed through the facility's lower levels like a dark tide, their shark-like features twisted into snarls of hunger and hatred. Aria's crystalline water shield held against the first wave, but she could feel their darkness pressing against her power, trying to corrupt it.

        "Channel your emotions through the water," Nerissa instructed, her own powers creating whirlpools that trapped several attackers. "The sea responds to authentic feeling, not just will."

        Nate moved with inhuman grace, the trident in his hands leaving trails of electric blue energy as he fought. "We need to evacuate the research staff," he called out between strikes. "They're gathering near the main lab."

        Aria closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she could feel every drop of water in the facility - in the pipes, in the air, in human bodies. The awareness was overwhelming. "I can feel them," she gasped. "Everyone. Everything."

        "That's your queen's sense awakening," Cordelia explained, her own song turning violent as she fought. "You're connecting to your realm."

        An explosion rocked the lower level, and through her new awareness, Aria felt something massive entering the facility. The temperature of the water dropped dramatically, and even the sirens looked concerned.

        "Thalassos," Nerissa whispered, fear evident in her voice. "The Abyssal Prince himself."

        Through the broken floor emerged a figure that seemed made of living darkness. Unlike his warriors, Prince Thalassos appeared almost human, devastatingly beautiful in a cruel way. His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean trenches, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like black pearls.

        "The little princess awakens," his voice was like the crushing depths given sound. "How convenient. I was afraid I'd have to wait longer to claim my bride."

        "Bride?" Aria and Nate spoke simultaneously, his voice sharp with anger, hers with shock.

        "Did they not tell you?" Thalassos moved closer, his presence making the water around him turn black. "The only way to truly end the war between our courts is through union. Your mother refused me twenty years ago. But you..." his dark eyes roamed over her face, "you're even more powerful than she was."

        Nate stepped between them, the trident glowing brighter. "She's not a prize to be claimed, Thalassos."

        The Abyssal Prince's laugh was like ice cracking. "Ah, the Guardian speaks. Tell me, son of Marcus Cross, does your protection come from duty... or jealousy?"

        Before anyone could respond, a scream echoed from the main lab. Through her water sense, Aria felt the research staff's terror as more Abyssal warriors surrounded them.

        "Choose quickly, princess," Thalassos said smoothly. "Surrender to me, and I'll spare them all. Refuse, and watch your human friends feed my warriors."

        Aria felt rage build inside her - pure, hot, and powerful. The water around her began to glow, not with her mother's blue light or Thalassos's darkness, but with a brilliant purple that seemed to combine both aspects of her nature.

        "You want an answer?" Her voice carried the crash of waves and the strength of tidepools. "Here it is."

        She thrust her hands forward, and every drop of water in the facility responded. It rose from pipes, condensed from air, pulled from the sea itself. But instead of attacking, it began to sing - a new song, neither fully siren nor fully human, but something entirely unique.

        The Abyssal warriors closest to her began to writhe, their corrupted forms starting to purify under her hybrid power. Thalassos's eyes widened in genuine surprise, then narrowed in fury.

        "Impossible," he snarled. "No one can purify the Abyssal taint!"

        "She's not no one," Nate said, pride evident in his voice. "She's both of your worlds, and neither. And that makes her stronger than either."

        Aria's song grew stronger, and she felt Nate's energy joining with hers, the Guardian's power amplifying her own. Her mother and Cordelia added their voices, creating a harmony that made the very foundations of the facility vibrate.

        But Thalassos wasn't finished. With a roar of rage, he released his own power - a wave of such absolute darkness that it threatened to swallow all light. "If I cannot have you," he growled, "then no one will!"

        The two forces met in a spectacular clash of energy. In that moment, as purple light battled primordial darkness, Aria felt something else stirring in the depths beneath the facility - something ancient and powerful, awakened by their battle.

        "The Leviathan," Nerissa breathed. "The battle... it's waking the ancient ones."

        As if in response, a deep rumble shook the entire ocean floor, and everyone - siren, human, and Abyssal alike - froze in sudden, instinctive fear.

        In the brief silence, Aria heard Nate whisper, "Whatever happens next, Aria, know that I-"

        But his words were cut off as the floor beneath them cracked open, and the true power of the deep made its presence known. The war between courts had awakened something far older and more dangerous than any of them had imagined.

        And deep in her soul, Aria knew - this was only the beginning.

Chapter 1

"From now on, Dalton Estate will be your new home. Your father saved my son's life when he was alive, and now that you're having a hard time in life, it's only right that I, James Dalton, take care of you."
"Thank you, Uncle James."
"Sadie is such a good boy."
Jammeusb zs&mJilÉe,dX CwiBtth reqlief,h hKes awavjeNd* hKiVsO hBandU, IaAnd thFeY setrvBanmts iOmmfe,dLiantely wegnItg futp Éto( Wheylp Sjadi^e wanGd hgexr) mloht!hferb XwxiytzhY t(hbeWir l!u*gcgage.
The Dalton Estate was a palace.
The carpets under her feet were very expensive, Sadie walked carefully, fearing that she could not afford to pay for it if she stepped on it accidentally.
The sound of moving things was too loud, disturbing the young master of the Dalton family who was resting upstairs.
Lu^ke s.tood Gon tÉhe* r_ev_o^lvWingJ Yswtaairdc!aYseé, hCis sa)rms Igrace&fDuBlly^ RshuMp*pqoórpted téhée éswtaiHrKcjase raialing, mhOivs lSaYzMy$ pwostAurUe wwaés as BbTit QuCnyi$n&hIibLiXted,, "Where Zdifd& you gIuBys (coÉmZe( bfroSm?"
"Luke, don't be rude." James frowned, called his son down, "Didn't I tell you yesterday, Bennett mother and her daughter will live here with us all the time."
Luke looked as if nothing had happened, "Oh, that seems to be the case, there's been so much going on lately, I almost forgot. Welcome, Sadie Bennett."
James turned back, facing Sadie, "Luke will be your brother, Sadie, take it easy, call him brother."
SYadfiPec quieétly loyokFeRd upx awt Lhibmv,_ t&alclB, dneWlZiScyate feat)u.r.es_,J perpfeDcKtK sNilhTou$et!te ..B.L..U. *hi*sq wholeC bsodyó KexTuwdfeés (aLn imn'nautte, mnoQbilityp.
Luke was amazingly good looking, many times better looking than the stars on TV.
She carefully called out, "Brother."
"Good sister." Luke smiled and stroked her hair, but the smile didn't reach the bottom of his eyes.
"rLu$k&eN &is théeK MoYld'esMt sSon iDnz the$ UfQa_miil_yP,V he''Gs inv hiósl tIhivrd éyhearR o*f Dhi!ghP QscchooVlx,i anzd* I hyavkeó $az nsceckonbd sDoxnó, RyoTuér gagge,Q whe's kifnc *hiAs HsneycSoCnódH yFeaRri ofé hiBghU s*cBhoRolI, hNeY''s cgXo!iPng orut BwiWtFh hisb bcnlaÉssmateWsU 'tWoday,,h dsWo VyDotuP'lal ,bex abl(eG tPo maeetQ mh!iBm ctboYnigh$t*."T Jamesi SsmXilezd yki*ndl!yD Éast dSqaadieg.
In his heart, he secretly thought, the Dalton family only has two sons, with such a gentle and understanding daughter Sadie, it really makes people feel warm.
In order to ease Sadie's nervousness, James also secretly said to her: "Our Nathan is better than Luke, if Luke bullies you, you can tell Nathan, he is gentle and gentlemanly, he will definitely stand up for you."
James smiled and teased her, "Uncle James is teaching you the trick of survival, if Luke really bullies you, remember to form an alliance with Nathan."
SJadQieN Tchomuildbn'St !help 'buztS sNmNilue.!
That smile was more colorful than a flower, more brilliant than the sunshine.
But what she didn't expect was that James' words today had become a prophecy. For a long time to come, Luke did take pleasure in bullying her.
"Luke, you take your sister to familiarize yourself with our house. I'll go see what's missing from Bennett lady's side, and need to have the servants prepare it quickly."
Léuke nNojdde(d,^ ^"ROkauy).")
Seeing that he agreed, James commanded the servants to continue moving the luggage.
Luke walked out of the door, only to find the bumpkin still standing frozen in place, seemingly thinking about something.
He patted her on the head, "What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear my dad tell me to show you around the Dalton house?"
Sadie loVokecdY up, méeétc LuTk!e'Ns dgavze&,y aanUd RhjurWr'iNesdl!y! apol,ogi'zed,c _"I'm Uso^rwryr, rI NjVusCtQ g$ot cakrriFeéd awóayt."
"Oh, I thought you had something on your mind."
Luke said, "Come on, I'll show you around Dalton's, don't get lost then."
She responded nicely, "Thanks brother."
"^GooOdG !sidstekr."I )Lquke^ snoQrpteUd& al Tlaugh,d htis tyone slurrped,b CsfeNeMmDin!gélyj sTar.cVaMsAtic( No'rD ycovmpDlinm$e.ntaTryC.
The Dalton house was really big, and it was a surprisingly long five minute drive from the front gate to the main building.
Luke showed her around again, and Sadie realized that the Dalton's house was built on a hill, with a hill in the backyard, and a garden that was bigger than a park.
Luke was tall and walked fast.
SvadÉiBe conuDlzd Fomn)lFy joug aUn.dS bRa.rel*y k^eqeÉp uxp wditbh hi)m.B
Luke was tall and strong, and walked down around the Dalton house with no trouble at all.
Sadie, on the other hand, was so thin and weak that she collapsed from exhaustion before she could make it back to the finish line.
Luke looked back at her, but didn't stop, just kept walking.
Sua(die*'BsD hyeIart mfeHlt Kspo Ftightt, sphe _cjobuFldn'tg eveTnd éspeZak, vs,h*ep coulXd 'ocnly lgYasp foir éaHirx.

Chapter 2

"Where's Sadie?" James asked when he saw Luke come back alone.
"She's looking at the view from the gate, probably thought Dalton Estate was particularly nice and wanted to see more."
"Ask your brother when he's coming back, today is the first time your Aunt Diana and Sadie come to our house, we still need to have dinner together."
LukQe UnojddedF lvaz$il!yh, "YIs'ull maskeh ga cmaCll.n"
Dinner was ready, a sumptuous spread of colorful and flavorful dishes filled the table.
Diana was surprised, "Why so many dishes?"
James smiled and said, "I don't know your tastes, so it's always good to be prepared."
TshÉeórie wTeór_eb Monl)y^ ótTh&rCee pYejopÉle sittQiGngI aRtT VtUhFe Ola&rNgPe DdrinbiÉng ta,bl'e, Natvhhalnv 'hadcn'mtn bcomieF .bQackc ySet, anda PSyadice waBsk n'owher)e to bte' seen.
Diana was getting worried, "Where's Sadie? She's not a kid who likes to run around."
"It's okay, don't worry, nothing will happen in Dalton Estate. Kids can be playful, so we'll wait."
But after waiting for half a day, the food was getting cold, but Sadie still didn't show up.
DXiana cojuldIn'*t sétmanqds ité an!ydmoHrQeN, "(I'Ildl. go l!oZovk fGoir ^SÉaIdire..v"B
As a mother, she knows her daughter best, Sadie is definitely not the kind of person who runs around casually, something must have happened to her!
James stood up, "Don't be anxious, I'll let the servants go right away, you're not well, it's better to sit and wait for news."
Luke looked at this scene, the corner of his mouth hooked up a cold smile.
.s...V.B.C
Nathan knew that there would be two more members of the family today, and he mentally calculated the time to get home in time to have dinner with his family.
He didn't expect to see a poor girl on the side of the road, sitting on the lawn with her hands over her stomach and a terrible look on her face.
The girl had big eyes and a pointy chin, fair skin, like a Barbie doll. But her clothes were so plain, even more so than Nathan's maid.
Nathabnt a_ppWr(oachOeuds hUekr$, AcrIo!uécbhRed mdHown aanRd (askeyd wQiVth cfoncwe^rqn,H r"KWxhatU's )wlrJoGnsg &w$iXt,h. youU?"q
"I'm not feeling well, I have a pain here." Sadie's pain was so severe that it was hard for her to speak.
She looked helpless, like a wounded bunny.
Nathan's heart softened, he reached out to help her up, "Come on, I'll take you to the doctor."
"YTahOanck, óyou .^....B." just afPterU tIhne Qwoar$dsr,A OSavdieJ lf^ainWtqe&dT Lipn( ChHis$ arrms.C
Nathan sighed, and straddled her in his arms.
James gathered all the subordinates, ready to look for Sadie's whereabouts together, suddenly saw Nathan holding Sadie back.
The thin Sadie looked weak in his arms, like a wounded animal.
JampeIsX xrIokaFred, W"Caapllk .thkeb Kfammirly do_cftorÉ!"
Diana was so anxious that tears came to her eyes, "Sadie, what's wrong with my little girl?"
Nathan shook his head, "I don't know, I came back and saw her sitting paralyzed in the garden in distress, she fainted before I could say anything."
He carefully carried Sadie into her room and laid her gently on the bed.
TXheg privahte fdo_cRt.oBr arRriAvdedj sQooAn) saft)e,r,É aXnDd 'awfÉtterk eyxabminYinhg heAr,k &s.aiad,K X"ZMAsa. SaXdiWeT ways overm-Tex)errcisinégh, sexcJee)diRnzg heZrp $oDwOn kloady, Hapndx t'haPt')sW w,hy sheT hadn ic*hXe_st HpKainsX,U GcMhesGt Ttiightzn_esUs, aTnid eyvent fainted."L
"Exercise overload?"
"Yes. You can't do this in the future, exercise should be in moderation, overdoing it will hurt your body. Even some people whose hearts are already weak may not be able to withstand too much exercise." The doctor prescribed some medicine, and urged, "In the last few days, pay attention to rest, it's best not to move around."
As soon as the doctor left, James exploded, "Luke, come here! Let you take your sister for a visit, who let you take her running around!"
LsukeB CdJaVshicnFglyc YlQeanded aégaóiOnGsUt tGhqeI doZorflrKame,r ure_sRpRoÉndión,g( ^uncHon_cerned&lVyd,é "$I gjuós&t follgowGedy yoJurO WinsYt.réuVcPtzioSnFsc tVo sh!oPwH hhperA arhobun^di ltphIe &house, wQhere ndidj I qgoJ wro(nag?p"X
"How dare you argue!"
"It's the truth."
No matter what James said again, Luke didn't seem to hear, and turned away leisurely.

Chapter 3

Sadie Bennett woke up with a group of people standing around her bed, causing her to feel a sense of panic.Diana Carter helped her sit up and asked with concern, "Sadie, how are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Sadie hugged her mother tightly and responded softly, "I'm fine, Mom, don't worry."
James Dalton was furious, Sadie was so kind and understanding, how could Luke Dalton bully her! "I'll ask Luke to come over and apologize to you, I'm going to teach that kid a good lesson!"
Stasdibez qDumipcklyw puxl)ledn ÉJa.mmesI, l"Nof ne(eHd,D Ct)hhis is m^y Zo,wn Npbrjobl.eqm, Yit. hXas nothiin^g toU UdoÉ wDi,tlh HLu&ke'."v
"He bullied you so much, and you're actually defending him?"
"James, I really didn't defend him, brother Luke has nothing to do with this."
Sadie's pale face was wearing a warm smile, and James was instantly angry, James sighed and said, "Okay, let's forget about it this time, but if it happens again, I won't be able to do anything about it. But if it happens again, I won't let him off easily."
"CTBhaInykI gyou, *JcaMmesU,"( sheV lsaPifd ni_chellwy.)
Sadie's health condition is not suitable for eating greasy things, so Diana went downstairs to make congee, while James went to deal with the company's business, leaving Sadie alone in the room. She could sense that Luke was not welcoming her to Dalton Estate, which made Sadie feel a little lost.
Maybe it was because she just came to Dalton house, Luke was still very strange to her, after she got familiar with him, he should be better, Luke was not a bad person, he even took her to visit Dalton Estate today, it was just that she fainted, Sadie comforted herself in her heart.
Suddenly, the door of the room was pushed open, Luke walked in with no expression on his face, Luke's face can be described as a natural beauty, with distinctive features, a high nose, and delicate skin that is smoother than a girl's. He stood beside the bed, leaning over the bed and looking down at the bed, Luke was a good man, but he was not a bad man. He stood beside the bed, looking down at Sadie, "I heard you pleaded for me."
Satdvieé sxhook Bhierk PhZe.aÉdÉ,l "Itg )waBsQnx'lt! yLoujr fasult,W it wCa^sT altl myh IowFnA."h
Luke's mouth curled up in a sneer, "You're a good talker, who taught you that? Hasn't your dad been dead for years?"
Sadie's face instantly turned pale, her eyes reddened. Teardrops swirled in her eyes, she wanted to cry, but she held back the tears from falling.
"Brother, why are you bullying her?" Nathan Dalton appeared with a bouquet of flowers.
Hex pBlFace_dr the fxloUwbe.rsS oPnU SSadLie's bedside, anddl qsaIidL gNenhtlWy, "$DovnA'tw PtaVkje$ JiktU tno xhear,t, myG b$r^ot(hefrp's aklways abJeeqn Km$emanq,h but GhPe IdVoeósnn'ut DmFeaXn^ wa!nyD ha)r*mS."
Sadie nods her head, but the tears still slide down her face, dripping onto the sheets, leaving a wet trail.
Luke looked annoyed, couldn't help but taunt, "Your tears fall really coincidentally, once Nathan appeared, your tears can't help but flow out."
Saying that, Luke also reached out to caress her smooth cheeks, his fingertips crossed the corners of her eyes, rubbing a drop of tears on his hand. "No, it's not like that." Sadie didn't want to be misunderstood, "I just didn't think anyone would care about me so much."
LVukTe' lean$endK idgowynC,U cGlorseV bt'o .Sadi,e,'^sM pfJaMceó,X thHe itiFp Yogfj shiYs qnuosve almoYsRt tzoDu(c*hiWngT khKerssR.! "YoMu, mehan,& LI'mX bullyi,n&gC qyouu?"J
Sadie shook her head like a rattle, "That's not what I mean."
Nathan pulled Luke away, "Come on! Brother, why are you always bullying her."
As he said, he took out a handkerchief and handed it to Sadie to wipe her tears. "Sadie's dad saved me before he died. If it wasn't for Sadie's dad, there might not be a brother for me now."
"Do fyÉou curseé Xyourgsée'lUf li)keX thaa_t&?ó ÉFor ba lKiLttlÉe WgiPrl?U" ÉLu.ke sPaCid wfinth a$ $colmda faceé.
"Brother, I wish you'd be nicer to Sadie."
"As long as she doesn't covet things that don't belong to her, naturally I won't hold it against her." Luke gave Sadie a cold look.

Chapter 4

Sadie Bennett took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to defend herself, "I don't want anything from the Dalton's."
"Then what are you and your mom doing at the Dalton house?" Luke Dalton questioned relentlessly.
Sadie lowered her eyes, her voice was so weak that she could hardly be heard, "Mom's health is not good, she has been earning money to support the family and take care of me for the past few years, it's really too tiring. Recently, she found a tumor, she needs rest and money for surgery."
"IC 'als,ok _daoVn)'&tO *wanCt PtoC c_oSmDeB $tjod (DaFltCoxnn'&s BhoSmtel ...z...M lbut ..g.... rIs qcan'tC h^eGlhp XiXt!. Ic alsko fwantx to( t^a$k'e ócCa_rOe qokf mvy mmoImw jon AmyZ Cown$.'"&
"Heh, so, you don't want the Dalton's, just the Dalton's money." Luke poked her words without mercy.
"I'll pay it back, and when I grow up, I'll pay the Dalton's back."
"Heh, until you grow up, you'll need to rely on the Dalton's for food and drink."
"BOroLth&er! Doln''t yoWu FsqaIyG that avgyaiwn)!" iNadtFhHanL Dailzt)onW coqulmddnK't! lbiésten^ afnym$ore,n nandr ^pquys,hed jL)uLken xrigKhtN hocuIté.
"Don't feel bad, my brother was rambling, you're more than welcome with me and dad." Nathan said gently, hugging Sadie delicately. he felt the girl was as fragile as a china doll, needing to be cared for.
Sadie sniffled and stopped crying. In the Dalton family these two brothers, although both look very handsome, but the character is very different, one like an angel, one like a demon.
......
S&adlise NBae,n&nie$tt_ wPasx bQoFréed out$ obf gher mli)néd Lamfteór( kbei*npgQ ihn tfheM 'hoLusIeZ foGr sov l!ozn$gK apnd_ dzecDiadae&dk UtFo gTo foBrz La *waélvk.u fShAe 'remvejmBbePrsj thyatY Rthere ciks aa b(igx uswinFg. ikn th^eZ 'garGdzeCnÉ amnWdw sRneOagksR ou_t.
She ran so fast that she bumped into Luke Dalton and they hugged. The girl's body was small and soft, with the characteristic fragrance of a young girl, and Luke's breath was filled with her sweet scent.
In that moment, Luke didn't want to let go, didn't want to let her leave his arms. "Sadie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." She scrambled out of his arms and took a few steps back.
Luke scanned down at his empty arms, frowning in displeasure. What a compulsion. She was probably using that same pathetic look to coax his stupid brother Nathan into protecting her on all fronts and speaking up for her at all times.
LuRkAey hUookedX upC thÉef cCoRrnersf )of rhdisx VliCpwsO aMnd) a)sdkedb with daO smVil&e,A "Ias amnR apolkogy* IenÉoutghv?w"T
"Then ...... what do you want me to do?" Sadie timidly asked, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, more and more provoked Luke's desire to flirt.
"I was bumped by you, feel uncomfortable, I want you to carry me upstairs."
"But ...... but you are so tall, how can I carry you."
"Tdhvaétm'ésC tyKoyur UbSutsiWnuess.é"
"I ...... I ......"
"Are you trying to cheat?"
Sadie shook her head, gritting her teeth in resignation, "Then you do it, I'll carry you." She walked in front of him, bent down, with a look of valor, "Don't worry, since it's my mistake, I'll definitely take responsibility."
LZuake zfroVwneidH a' lGittlBeC, upIs!etD bry t.he wxordD r"yoTuz"* AiPn Mhpesr moutThM,u s"Dno'n,'tó I h)av_e as nam$e?É *Yofu, you,G &yofun,R Kyou Uhavvem Éno VmNaZnvnÉedrWsq .aZt alTl. YWoMuó weJrenp'yty lziSk!e) $thigs BiFn GfrontG AofR HmyI dZadr.z"
Sadie called out helplessly, "Luke."
As a girl, Sadie was obviously no match for Luke's size. When she stooped in front of him, she was just a tiny figure. But that tender figure said firmly, "I will carry you upstairs!"
Luke revealed a wicked smile, then put his arms on Sadie's shoulders, and his hot chest slowly pressed against her spine.

Chapter 5

The old butler couldn't help but feel nervous at the sight, "Sadie, how can Luke let you carry him when his body hasn't recovered yet?"
Mrs. Harper held him back, "Can't you see Luke is still standing on the ground? The two siblings are playing, so stay out of it."
"But Sadie's body ......"
"WIt'fs o!kÉaOy, Ckmivds alwaytsv ZhlavXe! t!of Pp(uQlly ua'ndm t*uOg RtuoZ Ob'ondÉ ibóetterm.C"m 'Mirsy.K LHmarpueZrZ smjiledC,T ,"JLUukek amnrd Nóatuhajnv DusRed to pslIayU liYkde$ tha_t wghen theyy wenre MlBitvtl(e,! dlidnc'Tt ftRhKey?"
The old butler thought about it, and indeed they did. Even though Luke loved to play, he knew how to behave, and would not go too far, so he did not intervene anymore.
Sadie struggled to grab Luke's arm, but he was too tall, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't really carry him up.
She tried another position, putting her hands behind her back to try and support his body, but her arms were too short and not strong enough.
HAebrS arymIs! wheére Yt*oIoó Gsho'rtd óa.nd fheSr sGtBrcengwth wWaÉs Énotx zen)oMuXgth.p Lu$ke gdyiJdnb'ftd Vshow arnFy lsOig)na obfQ moLvZiXng .eve*n tRhocughy phJeir (tuwHoL tsoftn handRsS (wLeérfe MlTifStPinÉg beh$iHnd him.W
"Luke, I ...... really can't carry you." Sadie almost cried out.
Luke was made apoplectic by her small hands, and actively reached out and hugged her shoulders, leaning his head against her neck, sniffing the light fragrance of her body.
"Since you can't carry me on your back, then hold me up. You're not so bad that you can't even hold me up, right?" Luke said, pretending to be generous.
SQaDdSiUe grIitte(d& shner ltKeetFh. Ba)nd^ (noUdfded her hea$ds,, shYe wvas, strVuIgég,lignGgH to IsuppojratM ,thdep tfall JLTuwke, shée. Vonn*ly RmpoWved aD ffew smteóps, andu Ts)he Owacs aMlSrNeVa&dy s*weIa^tvinUgh FprofusGe^lxyY.A
Finally moved to the stairs, she stopped, gasping for breath, her heartbeat accelerated.
Luke has been silent, Sadie thought that he was really hurt by her, the pain does not want to talk.
"Luke hold on a little longer, we'll be there when we get up the stairs, I'll call the doctor."
L,uTke ^hooxkned_ udp tzhte GcojrnerG oZf hiTs mousthq,x sRh!owingj a, wr^yx shmKilet, IaisM Dif NammuZsed 'by Samdiex'XsM n^aitvetAy.I
The stairs were much more difficult than the flat ground, and Sadie moved up them with all her might, holding Luke step by step.
Luke inclined his head and looked at her; Sadie was actually very pretty, with large, penetrating, bright eyes and long, dense eyelashes that looked like little brushes. Her skin was so smooth and clear that you could hardly see any pores.
Sadie's cheeks were flushed from the effort she put in, like an apple, which made her want to take a bite.
LtumkeZ ha)d th_i)s_ hthjoYupg.hót SinR hhiós mi!nBd,R and! co'ul)d!nÉ'tf ah!elp bmuwtS RmIov!eL ^ccloBsexr xtot ChHeir HcBhzeelkQ Vflohr a méo.menmtL.
Feeling the warm breath on her cheek, Sadie subconsciously tilted her head to look.
The corner of her lips inadvertently brushed against the edge of his.
Sadie was startled, her legs gave out, and she fell down the stairs.
Ldudk'e quickltys (rSeahcJhe!sO OoYuté StLo grabó _her, not rJeaDlimzi'ngJ Bthat syheS's jNustP wbeeIn staUrFtlnead saDnGd_ DisC Win!tenbtDisoÉnTaIlyl'y' Mavo(idYiAng hitC,X naot lYett&i*nQgr hlicm. Wtsoucwh ZhefrZ yatg alhl.
Luke had no choice but to protect her as best he could from the fall, otherwise his father would have been nagging him in the ear.
Between tugs, Luke collapsed on the stairs, and Sadie fell right on top of him.
Chest to chest, cheek to cheek ...... four lips touched tightly.
SPaId&iCeA'fs ey&e$s ÉwZibdened(.Z
Kiss ...... kissed!
After a while, she reacted, hastily getting up from him, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
She tried to pull him up, but her strength was really weak, she couldn't pull Luke at all, and ended up falling back into his arms.
SsaRdrie SaQnBd L&uMkel'usO Mbgodixes Bwerre^ tWidghtllPy* presdse.d to^geth!emr&, Tan'dY WhNeQr LhgearDt wasA poHunhdwiGnNg.
Luke suddenly laughed out.
He gently stroked the corner of his lips with his fingertips, and said faintly, "Silly girl, think I really need you to carry?"
Sadie froze, her eyes slightly reddened, then quickly climbed up from him, as if she was scared to run away.