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NINE
Hade
It's starting to feel like forever.
Hade hovered his gaze from Alexei to his father, Jacob Vandenberg, who was sitting quietly from across the table. Alexei's mother, Jasmin, sits on the other far end while Alexei is on the seat facing him.
His wife, Yula, died yesterday. Today, he feels completely nothing.
"...they started a feud. It's a pretty solid ground to challenge Hade's hold to become the next family head," Jacob said.
"But he's not head yet. You still are," Alexei said.
"I'm nearing retirement. Whoever becomes the next head of the Vandenbergs takes my place as a seat holder. To be in the Council means power. Other Vandenberg families are fighting tooth and nail to take down Hade," Jacob explained.
Hade remained silent. He's still trying to process what happened yesterday. How Yula endured the pain trying to deliver the child. How she died just seconds before the baby took its first and last
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