Love at the Wrong Table
Chapter 2242 Bound by Blood
Santiago didn’t acknowledge Yuna’s bow. His sharp gaze was locked on Teddy, his voice edged with urgency. “Teddy… what the hell is this?”
Teddy sighed, shaking his head dramatically. “Oh, Santiago, it’s a long story…
He waved a hand, brushing past the weight of the moment. “But I’ll make it short for you. When Jane and Yuna fell into the sea all those years ago, they survived. I spent years searching downstream, and against all odds, I found her. I brought her back.”
Santiago’s body tensed, his fingers twitching. Could this really be true?
The night was pure chaos–ferocious waves and sharp rocks. It was nearly impossible to survive that fall, even for someone as strong as I am.
He struggled to process it, his gut churning with disbelief. How could she have made it out alive?
After the shock settled, suspicion crept into his voice.
Santiago’s gaze hardened. “You’re saying she’s my
daughter?
Then prove it.”
Teddy smirked. “Of course, I have proof. Do you think I’d say something this big without it?”
He turned to Yuna. “Yuna, show your father the jade pendant you always wear.”
“Yes, Uncle Teddy.” Yuna, sharp as ever, quickly adjusted the way she addressed him.
arm
Reaching into her neckline of 36D, she pulled out a jade pendant, from being against her skin. She carefully placed it in Santiago’s hands.
The moment he felt the cool surface, his breath hitched.
“This… this is Jane’s pendant.” Santiago’s fingers traced over its familiar patterns, his chest tightening.
His hands trembled.
His heart pounded as emotions he had buried for decades surged back to the surface.
For years, I convinced myself that Jane and our child were gone. I thought I was utterly alone.
Yet now, standing right in front of me…
Could it really be her?
Santiago swallowed hard before asking, “Teddy… where has she been all this time?”
“When Yuna fell into the sea, fishermen rescued her. I wanted to tell you when I finally found her, but by then, you had disappeared without a trace,” Teddy explained smoothly.
Santiago’s already stiff posture trembled further as he absorbed Teddy’s words.
Teddy sighed dramatically, wiping a tear from his sleeve as his voice brimmed with emotion. “Still, thank God! Now that you’re finally back in Zovince, you can reunite with Yuna.”
“She’s really my daughter?”
His gaze shifted back to Yuna, studying her face intently. She looks so much like Jane…
“Santiago, she’s your daughter–Yuna Adkins!” Teddy urged, his voice firm.
Gesturing toward Yuna, he pressed on, “Even without the jade pendant, can’t you see it for yourself? She even has Jane’s features!”
“She… does.” Santiago exhaled shakily. He was starting to believe it.
“Father!” Yuna suddenly threw herself into his arms, tears streaking down her face.
Santiago’s throat tightened. His arms wrapped around her, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yuna… my precious daughter…”
He thought, For so long, I believed I had no one left. But now… Jane saved our daughter, and she’s here.
Outside the room, Gautier listened intently, his expression unreadable.
His mind raced. That sneaky old fox Teddy… just flipped the whole situation. This isn’t just about reconnecting with Santiago–this is a calculated move.
He’s painted himself as the victim. Now, if Emmanuel and Mackenzie want to kill him, it won’t be so simple.
Gautier smirked slightly but didn’t linger.
With two powerhouses like Teddy and Santiago inside, it wouldn’t take long for them to sense his
It was best to slip away while he still could.
Yuna clung to Santiago, eyes still wet with tears.
“It’s so good to see you again, Father,” she whispered before hesitating.
presence.
Then, carefully choosing her words, she added, “Mackenzie has tricked Uncle Teddy. He’s at his lowest point now. If you help him, he won’t have to suffer under Emmanuel and Mackenzie’s oppression.”
If Gautier had still been listening, he would have been thoroughly impressed.
With just a few words, she had reframed everything.
Teddy–the wounded, honorable leader.
Emmanuel and Mackenzie–the villains, hungry for power.
Santiago stiffened.
“Yuna, be mindful of your words,” he said, though his tone lacked its usual sharpness.
He wasn’t angry.
He knew she had spent her whole life under Teddy’s influence.
Of course, she saw things differently.
‘Still, this wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have with her,
Santiago gently pulled away and turned to Teddy.
He spoke firmly, “Teddy, a man needs to know when to admit defeat. Whatever your ambitions were, you lost. It’s time to let go.”
Teddy let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Let go? Do you really think Emmanuel will just let me walk away? The only reason I’m still alive is because he knows my death would create chaos.”
Santiago sighed. “Teddy, even though you’re Jane’s brother, I must be honest–you brought this on yourself.”
“You started a war for your own gain. You dragged the Wolf Warrior Unit into it. You caused the deaths of thousands. You can’t expect to walk away without consequences,” he continued, his voice calm but firm.
“Father, how can you say that?!” Yuna immediately stepped forward, fiercely defending Teddy.
Even though she had just begun calling Santiago “Father,” this was solely due to his status as the Silver Dragon Spear Saint. Her allegiance still lay with Teddy.
“Yuna, listen to your father. Don’t speak out of turn.” Surprisingly, it was Teddy who stopped her.
Then, he turned back to Santiago, his tone shifting. “You still don’t get it, do you? Chanaea needs war to thrive. It needs strength, not diplomacy. You, of all people, should understand that.”
Santiago remained silent.
Teddy took his silence as permission to continue.
“I won’t deny that I played a role in the border conflicts five years ago,” Teddy admitted.
“Tell me–would those conflicts have escalated if tensions weren’t already there? Even now, Chanaea’s borders are unstable. How much land have we lost? How many battles have been avoided that should have been fought? Can we really expect to rise without taking risks?”
His voice grew stronger, more passionate.
“I did what I had to do–not just for myself, but for Chanaea. It’s people like Artemis who keep us weak, who hold us back! Despite their skill, the Wolf Warrior Unit spent time preventing war instead of winning it. And for what? Soldiers are meant to fight. To die with honor. Not to sit around waiting for peace that will never come.”
Santiago let him finish. Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke quietly, “You all have your beliefs, but that doesn’t erase the blood on your hands. Thousands of Emmanuel’s men died because of you–that’s not something that can be forgiven.”
“Plus, it doesn’t stop there. The Quillen Family… the countless murders across Chanaea… you orchestrated all of it. They died for nothing, sacrificed for your ambition. You should face the consequences and pay with your life.”
Teddy’s smirk faltered. He shot a glance at Yuna.
Taking the hint, she rushed toward Santiago, her voice desperate. “Father, please! You can’t let Uncle Teddy
die!”
Her grip tightened on his arm. “Uncle Teddy is the only one who truly understands what needs to be done!
‘Sacrifices had to be made! The real villains are the conservatives–Uncle Teddy is the real hero!”
Santiago’s expression didn’t change.
Yuna’s breath hitched. Then, her voice turned quiet but firm. “I stand with Uncle Teddy. We must hold power in our hands and reshape Chanaca. If anyone dares to take his life, then I’ll die alongside him.”
