Bab 163: Recounting the past.

"When I regained my power and influence, I hired private investigators to find my daughters," Sebastian said, wiping away his tears. "They tracked my elder daughter down to a wealthy family that had adopted her. I went to see her, but she refused to come back to me."

He smiled bitterly. "She didn't even recognize me. Her foster parents were everything to her. I didn't force her to come with me. I watched her from afar and saw that she was happy and well cared for. And that was enough for me."

He laughed. "I am glad that she keeps in touch with me."

He wiped his eyes once again. "Thinking that Barbe would also be happy with her new family, I stopped looking for her. But today, Maria reacted when she saw the housekeeping staff. She had to have known something about Maria and Barbe. If not, she would not have run away."