MasukBastian could tolerate anyone hurling insults at him—anyone, that is, except someone speaking ill of Jared.
A flash of ferocity crossed his face, but he still wore a smile. “I’ve been too lenient with you, haven’t I? That’s why you think you can stand there and pass judgment on me. Let me make one thing very clear: I won’t allow anyone to say a single bad word about Jared. He’s perfect. Everything is my fault. But that’s just the kind of person I am. Even if I do all the evil in the world, I still believe—I’ve done nothing wrong.”
He said it with such conviction that it left others at a loss for how to respond.
All things considered, it was almost as if he had a reason for everything he did. Hated since childhood, fighting stray dogs and beggars for food—he never knew what decency, integrity, or shame were. All he knew was that if he wanted to survive, he h
One Month Later — Estravia, Wexford Lane Grand Hall.The sun cast golden rays across the hills, the wind carrying soft petals through the courtyard like confetti made by nature itself. The garden was in full bloom—white roses, pale lavender, soft pink peonies—all chosen by Raina herself.She stood beneath an arched trellis of wisteria and jasmine, her ivory dress flowing around her like mist. No glitter. No train. Just grace.And across from her, in a perfectly tailored suit with not a single crease out of place, stood Leif Vexley.His expression wasn’t cold, for once. It wasn’t guarded.It was everything soft and open he had saved just for her.In front of a small gathering of the people who mattered, they made their vows.Mark D’Souza watched from the front row, his eyes glistening again—but this time with joy. Gale sat on his lap, dressed in a miniature tuxedo, proudly tossing flower
Mark nodded slowly. “Yes. After I gave him something.”He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, crystal vial—empty now, but its faint lavender residue clung to the glass.“A trauma suppressant,” he said softly. “A kind of antidote. One of the last ones your mother made.”Raina’s eyes widened. “My mother…?”Mark looked at her, his gaze steady.“She kept a collection of rare formulas—most of them hidden even from the medical association. She developed them for children. For survivors. For people like Gale.”He held up the vial again, then tucked it gently back into his coat.“I kept some of her work—the things she left behind. Quietly. Carefully. I never imagined I’d use it on your son.”Raina was speechless. Her throat tightened as her gaze dropped to Gale, now curled quietly in her arms—warm, calm, safe.
Estravia’s Airport, Capital of ElarisRaina and Leif had just landed.The moment they stepped out of the airport, Raina froze in her tracks.Leif, noticing her sudden stillness, turned to follow her gaze.There—just beyond the security perimeter—stood a tall man in a tailored black coat. Silver streaked through his temples, but his sharp gaze held a familiar kindness.Mark D’Souza.Her mother’s old friend.The man who had pulled her out of ruin five years ago and sent her abroad under a new identity.But what truly made Raina’s heart seize wasn’t him.It was the child nestled quietly in his arm.Gale.Obedient. Calm. Head resting against Mark’s chest.Her feet moved before her mind could catch up.She barely made it a few steps when a soft voice rang out—“Mom!”
On the plane.Raina and Leif sat together, just the two of them. Rael and Leo were seated far away, not daring to come over and disturb them.They were silent for a while before Raina finally spoke up. “So, back then… the person at the hotel—that was you?”She really had no memory of that night. The pregnancy came out of nowhere. If she hadn’t spent years quietly investigating afterward, she still wouldn’t have known how she ended up pregnant in the first place.But all the hotel surveillance footage had been destroyed, and she hadn’t been able to find any other clues.Thinking back now, it was clear that Mireille wasn’t capable of covering things up so cleanly. So, the person who wiped the surveillance—had to be Leif.Leif said, “Yes. I’m the one who deleted the footage. But that night—I wasn’t acting on my own will. I was set up. I’ve been
He finished speaking and forcefully yanked out the short blade, then turned it around and thrust it toward his own chest.However, the blade never reached his heart—Bastian snatched it away in an instant. Blood gushed from his chest, but he didn’t even glance at the wound. His bloodshot eyes remained locked on Jared.After a long moment, he flung the blade aside, gasping for breath, his voice hoarse as he said, “After all these years… you still can’t forgive me… Do you really want me dead that badly?”Jared couldn’t bear to look at him. “Yes. You slaughtered my whole family. You… you killed my brother right in front of me… cough cough… Shouldn’t I take revenge? Shouldn’t I kill you?”Bastian’s face turned pale. It was as if he couldn’t comprehend what was happening. After a long while, his strength faltered. He forced down a
Bastian could tolerate anyone hurling insults at him—anyone, that is, except someone speaking ill of Jared.A flash of ferocity crossed his face, but he still wore a smile. “I’ve been too lenient with you, haven’t I? That’s why you think you can stand there and pass judgment on me. Let me make one thing very clear: I won’t allow anyone to say a single bad word about Jared. He’s perfect. Everything is my fault. But that’s just the kind of person I am. Even if I do all the evil in the world, I still believe—I’ve done nothing wrong.”He said it with such conviction that it left others at a loss for how to respond.All things considered, it was almost as if he had a reason for everything he did. Hated since childhood, fighting stray dogs and beggars for food—he never knew what decency, integrity, or shame were. All he knew was that if he wanted to survive, he h







