Semua Bab He Cheated, Now the Blood Pact Activates: Bab 1 - Bab 10

I sat in the study of our castle, the yellowed parchment clutched in my hand, a bitter smile on my lips.The ancient vampiric script glowed a deep crimson in the candlelight: "Should Augustine Slinter betray this pact, he shall suffer the pain of a thousand blades through the heart, and his family’s power, fortune, and title will pass in their entirety to Haley Nightshade."In the bottom right corner was a single, blood-red thumbprint. Augustine’s.All I had to do was press my own thumbprint beside it, and the pact would be sealed.My finger hovered over the parchment. I’d already pricked the skin. A bead of crimson blood was about to fall.Just then, a knock came at the study door."My lady?"It was Clara, my most trusted confidante."What is it?"She smiled. "I just wanted to remind you, my lady. Your birthday is in seven days.""Prince Augustine will surely throw you a grand celebration, just like every year."A celebration?In that instant, my plans changed.I decided I would prepa

Augustine looked at me lovingly, his eyes filled with deep affection. "We'll let nature take its course. Besides…"He paused, his voice growing even softer. "I want more time with just Haley. Our time alone is precious. I want to cherish every moment."Hearing this, I silently took a sip of my wine.The music began. The masquerade ball was starting.Everyone donned their ornate masks, just like on that fateful night five hundred years ago.Back then, Augustine and I both felt the mysterious pull between Mates, finding each other instantly in the crowded ballroom.Ever since, on our anniversary, we would recreate that moment. Augustine would always walk through the sea of masked women and, without hesitation, take my hand.It was our tradition.I put on my silver mask and walked to the center of the dance floor.As the familiar waltz began, everyone else started pairing up.I stood still, waiting for Augustine to find me, just like every other year.And then I saw him. Wearing a matchin

Tears of joy streamed down Lucy's face as she answered with a trembling voice, "I do! Augustine, of course I do!"The priest beamed. "May God bless this union and grant you many children!"Watching this absurd ceremony, I was thrown back five hundred years to my own wedding.Before this very same kind of altar, Augustine had knelt on one knee and said to me with that same deep love in his eyes, "Haley, will you be my mate for all eternity?"The same look, the same tone.A cold laugh escaped my lips, but my eyes betrayed me, filling with tears.So, to Augustine, our five-hundred-year love was just a script he could reuse.A different woman, a different day, but the performance remained the same.I fought to control my emotions, recorded the entire scene, and sent it to Clara.In the church, Augustine was kissing Lucy, holding her as if they were truly newlyweds.Back at the castle, I began to pack.The room was filled with five hundred years of memories: photos of us, gifts he'd given m

I watched the subtle panic in Augustine's eyes, the pain in my chest turning to numbness."I'm probably just overthinking things, being weak like this," I said, forcing a smile. "Augustine, if I were to leave you one day, what would you do?"Hearing this, his expression visibly relaxed. He even let out a small chuckle."You silly thing, why would you even think that?" He gently stroked my hair. "We are Mates, our souls are bound. I would never, ever let you leave me. Not ever."His tone was so confident, so possessive, as if I were merely a piece in his collection, something that could never escape his grasp.Augustine kissed my forehead and left, claiming he had some urgent business to attend to.The moment he was gone, I sent out my bat familiar to follow him.When the bat reached the window of our master suite, I saw a sickening sight.Lucy was pouting at our dining table, pushing away a crystal goblet. "I don't want to drink this. It's too gamey, and the color is so dark. It must n

Augustine took a deep breath, snatched the box, and threw open the lid.The first thing he saw was a ruby ring, deliberately shattered into pieces. He carefully picked up a fragment.He remembered placing this ring on Haley’s finger five hundred years ago. She had smiled and said, “I’ll wear it forever, until the day you stop loving me.”Now, the ring was broken.Beneath the fragments lay a sheet of parchment, torn into a thousand tiny pieces.Augustine recognized the ancient vampiric script. It was their blood-pact.“No!” A desperate roar escaped him as he fell to his knees, frantically trying to piece the scraps together.But they were too small, like the shattered pieces of her heart. They could never be whole again.“Your Highness,” Clara’s voice came from above. “The madam prepared a second gift for you. It’s in the ballroom.”Augustine’s head snapped up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “She… she’s in the ballroom?”Maybe this was all just a cruel prank.Maybe she was waiting for h