Chapter 3
I clutched Vance’s arm, my voice trembling with desperation.
“Vance, please… as long as you spare the child-”
“I’m willing to give up my place as your wife. You can give it to Lena instead!”
“Wife?”
Vance’s brows furrowed, then a storm surged in his eyes.
He gritted his teeth. “Selene, do you despise the title of Mrs. Kreston that much?”
I fell to my knees, sobbing so hard I couldn’t speak.
His lips pressed into a hard line, his face ashen-then suddenly, he burst into laughter.
“Good for you!”
“A stillborn child is a cursed omen. Keeping it in the castle will only bring misfortune. Bring
firewood!”
Vance shut his eyes tightly, hiding the crimson that flared within them. He pronounced each
word with grim finality: “Burn it. Here and now.”
Those last five words struck my heart like a hammer.
It was as if all the strength drained from my body.
I could only stare blankly at the man in front of me-so familiar, and yet now a stranger.
Flames roared to life. My child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was thrown into the fire.
I screamed and lunged toward the blaze, but the guards held me back.
They pinned me to the ground, and I clawed at the floor, dragging myself forward inch by inch.
A trail of blood quickly marked the floor behind me.
But I felt nothing. In my eyes, there was only fire devouring my child, little by little, until nothing
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remained.
When the guards finally released me, I staggered forward and collapsed before the ashes.
I scooped up the still-glowing embers with my bare hands.
The stench of scorched flesh and blood filled the air.
“My baby… my child…”
Vance stormed toward me, his brows tightly drawn as he grabbed my wrist and shouted
hoarsely: “Selene, have you lost your mind?!”
I looked up at him with bloodshot eyes, my words filled with anguish: “Even the worst of
criminals are only sentenced to death.”
“But he was your child. And you… you turned him to ash. You destroyed his chance at rebirth.”
“Vance, do you hate me that much? What more do you want from me?!”
A torrent of emotion surged in my heart. My face flushed, and I suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground.
It felt like I was caught in a long dream-a hazy carousel of memories.
In the dream, Vance held my hand and promised to love me forever, to cherish me always.
Perhaps his sweet words had always been a dream, and I had known it all along.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in our familiar bedroom.
Vance was slumped beside the bed, his head resting on the edge.
His brows were furrowed, and he muttered softly in his sleep, “No… don’t leave me… Selene…”
He jolted awake, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
But the moment our eyes met, he quickly composed himself and rasped, “You’re awake?”
I gripped the sleeve of his coat.
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“Vance, where’s the baby?”
In that moment, I caught a fleeting trace of panic in his eyes.
But he only pulled away and turned his back to me.
“The ashes have already been scattered to the wind,” he said coldly. “Don’t bring it up again.”
“And don’t ever speak of giving up your position as my wife.”
“The lady of Kreston family… is chosen by me and me alone.”
“Not even you have a say.”
His voice was cold, like the biting wind outside the window.
A wave of sorrow and despair rose in my heart.
My voice was hoarse as I asked him, “Vance, it’s been five years. Haven’t we tortured each
other enough?”
His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into fists.
He turned to face me, shame and frustration in his eyes-along with a flicker of pain.
“Enough? Selene, what right do you have to think it is enough?”
Vance seized my chin, his hand trembling.
His eyes were filled with anguish and conflict.
“From the moment your father pinned his crimes on mine, you should have known-
our fate in this life was sealed.”
He spoke through gritted teeth, eyes bloodshot: “Until death do us part. No peace between us.’
With that, Vance shut his eyes.
He didn’t spare me another glance as he stormed out.
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I lay on the bed in a daze, too numb even to shed tears.
No peace between us?
Perhaps… it really was time.
The only thing I had left was my life.
I slipped on my shoes and walked out of Chamberlain Castle.
–
I wandered the streets in a haze.
The walk from Chamberlain Castle to Nocturne Tower wasn’t far. It just a few dozen minutes.
I didn’t know what day it was, but every house was decorated with glass luminaries.
Amidst the festive atmosphere, I climbed to the top of Nocturne Tower.
The moon hung high above, casting a cold light on everything below.
Once, Vance had stood here and vowed to love me for the rest of his life.
But now, that love had withered. We could neither love nor hate each other anymore.
I couldn’t blame Vance. I couldn’t blame my father either.
I didn’t know who to blame-who should be held accountable for the ruin we’d become.
Suddenly, the lively streets below were swept clear by patrolling soldiers.
It seemed they were looking for someone.
Though I couldn’t hear clearly, I vaguely caught the name Chamberlain.
Perhaps Lena and Vance were quarreling again.
But that no longer concerned me.
I stepped over the half-meter-high railing, spread my arms and jumped.
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Suddenly, Vance appeared on the steps, his face twisted in panic.
His mouth moved soundlessly as he ran toward me.
I couldn’t hear a word he was saying, but I smiled at him.
Vance… goodbye.
Chapter 3
