EPISODE 180
“Mara is lying,” I said firmly, my voice sharper than I intended. But Mara just stood there, looking hurt, as if I were the one causing trouble. “I’m not lying,” she replied softly, her eyes glassy with fake tears. “If I have to, I’ll vow to the Moon Goddess herself. I saw her. I saw Bella…, sleeping with another man. Someone that isn’t Ronan.”>
Her words struck like a slap in the face. And without my memories, my words would never be enough to counter hers. Flora snapped. She shrieked my name like a curse, grabbed whatever she could reach, and began hurling them toward me. I didn’t move. I didn’t even flinch. Valor was already in front of me before the first object could land, shielding me with his body.
“That’s enough!” Valor growled, his voice rumbling like thunder. “Have you forgotten where you are? Do more, and I’ll throw you out.“\ Then Valor turned his glare to Mara instead, who had suddenly gone pale. Mara stepped back, trembling like she was truly scared now. “Vowing to the Moon Goddess isn’t something you do lightly. If someone lies…, their soul burns. Literally.” Valor narrowed his eyes. “Then tell me again,” he said coldly. “Look me in the eyes and say it. Did you really see Bella with another man?“}
Mara swallowed hard but nodded. “Yes. I saw her.”
The room fell silent.
A cold chill passed through me. My hands instinctively went to my stomach, my breath catching. My body felt numb. But my mind, my mind was screaming. I didn’t care what Ronan thought. I didn’t care if he hated me or if he believed Mara.
What terrified me was Valor. Would he turn away from me too? Would he believe her?>
I glanced at Ronan. His face had gone pale, his lips pressed into a tight line. His jaw twitched, and then his expression darkened in green with rage and something more bitter, probably disgust.}
He believed it. Of course, he did.
And yet… Valor suddenly laughed.
It wasn’t a joyful laugh, but it echoed with something like confidence, like victory. He tilted his head and sneered at Ronan, his eyes glinting.
“Well then,” he said. “That means the child isn’t yours, Ronan. And that makes me even happier.“>
=OPPSE?
“What?” I whispered, stunned.
Valor looked proud, smug even, as means she’s mine.“>
continued, “If it’s not yours, then Bella has no reason to look back. She’s free from you, and that
“You’re disgusting,” Flora spat, her lip curling. “How could you want someone like her? She’s unclean, used-“}
“Enough,” Valor said sharply, his gaze turned to her. “Don’t say another word.”}
He turned to me, eyes softening. “I don’t care about her past. I like her now. She likes me too. That’s all that matters. I’ll give her everything she needs, and I’ll never let her want another man again.“}
Then he looked down at my stomach, placing his hand gently over mine. “As for the child…, I’ll treat it as my own. It doesn’t matter who the father is. I’ll love whatever comes from you, Bella.“}
Flora looked like she was going to be sick. She turned to Ronan, disgusted. “Don’t be like him. Don’t throw yourself away for a woman like
her.“@
But Ronan didn’t respond. He was looking at me. His stare burned straight through me, a mix of anger and disappointment. But beneath it.. I saw something else. Something painful. Familiar. Longing. As if I were everything to him.
I turned my head, unable to bear it. I didn’t want to see that look on his face. Not anymore.
Then Ronan finally spoke. “You’re taking advantage of her, Valor. She doesn’t even have her memories back. Do you think this will last? When she remembers, when she truly remembers, she’ll come back to me. She loved me more than anything. We were meant to be.“}
I didn’t know where the words came from, but they fell from my lips like knives.
“I will never form a bond with you again, Ronan. Even if I remember…, I won’t return to you.”
His face crumbled. He opened his mouth to speak, to protest, but he was cut off by a sudden gasp.
Mara let out a faint, dramatic sound and wobbled where she stood.
Flora panicked instantly. “Mara! What’s wrong? What happened?!“}
Mara placed a hand on her belly and leaned on a nearby chair. “I… I feel dizzy…“}
“Valor, do something! Flora barked. “You’re just standing there? Is this how you treat your guests?“M
She turned to Ronan. “Help her! She’s been walking too much. She’s pregnant, for goddess‘ sake! If something happens to the baby-”
Valor clenched his jaw. It was clear he wanted them gone, but the sun was already dipping behind the trees. He couldn’t send them into the wild this late. With a heavy sigh, he motioned to his guards.
Take them to the east wing. Prepare rooms. Make sure the healer checks Mara.“W
He turned to me, his voice soft again. “Let’s go.”
When we reached the house, I barely had time to take off my shoes when Valor pulled me into his arms. His warmth wrapped around me, chasing the cold away.
‘Don’t listen to them, he whispered into my hair “No matter what Ronan says, no matter what lies Mara spreads.. I love you, Bella. I will only love you. And your child, even if it’s his.., it doesn’t matter. Il raise him as mine. I’ll protect both of you.”
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7:05 PM
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“Take them to the east wing. Prepare rooms. Make sure the healer checks Mara.”
He turned to me, his voice soft again. “Let’s go.“}
When we reached the house, I barely had time to take off my shoes when Valor pulled me into his arms. His warmth wrapped around me, chasing the cold away.”
“Don’t listen to them,” he whispered into my hair. “No matter what Ronan says, no matter what lies Mara spreads… I love you, Bella. I will only love you. And your child, even if it’s his…, it doesn’t matter. I’ll raise him as mine. I’ll protect both of you.“}
My chest tightened, and tears welled in my eyes. I didn’t deserve this. But I needed it. I buried my face in his chest and let myself cry silently. He chuckled and rubbed my back gently.”
“You’re not allowed to be stressed,” he said. “Rest. Stay inside tomorrow. I’ll have my brothers guard you. I just need to talk to Ronan… make sure he understands.“}
He kissed my forehead and left.
That night, I didn’t step outside.
I stayed inside Valor’s home, protected by the walls and his siblings. They played cards, argued about food, and even braided my hair. For
a moment, everything felt strangely normal. When the noise faded and I finally fell asleep, my dreams came.§
I was in the forest. Not just a forest, but the forest that appeared in my dreams every time I tried to remember.}
The trees were dark and thick, their branches clawing at the moonlight. The air was thick with fog. My bare feet touched the cold ground, and yet I walked forward, pulled by something I couldn’t explain. And then, I saw someone.}
A figure stood beneath the shadows, waiting. My heart pounded as I stepped closer. And when the moonlight touched his face, I froze.}
It was Valor. But before I could call out to him, I felt something. Something warm touched me.
I jerked awake. And saw it.
Something was watching me from the corner of the room.
