Crimson Moon The Rejected Luna Englishsub Fullmovie

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00:00:00I died. A second later, my eyes snapped open. I was reborn. Back on the day of the ceremony.

00:00:05How stupid was I in my past life. I waited like a loyal dog.

00:00:09Your little games won't work on me this time. Cutting Alaric off before he could claim me.

00:00:13I, Evelyn, reject my fated bond with Alpha Alaric.

00:00:16He crashed to his knees. His wolf howled in agony. Clashing inside her.

00:00:20But me. I felt nothing. No pain. No tearing. Nothing at all.

00:00:24He couldn't understand why I felt no backlash. I walked away without looking back.

00:00:28Evelyn, you bitch! Fucking a rogue in the sacred woods?

00:00:31No! It wasn't me! Alaric, please look at me! That's not me!

00:00:38At the ceremony, it was me. Alpha Alaric was about to mark me.

00:00:42Then, a vision above the altar shattered the ceremony.

00:00:45I dropped to my knees, screaming my incense. But no one listened.

00:00:48Alaric ripped the moonstone necklace from my neck, the ultimate symbol of Aluna.

00:00:52You don't deserve to be my mate.

00:00:58Behind him, my stepsister Serafina watched from the crowd, smiling sweetly, like she always did.

00:01:02Cast her out of Solerion!

00:01:04No! It wasn't me!

00:01:06Alaric! No!

00:01:07Hey!

00:01:08No!

00:01:08The guards dragged me away, shoved me out into the waistlines.

00:01:12I fell to the bottom of the cliff.

00:01:13I die.

00:01:15A second later, my eyes snapped open. I gasped for air. I was reborn, back on the day of the

00:01:20ceremony, before the nightmare began.

00:01:23Evelyn, you look stunning today. I grabbed her hand tightly, shoving her away in pure disgust.

00:01:29Serafina, you look stunning too.

00:01:31I turned to the center of the altar, cutting Alaric off before he could claim me.

00:01:35Enter, High Priestess!

00:01:37Everyone at the ceremony turned in confusion toward the Priestess in white robes.

00:01:41High Priestess, before the ceremony begins, I request the rite of truth.

00:01:50Serafina rubbed her wrist, glaring at me. At those words, her face went instantly pay off. The Priestess raised her

00:01:56staff.

00:01:57Evelyn, what is this?

00:01:59Serafina gaped at me. She never expected me to play her trump card first, the exact proof she used to

00:02:04ruin my last life.

00:02:05Keep watching. The next second, the face in the vision peeled away. It was Serafina's person maid.

00:02:12You bitch! How dare you frame my sister!

00:02:15Without a flinch, she snapped her maid's neck.

00:02:20Evelyn, I'm so sorry! I had no idea this slut was trying to set you up!

00:02:25I stepped over with a sneer and leaned down to her ear.

00:02:27Save your tears, Serafina. Your little games won't work on me this time.

00:02:32Evelyn, that's enough! She's your sister! It wasn't her fault!

00:02:36He wiped her tears away gently, then glared at me.

00:02:39You're about to be the Luna of Salarian. Show some grace.

00:02:42Watching him shield Serafina, I shook my head with a bitter laugh.

00:02:46How stupid was I in my past life? While he was busy fucking Serafina.

00:02:51I waited like a loyal dog, grateful he was even willing to mark me.

00:02:57All right. The ceremony continues. Evelyn, come here.

00:03:01Alaric let go of Serafina and held his hand out to me.

00:03:04Alaric!

00:03:05I reject your mark!

00:03:10What did you just say?

00:03:12I, Evelyn, reject my fated bond with Alpha Alaric.

00:03:16At that, the crowd erupted in murmurs.

00:03:18The next second, Alaric's pupils shrank. Thick blood surged up in his throat.

00:03:25Sevelin, the fated Nathaniel, incited once the seamless punishment in the path.

00:03:29Enough to shatter both our wolf souls.

00:03:31He crashed to his knees, bracing himself against the altar.

00:03:34His wolf howled in agony, crashing inside him.

00:03:37But me, I felt nothing. No pain. No tearing. Nothing at all.

00:03:41Alaric looked up at me in shock, mouth dripping with blood.

00:03:44He couldn't understand why I felt no backlash.

00:03:46Evelyn! You'll regret this!

00:03:50He dragged his broken body up and yanked Serafina over, right in front of everyone.

00:03:54He drove his fangs deep into her neck.

00:03:57Serafina let out a sweet, breathy moan.

00:03:59I heard Alaric's wolf swing on my face.

00:04:02No! She's not our mate! Stop!

00:04:05He didn't stop.

00:04:06I walked away without looking back.

00:04:14Evelyn, you bitch!

00:04:15Fucking a rogue in the sacred woods!

00:04:17No! It wasn't me!

00:04:19Alaric, please look at me!

00:04:21That's not me!

00:04:24At the saloon, it was me.

00:04:26Alpha Alaric was about to mark me.

00:04:28Then, a vision above the altar shattered the ceremony.

00:04:31I dropped to my knees, screaming my incense.

00:04:33But no one listened.

00:04:34Alaric ripped the moonstone necklace from my neck, the ultimate symbol of a luna.

00:04:38You don't deserve to be my mate.

00:04:43Behind him, my stepsister Serafina watched from the crowd, smiling sweetly, like she always did.

00:04:48Cast her out of Solarian!

00:04:50No! It wasn't me!

00:04:52Alaric! No!

00:04:53Hey!

00:04:54No!

00:04:54The guards dragged me away, shoved me out into the raised hands.

00:04:58I fell to the bottom of the floor.

00:04:59I die.

00:05:01A second later, my eyes snapped open.

00:05:03I gasped for air.

00:05:04I was reborn, back on the day of the ceremony, before the nightmare began.

00:05:09Evelyn!

00:05:09You look stunning today!

00:05:11I grabbed her hand tightly, shoving her away in pure disgust.

00:05:15Serafina!

00:05:16You look stunning too!

00:05:17I turned to the center of the altar, cutting Alaric off before he could claim me.

00:05:21Enter, High Priestess!

00:05:23Everyone at the ceremony turned in confusion toward the priestess in white robes.

00:05:26High Priestess!

00:05:27Before the ceremony begins, I request the rite of truth!

00:05:36Serafina rubbed her wrist, glaring at me.

00:05:38At those words, her face went instantly pale.

00:05:41The priestess raised her staff.

00:05:43Evelyn, what is this?

00:05:45Serafina gaped at me.

00:05:46She never expected me to play her trump card first, the exact proof she used to ruin my last life.

00:05:51Keep watching.

00:05:52The next second, the face in the vision peeled away.

00:05:55It was Serafina's person maid.

00:05:58You bitch!

00:05:59How dare you frame my sister!

00:06:01Without a flinch, she snapped her maid's neck.

00:06:06Evelyn, I'm so sorry!

00:06:08I had no idea this slut was trying to set you up!

00:06:10I stepped over with a sneer and leaned down to her ear.

00:06:13Save your tears, Serafina.

00:06:15Your little games won't work on me this time.

00:06:18Evelyn, that's enough!

00:06:19She's your sister!

00:06:20It wasn't her fault!

00:06:22He wiped her tears away gently, then glared at me.

00:06:25You're about to be the Luna of Salarian.

00:06:27Show some grace.

00:06:28Watching him shield Serafina, I shook my head with a bitter laugh.

00:06:32How stupid was I in my past life?

00:06:34While he was busy fucking Serafina.

00:06:37I waited like a loyal dog, grateful he was even willing to mark me.

00:06:43All right, the ceremony continues.

00:06:46Evelyn, come here.

00:06:47Alaric let go of Serafina and held his hand out to me.

00:06:50Alaric!

00:06:51I reject your mark!

00:06:56What did you just say?

00:06:58I, Evelyn, reject my fated bond with Alpha Alaric.

00:07:02At that, the crowd erupted in murmurs.

00:07:04The next second, Alaric's pupils shrank.

00:07:07Thick blood surged up in his throat.

00:07:09I was so sorry.

00:07:11Sether and the fated mate knew him to incite against the finest punishment in the path.

00:07:15Enough to shatter both our wolf souls.

00:07:17He crashed to his knees, bracing himself against the altar.

00:07:20His wolf howled in agony, crashing inside him.

00:07:23But me, I felt nothing.

00:07:25No pain, no tearing.

00:07:26Nothing at all.

00:07:27Alaric looked up at me in shock, mouth dripping with blood.

00:07:30He couldn't understand why I felt no backlash.

00:07:32Evelyn!

00:07:33You'll regret this!

00:07:36He dragged his broken body up and yanked Serafina over,

00:07:39right in front of everyone.

00:07:40He drove his fangs deep into her neck.

00:07:42Serafina let out a sweet, breathy moan.

00:07:45I heard Alaric's wolf swing on my phone and say,

00:07:48No!

00:07:49She's not our mate!

00:07:50Stop!

00:07:51He didn't stop.

00:07:52I walked away without looking back.

00:08:00Evelyn, you bitch!

00:08:01Fucking a rogue in the sacred woods?

00:08:03No!

00:08:04It wasn't me!

00:08:05Alaric, please look at me!

00:08:07That's not me!

00:08:10At the Solae, it's mooned.

00:08:12Alpha Alaric was about to mark me.

00:08:14Then, a vision above the altar shattered the ceremony.

00:08:17I dropped to my knees, screaming my incense.

00:08:19But no one listened.

00:08:20Alaric ripped the moonstone necklace from my neck,

00:08:23the ultimate symbol of a luna.

00:08:24You don't deserve to be my mate.

00:08:29Behind him, my stepsister Serafina watched from the crowd,

00:08:32smiling sweetly, like she always did.

00:08:34Cast her out of Solarian!

00:08:35No!

00:08:36It wasn't me!

00:08:38Alaric!

00:08:38No!

00:08:39Hey!

00:08:40No!

00:08:40The guards dragged me away, shoved me out into the raised hands.

00:08:44I fell to the bottom of the floor.

00:08:45I die.

00:08:47A second later, my eyes snapped open.

00:08:49I gasped for air.

00:08:50I was reborn, back on the day of the ceremony, before the nightmare began.

00:08:54Serafina.

00:08:55Evelyn, you look stunning today.

00:08:57I grabbed her hand tightly, shoving her away in pure disgust.

00:09:01Serafina, you look stunning too.

00:09:03I turned to the center of the altar, cutting Alaric off before he could claim me.

00:09:07Enter, High Priestess!

00:09:08Everyone at the ceremony turned in confusion toward the priestess in white robes.

00:09:12High Priestess, before the ceremony begins,

00:09:16I request the rite of truth.

00:09:22Serafina rubbed her wrist, glaring at me.

00:09:24At those words, her face went instantly pay off.

00:09:27The priestess raised her staff.

00:09:29Evelyn, what is this?

00:09:30Serafina gaped at me.

00:09:32She never expected me to play her trump card first.

00:09:34The exact proof she used to ruin my last life.

00:09:37Keep watching.

00:09:38The next second, the face in the vision peeled away.

00:09:41It was Serafina's person maid.

00:09:44You bitch!

00:09:45How dare you frame my sister!

00:09:46Without a flinch, she snapped her maid's neck.

00:09:52Evelyn, I'm so sorry!

00:09:53I had no idea this slut was trying to set you up!

00:09:56I stepped over with a sneer and leaned down to her ear.

00:09:59Save your tears, Serafina.

00:10:01Your little games won't work on me this time.

00:10:04Evelyn, that's enough!

00:10:05She's your sister!

00:10:06It wasn't her fault!

00:10:08He wiped her tears away gently,

00:10:09then glared at me.

00:10:11You're about to be the Luna of Salarian.

00:10:13Show some grace.

00:10:14Watching him shield Serafina,

00:10:16I shook my head with a bitter laugh.

00:10:18How stupid was I in my past life

00:10:20while he was busy fucking Serafina?

00:10:22I waited like a loyal dog,

00:10:24grateful he was even willing to mark me.

00:10:28All right, the ceremony continues.

00:10:32Evelyn, come here.

00:10:33Alaric let go of Serafina and held his hand out to me.

00:10:36Alaric!

00:10:37I reject your mark!

00:10:42What did you just say?

00:10:44I, Evelyn,

00:10:45reject my fated bond with Alpha Alaric.

00:10:47At that, the crowd erupted in murmurs.

00:10:50The next second, Alaric's pupils shrank.

00:10:53Thick blood surged up in his throat.

00:10:57Sevelin, the fated mate,

00:10:58went inside of me,

00:10:59seen this punishment in the path,

00:11:01enough to shatter both our wolf souls.

00:11:03He crashed to his knees,

00:11:04bracing himself against the altar.

00:11:06His wolf howled in agony,

00:11:07crashing inside him.

00:11:09But me, I felt nothing.

00:11:11No pain, no tearing.

00:11:12Nothing at all.

00:11:13Alaric looked up at me in shock,

00:11:15mouth dripping with blood.

00:11:16He couldn't understand why I felt no backlash.

00:11:18Evelyn!

00:11:19You'll regret this!

00:11:22He dragged his broken body up,

00:11:23and yanked Serafina over,

00:11:25right in front of everyone.

00:11:26He drove his fangs deep into her neck.

00:11:28Serafina let out a sweet, breathy moan.

00:11:31I heard Alaric's wolf screaming.

00:11:34No!

00:11:35She's not our mate!

00:11:36Stop!

00:11:37He didn't stop.

00:11:38I walked away without looking back.

00:11:43On April Fool's Day,

00:11:44Grayson handed me a divorce agreement.

00:11:46I'd been married twice.

00:11:47I helped Spencer secure his family trust inheritance.

00:11:49I helped Ethan dodge an arranged marriage.

00:11:51I thought I'd finally married the right man.

00:11:53Then one day,

00:11:54I came home early from a business trip.

00:11:56I stood outside the door,

00:11:57catching every single word of the scheming going on.

00:11:59I'm definitely divorcing her.

00:12:00There's no way she'll dare go through a third divorce.

00:12:03Smart move,

00:12:04picking April Fool's Day.

00:12:04Tell her it was an April Fool's jokes.

00:12:06I've signed both copies.

00:12:07Since everyone's here,

00:12:08when are you moving out?

00:12:10This house is under my name after all.

00:12:13Would be under another woman's name.

00:12:14On April Fool's Day,

00:12:15Grayson handed me a divorce agreement out of nowhere.

00:12:18Your two ex-husbands called to taunt me yesterday.

00:12:20Said you're too uptight to take an April Fool's joke

00:12:22that there's no way you'd actually sign divorce papers.

00:12:25I'd been married twice.

00:12:26Before we got married,

00:12:27I'd explained everything to Grayson.

00:12:29The first time,

00:12:29I helped Spencer secure his family trust inheritance.

00:12:32The second time,

00:12:33I helped Ethan dodge an arranged marriage.

00:12:35Both times,

00:12:36clean breaks.

00:12:37No feelings,

00:12:38no baggage.

00:12:38If that bothers you,

00:12:39we don't have to-

00:12:40I trust you.

00:12:41The past is the past.

00:12:42From now on,

00:12:43I'm the only one you see.

00:12:45After we got married,

00:12:46he and my two ex-husbands were like oil and water.

00:12:48But with me,

00:12:48he was gentle,

00:12:49attentive.

00:12:50I thought I'd finally married the right man.

00:12:52Then one day,

00:12:53I came home early from a business trip

00:12:55and heard him laughing and chatting

00:12:56with those two ex-husbands

00:12:57like old friends in the living room.

00:12:59The second before the key turned in the lock,

00:13:01I stood outside the door,

00:13:02catching every single word of the scheming

00:13:04going on in the living room.

00:13:05Relax.

00:13:06I'm definitely divorcing her.

00:13:08She's already been divorced twice.

00:13:09She's a joke all over the Upper East Side.

00:13:11There's no way she'll dare go through a third divorce.

00:13:14It was Grayson's voice stripped of the tenderness he always lavished on me.

00:13:17Smart move,

00:13:18picking April Fool's Day to hand her the divorce papers.

00:13:20Even if she loses it later,

00:13:21you just tell her it was an April Fool's joke.

00:13:23Vivian's wedding is next week.

00:13:25Her bachelorette party starts before that.

00:13:27Three of us have to be single.

00:13:30I escaped into the coffee shop across the street.

00:13:32I thought about the past.

00:13:34My first marriage,

00:13:35I did it to help my childhood friend Spencer Knox

00:13:37secure his family trust.

00:13:39My second marriage,

00:13:40I did it to help Ethan Sinclair

00:13:41dodge an arranged marriage his family was forcing on him.

00:13:44I never imagined everything I'd done for them

00:13:46would become the very reason

00:13:47they thought they could manipulate me.

00:13:48I sat in that cafe for a solid hour

00:13:51before I finally headed home.

00:13:54Why didn't you call?

00:13:55I would have picked you up.

00:13:56You eat yet?

00:13:57Already did.

00:13:59Babe,

00:13:59there's something I wanted to tell you.

00:14:01The company's hit a bit of a snag lately.

00:14:03We need to do some asset separation.

00:14:05The lawyer suggested we file for divorce first,

00:14:07just to perform a process.

00:14:10Once the crisis were over,

00:14:12we'll remarry.

00:14:13A few months tops.

00:14:14I know this is a bit out of nowhere,

00:14:15but Spencer and Ethan called today and was like,

00:14:17you used to help them without a second thought,

00:14:19but now for me,

00:14:19it's a different story,

00:14:20just taking digs the whole time.

00:14:21They even said,

00:14:22Grayson,

00:14:23a woman who's been divorced twice

00:14:24wouldn't dare go for a third.

00:14:25Josephine definitely couldn't handle it.

00:14:27I've got it all figured out.

00:14:28Tomorrow's April Fool's.

00:14:29We go that day,

00:14:29get the papers,

00:14:30then throw right in their faces,

00:14:31freak them the hell out,

00:14:32see if they ever dare look down on you again.

00:14:33Babe,

00:14:34you wouldn't want them thinking

00:14:35I can't even handle something this simple,

00:14:37right?

00:14:39I won't.

00:14:40Then get some rest.

00:14:42Tomorrow,

00:14:42we'll sign the papers

00:14:43and head to the...

00:14:46Give them a call

00:14:49so they can stop chattering about it.

00:14:54Babe,

00:14:55you're the best.

00:14:57She signed.

00:14:58Told you,

00:14:59Josephine's always the easiest to handle.

00:15:01Alright,

00:15:01take care of Vivianas.

00:15:02I'll wrap up here and head over.

00:15:07Long time no see.

00:15:09Want to grab a drink?

00:15:10Before,

00:15:11I would have replied,

00:15:12sure,

00:15:12I would have carefully picked out what to wear,

00:15:15what makeup to put on.

00:15:16I would have thought about how to make Grayson look good in front of them.

00:15:19But now,

00:15:19I couldn't even be bothered to reply.

00:15:21I set my phone face down on the coffee table,

00:15:24got up,

00:15:24and walked to the kitchen.

00:15:25Passing by the study,

00:15:26Grayson was still on the phone.

00:15:28His voice was low,

00:15:29but carried a kind of ease I'd never heard before.

00:15:31The kitchen faucet was still running.

00:15:33I stood at the sink,

00:15:34washing the glasses one by one,

00:15:36setting them in the drying rack.

00:15:37As I finished the last one,

00:15:39my phone lit up again.

00:15:40This time,

00:15:40a message from Spencer.

00:15:42Heard you're getting divorced again?

00:15:44Grayson's a real piece of work.

00:15:45He doesn't deserve you.

00:15:46Don't be upset.

00:15:47In a few days,

00:15:48your grandpa's 80th birthday party is being held at the Quinn Estate.

00:15:51Ethan and I are coming to celebrate.

00:15:52Let's all catch up.

00:15:53What a sweet talker.

00:15:55Suddenly,

00:15:55I really wanted to know,

00:15:57what kind of person was Vivian,

00:15:58exactly?

00:15:59This home.

00:16:00This man.

00:16:01None of it would have anything to do with me.

00:16:03The person standing outside had a flush in her cheeks.

00:16:06Clearly,

00:16:06she'd had more than a few drinks.

00:16:08Knew you'd still be up.

00:16:09What are you doing here?

00:16:10She didn't answer,

00:16:11just swayed her way inside.

00:16:13It wasn't until she spotted me standing in the living room that she paused.

00:16:16Josephine's home too.

00:16:18Josephine,

00:16:18she's had too much to drink.

00:16:19We were taking her home,

00:16:20but she insisted on swinging by here.

00:16:22Grayson,

00:16:23your wife's right there.

00:16:24You ever heard of keeping things appropriate?

00:16:25You got her wasted and dropped her off at my place,

00:16:27and now I'm the one who needs to mind appearances?

00:16:29I got her drunk?

00:16:30You're the one posting on Insta about being newly single.

00:16:32Fine.

00:16:32You're a saint.

00:16:33You're the upstanding one.

00:16:34I delivered the girl who got drunk over you.

00:16:35Handle it however you want.

00:16:36The air felt frozen over.

00:16:38Spencer,

00:16:38caught in the middle.

00:16:40All right.

00:16:41Knock it off.

00:16:42Vivi just wanted to swing by on the way.

00:16:44I stood in the middle of the living room,

00:16:46watching the whole show from start to finish.

00:16:48Way too insane.

00:16:50All this time,

00:16:51I thought the bond between me,

00:16:52Spencer,

00:16:53and Ethan was unbreakable.

00:16:54I'd even married both of them.

00:16:55When I was little and got hurt or upset,

00:16:57Spencer was always the one by my side.

00:16:59Ethan once even shielded me from a kidnapper with a knife.

00:17:01To me,

00:17:02they were closer than family.

00:17:04When Vivian showed up,

00:17:05bit by bit,

00:17:06I became the afterthought.

00:17:07They only remembered I existed when they needed something from me.

00:17:10I walked to the coffee table and picked up the divorce agreement.

00:17:13Good timing,

00:17:14all of you.

00:17:15There's something I'd like you to witness in person.

00:17:17I've signed both copies.

00:17:19Since everyone's here,

00:17:20why not take a good look?

00:17:22Grayson's expression shifted slightly,

00:17:24but he recovered fast.

00:17:25Josephine,

00:17:26we can talk about this in private.

00:17:28You don't have to-

00:17:29It's Josephine's already put it out there.

00:17:31Mind if I ask,

00:17:33when are you moving out?

00:17:35This house is under my name,

00:17:37after all.

00:17:38You're not planning to stay here forever,

00:17:40are you?

00:17:42The house in her name?

00:17:43He didn't deny it.

00:17:45In that instant,

00:17:46a flood of images rushed through my mind.

00:17:48This is our home.

00:17:49I'll handle the paperwork.

00:17:50Don't worry about it.

00:17:51And me,

00:17:52happily picking out the curtains,

00:17:53the couch,

00:17:54the dining table,

00:17:55every single piece of furniture in this place,

00:17:57I'd picked out myself.

00:17:58Trip after trip to the store.

00:18:00I never cared whose name was on the deed,

00:18:02but it never crossed my mind

00:18:03that the home we built together

00:18:04would be under another woman's name.

00:18:06I'll leave right now.

00:18:07Josephine,

00:18:07tomorrow,

00:18:089 a.m.

00:18:08See you at the courthouse.

00:18:11Waiting for the elevator,

00:18:12I could still hear voices from inside.

00:18:14Nailed it!

00:18:15She was even more cooperative

00:18:16than the day I asked her to marry me.

00:18:18The reflection in the mirror

00:18:19looked calmer than I expected.

00:18:22Come get me in a few days?

00:18:24Like I'd just stepped out for some air

00:18:25and would be back any minute.

00:18:26No need,

00:18:27Grayson.

00:18:28Don't bother coming for me.

00:18:33On April Fool's Day,

00:18:35Grayson handed me a divorce agreement

00:18:36out of nowhere.

00:18:37Your two ex-husbands

00:18:38called to taunt me yesterday.

00:18:39Said you're too uptight

00:18:41to take an April Fool's joke

00:18:42that there's no way

00:18:43you'd actually sign divorce papers.

00:18:44I'd been married twice.

00:18:45Before we got married,

00:18:47I'd explained everything to Grayson.

00:18:48The first time I helped Spencer

00:18:49secure his family trust inheritance.

00:18:51The second time I helped Ethan dodge

00:18:53an arranged marriage.

00:18:55Both times,

00:18:56clean breaks,

00:18:56no feelings,

00:18:57no baggage.

00:18:58If that bothers you,

00:18:58we don't have to-

00:18:59I trust you.

00:19:00The past is the past.

00:19:02From now on,

00:19:02I'm the only one you see.

00:19:04After we got married,

00:19:05he and my two ex-husbands

00:19:06were like oil and water.

00:19:07But with me,

00:19:08he was gentle,

00:19:09attentive.

00:19:10I thought I'd finally married

00:19:11the right man.

00:19:12Then one day,

00:19:13I came home early

00:19:13from a business trip

00:19:14and heard him laughing

00:19:15and chatting with those

00:19:16two ex-husbands

00:19:17like old friends

00:19:18in the living room.

00:19:18The second before the key

00:19:19turned in the law,

00:19:20I stood outside the door,

00:19:22catching every single word

00:19:23of the scheming going on

00:19:24in the living room.

00:19:24Relax.

00:19:26I'm definitely divorcing her.

00:19:27She's already been divorced twice.

00:19:29She's a joke all over

00:19:30the Upper East Side.

00:19:31There's no way she'll dare

00:19:32go through a third divorce.

00:19:33It was Grayson's voice

00:19:34stripped of the tenderness

00:19:35he always lavished on me.

00:19:37Smart move,

00:19:38picking April Fool's Day

00:19:38to hand her the divorce papers.

00:19:40Even if she loses it later,

00:19:41you just tell her

00:19:41it was an April Fool's joke.

00:19:43Vivian's wedding is next week.

00:19:44Her bachelorette party

00:19:45starts before that.

00:19:47Three of us have to be single.

00:19:49I escaped into the coffee shop

00:19:51across the street.

00:19:52I thought about the past.

00:19:53My first marriage,

00:19:54I did it to help

00:19:55my childhood friend Spencer Knox

00:19:57secure his family trust.

00:19:58My second marriage,

00:19:59I did it to help Ethan Sinclair

00:20:00dodge an arranged marriage

00:20:01his family was forcing on him.

00:20:03I never imagined

00:20:04everything I'd done for them

00:20:05would become the very reason

00:20:06they thought they could

00:20:07manipulate me.

00:20:08I sat in that cafe

00:20:09for a solid hour

00:20:10before I finally headed home.

00:20:13Why didn't you call?

00:20:14I would have picked you up.

00:20:15You eat yet?

00:20:16Already did.

00:20:18Babe, there's something

00:20:19I wanted to tell you.

00:20:20The company's hit a bit

00:20:21of a snag lately.

00:20:22We need to do

00:20:23some asset separation.

00:20:24The lawyer suggested

00:20:25we file for divorce first,

00:20:26just to proform a process.

00:20:30Once the crisis were over,

00:20:31we'll remarry.

00:20:32A few months tops.

00:20:33I know this is a bit

00:20:34out of nowhere,

00:20:35but Spencer and Ethan

00:20:35called today and was like,

00:20:37used to help them

00:20:37without a second thought,

00:20:38but now for me,

00:20:39it's a different story,

00:20:39just taking digs

00:20:40the whole time.

00:20:41They even said,

00:20:42Grayson,

00:20:42a woman who's been

00:20:43divorced twice

00:20:43wouldn't dare go for a third.

00:20:45Josephine definitely

00:20:45couldn't handle it.

00:20:46I've got it all figured out.

00:20:47Tomorrow's April Fool's.

00:20:48We go that day,

00:20:49get the papers,

00:20:49then throw right in their faces,

00:20:50freak them the hell out,

00:20:51see if they ever dare

00:20:52look down on you again.

00:20:53Babe, you wouldn't want them

00:20:54thinking I can't even

00:20:55handle something this simple,

00:20:56right?

00:20:59I won't.

00:21:00Then get some rest.

00:21:01Tomorrow we'll sign the papers

00:21:02and head to the...

00:21:05Give them a call

00:21:08so they can stop

00:21:09chattering about it.

00:21:14Babe, you're the best.

00:21:17She signed.

00:21:18Told you,

00:21:18Josephine's always

00:21:19the easiest to handle.

00:21:20Alright, take care of Vivianas.

00:21:21I'll wrap up here

00:21:22and head over.

00:21:27Long time no see.

00:21:28Want to grab a drink?

00:21:29Before,

00:21:30I would have replied,

00:21:31sure.

00:21:32I would have carefully

00:21:33picked out what to wear,

00:21:34what makeup to put on.

00:21:35I would have thought about

00:21:36how to make Grayson look

00:21:37good in front of them.

00:21:38But now,

00:21:39I couldn't even be

00:21:39bothered to reply.

00:21:41I set my phone face down

00:21:42on the coffee table,

00:21:43got up,

00:21:44and walked to the kitchen.

00:21:45Passing by the study,

00:21:46Grayson was still on the phone.

00:21:47His voice was low,

00:21:48but carried a kind of ease

00:21:49I'd never heard before.

00:21:51The kitchen faucet

00:21:52was still running.

00:21:52I stood at the sink,

00:21:54washing the glasses

00:21:54one by one,

00:21:55setting them in the drying rack.

00:21:57As I finished the last one,

00:21:58my phone lit up again.

00:21:59This time,

00:22:00a message from Spencer.

00:22:01Heard you're

00:22:01getting divorced again?

00:22:03Grayson's a real piece of work.

00:22:04He doesn't deserve you.

00:22:05Don't be upset.

00:22:06In a few days,

00:22:07your grandpa's

00:22:0880th birthday party

00:22:09is being held

00:22:09at the Quinn Estate.

00:22:10Ethan and I are coming

00:22:11to celebrate.

00:22:12Let's all catch up.

00:22:13What a sweet talker.

00:22:14Suddenly,

00:22:15I really wanted to know

00:22:16what kind of person

00:22:17was Vivian exactly.

00:22:18This home.

00:22:19This man.

00:22:20None of it would have

00:22:21anything to do with me.

00:22:23The person standing outside

00:22:24had a flush in her cheeks.

00:22:25Clearly,

00:22:26she'd had more than a few drinks.

00:22:27Knew you'd still be up.

00:22:29What are you doing here?

00:22:30She didn't answer.

00:22:31Just swayed her way inside.

00:22:32It wasn't until

00:22:33she spotted me standing

00:22:34in the living room

00:22:34that she paused.

00:22:36Josephine's home too.

00:22:37Josephine?

00:22:38She's had too much to drink.

00:22:39We were taking her home,

00:22:40but she insisted

00:22:40on swinging by here.

00:22:42Grayson,

00:22:42your wife's right there.

00:22:43You ever heard

00:22:43of keeping things appropriate?

00:22:45You got her wasted

00:22:45and dropped her off

00:22:46at my place,

00:22:46and now I'm the one

00:22:47who needs to mind appearances?

00:22:48I got her drunk?

00:22:49You're the one posting on Insta

00:22:50about being newly single.

00:22:51Fine.

00:22:51You're a saint.

00:22:52You're the upstanding one.

00:22:53I delivered the girl

00:22:54who got drunk over you.

00:22:55Handle it however you want.

00:22:56The air felt frozen over.

00:22:57Spencer,

00:22:58caught in the middle.

00:22:59Alright,

00:23:00alright,

00:23:00knock it off.

00:23:02Vivi just wanted

00:23:02to swing by on the way.

00:23:03I stood in the middle

00:23:04of the living room,

00:23:05watching the whole show

00:23:06from start to finish.

00:23:07Way too insane.

00:23:09All this time,

00:23:10I thought the bond

00:23:11between me,

00:23:11Spencer,

00:23:12and Ethan

00:23:12was unbreakable.

00:23:13I'd even married both of them.

00:23:15When I was little

00:23:15and got hurt or upset,

00:23:17Spencer was always

00:23:17the one by my side.

00:23:19Ethan once even

00:23:19shielded me from a kidnapper

00:23:20with a knife.

00:23:21To me,

00:23:22they were closer than family.

00:23:23When Vivian showed up,

00:23:25bit by bit,

00:23:25I became the afterthought.

00:23:26They only remembered

00:23:27I existed

00:23:28when they needed

00:23:28something from me.

00:23:29I walked to the coffee table

00:23:31and picked up

00:23:31the divorce agreement.

00:23:32Good timing,

00:23:33all of you.

00:23:34There's something

00:23:35I'd like you to witness

00:23:36in person.

00:23:37I've signed both copies.

00:23:38Since everyone's here,

00:23:40why not take a good look?

00:23:41Grayson's expression

00:23:42shifted slightly,

00:23:43but he recovered fast.

00:23:45Josephine,

00:23:45we can talk about this

00:23:47in private.

00:23:47You don't have to-

00:23:48Josephine's already

00:23:49put it out there.

00:23:50Mind if I ask,

00:23:52when are you moving out?

00:23:54This house

00:23:55is under my name

00:23:56after all.

00:23:58You're not planning

00:23:59to stay here forever,

00:24:00are you?

00:24:01The house in her name?

00:24:03He didn't deny it.

00:24:04In that instant,

00:24:05a flood of images

00:24:06rushed through my mind.

00:24:07This is our home.

00:24:09I'll handle the paperwork.

00:24:10Don't worry about it.

00:24:10And me,

00:24:11happily picking out

00:24:12the curtains,

00:24:13the couch,

00:24:13the dining table.

00:24:14Every single piece

00:24:15of furniture in this place,

00:24:16I'd picked out myself.

00:24:18Trip after trip

00:24:18to the store.

00:24:19I never cared

00:24:20whose name was on the deed,

00:24:21but it never crossed my mind

00:24:22that the home we built together

00:24:23would be under

00:24:24another woman's name.

00:24:25I'll leave right now.

00:24:26Josephine,

00:24:27tomorrow,

00:24:279 a.m.

00:24:28See you at the courthouse.

00:24:31Waiting for the elevator,

00:24:32I could still hear voices

00:24:33from inside.

00:24:34Nailed it!

00:24:35She was even more cooperative

00:24:36than the day I asked her

00:24:36to marry me.

00:24:37The reflection in the mirror

00:24:39looked calmer

00:24:39than I expected.

00:24:41Come get me in a few days?

00:24:43Like I'd just stepped out

00:24:44for some air

00:24:45and would be back any minute.

00:24:46No need,

00:24:47Grayson.

00:24:47Don't bother coming for me.

00:24:50I'd been with Luca Russo

00:24:51for six years.

00:24:52Suddenly,

00:24:53he handed me a contract.

00:24:54But what I saw was

00:24:55mistress agreement.

00:24:56Three years.

00:24:57On call 24-7.

00:24:59He chose a marriage alliance

00:25:00for me.

00:25:00Serena,

00:25:01the daughter of the Vitoli family.

00:25:02Supported you for six years.

00:25:04I paid for your dad's nursing home.

00:25:06But that's mistress money,

00:25:07not girlfriend money.

00:25:08I signed my name

00:25:08on the last page.

00:25:09Vittoria DeLuca.

00:25:10I picked up my phone

00:25:11and made a call.

00:25:12Mom,

00:25:12get it started.

00:25:13She was saved

00:25:14by the Moretti family.

00:25:15To wake up

00:25:15and to finally call her.

00:25:17We're even now.

00:25:18I walk-

00:25:20I'd been with Luca Russo

00:25:22for six years.

00:25:23Suddenly,

00:25:23he handed me a contract.

00:25:24I had thought

00:25:25that was a prenup.

00:25:26I was ready to sign.

00:25:27But what I saw was

00:25:28miss this agreement.

00:25:29Three years.

00:25:30On call 24-7.

00:25:31Renew if satisfied.

00:25:33My finger trembled.

00:25:34Luca,

00:25:35what does this mean?

00:25:36Luca leaned back on the sofa,

00:25:37smoking a cigar.

00:25:38He looked at me

00:25:39with cold eyes.

00:25:40My father is pushing hard.

00:25:41He chose a marriage alliance

00:25:42for me.

00:25:43Serena,

00:25:43the daughter of the Vitoli family.

00:25:45They hold the entire

00:25:46Adriatic arms line.

00:25:47And I need that.

00:25:48My voice trembled.

00:25:49And what about me?

00:25:50Luca looked up,

00:25:51sneered.

00:25:51Tesoro,

00:25:52give me a break.

00:25:53Your dad had left you

00:25:54with gambling debts

00:25:55and I had paid for his care.

00:25:57Your ex stole your identity

00:25:58and left you with thugs.

00:25:59My men threw them

00:26:00into the Hudson River.

00:26:02I'm just asking you

00:26:02to be my secret lover.

00:26:03Is that too much?

00:26:04I looked at the sharp

00:26:05black text written on paper.

00:26:07Party B must be on call

00:26:0824-7.

00:26:09Party B shall not appear

00:26:10at any family events

00:26:11or social gatherings.

00:26:12If Party B gets pregnant,

00:26:14she must handle it herself.

00:26:15The Russo family

00:26:16will not acknowledge the child.

00:26:17I stared at the last one

00:26:18and my hand instinctively

00:26:20touched my belly.

00:26:21My fingers were ice cold.

00:26:22Sign it.

00:26:23Luca flicked the ash

00:26:24from the cigar.

00:26:25Why are you just staring at it?

00:26:27I put down the contract.

00:26:29My voice trembled.

00:26:30Luca,

00:26:31We've been together

00:26:32for six years!

00:26:33He laughed.

00:26:34So what?

00:26:34Did we ever plan

00:26:35on getting married?

00:26:36Those words stabbed me

00:26:37like a knife.

00:26:38For six years,

00:26:39he took me to every gala

00:26:40and all the unmarried women

00:26:41looked at me

00:26:42with calculating eyes.

00:26:43But he always introduced me

00:26:44as his assistant.

00:26:45His mother,

00:26:46Rosa,

00:26:47had implied more than once

00:26:48that I was going to

00:26:48Mia cara,

00:26:49you should find

00:26:49a good man to marry.

00:26:51I thought she was teasing us.

00:26:52Now I realized

00:26:53she was politely telling me

00:26:54to get out.

00:26:55What were these

00:26:55six years to you?

00:26:59Luca crushed the cigar

00:27:00and walked to me.

00:27:02It was a fair trade.

00:27:03I supported you

00:27:04for six years.

00:27:05I paid for your dad's

00:27:06nursing home.

00:27:06I cleared your ex's debt.

00:27:07I gave you a job.

00:27:08You've managed

00:27:09the Russo family's

00:27:09accounts for six years.

00:27:11If you leave,

00:27:12who would dare to hire you?

00:27:13He paused,

00:27:14then smiled.

00:27:14Tesora,

00:27:15be reasonable.

00:27:16You didn't hesitate

00:27:17to use me

00:27:17when you were in trouble.

00:27:19Now I'm using you.

00:27:20It's just business.

00:27:21I felt my eyes burn,

00:27:22but I didn't shed

00:27:23a single drop of tears.

00:27:24He never mentioned

00:27:25these things,

00:27:26though I knew

00:27:26he was telling the truth.

00:27:27He was right.

00:27:28My father was a loser.

00:27:29He walked out on us

00:27:30to gamble,

00:27:31then spent over a decade

00:27:32rotting away

00:27:33before showing up

00:27:33at my door

00:27:34with broken legs.

00:27:35I was soft,

00:27:36so I took him in.

00:27:37As for my ex,

00:27:38we only dated for a month.

00:27:39I didn't even know

00:27:40he used my identity

00:27:41to get a loan

00:27:42until three men

00:27:43with machetes

00:27:43showed up at my door.

00:27:44It was Luca's men

00:27:45who came and cleared

00:27:46the trouble.

00:27:47I knew I owed him,

00:27:48but I never thought

00:27:48he was keeping

00:27:49a ledger of every cent.

00:27:50So I pushed his hand away.

00:27:52There was no love?

00:27:53Only investment?

00:27:54Luca laughed.

00:27:55Don't be silly.

00:27:56You call this an investment?

00:27:58I've got nothing

00:27:58back from you,

00:27:59haven't I?

00:28:00Luca dropped

00:28:00a black card on the table.

00:28:02Sign,

00:28:02and it's yours.

00:28:03In three years,

00:28:04if you want to stay,

00:28:04we will renew.

00:28:05If not,

00:28:06keep the money.

00:28:07500k,

00:28:08enough to buy 10 lives,

00:28:09but not enough to buy me.

00:28:11I wanted to say something,

00:28:12but it was caught in my throat

00:28:13because I remembered

00:28:14the nursing home's call.

00:28:15If I don't pay,

00:28:16they'll kick my father out.

00:28:17Luca knew I needed money,

00:28:18so he just dropped

00:28:19that card in front of me,

00:28:21like feeding a treat

00:28:21to a dog.

00:28:22Is it not enough?

00:28:23I get it.

00:28:25Six years for 500k isn't much.

00:28:27But that's mistress money,

00:28:28not girlfriend money.

00:28:29As of now,

00:28:30this is exactly

00:28:31what you're worth.

00:28:32He paused again

00:28:32and smiled.

00:28:33Of course,

00:28:34you can refuse.

00:28:36But then...

00:28:39But then,

00:28:40you need to move out

00:28:40of this apartment.

00:28:41My heart felt like

00:28:41it was being crushed.

00:28:43Over the past six years,

00:28:44I have treated this place

00:28:45as my home.

00:28:46I planted the roses

00:28:46on the balcony myself.

00:28:48In the kitchen,

00:28:48my favorite vinegar

00:28:49always sat next

00:28:50to his jar of olives.

00:28:51Our travel photos

00:28:52are still on the nightstand,

00:28:53but in the end,

00:28:54I was just a tenant

00:28:55who could be kicked out

00:28:56at any time.

00:28:57Luca,

00:28:57my voice was still trembling.

00:28:59If you don't love me,

00:29:00let's say goodbye.

00:29:01You don't have to humiliate

00:29:02me like this.

00:29:03Love?

00:29:04He crushed the cigar,

00:29:05leaned in,

00:29:06put his hands

00:29:06on either side

00:29:07of the armrest.

00:29:08Did your father love you?

00:29:09Did your ex love you?

00:29:11Does anyone in this world

00:29:12truly care about you?

00:29:13He whispered,

00:29:14looked into my eyes.

00:29:15I paid your debts.

00:29:16I protected you.

00:29:17I can't give you a marriage,

00:29:19but I'm giving you

00:29:20a way to survive.

00:29:21My tears fell eventually,

00:29:23because at some point,

00:29:24I realized he's right.

00:29:25He handed me the pen,

00:29:26clearly running out of patience.

00:29:28Well,

00:29:28are you signing it or not?

00:29:29I opened my mouth.

00:29:30I looked at the pregnancy rule again.

00:29:32I swallowed my words.

00:29:33If my mother and I had planned

00:29:34to get married early next month,

00:29:36would you still have made me sign this?

00:29:38Married?

00:29:39He laughed.

00:29:40Planned with whom?

00:29:41Your drowned mother?

00:29:42Even without these changes,

00:29:43I never planned to marry you.

00:29:46You have quite an imagination.

00:29:47I closed my eyes.

00:29:49Six years.

00:29:50This marriage was never meant to be.

00:29:52I opened my eyes

00:29:52and picked up the pen.

00:29:53I signed my name

00:29:54on the last page.

00:29:55Vittoria DeLuca.

00:29:56My hands had stopped trembling.

00:29:58Luca collected the contract.

00:30:00Good girl.

00:30:01Everything stays the same.

00:30:03But from now on,

00:30:04in public,

00:30:05you call me Mr. Russo.

00:30:07He kissed my forehead coldly.

00:30:09Be good.

00:30:10Luca left.

00:30:11The door closed.

00:30:12He was gone.

00:30:12I looked down

00:30:13at the black card in my hand.

00:30:14I slowly squatted down on the floor,

00:30:16burying my face in my knees.

00:30:18I didn't know how long

00:30:19I'd been sitting here.

00:30:20My legs were numb

00:30:21and my tears had finally dried up.

00:30:23I stood up unsteadily

00:30:24and walked into the bathroom.

00:30:25I turned on the faucet

00:30:26and splashed cold water

00:30:27on my face repeatedly

00:30:28until I finally calmed down.

00:30:30I picked up my phone

00:30:31and made a call.

00:30:31Mom,

00:30:32you were right.

00:30:33I've lost.

00:30:34That thing you mentioned before?

00:30:35Get it started.

00:30:37I'm ready.

00:30:37The person on the other end paused.

00:30:39Are you sure?

00:30:40There's no turning back.

00:30:41I looked out at the cathedral.

00:30:43The bells were tolling

00:30:44like a funeral.

00:30:45It's Ave Maria.

00:30:46I'm sure.

00:30:49The next morning,

00:30:50I went to the nursing home.

00:30:52My father was in a wheelchair,

00:30:53being pushed into the yard

00:30:54by a nurse.

00:30:55He looked very old,

00:30:56like a hollow tree.

00:30:57His hair was completely white.

00:30:59Both his legs were gone.

00:31:00They had been crushed

00:31:01by a van six years ago.

00:31:03Victoria.

00:31:03His lips trembled.

00:31:05Something lit up

00:31:05in his murky eyes.

00:31:06I handed him that black card.

00:31:08There's 500k euros in here.

00:31:10It's enough for the best care

00:31:11and the best nurses.

00:31:12From today on,

00:31:13I won't see you again.

00:31:14Where are you going?

00:31:16I'm going back to her

00:31:17with a clean slate.

00:31:19I took out a photo

00:31:21and put it in his hand.

00:31:22It's a photo of my mom

00:31:23when she was young,

00:31:24wearing a white dress,

00:31:26standing in a lemon grove,

00:31:27smiling brightly.

00:31:28She asked me

00:31:29to give you a message.

00:31:30I said,

00:31:31What message?

00:31:32La morte troppo buona per te.

00:31:33He burst into tears,

00:31:35touching the photo

00:31:36with shaking hands.

00:31:37He had thought

00:31:38she had committed suicide.

00:31:38He had no idea

00:31:40she was actually alive,

00:31:41but he didn't know

00:31:42she was alive.

00:31:42She was saved

00:31:43by the Moretti family.

00:31:44It had all been a play

00:31:45she had staged

00:31:46to fake her death.

00:31:47She waited six years for me.

00:31:49She waited for me

00:31:50to lose everything,

00:31:51to wake up,

00:31:52and to finally call her.

00:31:53I turned to leave,

00:31:54but I stopped at the corner.

00:31:56Dad,

00:31:56that car back then?

00:31:58Was it your doing?

00:31:59The air went silent.

00:32:01He opened his mouth,

00:32:02then closed it.

00:32:03Tears streamed down

00:32:04his wrinkled face.

00:32:05No,

00:32:06Victoria,

00:32:07really,

00:32:07no.

00:32:08I didn't know

00:32:08that car was coming.

00:32:11I just saw it

00:32:12heading for you,

00:32:13and I...

00:32:14And you pushed me

00:32:15out of the way?

00:32:16Yes.

00:32:17I wanted to save you,

00:32:19even if it cost my life.

00:32:20I'm a deadbeat.

00:32:22I owe you

00:32:22and your mother

00:32:23too much.

00:32:23I closed my eyes.

00:32:24I believed him.

00:32:26A bastard father

00:32:27who abandoned

00:32:27his wife and daughter

00:32:28actually acted

00:32:29like a father

00:32:30in that moment.

00:32:32But that didn't mean

00:32:33I forgave him.

00:32:33That money

00:32:34is to pay you back

00:32:35for my life.

00:32:35We're even now.

00:32:37I walked out

00:32:37of the nursing home.

00:32:39I heard him crying

00:32:40and laughing behind me.

00:32:42She's alive.

00:32:43She's not dead.

00:32:44Good.

00:32:45Good, good.

00:32:46Go now.

00:32:46Don't ever come back.

00:32:47I didn't look back.

00:32:50After that,

00:32:51I went back to work

00:32:52in the casino as usual.

00:32:53The Russo family

00:32:54owned many businesses,

00:32:56and the casino

00:32:56was just one of them.

00:32:58All the dirty money

00:32:58from weapons,

00:33:00smuggling,

00:33:01and loans

00:33:02was laundered

00:33:03through those accounts.

00:33:04And I was

00:33:04the one who kept

00:33:05the books.

00:33:06Luca walked in

00:33:07while I was organizing

00:33:07the monthly statements.

00:33:09He looked at me

00:33:10with no expression.

00:33:11When this quarter's

00:33:11books are done,

00:33:12bring them to my office.

00:33:13Yes, Mr. Russo.

00:33:14I replied naturally.

00:33:16Luca paused,

00:33:17looking surprised.

00:33:18You've adapted quickly.

00:33:19He whispered

00:33:19and moved his finger

00:33:20across the back

00:33:21of my hand on purpose.

00:33:22I didn't move,

00:33:23nor react.

00:33:24Our relationship

00:33:25wasn't a secret.

00:33:26For six years,

00:33:27he picked me up

00:33:28from work

00:33:28and took me everywhere.

00:33:30The inner circle

00:33:31had always known

00:33:32an unspoken truth

00:33:33among them.

00:33:33But he never

00:33:34officially announced us.

00:33:36Since we were never

00:33:36official,

00:33:37calling him Mr. Russo

00:33:39now actually made things

00:33:40look more professional

00:33:40to others.

00:33:42At night,

00:33:42Luca sent me a location.

00:33:44I took a taxi here.

00:33:45I opened the door

00:33:46to a suite.

00:33:46The floor was covered

00:33:47in rose petals.

00:33:48A silk nightgown

00:33:49was hanging on a rack.

00:33:50The air was thick

00:33:51with the scent of guerlain.

00:33:53That's the brand

00:33:54Serena liked.

00:33:54Seen enough?

00:33:55His voice came from behind.

00:33:57Luca leaned

00:33:57against the doorframe,

00:33:58looking at me

00:33:59with a half-smile.

00:34:01The engagement party

00:34:02is next week.

00:34:03You're coming to help.

00:34:06Help with what?

00:34:07I channeled the calmness

00:34:08I had spent

00:34:09the last few days cultivating.

00:34:10They hired the best

00:34:11planning team in Sicily

00:34:12for their engagement party.

00:34:13They didn't need

00:34:14an ex-girlfriend

00:34:15getting in the way.

00:34:16Hosting guests,

00:34:17and Serena feels

00:34:19you must witness

00:34:20our happiness.

00:34:21I let out a short laugh.

00:34:22That last part

00:34:23was the real reason.

00:34:25Fine.

00:34:26I will confirm the details

00:34:27with Mr. Russo tomorrow.

00:34:29If that's all,

00:34:29can I go?

00:34:30You aren't upset at all?

00:34:31Does Mr. Russo

00:34:32want me to be upset?

00:34:33He walked over

00:34:33and grabbed my chin.

00:34:34You've changed a lot lately.

00:34:36You've become a bit annoying.

00:34:37How does Mr. Russo

00:34:38want me to be?

00:34:39I can change.

00:34:41Years ago,

00:34:41he had been attracted to me

00:34:43because I was

00:34:43the closest person to him.

00:34:45Yet,

00:34:45I never asked for anything.

00:34:47Back then,

00:34:47he called it integrity.

00:34:49Now,

00:34:49he calls it annoying.

00:34:50It had never been me

00:34:51who changed.

00:34:52He stared at me

00:34:53for a long time

00:34:54and let go.

00:34:56Forget it.

00:34:57Go home.

00:34:57As I turned to leave,

00:34:58he suddenly hugged me

00:34:59from behind.

00:35:00He rested his chin

00:35:01on my shoulder,

00:35:02his voice muffled.

00:35:03Do you know why

00:35:04I won't let you leave?

00:35:05He meant the agreement.

00:35:06Because you are a good girl.

00:35:08You never make things

00:35:09difficult for me.

00:35:10You don't fight with me

00:35:11or ask where I've been.

00:35:12Not like her.

00:35:13She checks on me every day.

00:35:15He tightened his arms

00:35:15around me.

00:35:16Sometimes I think,

00:35:18if only you had

00:35:19a decent family background,

00:35:21I wouldn't have to

00:35:21marry someone else.

00:35:22I almost let out a laugh.

00:35:24In the end,

00:35:25he was blaming me

00:35:25for not having

00:35:26a high-class background.

00:35:27But he forgot

00:35:28that he was the one

00:35:29who came after me first.

00:35:31Mr. Russo.

00:35:32I gently pulled

00:35:33Luca's hands away.

00:35:34What color should I wear

00:35:36to the engagement party?

00:35:37I need to prepare

00:35:38in advance.

00:35:39His hands froze

00:35:40in midair.

00:35:41I ignored him

00:35:42and turned to leave.

00:35:43After I walked out

00:35:44of the hotel,

00:35:44I realized my palms

00:35:45were bleeding

00:35:46from my own fingernails.

00:35:49Hmph.

00:35:50After that,

00:35:51I went back to work

00:35:51in the casino

00:35:52as usual.

00:35:53The Russo family

00:35:54owned many businesses

00:35:55and the casino

00:35:56was just one of them.

00:35:57All the dirty money

00:35:58from weapons,

00:36:00smuggling,

00:36:01and loans

00:36:02was laundered

00:36:03through those accounts.

00:36:04And I was the one

00:36:04who kept the books.

00:36:06Luca walked in

00:36:06while I was organizing

00:36:07the monthly statements.

00:36:09He looked at me

00:36:09with no expression.

00:36:10When this quarter's books

00:36:11are done,

00:36:12bring them to my office.

00:36:13Yes, Mr. Russo.

00:36:14I replied naturally.

00:36:15Luca paused,

00:36:16looking surprised.

00:36:17You've adapted quickly.

00:36:19He whispered

00:36:19and moved his finger

00:36:20across the back

00:36:21of my hand

00:36:21on purpose.

00:36:22I didn't move

00:36:23nor react.

00:36:24Our relationship

00:36:25wasn't a secret.

00:36:26For six years,

00:36:27he picked me up

00:36:28from work

00:36:28and took me everywhere.

00:36:30The inner circle

00:36:30had always known

00:36:31an unspoken truth

00:36:33among them.

00:36:33But he never

00:36:34officially announced us.

00:36:35Since we were

00:36:36never official,

00:36:37calling him Mr. Russo

00:36:38now actually made things

00:36:39look more professional

00:36:40to others.

00:36:41At night,

00:36:42Luca sent me a location.

00:36:43I took a taxi here.

00:36:45I opened the door

00:36:45to a suite.

00:36:46The floor was covered

00:36:47in rose petals.

00:36:48A silk nightgown

00:36:49was hanging on a rack.

00:36:50The air was thick

00:36:51with the scent of guerlain.

00:36:52That's the brand

00:36:53Serena liked.

00:36:54Seen enough?

00:36:55His voice came from behind.

00:36:56Luca leaned against

00:36:57the doorframe,

00:36:58looking at me

00:36:59with a half smile.

00:37:01The engagement party

00:37:02is next week.

00:37:03You're coming to help.

00:37:06Help with what?

00:37:07I channeled the calmness

00:37:08I had spent

00:37:08the last few days cultivating.

00:37:10They hired the best

00:37:11planning team in Sicily

00:37:12for their engagement party.

00:37:13They didn't need

00:37:14an ex-girlfriend

00:37:15getting in the way.

00:37:16Hosting guests

00:37:17and...

00:37:18Serena feels

00:37:19you must witness

00:37:20our happiness.

00:37:21I let out a short laugh.

00:37:22That last part

00:37:23was the real reason.

00:37:25Fine.

00:37:25I will confirm the details

00:37:26with Mr. Russo tomorrow.

00:37:28If that's all,

00:37:29can I go?

00:37:30You aren't upset at all?

00:37:31Does Mr. Russo

00:37:32want me to be upset?

00:37:32He walked over

00:37:33and grabbed my chin.

00:37:34You've changed a lot lately.

00:37:36You've become a bit annoying.

00:37:37How does Mr. Russo

00:37:38want me to be?

00:37:39I can change.

00:37:40Years ago,

00:37:41he had been attracted to me

00:37:42because I was

00:37:43the closest person to him.

00:37:44Yet,

00:37:45I never asked for anything.

00:37:47Back then,

00:37:47he called it integrity.

00:37:49Now,

00:37:49he calls it annoying.

00:37:50It had never been me

00:37:51who changed.

00:37:52He stared at me

00:37:53for a long time

00:37:54and let go.

00:37:55Forget it.

00:37:56Go home.

00:37:57As I turned to leave,

00:37:58he suddenly hugged me

00:37:59from behind.

00:38:00He rested his chin

00:38:01on my shoulder,

00:38:02his voice muffled.

00:38:03Do you know why

00:38:04I won't let you leave?

00:38:04He meant the agreement.

00:38:06Because you are

00:38:06a good girl.

00:38:08You never make things

00:38:09difficult for me.

00:38:10You don't fight with me

00:38:11or ask where I've been.

00:38:12Not like her.

00:38:13She checks on me every day.

00:38:14He tightened his arms

00:38:15around me.

00:38:16Sometimes I think,

00:38:17if only you had

00:38:18a decent family background,

00:38:20I wouldn't have to

00:38:21marry someone else.

00:38:22I almost let out a laugh.

00:38:24In the end,

00:38:24he was blaming me

00:38:25for not having

00:38:26a high-class background,

00:38:27but he forgot

00:38:28that he was the one

00:38:28who came after me first.

00:38:31Mr. Russo,

00:38:32I gently pulled

00:38:33Luca's hands away.

00:38:34What color should I wear

00:38:35to the engagement party?

00:38:37I need to prepare

00:38:38in advance.

00:38:39His hands froze

00:38:40in midair.

00:38:41I ignored him

00:38:41and turned to leave.

00:38:43After I walked

00:38:43out of the hotel,

00:38:44I realized my palms

00:38:45were bleeding

00:38:46from my own fingernails.

00:38:48Hmph.

00:38:49I was betrayed

00:38:50by my best buddy

00:38:51and the woman

00:38:52I thought was my true love.

00:38:53But she pushed me

00:38:53off the tallest

00:38:54building of Vegas.

00:38:55My memories are like

00:38:56shredded playing cards.

00:38:57Sir, I'm Leah.

00:38:58My father, Sam,

00:38:59runs a small bar nearby.

00:39:00Who the hell said

00:39:01you could touch

00:39:01my bar stuff?

00:39:02He shoves hard.

00:39:03I stagger back.

00:39:04My lower back

00:39:04crashing into the bar.

00:39:06And when my elbow

00:39:06knocks over a stack of dice,

00:39:08the dice scatter

00:39:08across the counter.

00:39:10I grab a whiskey glass

00:39:11on Instinct,

00:39:11scooping the scattered

00:39:12dice inside.

00:39:13Wrists rotating.

00:39:14Then flick.

00:39:15Flip themselves over

00:39:16into vibration.

00:39:17A leopard.

00:39:17All sixes.

00:39:18The moment they

00:39:19shut me out the window,

00:39:19I heard Kate laughing.

00:39:21Say goodbye to your life

00:39:22of the Vegas

00:39:23gambling king, bro.

00:39:24That was John Miller

00:39:24speaking.

00:39:25My best friend.

00:39:26And Kate,

00:39:26my wife of three years,

00:39:28stood right beside it.

00:39:29His hand was sliding

00:39:30over her waist.

00:39:30She was still holding

00:39:31that bottle of champagne.

00:39:32She drugged me.

00:39:33Then they kissed.

00:39:34I started falling

00:39:34from 30 floors.

00:39:36The wind roared in my ears.

00:39:3710 minutes ago,

00:39:37I was still at the table.

00:39:39Your turn?

00:39:39All in.

00:39:40I flipped the cards.

00:39:41Perfect 21.

00:39:42The crowd erupted.

00:39:43Confetti cannons fired.

00:39:44Golden paper rained

00:39:45from the sea.

00:39:46Vegas!

00:39:47Welcome your new king!

00:39:4950 million in prize money.

00:39:5010 years of gambling

00:39:51with zero losses.

00:39:52Then one glass of champagne

00:39:53and everything went to zero.

00:39:55I was betrayed by my best buddy

00:39:56and the woman I thought

00:39:57was my true love.

00:39:58He forced me to sign

00:39:59the divorce papers.

00:40:00Transferred my trillion dollar fortune.

00:40:02I reached for her,

00:40:02but she pushed me off

00:40:03the tallest building in Vegas.

00:40:05The new legendary

00:40:05gambling king of Las Vegas.

00:40:07Falling on the very day

00:40:08of his coronation.

00:40:09Who am I?

00:40:10Where did I come from?

00:40:10My memories are like

00:40:11shredded playing cards

00:40:12scattered across the ground.

00:40:13Impossible to piece together

00:40:14into anything.

00:40:15Only hunger is real.

00:40:18Bad luck.

00:40:19Even trash wants to steal my food.

00:40:20The boot kicks my shoulder.

00:40:21I tumble backward.

00:40:22My skull cracks against concrete.

00:40:24The second kick is coming.

00:40:25Stop!

00:40:26I'll call the police!

00:40:29The homeless man mutters

00:40:31and shuffles away.

00:40:32The girl crouches down.

00:40:33Streetlight gilds her hair

00:40:34with warm gold.

00:40:35Sir, are you okay?

00:40:36I stare at her blankly.

00:40:37Something churns

00:40:38in the depths of my memory.

00:40:39Shattering wine glasses.

00:40:40The world spinning.

00:40:41A pushing palm.

00:40:42The weightlessness of falling.

00:40:43But I can't catch

00:40:44a single clear face.

00:40:45We can help you

00:40:46contact your family.

00:40:47I don't know!

00:40:47I don't know anyone!

00:40:48Please don't kill me!

00:40:49Don't kill me!

00:40:50The girl in her father

00:40:51exchange glances.

00:40:52Dad, I think he has amnesia.

00:40:54And his hands!

00:40:55Both hands fractured.

00:40:56Without care,

00:40:57he won't last a few days.

00:40:58A few days.

00:40:59So that's all my life is worth.

00:41:00Sir, I'm Leah.

00:41:01My father Sam runs

00:41:02a small bar nearby.

00:41:03You can stay for a while.

00:41:04Maybe you'll remember something.

00:41:06Okay?

00:41:06I stare at that hand.

00:41:07Hesitate for one heartbeat.

00:41:09And slowly, slowly,

00:41:10I take it.

00:41:11Sean!

00:41:11Table three needs another round!

00:41:14Sean!

00:41:14Whiskey on the rocks!

00:41:18The crowd roars.

00:41:19The atmosphere burns.

00:41:20Behind the bar,

00:41:21Sam and Leah

00:41:21watch from a distance.

00:41:22Smiles pulling at their mouths.

00:41:24Look at those moves.

00:41:25If I hadn't seen it myself,

00:41:26who'd believe this was

00:41:27the beggar from that alley?

00:41:28He wanted to save enough

00:41:29to pay us back

00:41:29for the medical bills.

00:41:30Medical bills?

00:41:32With what he's done

00:41:32to our revenue,

00:41:33I should be paying him a bonus.

00:41:34Your drink, miss.

00:41:35Their laughter never stops.

00:41:36They don't just order more.

00:41:37They stuff tips into my apron.

00:41:39Leah walks over.

00:41:39Hand me a water bottle.

00:41:40Dad couldn't stop talking

00:41:41about capable you are.

00:41:42I reach for it.

00:41:43Our fingertips brush.

00:41:45We both freeze.

00:41:46She jerks her hand back,

00:41:47ears burning red.

00:41:48This isn't just helping out.

00:41:49This bar was dying

00:41:51before you came.

00:41:54Who the hell said

00:41:55you could touch my bar stuff?

00:41:56He grabs my collar.

00:41:57Alcohol and casino cigar.

00:41:58Stinch blast my face.

00:41:59You've got it wrong, sir.

00:42:01I'm the server here,

00:42:02and we're actually closing the bar.

00:42:03Wrong my ass!

00:42:05I'm sick!

00:42:08When I opened my eyes again,

00:42:09I had gone back

00:42:10to the day

00:42:11of the bonfires of summer.

00:42:12In my past life,

00:42:13my brother saved her,

00:42:15only for her

00:42:15to scheme against him.

00:42:16He had forced a mating mark

00:42:17on her in the water,

00:42:18forcing him to take her

00:42:19as his Luna,

00:42:20only to return home crippled.

00:42:22Repaid him

00:42:22by forcing a vial

00:42:23of deadly wolf beat

00:42:24down his throat.

00:42:25Having regressed

00:42:26back to this life,

00:42:27never let my brother

00:42:28march to his death again.

00:42:29The girl can be saved,

00:42:31but not by you.

00:42:31Silas,

00:42:32do you want a she-wolf

00:42:32for yourself?

00:42:33I am pointing you

00:42:34toward a path

00:42:34of absolute fortune.

00:42:35You will get yourself

00:42:36a high-born Omega wife

00:42:38for free.

00:42:39At the bonfires of summer,

00:42:41Elena,

00:42:41the illegitimate Omega daughter

00:42:43of the treasury

00:42:44Pax Alpha,

00:42:45fell into the lake.

00:42:46In my past life,

00:42:47my brother saved her,

00:42:48only for her

00:42:49to scheme against him.

00:42:50She tearfully claimed

00:42:51he had forced a mating mark

00:42:52on her in the water,

00:42:53forcing him to take her

00:42:54as his Luna.

00:42:55He forced it on me,

00:42:56under the water.

00:42:57I couldn't breathe.

00:42:58He held me down.

00:42:59She threatened

00:43:00to bring the scandal

00:43:01before the Lycan king

00:43:02and queen to destroy him.

00:43:07Since my brother

00:43:07was at the critical moment

00:43:08of inheriting

00:43:09the Silver Moon Pax Alpha title,

00:43:11I feared the scandal

00:43:12would ruin his future.

00:43:13I forced him to bow his head

00:43:14and marry her.

00:43:15Seven months later,

00:43:16she gave birth to twins.

00:43:18My brother endured

00:43:19the ultimate humiliation,

00:43:20raising another man's pups

00:43:21as his own.

00:43:22He bled for our pack

00:43:24on the brutal rogue frontlines,

00:43:25only to return home crippled.

00:43:27Yet that ungrateful bitch

00:43:28and her two pups

00:43:29repaid him

00:43:30by forcing a vial

00:43:31of deadly wolfbeat

00:43:31down his throat,

00:43:32leaving him to die

00:43:33a bloody, agonizing death

00:43:34in his own bed.

00:43:36When I tried to report them

00:43:38to the royal pack enforcers,

00:43:39my own fated mate, Donald,

00:43:41wrapped his leather belt

00:43:42around my neck,

00:43:43choking the life out of me.

00:43:44His last words

00:43:45echoed in my ears.

00:43:46If you report this,

00:43:47Elena and my two sons

00:43:48will pay with their lives.

00:43:52When I opened my eyes again,

00:43:53I had gone back

00:43:54to the day

00:43:55of the bone fires

00:43:56of summer.

00:43:57Seeing Elena drowning

00:43:58in the lake,

00:43:59I clutched my brother's arm

00:44:00tightly.

00:44:01Then,

00:44:02I turned to the scarred

00:44:03rogue werewolf

00:44:03waiting nearby.

00:44:05Simus,

00:44:05do you want a she-wolf

00:44:06for yourself?

00:44:08Sister,

00:44:08someone fell into the water.

00:44:09We need to save her,

00:44:10fast!

00:44:10I looked at my brother,

00:44:11Gray,

00:44:12towering,

00:44:12muscular,

00:44:13and possessing

00:44:13an exceptionally powerful

00:44:15inner wolf.

00:44:15But in my mind,

00:44:17a horrific vision

00:44:17of my past life

00:44:18flashed before my eyes.

00:44:20Gray,

00:44:20crippled in both legs,

00:44:22left to die a miserable death,

00:44:23poisoned in a bed

00:44:24covered in filth

00:44:25and feces

00:44:26within our own packhouse.

00:44:27Tears instantly spilled over.

00:44:30You are not going!

00:44:31I barked,

00:44:32grabbing Gray

00:44:32in a death grip.

00:44:34Having regressed

00:44:35back to this life,

00:44:36I would absolutely

00:44:37never let my brother

00:44:38march to his death again.

00:44:40Never again.

00:44:41Sister,

00:44:41why are you crying

00:44:42all of a sudden?

00:44:43These were tears

00:44:43of overwhelming joy.

00:44:45I'm fine,

00:44:45just the wind.

00:44:46Watching the figure

00:44:47thrashing in the lake,

00:44:48Gray grew so anxious

00:44:49that his inner wolf

00:44:50began to howl

00:44:51in distress

00:44:51inside his mind.

00:44:52Sister,

00:44:53let me go!

00:44:53Saving a life

00:44:54comes first!

00:44:55I said you are not going!

00:44:57Gray stared at me

00:44:58in utter disbelief.

00:45:00Sister,

00:45:00have you lost your mind?

00:45:01A life is on the line!

00:45:02Our silver moon pack

00:45:03had always been known

00:45:04for our benevolence

00:45:05and charity.

00:45:06Forget a high-ranking wolf,

00:45:07even if a filthy rogue

00:45:08muth were drowning,

00:45:09we would still pull it out.

00:45:11The girl can be saved,

00:45:12but not by you.

00:45:13I turned around

00:45:14to the stout,

00:45:15rogue werewolf

00:45:16waiting nearby.

00:45:17Silas,

00:45:17do you want a she-wolf

00:45:18for yourself?

00:45:19Silas was the lowest-ranking

00:45:21peck driver employed

00:45:22by our silver moon pack.

00:45:23He was broad-shouldered,

00:45:25thick-waisted,

00:45:26his face covered

00:45:27in nasty scars,

00:45:28and his breath reeked

00:45:29behind a mouthful

00:45:30of yellow teeth.

00:45:31Lazy to the bone,

00:45:32he spent his days

00:45:33loitering in underground

00:45:34gambling dens

00:45:35and low-end pubs.

00:45:36An ordinary servant

00:45:37like him would have been

00:45:38kicked out of the

00:45:39silver moon territory

00:45:40long ago,

00:45:41but Silas had a stroke

00:45:42of luck.

00:45:42He had a fiercely loyal

00:45:44father.

00:45:45Years ago,

00:45:45it was old Silas

00:45:47who carried our father,

00:45:48the old Alpha,

00:45:49on his back

00:45:50out of the mountain

00:45:50of corpses

00:45:51during the brutal

00:45:52rogue wars.

00:45:53Bound by that ultimate

00:45:54debt of gratitude,

00:45:55as long as the silver moon

00:45:56pack stood,

00:45:57we would support

00:45:58his family for generations.

00:46:00Thus,

00:46:01even though Silas

00:46:02was just a lowly

00:46:03rogue driver,

00:46:04his status in our

00:46:05territory was unique.

00:46:07Normally,

00:46:07even the core management

00:46:09like my brother and I

00:46:10had to give him some face

00:46:11and wouldn't order him

00:46:12around lightly.

00:46:12Today,

00:46:13only because our two

00:46:15exclusive drivers

00:46:15fell ill,

00:46:16he had stepped in

00:46:18as a temporary replacement,

00:46:19driving the SUV

00:46:20to bring my brother

00:46:21and me

00:46:21to this new moon festival.

00:46:26Silas froze

00:46:27for a second.

00:46:28Then,

00:46:29scratching his greasy hair,

00:46:30he let out

00:46:31a vulgar grin.

00:46:32The eldest miss,

00:46:33of course,

00:46:33this servant wants one.

00:46:35I pulled him aside.

00:46:37Silas,

00:46:38today,

00:46:38I am pointing you

00:46:39toward a path

00:46:40of absolute fortune.

00:46:41Go down there

00:46:42and pull that drowning

00:46:43lady out of the water.

00:46:45But,

00:46:46the moment you save her,

00:46:48hide yourself

00:46:49in the dense bushes

00:46:50by the shore immediately.

00:46:51Suppress your aura

00:46:52and make sure

00:46:54no one sees you.

00:46:55Do not come out

00:46:56until I call for you.

00:46:57As long as you do

00:46:58exactly what I say,

00:47:00I guarantee that

00:47:01after today,

00:47:01you will get yourself

00:47:02a high-born omega wife

00:47:04for free.

00:47:05When the time comes,

00:47:06I'll even throw you

00:47:07a massive gift

00:47:08to make sure

00:47:09your wedding

00:47:09is as grand

00:47:10and rowdy

00:47:11as can be.

00:47:11Hearing this,

00:47:12Silas's eyes

00:47:12instantly lit up.

00:47:13His inner wolf

00:47:14let out an excited

00:47:15low growl

00:47:16in his chest

00:47:16and he nodded frantically.

00:47:17This servant

00:47:18will obey

00:47:19your every command,

00:47:20eldest miss.

00:47:20Go!

00:47:21Save her!

00:47:24At the bonfires

00:47:25of summer,

00:47:26Elena,

00:47:27the illegitimate

00:47:28omega daughter

00:47:28of the treasury

00:47:29Pax Alpha,

00:47:30fell into the lake.

00:47:31In my past life,

00:47:32my brother saved her,

00:47:34only for her

00:47:34to scheme against him.

00:47:35She tearfully claimed

00:47:36he had forced

00:47:37a mating mark

00:47:37on her in the water,

00:47:38forcing him

00:47:39to take her

00:47:39as his luna.

00:47:40He forced it on me,

00:47:41under the water.

00:47:42I couldn't breathe.

00:47:44He held me down.

00:47:45She threatened

00:47:45to bring the scandal

00:47:46before the lichen king

00:47:47and queen

00:47:48to destroy him.

00:47:52Since my brother

00:47:53was at the critical moment

00:47:54of inheriting

00:47:54the silver moon

00:47:55Pax Alpha title,

00:47:56I feared the scandal

00:47:57would ruin his future.

00:47:58I forced him

00:47:59to bow his head

00:48:00and marry her.

00:48:01Seven months later,

00:48:02she gave birth

00:48:02to twins.

00:48:03My brother endured

00:48:04the ultimate humiliation,

00:48:06raising another man's

00:48:07pups as his own.

00:48:08He bled for our pack

00:48:09on the brutal

00:48:10rogue frontlines,

00:48:11only to return home

00:48:12crippled.

00:48:13Yet that ungrateful bitch

00:48:14and her two pups

00:48:14repaid him

00:48:15by forcing a vial

00:48:16of deadly wolfbeat

00:48:17down his throat,

00:48:18leaving him to die

00:48:19a bloody,

00:48:19agonizing death

00:48:20in his own bed.

00:48:22When I tried

00:48:23to report them

00:48:23to the royal pack enforcers,

00:48:25my own fated mate,

00:48:26Donald,

00:48:26wrapped his leather belt

00:48:27around my neck,

00:48:28choking the life out of me.

00:48:30His last words

00:48:31echoed in my ears.

00:48:31If you report this,

00:48:32Elena and my two sons

00:48:34will pay with their lives.

00:48:37When I opened my eyes again,

00:48:39I had gone back

00:48:40to the day

00:48:40of the bone fires

00:48:41of summer.

00:48:42Seeing Elena

00:48:43drowning in the lake,

00:48:44I clutched

00:48:45my brother's arm tightly.

00:48:47Then,

00:48:47I turned to the scarred

00:48:48rogue werewolf

00:48:49waiting nearby.

00:48:50Simus,

00:48:51do you want

00:48:51a she-wolf for yourself?

00:48:53Sister,

00:48:54someone fell into the water.

00:48:55We need to save her,

00:48:55fast!

00:48:56I looked at my brother,

00:48:57Gray,

00:48:57towering,

00:48:58muscular,

00:48:58and possessing

00:48:59an exceptionally powerful

00:49:00inner wolf.

00:49:01But in my mind,

00:49:02a horrific vision

00:49:03of my past life

00:49:04flashed before my eyes.

00:49:05Gray,

00:49:06crippled in both legs,

00:49:07left to die a miserable death,

00:49:09poisoned in a bed

00:49:09covered in filth

00:49:10and feces

00:49:11within our own packhouse.

00:49:13Tears instantly spilled over.

00:49:16You are not going!

00:49:17I barked,

00:49:17grabbing Gray

00:49:18in a death grip.

00:49:20Having regressed

00:49:21back to this life,

00:49:22I would absolutely

00:49:22never let my brother

00:49:23march to his death again.

00:49:25Never again.

00:49:26Sister,

00:49:27why are you crying

00:49:27all of a sudden?

00:49:28These were tears

00:49:29of overwhelming joy.

00:49:30I'm fine,

00:49:31just the wind.

00:49:32Watching the figure

00:49:33thrashing in the lake,

00:49:34Gray grew so anxious

00:49:35that his inner wolf

00:49:36began to howl

00:49:36in distress

00:49:37inside his mind.

00:49:38Sister,

00:49:38let me go!

00:49:39Saving a life

00:49:39comes first!

00:49:40I said you are not going!

00:49:43Gray stared at me

00:49:44in utter disbelief.

00:49:45Sister,

00:49:45have you lost your mind?

00:49:46A life is on the line!

00:49:48Our silver moon pack

00:49:49had always been known

00:49:50for our benevolence

00:49:50and charity.

00:49:51Forget a high-ranking wolf,

00:49:53even if a filthy rogue

00:49:54muth were drowning,

00:49:55we would still pull it out.

00:49:56The girl can be saved,

00:49:58but not by you.

00:49:59I turned around

00:50:00to the stout,

00:50:00rogue werewolf

00:50:01waiting nearby.

00:50:02Silas,

00:50:03do you want a she-wolf

00:50:03for yourself?

00:50:05Silas was the lowest-ranking

00:50:06peck driver

00:50:07employed by our silver moon pack.

00:50:09He was broad-shouldered,

00:50:10thick-waisted,

00:50:11his face covered

00:50:12in nasty scars,

00:50:13and his breath reeked

00:50:14behind a mouthful

00:50:15of yellow teeth.

00:50:16Lazy to the bone,

00:50:18he spent his days

00:50:19loitering in underground

00:50:20gambling dens

00:50:20and low-end pubs.

00:50:22An ordinary servant

00:50:23like him

00:50:23would have been kicked

00:50:24out of the silver moon

00:50:25territory long ago,

00:50:26but Silas had a stroke

00:50:27of luck.

00:50:28He had a fiercely loyal

00:50:29father.

00:50:30Years ago,

00:50:31it was old Silas

00:50:32who carried our father,

00:50:33the old Alpha,

00:50:34on his back

00:50:35out of the mountain

00:50:36of corpses

00:50:36during the brutal

00:50:37rogue wars.

00:50:38Bound by that ultimate

00:50:39debt of gratitude,

00:50:41as long as the silver moon

00:50:42pack stood,

00:50:43we would support

00:50:44his family for generations.

00:50:46Thus,

00:50:47even though Silas

00:50:48was just a lowly

00:50:49rogue driver,

00:50:50his status in our

00:50:51territory was unique.

00:50:52Normally,

00:50:53even the core management

00:50:54like my brother and I

00:50:55had to give him some face

00:50:56and wouldn't order him

00:50:57around lightly.

00:50:58Today,

00:50:59only because our two

00:51:00exclusive drivers

00:51:01fell ill,

00:51:02he had stepped in

00:51:03as a temporary replacement,

00:51:05driving the SUV

00:51:06to bring my brother

00:51:06and me

00:51:07to this new moon festival.

00:51:12Silas froze for a second.

00:51:13Then,

00:51:14scratching his greasy hair,

00:51:16he let out a vulgar grin.

00:51:17The eldest miss,

00:51:18of course.

00:51:19This servant wants one.

00:51:21I pulled him aside.

00:51:23Silas,

00:51:23today,

00:51:24I am pointing you

00:51:25toward a path

00:51:25of absolute fortune.

00:51:27Go down there

00:51:27and pull that drowning

00:51:28lady out of the water.

00:51:31But,

00:51:32the moment you save her,

00:51:34hide yourself

00:51:34in the dense bushes

00:51:35by the shore immediately.

00:51:37Suppress your aura

00:51:38and make sure

00:51:39no one sees you.

00:51:41Do not come out

00:51:41until I call for you.

00:51:43As long as you do

00:51:44exactly what I say,

00:51:45I guarantee that

00:51:46after today,

00:51:47you will get yourself

00:51:48a high-born omega wife

00:51:49for free.

00:51:50When the time comes,

00:51:52I'll even throw you

00:51:53a massive gift

00:51:53to make sure your wedding

00:51:55is as grand

00:51:55and rowdy as can be.

00:51:57Hearing this,

00:51:57Silas's eyes

00:51:58instantly lit up.

00:51:59His inner wolf

00:52:00let out an excited

00:52:00low growl in his chest

00:52:02and he nodded frantically.

00:52:03This servant will obey

00:52:04your every command,

00:52:05eldest miss.

00:52:06Go!

00:52:06Save her!

00:52:10At the bonfires of summer,

00:52:12Elena,

00:52:12the illegitimate

00:52:13omega daughter

00:52:14of the treasury

00:52:15Pax Alpha,

00:52:16fell into the lake.

00:52:17In my past life,

00:52:18my brother saved her,

00:52:19only for her

00:52:20to scheme against him.

00:52:21She tearfully claimed

00:52:22he had forced

00:52:22a mating mark

00:52:23on her in the water,

00:52:24forcing him

00:52:24to take her

00:52:25as his luna.

00:52:26He forced it on me,

00:52:27under the water.

00:52:28I couldn't breathe.

00:52:29He held me down.

00:52:30She threatened

00:52:31to bring the scandal

00:52:32before the lichen king

00:52:33and queen

00:52:33to destroy him.

00:52:37Since my brother

00:52:38was at the critical moment

00:52:39of inheriting

00:52:40the silver moon

00:52:40Pax Alpha title,

00:52:41I feared the scandal

00:52:42would ruin his future.

00:52:44I forced him

00:52:44to bow his head

00:52:45and marry her.

00:52:46Seven months later,

00:52:47she gave birth to twins.

00:52:49My brother endured

00:52:50the ultimate humiliation,

00:52:51raising another man's

00:52:52pups as his own.

00:52:53He bled for our pack

00:52:54on the brutal

00:52:55rogue front lines,

00:52:56only to return home

00:52:57crippled.

00:52:58Yet that ungrateful bitch

00:52:59and her two pups

00:53:00repaid him

00:53:01by forcing a vial

00:53:02of deadly wolfbeat

00:53:02down his throat,

00:53:03leaving him to die

00:53:04a bloody,

00:53:05agonizing death

00:53:05in his own bed.

00:53:07When I tried to report

00:53:08them to the royal

00:53:09pack enforcers,

00:53:10my own fated mate,

00:53:11Donald,

00:53:12wrapped his leather belt

00:53:13around my neck,

00:53:14choking the life

00:53:14out of me.

00:53:15His last words

00:53:16echoed in my ears.

00:53:17If you report this,

00:53:18Elena and my two sons

00:53:19will pay with their lives.

00:53:22When I opened my eyes again,

00:53:24I had gone back to the day

00:53:26of the bone fires of summer.

00:53:28Seeing Elena drowning

00:53:29in the lake,

00:53:30I clutched my brother's arm

00:53:31tightly.

00:53:32Then,

00:53:33I turned to the scarred

00:53:34rogue werewolf

00:53:34waiting nearby.

00:53:36Simus,

00:53:36do you want a she-wolf

00:53:37for yourself?

00:53:38Sister,

00:53:39someone fell into the water.

00:53:40We need to save her,

00:53:41fast!

00:53:41I looked at my brother,

00:53:42Gray,

00:53:43towering,

00:53:43muscular,

00:53:44and possessing

00:53:44an exceptionally

00:53:45powerful inner wolf.

00:53:46But in my mind,

00:53:48a horrific vision

00:53:48of my past life

00:53:49flashed before my eyes.

00:53:51Gray,

00:53:51crippled in both legs,

00:53:53left to die

00:53:53a miserable death,

00:53:54poisoned in a bed

00:53:55covered in filth

00:53:56and feces

00:53:56within our own packhouse.

00:53:58Tears instantly spilled over.

00:54:01You are not going,

00:54:02I barked,

00:54:03grabbing Gray

00:54:03in a death grip.

00:54:05Having regressed

00:54:06back to this life,

00:54:07I would absolutely

00:54:08never let my brother

00:54:09march to his death again.

00:54:11Never again.

00:54:12Sister,

00:54:12why are you crying

00:54:13all of a sudden?

00:54:14These were tears

00:54:14of overwhelming joy.

00:54:15I'm fine,

00:54:16just the wind.

00:54:17Watching the figure

00:54:18thrashing in the lake,

00:54:19Gray grew so anxious

00:54:20that his inner wolf

00:54:21began to howl in distress

00:54:22inside his mind.

00:54:23Sister,

00:54:24let me go!

00:54:24Saving a life

00:54:25comes first!

00:54:26I said you are not going!

00:54:28Gray stared at me

00:54:29in utter disbelief.

00:54:30Sister,

00:54:31have you lost your mind?

00:54:32A life is on the line!

00:54:33Our silver moon pack

00:54:34had always been known

00:54:35for our benevolence

00:54:36and charity.

00:54:37Forget a high-ranking wolf,

00:54:38even if a filthy rogue

00:54:39muth were drowning,

00:54:40we would still pull it out.

00:54:42The girl can be saved,

00:54:43but not by you.

00:54:44I turned around

00:54:45to the stout,

00:54:46rogue werewolf

00:54:47waiting nearby.

00:54:48Silas,

00:54:48do you want a she-wolf

00:54:49for yourself?

00:54:50Silas was the lowest-ranking

00:54:52peck driver

00:54:52employed by our silver moon pack.

00:54:54He was broad-shouldered,

00:54:56thick-waisted,

00:54:57his face covered

00:54:58in nasty scars,

00:54:59and his breath reeked

00:55:00behind a mouthful

00:55:01of yellow teeth.

00:55:02Lazy to the bone,

00:55:03he spent his days

00:55:04loitering in underground

00:55:05gambling dens

00:55:06and low-end pubs.

00:55:07An ordinary servant

00:55:08like him would have been

00:55:09kicked out of the

00:55:10silver moon territory

00:55:11long ago,

00:55:11but Silas had a stroke

00:55:13of luck.

00:55:13He had a fiercely loyal father.

00:55:15Years ago,

00:55:16it was old Silas

00:55:18who carried our father,

00:55:19the old Alpha,

00:55:20on his back

00:55:21out of the mountain

00:55:21of corpses

00:55:22during the brutal rogue wars.

00:55:24Bound by that ultimate

00:55:25debt of gratitude,

00:55:26as long as the silver moon pack

00:55:28stood,

00:55:28we would support

00:55:29his family for generations.

00:55:31Thus,

00:55:32even though Silas

00:55:33was just a lowly rogue driver,

00:55:35his status in our territory

00:55:36was unique.

00:55:38Normally,

00:55:38even the core management

00:55:39like my brother and I

00:55:41had to give him some face

00:55:42and wouldn't order him

00:55:43around lightly.

00:55:44Today,

00:55:44only because our two

00:55:45exclusive drivers

00:55:46fell ill,

00:55:47he had stepped in

00:55:48as a temporary replacement,

00:55:50driving the SUV

00:55:51to bring my brother and me

00:55:52to this new moon festival.

00:55:57Silas froze for a second.

00:55:59Then,

00:56:00scratching his greasy hair,

00:56:01he let out a vulgar grin.

00:56:02The eldest miss,

00:56:04of course,

00:56:04this servant wants one.

00:56:06I pulled him aside.

00:56:08Silas,

00:56:09today,

00:56:09I am pointing you

00:56:10toward a path

00:56:11of absolute fortune.

00:56:12Go down there

00:56:13and pull that drowning lady

00:56:14out of the water.

00:56:16But,

00:56:17the moment you save her,

00:56:19hide yourself

00:56:20in the dense bushes

00:56:21by the shore immediately.

00:56:22Suppress your aura

00:56:23and make sure

00:56:25no one sees you.

00:56:26Do not come out

00:56:27until I call for you.

00:56:28As long as you do

00:56:29exactly what I say,

00:56:31I guarantee that

00:56:32after today,

00:56:32you will get yourself

00:56:33a high-born Omega wife

00:56:35for free.

00:56:36When the time comes,

00:56:37I'll even throw you

00:56:38a massive gift

00:56:39to make sure

00:56:40your wedding

00:56:40is as grand

00:56:41and rowdy as can be.

00:56:42Hearing this,

00:56:43Silas' eyes instantly lit up.

00:56:44His inner wolf

00:56:45let out an excited

00:56:46low growl in his chest

00:56:47and he nodded frantically.

00:56:48This servant

00:56:49will obey

00:56:50your every command,

00:56:51eldest miss.

00:56:51Go!

00:56:52Save her!

00:56:53Before the black castle

00:56:54of House Blackthorn,

00:56:55a broken man

00:56:55knelt in the ice.

00:56:56Heavy black chains

00:56:57pierced through his shoulders.

00:56:59Seeing the man's face,

00:57:00I was completely froze.

00:57:01Snow.

00:57:01Uncle.

00:57:02I reached the chains

00:57:03binding my uncle

00:57:03and cut them apart

00:57:04with one step.

00:57:05I came back

00:57:05to destroy them.

00:57:07Watch carefully,

00:57:08Uncle.

00:57:08Every person

00:57:09who destroyed our family

00:57:10will die.

00:57:11Who broke my uncle's legs?

00:57:12Tyron stepped up.

00:57:13I snapped it with my boot.

00:57:14A stroke of blue-green

00:57:16sword light

00:57:16crossed Tyron at the waist.

00:57:18You killed my sons!

00:57:20I'll tear your entire

00:57:21bloodline apart!

00:57:22Don't worry.

00:57:23I'll make your whole family

00:57:25reunite in hell.

00:57:26Dozens of room needles

00:57:27spun between my fingers.

00:57:28The next second,

00:57:29every glowing needle

00:57:30pierced into

00:57:30the serpent guardian's back.

00:57:32The serpent bloodline's

00:57:32eyes flew open

00:57:33The fire curse

00:57:34that had consumed

00:57:35her body for centuries

00:57:35rapidly faded from the sleep.

00:57:37After all these centuries,

00:57:39someone has finally

00:57:39broken my curse.

00:57:40I rose to my feet

00:57:41and stepped down once.

00:57:43All eight guardians

00:57:43attacked at the same time.

00:57:46I slowly lifted

00:57:47my crimson eyes.

00:57:49Behind me,

00:57:50the phantom

00:57:50of an enormous

00:57:51black dragon

00:57:52emerged from the darkness.

00:57:53A dragon bloodline

00:57:55seen only once

00:57:56in centuries,

00:57:57possessing both

00:57:58destruction and healing!

00:57:59Go to take

00:58:00your revenge,

00:58:01Lucian Dracaius.

00:58:02Let the world

00:58:04fear your name!

00:58:05Hail the lord of dragons!

00:58:08Those who slaughtered

00:58:09my clan back then.

00:58:11No one will survive

00:58:13this time.

00:58:14A Rolls Royce

00:58:15was speeding toward

00:58:15House Blackthorn,

00:58:16the murderer of my family.

00:58:18Inside,

00:58:19Sylvia Vale

00:58:19just cut the connection

00:58:20to the crystal communicator.

00:58:22Miss Vale,

00:58:23you summon the shade.

00:58:25He's the ultimate

00:58:25hunter of House Vale.

00:58:28Anyone who touches

00:58:29Lucian

00:58:31becomes

00:58:31an enemy

00:58:32with the shade.

00:58:34Even House Black

00:58:35haunts

00:58:35will think twice

00:58:36before making a move.

00:58:37I sat beside her

00:58:38in silence,

00:58:39one hand resting

00:58:40on the hilt

00:58:40of the seraphic sword.

00:58:41Sylvia looked at me

00:58:42and the coldness

00:58:43in her eyes

00:58:43faded for a moment.

00:58:44You don't have to

00:58:45carry this alone

00:58:45anymore, Lucian.

00:58:46Sylvia,

00:58:47I'll protect you too.

00:58:48The car drifted

00:58:49to a violent stop

00:58:50before the black castle

00:58:51of House Blackthorn.

00:58:52At the center

00:58:53of the castle gate,

00:58:54a broken man

00:58:55knelt in the ice.

00:58:56Heavy black chains

00:58:57pierced through

00:58:58his shoulders

00:58:59and wrapped

00:58:59around his throat.

00:59:00A rusted metal bowl

00:59:01sat beside him

00:59:01filled with rotten scraps

00:59:02and dirty water.

00:59:03Eat up, old dog!

00:59:04Lord Blackthrone said

00:59:05you're not allowed

00:59:05to die yet.

00:59:06Twenty years

00:59:06and this cripple

00:59:07still refuses to rot.

00:59:08Seeing the man's face,

00:59:09I was completely froze.

00:59:10My eyes were bloodshot.

00:59:11Dark energy exploded

00:59:12through my body.

00:59:13Lucian,

00:59:14your power!

00:59:14I could barely hear her.

00:59:15My eyes remained fixed

00:59:16on the broken man

00:59:17chained in snow.

00:59:19Uncle?

00:59:23Seraphic's sword

00:59:24closed around cum.

00:59:25I vanished.

00:59:26My lord, catch!

00:59:27A crescent of black energy

00:59:28sliced through the air.

00:59:30Six heads flew upward

00:59:31at once.

00:59:32I walked through them

00:59:33like death itself.

00:59:34The Seraphic's sword

00:59:35danced once more.

00:59:37Bodies split cleanly in half.

00:59:39Limbs scattered

00:59:39across the frozen ground.

00:59:40I reached the chains

00:59:41binding my uncle

00:59:42and cut them apart

00:59:43with one strike.

00:59:43Then I dropped

00:59:44to my knees before him,

00:59:45cracking the stone floor

00:59:46beneath us.

00:59:47Uncle, I came too late.

00:59:48I'm sorry.

00:59:49The old man

00:59:50slowly lifted his head.

00:59:52His cloudy eyes

00:59:53trembled

00:59:54as recognition returned.

00:59:56You're alive.

00:59:58It's really you.

01:00:00Lucian.

01:00:01Yes.

01:00:03I came back

01:00:04to destroy them.

01:00:06His shaking hand

01:00:07touched my hair

01:00:07like he still remembered

01:00:08the child I once was.

01:00:09You have to run!

01:00:10House Blackthorn

01:00:10has an A-rank hunter!

01:00:12You can't fight them!

01:00:13I rose slowly

01:00:14to my feet.

01:00:16Watch carefully,

01:00:17uncle.

01:00:18Every person

01:00:19who destroyed

01:00:20our family

01:00:20will die kneeling

01:00:21before you.

01:00:22Warriors flooded out

01:00:22from inside the castle.

01:00:23Their leader

01:00:24pointed his blade.

01:00:25You bastard!

01:00:25Do you know

01:00:26where you are?

01:00:27My figure became

01:00:27a blur

01:00:28as I moved

01:00:28through the crowd.

01:00:32Please!

01:00:33Spare me!

01:00:34Won't you spare

01:00:35my family?

01:00:35Stepping over blood

01:00:36and corpses

01:00:37as I walked forward.

01:00:38Then my voice

01:00:38echoed telepathically

01:00:39across the entire castle

01:00:40like the roar

01:00:41of a dragon.

01:00:41House Blackhill,

01:00:43come outside and die.

01:00:45I stood among

01:00:45the corpses.

01:00:46Sylvia and Magnus

01:00:47entered behind me

01:00:48with ten hunters.

01:00:49Is everyone

01:00:49in House Blackhone

01:00:50already dead?

01:00:51Get out here!

01:00:52Inside the luxurious

01:00:53hall of the castle,

01:00:55Victor Blackthorn

01:00:55sat calmly across

01:00:56from Adrian Morkant

01:00:57of the Blackmagic Council.

01:00:59The two were in the middle

01:00:59of a chess match.

01:01:00Tyron, Gideon,

01:01:02go deal with it.

01:01:03Don't let Mr. Morak

01:01:04see a joke.

01:01:04Yes, father?

01:01:05Looks like some fearless fool

01:01:06came to seek death tonight.

01:01:07I want to go watch the show.

01:01:10Off to you.

01:01:12Tyron and Gideon

01:01:12led a group of guards

01:01:13into the courtyard

01:01:14and stopped before me.

01:01:15Where did this bastard

01:01:15come from?

01:01:16How dare you cause trouble

01:01:17at House Blackthorn?

01:01:21Open your damn eyes

01:01:22and look carefully, Tyron.

01:01:23Sylvia Vale?

01:01:24You brought all these people

01:01:26just for this pretty boy?

01:01:27Planning to rebel?

01:01:29He's under my protection.

01:01:31Anyone who touches him

01:01:32becomes an enemy

01:01:33of House Vale.

01:01:34To wipe out

01:01:35House Blackthil,

01:01:36I alone

01:01:37am enough.

01:01:38Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

01:01:40Kill him!

01:01:41The guards charged

01:01:43one instant.

01:01:44Then a black shadow

01:01:44flashed across the courtyard

01:01:46like a phantom.

01:01:47The shade?

01:01:48House Vale

01:01:49actually sent him?

01:01:52Ha ha ha ha!

01:01:53Sylvia Vale,

01:01:53just wait.

01:01:54After I capture

01:01:55this little bastard,

01:01:56I'll enjoy you

01:01:57all night long.

01:01:58You're courting death!

01:02:00Ha ha ha ha!

01:02:02Ha ha ha ha!

01:02:03Looking for death!

01:02:05Behind them,

01:02:05Victor and Adrian

01:02:06stepped out

01:02:07with over a dozen hunters.

01:02:08I raised my head

01:02:09and locked my eyes

01:02:10on Victor,

01:02:10who broke my uncle's legs.

01:02:12Tyron stepped up.

01:02:13You mean the dog

01:02:14chained outside?

01:02:15I snapped it with my boot.

01:02:17What are you going to-

01:02:19Stroke of blue-green

01:02:21sword light

01:02:21crossed Tyron at the waist.

01:02:23Ah!

01:02:24My legs!

01:02:25My legs are gone!

01:02:26Brother!

01:02:27Fenwick, kill him!

01:02:28Ha ha ha ha ha!

01:02:30Die!

01:02:31I swung from where I stood.

01:02:39This-

01:02:39This can't be-

01:02:41Fenwick is an A-rank hunter.

01:02:42Excellent.

01:02:43Such a magnificent body.

01:02:45Mr. Blackthorne,

01:02:45take him alive.

01:02:46I want to bring him back

01:02:47to the Black Magic Council

01:02:48for dissect.

01:02:49Mr. Morkant,

01:02:49he hurt my son

01:02:50and killed our A-rank hunter.

01:02:52If we don't grind him

01:02:53into dust,

01:02:54House Blackhorn

01:02:54becomes a laughingstock.

01:02:56Are you really willing

01:02:57to risk your dealings

01:02:59with the Black Magic Council

01:03:00over this?

01:03:01Victor snapped,

01:03:02teeth clenched.

01:03:04All units,

01:03:05kill him!

01:03:06Dozens of hunters

01:03:07moved to form

01:03:08a killing encirclement.

01:03:09I'll ask one more time.

01:03:12Who broke my uncle's legs?

01:03:14A white-haired elder

01:03:15stepped forward and laughed.

01:03:17Ha ha ha ha!

01:03:18I did.

01:03:19I cut him apart

01:03:20piece by piece.

01:03:21I kept him kneeling

01:03:23like a dog

01:03:23for five years.

01:03:25And now you-

01:03:28Stand in my way

01:03:29and die.

01:03:31Ah!

01:03:32I passed the elder

01:03:33without stopping.

01:03:34The smile froze.

01:03:35A thin red line

01:03:37appeared across his throat.

01:03:38Then his head

01:03:39slipped from his body.

01:03:40I caught it in one hand

01:03:42without looking back

01:03:43and walked out

01:03:44of House Blackthorn.

01:03:45Kill him!

01:03:46Don't let him escape!

01:03:47Rage echoed

01:03:48from inside the castle.

01:03:49Outside the gates,

01:03:50I dropped to my knees

01:03:51in the snow.

01:03:52Before me,

01:03:52my uncle,

01:03:53broken,

01:03:54barely alive.

01:03:55I placed the head

01:03:55at his feet.

01:03:56It rolled gently

01:03:57across the ice.

01:03:57Uncle.

01:03:58My voice shook.

01:03:59The bastard

01:04:00who hurt you back then

01:04:02I've killed him.

01:04:03His entire body trembled

01:04:04as he stared at it.

01:04:05You-

01:04:05You really did it.

01:04:07Good child.

01:04:09You avenged them.

01:04:10You avenged our family.

01:04:12No.

01:04:13My voice turned cold again.

01:04:15This isn't over

01:04:16and I'm going to erase

01:04:18House Blackhill completely.

01:04:19I stepped back

01:04:20through the gates.

01:04:21The courtyard

01:04:22had already turned

01:04:22into a slaughterhouse.

01:04:23Screams filled the courtyard.

01:04:25Tyron dragged himself

01:04:26through the blood

01:04:26half collapsed.

01:04:27Mother!

01:04:28Save me!

01:04:29Get a healer!

01:04:30I appeared

01:04:31for a tyrant.

01:04:32He froze.

01:04:34You-

01:04:35I pointed my sword forward.

01:04:37A surge of sword energy

01:04:38instantly pierced

01:04:39through Tyron's room,

01:04:40leaving a char,

01:04:41blood-blackened hole.

01:04:44Brother-

01:04:45Gideon roared

01:04:46in grief and rage.

01:04:47Brother!

01:04:47You monster!

01:04:48I'll kill you!

01:04:50Sir!

01:04:53I pulled the sword free.

01:04:54Blood rained down.

01:04:55Gideon collapsed upright

01:04:56for a brief moment

01:04:57and then fell heavily

01:04:58to the ground.

01:04:59Victor stood among

01:05:00the corpses.

01:05:01His aura went unstable,

01:05:03rage spiraling out of control.

01:05:05You killed my sons!

01:05:07You killed everything!

01:05:09I'll tear your entire

01:05:10bloodline apart!

01:05:11I wiped the blood

01:05:12from my face slowly.

01:05:13Then I smiled.

01:05:14I raised the seraphic sword.

01:05:16Don't worry.

01:05:18I'll make your whole family

01:05:19reunite in hell.

01:05:20My husband threw my corpse

01:05:22into the dragon scale.

01:05:23I drew my last breath

01:05:24in unbearable agony.

01:05:25I opened my eyes anew,

01:05:27reborn at the glacier banquet.

01:05:28In that instant,

01:05:29I understood.

01:05:30He had been reborn too.

01:05:31Then declared to everyone,

01:05:33I, the third prince,

01:05:34will take only Lilina Vos.

01:05:36He sneered at me.

01:05:37How dare you dream

01:05:38of marrying me?

01:05:39And I declared

01:05:39to the entire court,

01:05:40I will not marry Lucien.

01:05:42I choose him.

01:05:43Archduke of the Eternal Frost,

01:05:44my husband threw my corpse

01:05:46into the dragon scale ice lake.

01:05:48Ten thousand years of ice.

01:05:49Ice speared through me.

01:05:51Soul frozen solid.

01:05:53Bones trapped in eternal ice.

01:05:54This was the second time

01:05:55I gave him everything

01:05:56and died with nowhere

01:05:58to be buried.

01:05:58Born blind in my past life,

01:06:00I bore the silver frost dragon soul.

01:06:02Able to understand dragon tongue

01:06:04and use soul sight

01:06:05to read the hearts of others.

01:06:06I married third prince Lucien

01:06:08against dragon taboos.

01:06:09I shed half my dragon blood

01:06:11and drained my soul sight

01:06:12and sacrificing ten years

01:06:14to crown him emperor

01:06:15with my own hands.

01:06:16Yet on Lucien's coronation day,

01:06:18my elder sister Lila

01:06:19was held down on the bed

01:06:20by the brutal elder prince,

01:06:21abused relentlessly

01:06:22till she perished.

01:06:23When Lucien found out,

01:06:25he stood over my sister's corpse,

01:06:26gripped my jaw,

01:06:27and forced heart-burning poison

01:06:29down my throat.

01:06:30Lila should have been mine.

01:06:31You made her end up

01:06:31with my brother,

01:06:32leading to her cruel death.

01:06:34This is all your fault.

01:06:35I drew my last breath

01:06:36in unbearable agony.

01:06:38I opened my eyes anew,

01:06:39reborn at the glacier banquet

01:06:40where my sister and I

01:06:41chose our spouses.

01:06:42Lucien's eyes

01:06:43were crimson as blood,

01:06:44the exact same look

01:06:45he had worn the night

01:06:46he killed me.

01:06:47He strode right past me

01:06:48and took Lila's hand,

01:06:49as if fearing anyone

01:06:50would stand in his way.

01:06:51In that instant,

01:06:52I understood.

01:06:53He had been reborn too,

01:06:54and he remembered everything.

01:06:56Lila curled against his chest,

01:06:57eyes red-rimmed,

01:06:58playing the fragile victim,

01:07:00but beneath it,

01:07:00her envy was so thick

01:07:02it could not be hidden.

01:07:03He sneered at me.

01:07:04How dare you dream

01:07:05of marrying me?

01:07:05You are not even worthy

01:07:06to lace Lina's shoes.

01:07:08Heavens!

01:07:08Even the third prince

01:07:09won't take the blind one!

01:07:11Exactly.

01:07:12Blind.

01:07:13And still scheming

01:07:14to climb above her status.

01:07:15Doesn't she know what she is?

01:07:16Laughter erupted around me,

01:07:18and all eyes locked on me.

01:07:20I swept my soul sight

01:07:21across the entire hall.

01:07:22Lucien's soul blazed

01:07:23scarlet with greed.

01:07:25Lila's glinted jade green

01:07:26with venomous envy.

01:07:27All souls in this hall

01:07:28were drowned

01:07:29in abysmal corruption.

01:07:30Just then,

01:07:31cold mist erupted,

01:07:32and a glacial chill

01:07:33swept the heavens and earth.

01:07:35A man descended from the clouds

01:07:36in a chariot of ice crystal,

01:07:37wreathed in frost fog,

01:07:39an obsidian ice dragon

01:07:40coiling above him.

01:07:41When his cold jade wheelchair

01:07:43touched the ground,

01:07:44our gazes locked.

01:07:45I turned my soul sight

01:07:46upon his soul.

01:07:47He bore a crystalline heart

01:07:48of glowing gold,

01:07:49pure,

01:07:50untainted,

01:07:51sovereign beyond measure.

01:07:52That was

01:07:53the last

01:07:53true dragon bloodline

01:07:55left in this world,

01:07:55and I declared

01:07:56to the entire court,

01:07:57I will not marry Lucien.

01:07:59Lucien cast me

01:08:00one contemptuous glance,

01:08:01then declared

01:08:02to everyone,

01:08:03I,

01:08:03the third prince,

01:08:04will take only

01:08:05Lilina Vos,

01:08:06heiress of House Vos

01:08:07as my wife in this life.

01:08:08She is the one

01:08:09I truly love.

01:08:10In this life,

01:08:12I will have no other.

01:08:13The other nobles

01:08:13turned pitying eyes on me.

01:08:15No sane man

01:08:16would ever choose

01:08:16to marry her.

01:08:17Of course she's

01:08:18a frost-blind witch.

01:08:19Trash like her

01:08:19belongs locked in a tower,

01:08:21not standing

01:08:22at the glacier betrothal ball.

01:08:23I was the second daughter

01:08:24of House Vos,

01:08:25of the gilded empire

01:08:26of the south.

01:08:27From childhood

01:08:28I had been locked

01:08:28in a cold attic,

01:08:29abused and tormented.

01:08:31But my elder sister,

01:08:32she was the jewel

01:08:33of the realm,

01:08:34a beauty beyond

01:08:34mortal description.

01:08:35So our family

01:08:36adored her,

01:08:37granting her every wish.

01:08:38And me,

01:08:39they see me as a mistake

01:08:40that never ought to exist.

01:08:42Lucian half knelt

01:08:43before her,

01:08:43uttering his solemn oath.

01:08:45Lilina,

01:08:45accept my mark.

01:08:47I swear I will make you

01:08:48the most exalted woman

01:08:49in this world.

01:08:50He believed that

01:08:50even without me,

01:08:51he could still take

01:08:52the throne in this life.

01:08:53But he did not know,

01:08:54until the day I died

01:08:55last life,

01:08:56I had been hiding

01:08:57one secret from him.

01:08:58Yes,

01:08:59I couldn't open my eyes,

01:09:00but that had never

01:09:01stopped me from seeing.

01:09:02With these blind eyes,

01:09:03I could pierce

01:09:04the human soul.

01:09:05Envy turned a soul

01:09:06emerald green.

01:09:07Hatred dyed the soul

01:09:08obsidian black.

01:09:10In my last life,

01:09:11I had used this gift

01:09:12to steer him clear

01:09:12of every blade

01:09:13and every poisoned cup.

01:09:14I told him whom to trust,

01:09:16whom to slay.

01:09:17That was how he climbed

01:09:18onto the throne.

01:09:18This time,

01:09:19since he insists

01:09:20on marrying my sister,

01:09:21I shall let him have

01:09:22exactly what he wants

01:09:23and see what price

01:09:24he pays for it.

01:09:25I hope he will not regret it.

01:09:26I'm only a blind girl.

01:09:28Truly,

01:09:28I'm not fit to marry you.

01:09:29You blind fool,

01:09:30at least you know your place.

01:09:32A useless frost-blind witch.

01:09:33Even if you were

01:09:34the last woman in the world,

01:09:35I would not pick you.

01:09:36Now crawl to me

01:09:36on your knees.

01:09:37Hearing his sneers,

01:09:38Mother clutched her kerchief,

01:09:40nearly revealing my secret.

01:09:41Elara is blind,

01:09:43yet whoever weds her

01:09:44can claim the throne.

01:09:45Thankfully,

01:09:45her voice was small.

01:09:46No one heard.

01:09:47I squeezed her hand

01:09:48and she went silent.

01:09:49Beneath my ice-silk blindfold,

01:09:51I swept my gaze

01:09:52across the princes

01:09:52at the feast.

01:09:53The second prince,

01:09:54sinister and ruthless.

01:09:55His soul was ash-gray.

01:09:57The fourth prince,

01:09:58a lecher with a manor

01:09:58full of concubines.

01:09:59His soul was a lurid red.

01:10:01In my last life,

01:10:02I had chosen Lucian

01:10:03because his soul

01:10:03looked purer than any other man's.

01:10:05I never imagined.

01:10:06He was simply better at hiding it.

01:10:07Not until the day he killed me

01:10:08did I finally see

01:10:09the true color of Lucian's soul.

01:10:11Dark violet fading to black.

01:10:12Hatred rooted deep in his soul.

01:10:14I swore I would never repeat

01:10:15the mistakes of my past life

01:10:17in this life.

01:10:17Lila arched her brow at me.

01:10:19Little sister,

01:10:20look around.

01:10:21Pick whoever you like.

01:10:22Anyone you fancy.

01:10:23I'll let you have him.

01:10:25The smug color blooming

01:10:26in her heart was ugly,

01:10:27glaring.

01:10:27Lucian saw that I ignored her

01:10:29and flared up on her behalf.

01:10:30Alara,

01:10:31when no one wants you,

01:10:32I'll take you in,

01:10:32all right?

01:10:33And make this blind girl

01:10:34nothing but a foot washer.

01:10:35I was about to say

01:10:36that not one of the princes

01:10:37in this hall had caught my eye,

01:10:38and then I heard it.

01:10:39The slow turning of wheels

01:10:40drawing closer.

01:10:41The man in the wheelchair,

01:10:42silver hair,

01:10:43ice blue eyes,

01:10:44a face pale and cold

01:10:45as carved jade.

01:10:47I saw his dragon soul

01:10:48was gold.

01:10:49Pure,

01:10:49blazing,

01:10:50blinding gold.

01:10:51The mark of the highest

01:10:52dragon line.

01:10:52In my last life,

01:10:54Caelan Blackthorn,

01:10:55Archduke of the Eternal Frost

01:10:56in the north,

01:10:57never appeared at the

01:10:58Glacier Betrothal Ball.

01:10:59Later,

01:11:00while I was helping

01:11:01Lucian seize the throne,

01:11:02Caelan had retreated

01:11:03to his Frostland's domain

01:11:04in the north.

01:11:05The realm fell into chaos.

01:11:07He led his dragon legions

01:11:08in defense of his city,

01:11:09shielded its people

01:11:10from the fires of war,

01:11:11and fought until

01:11:12his very last breath.

01:11:13And I,

01:11:14I chose the wrong man,

01:11:16ending up with my soul

01:11:17sealed in frostlight,

01:11:18forever barred from

01:11:19reincarnation.

01:11:20But this time,

01:11:22I choose him.

01:11:24Archduke of the Eternal Frost,

01:11:25they say he's cursed.

01:11:26His legs ruined

01:11:27for over a decade.

01:11:28He probably can't even stand.

01:11:30He must be picking up

01:11:31the unwanted blind one

01:11:32as a decoration,

01:11:33just to save face.

01:11:35Alara,

01:11:35what a pick.

01:11:36Sightless yourself,

01:11:37you picked a crippled man.

01:11:38A blind woman

01:11:39with a crippled man,

01:11:40what a laughable

01:11:40perfect mismatch.

01:11:41Alara,

01:11:42you don't know

01:11:42he's confined to a wheelchair.

01:11:44I'll let you choose anew.

01:11:45If you fail to find

01:11:45a proper husband,

01:11:46you may be my maid

01:11:47when I marry,

01:11:48and I'll keep you fed.

01:11:49I,

01:11:49Alara Voss,

01:11:50will never be anyone's servant.

01:11:52If not a servant,

01:11:53what else do you imagine?

01:11:54Someone will actually

01:11:55marry you?

01:11:56Alara,

01:11:57look at yourself clearly.

01:11:58How could you ever compare

01:11:59with your sister Lila?

01:12:01Through it all,

01:12:02Kalen had said nothing.

01:12:03He simply moved

01:12:04his ice crystal wheelchair forward

01:12:05until he was directly

01:12:06facing me.

01:12:07Then he took my hand

01:12:08and laid it gently

01:12:09on his knee.

01:12:10Through the fabric,

01:12:11I feel his vivid warmth

01:12:12and beating heart.

01:12:13Then his cool fingertip

01:12:14touched the edge

01:12:15of my ice silk blindfold.

01:12:16A frost blue light

01:12:18shimmered in resonance

01:12:18with my own.

01:12:19My blood began to boil.

01:12:21I could almost hear him

01:12:22whispering to me

01:12:23in the dragon tongue.

01:12:24My dragon speaker,

01:12:26I've finally waited for you.

01:12:28Lucian cast me

01:12:28one contemptuous glance,

01:12:30then declared to everyone,

01:12:31I, the third prince,

01:12:33will take only Lelina Vos,

01:12:35heiress of House Vos,

01:12:36as my wife in this life.

01:12:37She is the one

01:12:37I truly love.

01:12:39In this life,

01:12:40I will have no other.

01:12:41The other nobles

01:12:42turned pitying eyes on me.

01:12:44No sane man

01:12:44would ever choose

01:12:45to marry her.

01:12:46Of course she's

01:12:46a frost blind witch.

01:12:47Trash like her

01:12:48belongs locked in a tower,

01:12:50not standing

01:12:50at the glacier betrothal ball.

01:12:52I was the second daughter

01:12:53of House Vos,

01:12:54of the gilded empire

01:12:55of the south.

01:12:56From childhood,

01:12:56I had been locked

01:12:57in a cold attic,

01:12:58abused and tormented.

01:13:00But my elder sister,

01:13:00she was the jewel

01:13:01of the realm,

01:13:02a beauty beyond

01:13:03mortal description.

01:13:04So our family adored her,

01:13:06granting her every wish.

01:13:07And me,

01:13:08they see me as a mistake

01:13:09that never ought to exist.

01:13:10Lucian half knelt before her,

01:13:12uttering his solemn oath.

01:13:13Lina,

01:13:14accept my mark.

01:13:15I swear I will make you

01:13:17the most exalted woman

01:13:18in this world.

01:13:18He believed that even without me,

01:13:20he could still take the throne

01:13:21in this life.

01:13:22But he did not know,

01:13:23until the day I died last life,

01:13:25I had been hiding

01:13:25one secret from him.

01:13:27Yes,

01:13:27I couldn't open my eyes,

01:13:29but that had never

01:13:29stopped me from seeing.

01:13:30With these blind eyes,

01:13:32I could pierce the human soul.

01:13:34Envy turned a soul

01:13:35emerald green.

01:13:36Hatred dyed the soul

01:13:37obsidian black.

01:13:38In my last life,

01:13:39I had used this gift

01:13:40to steer him clear

01:13:41of every blade

01:13:42and every poisoned cup.

01:13:43I told him whom to trust,

01:13:44whom to slay.

01:13:45That was how he climbed

01:13:46onto the throne.

01:13:47This time,

01:13:48since he insists

01:13:49on marrying my sister,

01:13:50I shall let him have

01:13:51exactly what he wants

01:13:52and see what price

01:13:53he pays for it.

01:13:53I hope he will not regret it.

01:13:55I'm only a blind girl.

01:13:57Truly,

01:13:57I'm not fit to marry you.

01:13:58You blind fool.

01:13:59At least you know your place.

01:14:00A useless frost-blind witch.

01:14:02Even if you were

01:14:03the last woman in the world,

01:14:04I would not pick you.

01:14:04Now crawl to me

01:14:05on your knees.

01:14:06Hearing his sneers,

01:14:07Mother clutched her kerchief,

01:14:08nearly revealing my secret.

01:14:10Elara is blind,

01:14:11yet whoever weds her

01:14:13can claim the throne.

01:14:14Thankfully,

01:14:14her voice was small.

01:14:15No one heard.

01:14:16I squeezed her hand

01:14:17and she went silent.

01:14:18Beneath my ice-silk blindfold,

01:14:19I swept my gaze

01:14:20across the princes

01:14:21at the feast.

01:14:22The second prince,

01:14:23sinister and ruthless.

01:14:24His soul was ash-gray.

01:14:25The fourth prince,

01:14:26a lecher with a manor

01:14:27full of concubines.

01:14:28His soul was a lurid red.

01:14:30In my last life,

01:14:30I had chosen Lucian

01:14:31because his soul

01:14:32looked purer

01:14:32than any other man's.

01:14:34I never imagined.

01:14:35He was simply better

01:14:35at hiding it.

01:14:36Not until the day

01:14:37he killed me

01:14:37did I finally see

01:14:38the true color

01:14:39of Lucian's soul.

01:14:40Dark violet fading to black.

01:14:41Hatred rooted deep

01:14:42in his soul.

01:14:43I swore I would never

01:14:44repeat the mistakes

01:14:44of my past life

01:14:45in this life.

01:14:46Lila arched her brow at me.

01:14:47Little sister,

01:14:48look around.

01:14:49Pick whoever you like.

01:14:51Anyone you fancy,

01:14:52I'll let you have him.

01:14:53The smug color

01:14:54blooming in her heart

01:14:55was ugly, glaring.

01:14:56Lucian saw that I ignored her

01:14:57and flared up on her behalf.

01:14:59Alara,

01:14:59when no one wants you,

01:15:00I'll take you in, alright?

01:15:01And make this blind girl

01:15:02nothing but a foot washer!

01:15:04I was about to say

01:15:04that not one of the princes

01:15:05in this hall

01:15:06had caught my eye.

01:15:07And then I heard it.

01:15:08The slow turning of wheels

01:15:09drawing closer.

01:15:10The man in the wheelchair.

01:15:11Silver hair.

01:15:12Ice blue eyes.

01:15:13A face pale and cold

01:15:14as carved jade.

01:15:15I saw his dragon soul

01:15:16was gold.

01:15:17Pure, blazing,

01:15:18blinding gold.

01:15:19The mark of the highest

01:15:20dragon line.

01:15:21In my last life,

01:15:22Caelan Blackthorn,

01:15:24Archduke of the Eternal Frost

01:15:25in the north,

01:15:26never appeared

01:15:26at the Glacier Betrothal Ball.

01:15:28Later,

01:15:29while I was helping

01:15:29Lucian seize the throne,

01:15:31Caelan had retreated

01:15:32to his Frostland's domain

01:15:33in the north.

01:15:34The realm fell into chaos.

01:15:35He led his dragon legions

01:15:37in defense of his city,

01:15:38shielded its people

01:15:39from the fires of war,

01:15:40and fought until

01:15:41his very last breath.

01:15:42And I,

01:15:43I chose the wrong man,

01:15:45ending up with my soul

01:15:45sealed in frostlight,

01:15:47forever barred

01:15:48from reincarnation.

01:15:49But this time...

01:15:51I choose him.

01:15:53Archduke of the Eternal Frost,

01:15:54they say he's cursed.

01:15:55His legs ruined

01:15:56for over a decade.

01:15:57He probably can't even stand.

01:15:58He must be picking up

01:15:59the unwanted blind one

01:16:00as a decoration,

01:16:01just to save face.

01:16:04Alara,

01:16:04what a pick.

01:16:05Sightless yourself,

01:16:06you picked a crippled man.

01:16:07A blind woman

01:16:08with a crippled man,

01:16:08what a laughable

01:16:09perfect mismatch.

01:16:10Alara,

01:16:11you don't know

01:16:11he's confined to a wheelchair.

01:16:12I'll let you choose anew.

01:16:13If you fail to find

01:16:14a proper husband,

01:16:15you may be my maid

01:16:16when I marry

01:16:16and I'll keep you fed.

01:16:17I, Alara Voss,

01:16:19will never be anyone's servant.

01:16:21If not a servant,

01:16:22what else do you imagine?

01:16:23Someone will actually

01:16:24marry you?

01:16:25Alara,

01:16:26look at yourself clearly.

01:16:27How could you ever compare

01:16:28with your sister Lila?

01:16:29Through it all,

01:16:30Kaelin had said nothing.

01:16:31He simply moved

01:16:32his ice crystal wheelchair forward

01:16:34until he was directly facing me.

01:16:36Then he took my hand

01:16:37and laid it gently on his knee.

01:16:38Through the fabric,

01:16:40I feel his vivid warmth

01:16:41and beating heart.

01:16:42Then his cool fingertip

01:16:43touched the edge

01:16:44of my ice silk blindfold.

01:16:45A frost blue light

01:16:46shimmered in resonance

01:16:47with my own.

01:16:48My blood began to boil.

01:16:50I could almost hear him

01:16:51whispering to me

01:16:51in the dragon tongue.

01:16:53My dragon speaker,

01:16:55I've finally waited for you.

01:16:56The door to Silas' bedroom

01:16:57was ajar.

01:16:58Through the crack,

01:16:59cast two intertwined figures

01:17:01on the wall.

01:17:01It was Vivian.

01:17:02She saved your life.

01:17:03Silas scoffed.

01:17:04Her only value in life

01:17:05is to be our stepping stone.

01:17:07But accidentally kicked

01:17:08a shard of gravel

01:17:08in the corner.

01:17:10The next second,

01:17:11the door was flung open

01:17:12and Silas stood shirtless

01:17:14in the doorway.

01:17:14Looks like our little sacrifice

01:17:16heard something

01:17:16he shouldn't have.

01:17:17I didn't resist,

01:17:18only looking at Silas

01:17:19indifferently.

01:17:20Simus,

01:17:20I pulled you back

01:17:21from the brink of death.

01:17:23I gave you everything.

01:17:24You can't do this to me.

01:17:25He sneered.

01:17:26How dare a lowly trash

01:17:28like you stand beside me.

01:17:29Slammed me violently

01:17:30onto the cold sacrificial stone.

01:17:32In the dead of night,

01:17:34the iron swamp wolf den

01:17:35was chilled by the stench of blood

01:17:36seeping from the cracks

01:17:38in the rocks.

01:17:38I carried a jar

01:17:39of freshly brewed medicine,

01:17:40my steps as light as a cat's.

01:17:43Three days ago,

01:17:44Silas had cut his shoulder

01:17:45with silver

01:17:45while clearing out roaming wolves

01:17:47and I was bringing him

01:17:48medicine as usual.

01:17:49The door to Silas's bedroom

01:17:51was ajar.

01:17:52Through the crack,

01:17:52the flickering firelight

01:17:53cast two intertwined figures

01:17:55on the wall.

01:17:56Silas was shirtless

01:17:57and in the throes of lust,

01:17:59black claws sprouted

01:18:00from his fingertips

01:18:00and gray wolf fur

01:18:02appeared on his cheekbones.

01:18:03It was Vivian.

01:18:04She raised her head

01:18:05and let out a low laugh.

01:18:07She scratched the old wound

01:18:08on Silas's back

01:18:09with her fingertips

01:18:09and dug her nails

01:18:10into the flesh.

01:18:13Be gentle, Silas.

01:18:15Control your wolf nature

01:18:16and don't leave

01:18:17a permanent mark.

01:18:20Otherwise,

01:18:20tomorrow's ceremony

01:18:21will be ruined.

01:18:22I raised an eyebrow,

01:18:23showing no surprise,

01:18:24only a slight disappointment.

01:18:26Yet another candidate

01:18:27had fallen before ambition

01:18:28and vanity.

01:18:29I am the moon goddess,

01:18:31descended to earth

01:18:32in the form of a classless omega,

01:18:34seeking an heir worthy

01:18:35of the ancient bloodline.

01:18:37To ensure absolute fairness

01:18:38in the trial,

01:18:39I completely sealed away

01:18:40all divine power,

01:18:42even stripping werewolves

01:18:43of their most basic

01:18:44self-healing abilities

01:18:44and senses.

01:18:45Silas was a candidate

01:18:46I had observed

01:18:47for half a year.

01:18:48I had saved his life

01:18:49and tacitly allowed him

01:18:50to publicly declare me

01:18:51his partner,

01:18:52merely to see his true nature

01:18:53up close.

01:18:54The sounds from under

01:18:55the door continued.

01:18:56I turned to leave,

01:18:57but accidentally kicked

01:18:58a shard of gravel

01:18:59in the corner.

01:19:03The next second,

01:19:04the door was flung open

01:19:05and Silas stood shirtless

01:19:07in the doorway.

01:19:08Vivian stepped out,

01:19:09toying with a silver knife

01:19:10in his hand.

01:19:13Looks like our little sacrifice

01:19:14heard something

01:19:15he shouldn't have.

01:19:16I straightened up

01:19:16and calmly looked at them.

01:19:17I gave you a chance, Silas.

01:19:20Silas's face

01:19:20instantly contorted

01:19:22into a ferocious grin.

01:19:23He grabbed my neck,

01:19:24the force so strong

01:19:26it felt like he wanted

01:19:26to crush my bones.

01:19:28Cut the fucking act!

01:19:30You heard it all,

01:19:31so we ain't waiting

01:19:32till tomorrow!

01:19:35Perfect timing.

01:19:36The full moon

01:19:37has already risen.

01:19:40Hold the ceremony early,

01:19:42lest something

01:19:44unforeseen happens.

01:19:45I didn't resist,

01:19:46only looking at Silas

01:19:47indifferently.

01:19:48You'll regret this.

01:19:49Silas sneered.

01:19:51Regret?

01:19:52Dragging me towards

01:19:52the sacrificial site

01:19:53on the mountaintop.

01:19:54My biggest regret

01:19:55is that I didn't

01:19:56just kill you back then!

01:19:57He dragged me

01:19:58through the silent corridor,

01:19:59the guards along the way

01:20:00knowingly lowering their heads

01:20:01when they saw Vivian.

01:20:03The full moon

01:20:04hung like a plate

01:20:04above the territory

01:20:05of the Iron Swamp Wolves.

01:20:07Silas slammed me violently

01:20:08onto the cold

01:20:09sacrificial stone.

01:20:10This sacrificial altar

01:20:11was a mortal plaything

01:20:12I had carved myself

01:20:13a thousand years ago.

01:20:15I never imagined

01:20:15they would place me

01:20:16on their own altar

01:20:17for execution.

01:20:18When I struggled

01:20:19to sit up,

01:20:19my broken body aching,

01:20:21Silas looked down at me,

01:20:22his eyes filled

01:20:23with disgust.

01:20:26Simus,

01:20:26I pulled you back

01:20:27from the brink of death!

01:20:28I gave you everything!

01:20:30You can't do this to me!

01:20:31I tested his conscience

01:20:33one last time.

01:20:34He sneered.

01:20:36How dare

01:20:36a lowly trash like you

01:20:38stand beside me?

01:20:40Don't embarrass yourself!

01:20:41But they didn't know

01:20:42any wolf that blasphemes

01:20:44against the gods

01:20:44will be forever stripped

01:20:46of its wolf soul,

01:20:47reduced to a mindless,

01:20:48soulless being.

01:20:49I pitied them

01:20:50and wanted to leave

01:20:50the wolf pack

01:20:51a final shred of forgiveness.

01:20:52I am the moon goddess!

01:20:54Those who harm me

01:20:55will suffer the consequences!

01:20:57Before the words

01:20:58were even finished,

01:20:59Vivian's knife

01:20:59had already slashed

01:21:00across my face,

01:21:01leaving a bloody gash.

01:21:05Dare to pretend

01:21:06to be the moon goddess?

01:21:07Strip her naked!

01:21:09Let everyone see

01:21:09her despicable nature!

01:21:15Silas urged

01:21:15with disgust.

01:21:17She's nothing

01:21:17but a sacrifice, Viv.

01:21:20Not worth a second glance.

01:21:22Get it over with.

01:21:23Instinct roared within me,

01:21:24urging me to run.

01:21:25I took off running.

01:21:27The sealed divine power

01:21:28within me struggling weakly,

01:21:30unable to even muster

01:21:31a shred of transformation.

01:21:32Vivian flicked her wrist

01:21:33and four silver blades

01:21:35appeared out of thin air,

01:21:36slicing into my calves.

01:21:37I fell heavily to the ground.

01:21:40Vivian, why?

01:21:42Why did you do this?

01:21:43Every fifty years,

01:21:44the moon god

01:21:45will grant a qualified wolf

01:21:46the ability

01:21:47to awaken ancient bloodlines.

01:21:49The summoning ritual

01:21:50requires the sacrifice

01:21:51of a sinful wolf

01:21:53to purify the sins

01:21:54of the clan.

01:21:55I've always been kind,

01:21:56never done or done evil.

01:21:58How can you treat me

01:21:59like this?

01:22:00Isn't that simple?

01:22:02I've already mastered

01:22:03the sin transfer spell.

01:22:05All I need to do

01:22:06is I transfer

01:22:06all committal onto you,

01:22:08isn't it, no?

01:22:08I was filled with sorrow.

01:22:10If this fabricated ritual

01:22:11were completed,

01:22:12the punishment

01:22:13wouldn't just fall on them,

01:22:14but would devour

01:22:15the entire path.

01:22:17The Iron Swamp Wolves

01:22:18had prided themselves

01:22:19for generations

01:22:19on upholding honor

01:22:20and protecting the innocent.

01:22:22I couldn't bear

01:22:22to see it perish

01:22:23because of the sins

01:22:24of two wolves.

01:22:25Please, stop.

01:22:27Just say what you want.

01:22:28Don't do this.

01:22:30This time,

01:22:31the awakening

01:22:31will be foolproof.

01:22:34He bound my wrists

01:22:35with silver cords,

01:22:36the silver searing my skin.

01:22:38He seized my hair

01:22:39and wrenched it

01:22:39harshly backward,

01:22:40forcing Vivian

01:22:41to perform

01:22:41the sin transference ritual.

01:22:43It felt as if

01:22:44every nerve across my body

01:22:45burned all at once.

01:22:47Countless sinful memories

01:22:48that never belonged to me

01:22:49surged into my mind.

01:22:50Massacres,

01:22:51betrayals,

01:22:52poisonings,

01:22:53each one enough

01:22:53to make even

01:22:54the fiercest roaming wolves

01:22:55tremble with fear.

01:22:56I screamed in torment.

01:22:58He sneered.

01:22:59Be obedient.

01:23:00Once we attain awakening,

01:23:02we shall remember

01:23:03all you have done for us.

01:23:06My lunar goddess powers

01:23:07have yet to revive,

01:23:08leaving me with

01:23:09nothing but feeble words.

01:23:10I am the moon goddess.

01:23:13Lay a hand on me

01:23:15and you shall lose

01:23:16everything in the end.

01:23:18Fingers were ruthlessly

01:23:19severed right on

01:23:20the sacrificial stone platform.

01:23:21I wailed in sheer agony.

01:23:23In an instant,

01:23:24a clap of thunder

01:23:25split the sky.

01:23:28They didn't know

01:23:29this thunder was a warning

01:23:30of divine punishment.

01:23:32Just then,

01:23:33an elderly wolf approached.

01:23:35He was Elder Marcus,

01:23:36who had spent years

01:23:37providing medical care

01:23:38in border villages

01:23:39and thus recognized me.

01:23:40I forced my mutilated hand

01:23:42to wave.

01:23:42Marcus!

01:23:43Vivian's eyes were icy.

01:23:45With a flick of her wrist,

01:23:46my tongue was severed.

01:23:47The stench of blood

01:23:48reached Marcus,

01:23:49who stopped.

01:23:50What are you doing here?

01:23:51Silas abruptly

01:23:52stepped in front of me,

01:23:54shielding my face.

01:23:55Marcus!

01:23:55We've captured

01:23:56a notorious roaming wolf

01:23:57and are performing

01:23:58a blood sacrifice.

01:23:59I've never heard of this.

01:24:01Are you sure she's guilty?

01:24:04Vivian handed him

01:24:05the documents.

01:24:06My father signed them.

01:24:07Aren't you supposed

01:24:08to be on your medical mission?

01:24:09Don't waste time.

01:24:10Marcus hesitated,

01:24:12his gaze lingering

01:24:12on me for a moment.

01:24:14I feel like she looks familiar.

01:24:16Silas brushed it off,

01:24:17making excuses

01:24:18that she was just

01:24:18a roaming wolf.

01:24:19My face was pressed

01:24:20to the ground,

01:24:21all filthy and disheveled.

01:24:22Marcus did not linger

01:24:23and continued onward.

01:24:25Watching Marcus's figure

01:24:26recede into the distance,

01:24:27the last vestige of strength

01:24:29in my body dissipated

01:24:30and I fainted.

01:24:31A bucket of cold water

01:24:32jolted me awake.

01:24:34Vivian leaned down

01:24:34and smirked.

01:24:35It's not your time

01:24:36to die yet.

01:24:37Take her to the

01:24:38high priest's altar.

01:24:40Silas said coldly.

01:24:41You know why?

01:24:42You're too kind.

01:24:44Always looking after me

01:24:45so well.

01:24:46But every bit of it

01:24:47just keeps reminding me

01:24:48how badly hurt I was,

01:24:49how close I came to dying

01:24:51right in front of you,

01:24:51how weak and helpless

01:24:52I used to be.

01:24:54But I am a beta

01:24:55of the werewolf clan.

01:24:56I deserve nothing

01:24:58but admiration.

01:25:01How could I ever

01:25:02have been saved

01:25:03by someone like you?

01:25:05A rankless Omega.

01:25:06A rankless Omega.

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