Chapter 10
I had an unexpectedly pleasant dream.
When I opened my eyes, Erevan’s Beta was sitting beside me.
Seeing that I had woken up, Beta eagerly asked if anything still hurt or if I wanted something to eat.
I held my forehead and asked where Erevan had gone.
After a moment’s hesitation, Beta told me the truth.
Erevan had gone to confront Virelle.
It turned out she was the one behind the kidnapping, instructing the rogues to torment me mercilessly and make it seem like it
was all Erevan’s doing.
When Erevan saw that video of the abuse, he went mad.
He had someone lock Virelle up, then he made her pay for every ounce of pain I suffered, returning the torment to her tenfold.
He personally broke her legs.
He scarred every inch of her skin with the silver.
And when she became nothing more than a bloodied mess, he tossed her near the rogue’s den to let her fend for herself.
When he returned, Erevan reeked of blood.
He feared I’d be disturbed by the scent, so he carefully cleaned himself again and again, changed into fresh clothes, and came
to my bedside with a gift.
Erevan apologized to me. “Liora, I’m sorry.”
He said he never intended to treat me that way.
He just wanted to scare me a little, to make me show weakness and beg him.
But I was always so stubborn.
He didn’t like the way I was always indifferent, like a machine with no emotions, just unconditionally obeying his orders.
He wanted to see me cry, smile, and act sweet around him.
He also said that he had fallen in love with me long ago, but had never admitted it.
When I remained silent, unresponsive, Erevan pursed his lips and pulled out a small moonstone ring from the inner pocket of
his clothes.
It was engraved with a moon.
“This is for you.”
“Your leg will need surgery soon, or it’ll have to be amputated. Take this–it’ll bring you luck for you in the surgery.”
I remained still.
Erevan shoved it into my hand.
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“I couldn’t find the one I threw into the lake. Just take this one. Pretend it’s from my brother, not me. Please, just take it.”
So, I accepted it.
His gaze held a hint of self–mockery and defeat, and he gave a bitter smile.
“Liora, stay alive.”
“Elian’s wish wasn’t just for me to be happy, but for you too.”
I blinked.
With that one sentence, I cooperated fully with the surgery, treating the old wounds I hadn’t had time to address.
Erevan also arranged for me to see a therapist to help me recover.
I realized I had been struggling with severe depression for a long time.
I took my medicine obediently every day, undergoing rehabilitation training.
Erevan had been by my side, handling Rosenoir Pack’s urgent matters through remote video meetings.
Until one day, he suddenly prepared 9999 black roses and proposed to me.
“Liora, will you bond with me?”
Seeing that I was unmoved, Erevan paused and said, “You can treat me as a substitute for my brother, just like before. Stay by my side.”
“You can just think of it as becoming Elian’s Luna.”
It wasn’t like him to say such words at all.
He was so humble that he was willing to take the place of a substitute just to get me to agree.
My gaze softened a little.
Erevan thought I would say yes, a smile forming, but there was a tinge of sadness in his eyes.
But I only sighed gently, replying.
“You’re not him, and you never will be.”
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