his future time and wealth for one last lifetime together. The price was steep–not only did he give up everything, but both their
memories were meant to be completely erased.
But Lucas had found a way to hold on to a fragment of his memories. Somehow, he’d even uncovered a fate stone–a rare relic-
and etched both their names onto it. This was why, despite Lucas‘ memories being faint and Celia seemingly having none at all,
the two of them remained inexplicably drawn to each other.
The King of the Underworld had restored Celia’s memory and revealed the truth.
Pulled from her thoughts, her gaze fell back on Lucas‘ face. From their past life to this one, he had always been so unyielding.
When she loved him, he pushed her away. When she resolved to let him go, he chased after her, sparing no cost to be with her.
Celia slowly raised her hand, her fingers hovering over his face before lightly tracing the contours of his features.
“Uncle… the real obstacle between us was never our age–it was always you,” she spoke quietly to him in her thoughts.
Her movements were light, but he was a light sleeper, and the touch woke him.
Seeing her awake, Lucas‘ eyes brimmed with a mixture of joy and lingering fear. He scrambled to press the call button, but she
grabbed his hand, stopping him.
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Chapter 23
“I’m fine. There’s no need to call the doctor,” Celia said.
+15 Bonus
After a pause, her tone returned to the distant indifference of their first meeting. “I’ll repay you for the medical expenses. Thank
you for bringing me to the hospital.”
She watched as the light in Lucas‘ eyes shattered, and her heart twinged briefly with pain. But in the end, she left him no hope.
“Lucas, I can never like you. We’re just not right for each other.”
He froze, stunned by her words. “Not right for each other? But haven’t we been getting along so well all this time? Why would you
say you could never like me?”
“And just before you passed out, you were about to say yes to me…” The last sentence remained unspoken.
He was afraid–afraid that saying it aloud would confirm that everything had been one–sided, a delusion of his own making.
Though he stopped himself, Celia seemed oblivious to his unease and doubt. She mercilessly crushed what little dignity he had
left.
“I got along well with you because I saw you as a friend. And the reason I said I wouldn’t like you is simple–I don’t like younger
men.”
Her eyes wandered to the IV bottle hanging nearby. The remaining liquid was sparse but could still sustain her for a while longer.
After a long silence, she turned back to him, forcing a smile.
In her heart, she thought, “Lucas Shaw, you once said I was too young. You were too much of a coward to admit your feelings, and
you let my love for you crumble, piece by piece, under the weight of your indifference and your fiancée. Now, every shred of that
love–I’m giving it all back to you.”
Her voice was calm but distant as she finally spoke. “Lucas Smith, you should go.”
She knew the truth deep down. From the moment she struck that deal with the King of the Underworld, she had stopped hoping he would ever look back at her. He never had before, and she wouldn’t need him to again.
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