StarNovelChapter 529: Emeriel took a step forward, only to wince, stopping.
She could still feel him. Every aching muscle, every tender bruise was a reminder of last night.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMadam Livia had sent a concoction to ease the soreness, but Emeriel had only taken half. She wasn't ready to forget. Not yet. Even if walking was uncomfortable, she welcomed the pain, clinging to it. It was all she had left of him now.
Tears pricked her eyes, no longer wanting to be held back.
Last night had opened a dam she couldn't reseal. She had fought to keep her emotions at bay during the journey here, but now, standing on the edge of leaving him forever, they spilled over.
She stepped into the lake, a metaphorical dagger stabbing into her heart.
"Emeriel?" She forced herself to take another step forward. The dagger twisted, causing intense pain. She stopped, clutching her chest tightly, tears streaking down her cheeks.
"Why am I leaving him?” Emeriel whispered, lifting her tear-filled eyes to meet the grand lord's gaze. “Why am I leaving him, Lord Ottai? Because... for the life of me, I can't seem to remember." His kind eyes held hers, but he didn't respond.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"I wanted to protect myself. To protect my heart," she continued, trying to breathe through the heaviness in her chest. "But why does it feel like there's no saving it from this? Why does it feel like I'm breaking it even more by leaving?" She turned her gaze to the tranquil waters of the lake, her reflection rippling in its depths. "With every step I take, it's like my heart is being crushed into pieces. Leaving him isn't supposed to hurt this much, Lord Ottai." Find your imagination at galn ovels; con Lord Ottai stepped into the lake, water lapping around him as he crossed back toward her. She took a step back, giving him space, all the while fighting to keep the dam at bay.
"It hurts this way because you still love him, Emeriel," he said gently. "You never stopped loving him." A sob broke from Emeriel's throat, and her hand flew to her mouth to muffle the sound.
"It hurts this way because you've already forgiven him,” Lord Ottai continued, his voice filled with compassion. "You forgave him a long tago, but you've been clinging to the remnants of anger that no longer exist. That anger was your shield, the wall you built to protect yourself from the pain-to block your love for him."
Another sob escaped, then another, each one shaking her body Tears! flooded down her cheeks as she buried her face in her hands.
"But that wall has long since crumbled." Lord Ottai gently took her trembling hand from her face, holding it. "It's gone, Emeriel. It hasn't been there for a long time. Your feelings for him returned, no matter how hard you tried to fight them. And while you were with him again, those feelings only grew stronger. You're hurting now because you're trying to run from what you already know to be true."
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
