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墨書 Inktalez
Luna's sobbing abruptly ceased, like a sudden rain shower coming to an end, leaving only the damp remnants of her cries hanging in the air.
She sniffled, her small hands clutching at Aelia's clothing, mumbling incoherently, "Daddy... bad..."
Aelia froze.
She looked down at her daughter in her arms, Luna's pink face still streaked with tears, her large eyes filled with innocence.
Could a child's words be taken seriously?
Aelia forced a bitter smile and shook her head, dismissing it as mere babble from Luna.
Yet, Luna's gaze was unusually resolute, her tiny brows furrowed tightly as if hiding some secret.
An unsettling premonition coiled around Aelia's heart like a vine, nearly choking her.
Leonard's expression also darkened; he cleared his throat, breaking the eerie silence. "Children don’t understand; it's just nonsense. Aelia, don’t take it to heart."
His tone carried a hint of barely perceptible tension, which only heightened Aelia's alarm.
Taking a deep breath, she struggled to maintain her composure. "Luna, tell Mommy how Daddy is bad."
Luna blinked, seemingly trying to find the right words.
She pointed outside the forbidden area with her chubby little finger and said in a baby voice, "Daddy... outside... pretty lady..."
A chill shot up Aelia's spine.
She clutched Luna tightly, her fingertips nearly digging into the child's flesh.
She fought to steady her trembling voice. "Luna, can you... can you say that again?"
Luna appeared startled by Aelia's reaction; she shrank back slightly and repeated, "Daddy... outside... pretty lady... hug..."
These simple words struck Aelia's heart like a sharp dagger.
She felt her blood freeze, and the world around her began to blur.
Leonard hurried forward, wanting to explain, "Aelia, let me explain, this is all a misunderstanding..."
But Aelia suddenly pushed him away, staggering back a few steps.
Her face was pale as paper, her eyes hollow, as if she had lost her soul.
She waved her hand, her voice terrifyingly hoarse: "Qin Si..."
Qin Si had been standing quietly on the side, observing everything.
Seeing Aelia's complexion, her heart sank; she knew something was wrong.
She quickly stepped forward to support Aelia and whispered, "Madam, what’s wrong?"
"Go... go investigate..." Aelia grasped Qin Si's hand tightly, using all her strength to utter two words: "Find out..."
Qin Si understood Aelia's meaning.
She cast a deep glance at Leonard before turning and leaving the forbidden area.
The air was thick with tension, suffocating and oppressive.
Leonard paced anxiously in the room, not understanding how things had turned out this way.
He had originally thought that as long as he acted cautiously, he could deceive everyone.
But now, Luna's few words had shattered the carefully woven lies he had constructed.
Time passed slowly, each second feeling like a century.
Finally, Qin Si returned.
Her expression was grave as she held a letter in her hand.
She approached Aelia and handed her the letter. "Madam, this is..."
Aelia trembled as she took the letter, and upon opening it, the contents struck her like a bolt from the blue.
The letter contained Leonard's address at Leonard's Concubine, along with their exchanged correspondence.
Those sweet words and solemn vows now seemed so ironic.
Aelia felt darkness closing in around her, nearly fainting from the shock.
She clutched the letter tightly, her knuckles turning white as tears silently streamed down her face.
The sweet memories of her time with Leonard now felt like sharp daggers, piercing her heart mercilessly.
Their once cherished promises had turned into mere bubbles, dissipating in the wind.
She had believed they were the happiest couple in the world, but reality had dealt her a harsh blow.
"Why..." Aelia murmured to herself, her voice so hoarse it was barely audible.
She couldn't understand why Leonard would betray her, why he would deceive her.
She had given him all her love, only to receive this devastating outcome in return.
The room was enveloped in silence, with only Aelia's stifled sobs echoing in the stillness.
Qin Si looked at Aelia with a heart full of pain, unsure of how to comfort her.
She knew that at this moment, any words would feel pale.
All she could do was silently stay by Aelia's side, offering her unspoken support.
Aelia held Luna tightly, tears soaking the child's clothes.
She didn't know what the future would hold.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the forbidden area. Aelia lifted her head sharply.
"He... is back..."
Leonard appeared at the entrance of the forbidden area, his steps urgent and a forced smile plastered on his face.
The sunlight cast a long shadow behind him, like a lurking beast poised to strike, heralding an impending storm.
"Aelia, I'm back." His voice carried a hint of hesitation as he cautiously broke the silence within the forbidden area.
Aelia, still holding Luna, slowly raised her head.
Her gaze was as cold as Millennium Ice, devoid of any warmth.
Leonard had never seen her like this before, and a wave of intense unease surged within him.
The air was thick with a faint bloody smell, remnants of her grip on the letterhead, where Ailya's white nails had pierced her palm, leaving marks behind.
"You've returned?" Aelia's voice was hoarse yet calm, like the eerie stillness before a storm, sending chills down one's spine. "I thought you were so enamored with your new life that you had forgotten this home."
Leonard's smile froze on his face as he stepped into the room, trying to approach Aelia. "Aelia, what are you saying? How could I forget you and Luna? There were too many things today; that's why I'm late. Don't overthink it." He reached out to touch Aelia's Luna but was ruthlessly avoided by her.
"Don't touch me!" Aelia's voice suddenly rose, filled with suppressed anger and disappointment.
She stood up, holding Luna tightly, her gaze fierce as she stared directly at Leonard. "Leonard, how long are you going to keep pretending? Do you think I don't know anything?"
Leonard's face instantly turned pale, and he shook his head in panic. "Aelia, I don't understand what you're talking about. Did someone say something to you? You have to believe me, I..."
Aelia let out a cold laugh and forcefully slammed the letterhead in her hand against Leonard's face.
The letterhead fell to the ground like a withered leaf, light yet seemingly heavy enough to suffocate Leonard.
"Take a look for yourself!" Aelia's tone was resolute. "See what you've done!"
Trembling, Leonard picked up the letterhead from the ground. As he read its contents, his face turned as white as paper.
He knew it was all over.
Those sweet words and illicit affairs were now exposed to the light of day, with nowhere to hide.
"Aelia, let me explain..." Leonard's voice carried a hint of pleading as he tried to justify himself, trying to salvage what was left.
He understood that once he lost Aelia, he would lose everything.
The power of the Glorious Demon Fortress, wealth, status—all would vanish into thin air.
"Explain?" Aelia's eyes were filled with mockery. "What more can you explain? Explain how you betrayed our vows? Explain how you deceived my feelings? Explain how you were entangled with that woman?" Her voice grew louder, filled with long-suppressed pain and anger. "Leonard, you truly disgust me!"
Leonard's attempts at justification came to an abrupt halt as he looked at Aelia's furious face and the unmasked disdain in her eyes. A chill ran through him.
He realized that no matter what he said, he could never win back Aelia's heart.
"Aelia, I know I was wrong. I was confused for a moment; please forgive me this once! I promise it won't happen again, I..." Leonard tried to grab Aelia's hand but was met with a forceful rejection.
“Enough!” Aelia's voice was cold and resolute. “Leonard, you don’t need to say anything more. From today onward, we are done with each other, and there will be no more ties between us!”
Leonard's body trembled violently as he stared at Aelia in disbelief. “Aelia, what… what are you saying? You want a divorce?”
Aelia did not respond. She simply held Luna close and walked step by step toward the door.
Her back was straight and determined, like a proud winter plum blossom standing tall, exuding the sharp scent of Cedar in the wind and snow.
“Aelia, you can't do this to me!” Leonard shouted hoarsely, his voice tinged with despair. “Without me, you are nothing! Without the Glorious Demon Fortress, you can do nothing!”
Aelia's footsteps faltered slightly, but she did not turn back.
Her voice was calm and firm, like a sharp sword piercing through Leonard's hypocrisy and arrogance.
“Leonard, you are mistaken. I, Aelia, have never lived for you. I don’t care about the Glorious Demon Fortress!” With that, she left the forbidden ground without looking back, leaving Leonard standing alone like an abandoned statue, lonely and desolate.
Leonard watched Aelia's retreating figure with mixed emotions swirling within him.
He felt regret, anger, resentment, and a hint of indescribable fear.
He knew he had lost not only Aelia but also his power, his status—everything.
He slumped to the ground, covering his face with his hands as a desperate sigh escaped him.
He had no idea how to salvage this situation or what the future held.
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed in his ear: “Lord of the Fortress, now is not the time for sorrow. Since the lady has discovered the truth, there will likely be significant moves ahead.”
Leonard shot his head up to see a shadow standing before him.
The figure was slender and wore a strange mask that obscured their true identity.
"Who are you?" Leonard asked warily.
The shadow emitted a few low, chilling laughs, reminiscent of the call of a Night Owl.
"Who I am is not important; what matters is that I can help you... through this difficult time," the shadow said slowly, his voice laced with seduction. "The power in the lady's hands is far greater than you can imagine. If you want to keep everything you have now, you must... take the initiative."
Leonard knew that following the shadow's advice would lead him down a path of no return.
But if he didn't do it, he would lose everything.
"What... what do you want me to do?" Leonard's voice trembled slightly.
The shadow smiled with satisfaction, leaning closer to Leonard as he whispered, "The lady has been secretly preparing something for years... all you need to do is destroy her plans..."
The shadow's voice grew quieter, and Leonard's expression darkened.
Finally, he lifted his head and said, "Fine, I agree!"
Just then, urgent footsteps echoed from outside the forbidden area.
"Lady, it's bad! Third Young Master Lucius..." Qin Si's panicked voice abruptly cut off, as if an invisible hand had seized his throat.
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