Chapter 198: Unlearn

“Yu sure you're fine?” Leitana asked softly, holding Avery’s hand tightly as she searched her twin’s face with worry creasing her brow.

Avery looked around the room slowly, at the staff hovering nearby, at Ravial standing a few feet away like a silent shadow, at the new face (Marita) watching curiously, and finally back to Leitana.

“Yes, I’m sure I’m fine,” Avery said, voice still a little weak. “The stress probably just got to me. I’m okay now.”

Leitana squeezed her hand. “But Avery… why were you panicking like that when you rushed into the hospital room? You said we had to leave, that Ravial couldn’t protect us. You looked so scared, what happened?”

Avery frowned, rubbing her temple. “I… I did that?” She looked genuinely confused. “I don’t remember any of it. Everything after Charles… it’s all blurry.”

Leitana sighed, relieved but still concerned. “Okay. What matters is that you’re awake now. Mi so happy. You’ve been sleeping for days.”

Avery shook her head with a small, tired smile. “Yeah… I’m surprised I slept that long.” Her eyes darted briefly to Ravial, who stood motionless a few feet away, expression cold and unreadable behind the blindfold.

Leitana noticed and gently turned her sister’s attention. “And yess, let me introduce you to Marita. Mi told you all about her.”

She beckoned Marita forward. The girl stepped closer with a bright, warm smile.

“Marita, this is my twin sister, Avery. Avery, this is Marita, my sister from the orphanage. She’s staying with us now.”

Marita grinned brightly. “Nice to meet yu, Avery! Leitana bin tok about yu plenty. Yu two really look alike, but… yu be like the slimmer, more polished version blong her.”

Leitana gasped. “Aishhh! Marita!”

She immediately attacked Marita’s sides, tickling her mercilessly with a playful grin. “Yu no fit call me that!”

Marita squealed loudly, squirming and laughing as she tried to escape Leitana’s fingers. “Arrête! Stop it,

Lei! Mi sorry! Yu beautiful too!”

Leitana kept tickling her, both of them laughing hard. “No mercy! Yu call me the rough version, now yu go suffer!”

Avery watched them with a soft smile, the first real one she’d shown since waking up.

There was a knock at the door.

It opened, and Matteo stepped in. The moment his eyes landed on Avery, his face lit up with pure relief.

“Avery…” he breathed.

Avery stood up quickly. “Excuse me,” she said softly to Leitana, then rushed toward him. She stopped a few feet away, but Matteo closed the distance in two strides and pulled her into a tight hug, stroking her hair.

“I couldn’t see you,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “God, I’m so happy you’re okay.”

Avery smiled, melting into his arms, holding him just as tightly.

Leitana watched them with a gentle smile and nodded when Avery glanced back at her. The two of them slipped out the door together, seeking privacy.

Ravial stood quietly, watching where Avery and Matteo had disappeared. He turned slightly to Lucius beside him whoss eyes were fixed on Marita.

“Put an eye on the copy,” he muttered.

Lucius nodded without hesitation. “Yes, sir.” His gaze never left Marita.

Marita felt the stare and glanced over. Their eyes met. She flushed deeply and quickly looked away, biting her lip.

Leitana stood in front of the dresser, slowly brushing her long, curly hair. The soft bristles moved through the thick strands as she styled it into a loose, elegant braid. She was already dressed for the day, a simple but beautiful sundress that gently hugged her small baby bump.

“I will go visit Mama in the hospital first,” she said softly, glancing at Ravial’s reflection in the mirror. “Then I’ll head to piano classes.”

Ravial stepped forward from behind her, silent as a shadow. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. His lips found the side of her neck, pressing slow, lingering kisses there.

“Okay,” he murmured against her skin, voice low and rough. One of his hands slid up to squeeze her breast possessively.

Leitana winced slightly. “Aïe…” she whispered in French, then smiled softly. “That hurts a little, mi Ravial.”

He didn’t apologize. Instead, he bit down on her neck deep enough to leave a mark while his hand rubbed slow circles over her stomach.

“You’ve not made a wish in your bucket in weeks,” he said quietly, almost accusingly.

Leitana smiled at their reflection, leaning back into him. “Mi Ravial, I have everything I need. Mi no need anything more.”

He stilled. For a long moment, the only sound was the brush moving through her curls.

Then he muttered, almost brokenly, “I’m deeply in love with you, my love.”

Leitana’s hand paused mid-brush. She turned around in his arms and looked up at him.

Ravial’s jaw was tight. A single tear glistening and impossible had slipped from beneath his blindfold and was running down his left cheek.

Her heart shattered.

“Mi Ravial…” she whispered, voice cracking. She reached up and gently wiped the tear away with her thumb, then stood on her toes and began kissing every inch of his face, his cheeks, his jaw, the bridge of his nose, and finally both of his closed eyes beneath the blindfold.

She knew.

She knew there was nothing they could do about her sickness. Every day she tried not to dwell on it, but in quiet moments like this, it crushed her.

Ravial’s arms tightened around her like steel bands. His voice was hoarse, raw, almost broken when he spoke again.

“How am I supposed to allow you to leave?” he whispered. “Tell me how I’m supposed to unlearn how to love you… because I can’t. I don’t know how to exist in a world where you’re not breathing next to me.”

Tears streamed down Leitana’s cheeks now. She pressed her forehead to his, both of them shaking.

“Mi no want leave you either,” she cried softly. “But mi… mi don’t know how much time mi have left.”

Ravial’s breath hitched. He cupped her face with both hands, thumbs wiping her tears even as his own continued to fall silently beneath the blindfold.

“Then I’ll make time stop,” he said, voice trembling with dark, terrifying conviction. “I’ll burn every clock. I’ll kill every second that tries to take you from me. I’ll tear the universe apart if I have to. Just… don’t leave me, Leitana. Please.”

The room was silent except for their quiet sobs.

Leitana could only hold him tighter, crying into his chest, knowing in her heart that no matter how powerful he was… some things even the devil couldn’t stop.