Chapter 57: CHAPTER 60

I couldn't take my eyes off Lilith's child as he played happily with his parents. Something tugged painfully at my heart a familiar ache I couldn't explain. As I watched the girl, a part of me wanted to scream. A persistent voice kept whispering the same impossible thought: What if he's my daughter?

My confusion deepened when I studied the child's face. Every angle, every curve of her lips... it was as if I were looking at myself.

Before I could piece together my suspicions, Lilith suddenly collapsed.

"Shit!"

My heart seemed to stop beating.

Without hesitation, I sprinted toward her, covering the distance between us in seconds.

"Damn it! Lilith, wake up! Wake up!"

My hands trembled as I lifted her into my arms. The weight crushing my chest was far heavier than her body. She was deathly pale, as though life itself was slowly slipping away from her.

"Lilith!" her husband shouted.

"Mommy! Mommy, wake up!" the child cried hysterically, tears streaming down his face.

Her husband tried to take her from my arms, but I instinctively pulled her closer against my chest. I wasn't letting go.

"We need to get her to the hospital now!" I barked, unable to hide the fear in my voice.

I carried Lilith into my car. With her husband, child, and friend accompanying us, I sped away from the school, the tires nearly flying off the pavement.

The moment we arrived at the nearest hospital, the doctors rushed her into the emergency room.

We were left waiting outside.

That was when her husband turned to me.

"Thank you for helping my wife. You can leave now. I'll take care of her from here," he said coldly, his tone polite yet possessive.

My fists clenched.

Heat rushed through my face as fury burned inside me. I wanted to hit him. I wanted to shout that I had the first right to her!

But before I could act on those emotions, I gradually calmed myself, though bitterness still lingered in my throat.

I nodded and forced a smile.

"You're welcome," I replied stiffly.

Then I turned and walked away.

I'll come back tomorrow, Lilith.

We'll face each other then.

There are many things we need to talk about.

When I arrived home, Isabel greeted me with a deep frown.

"Where have you been?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

"I went looking for Lilith," I answered flatly.

"Why do you still need to look for her? She's the one who left, isn't she?" she snapped, panic evident in her tone.

"I'm not finished making her suffer," I said coldly, keeping my expression hard.

"Is that really the only reason, Aeros?"

She stepped closer, trying to read my thoughts.

"Maybe you want to see her because you're still in love with her."

I laughed.

"That's impossible. I don't feel anything for that woman anymore," I said, avoiding her gaze.

"Just make sure of that, Aeros. Everything we've worked for to destroy her will be wasted if you give in."

"That won't happen," I said firmly, ending the conversation.

"I want to rest."

I turned my back on her and left her standing alone.

Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, I found myself reliving the day that had ignited all my hatred.

The night before Lilith vanished without a trace.

Back then, I hadn't returned to the mansion for several days because my mind was a mess.

Before I could even step through the door, Isabel called me.

She was crying hysterically, barely able to breathe between her sobs.

"A-Aeros! Help me!"

A wave of panic hit me.

"What happened? Isabel, why are you crying?"

"Come home... You need to see this... I can't handle it, Aeros!" she sobbed before the call abruptly ended.

I immediately grabbed my car keys and sped home.

The moment I stepped out of the vehicle, a terrified maid rushed toward me.

"Sir, thank goodness you're here! There was a huge commotion earlier! Ma'am Isabel is in her room. She's been crying nonstop and refuses to eat."

"What happened here?! Where's Hilda? Where's Lilith?!" I demanded, my temper already rising.

The maid lowered her head, unable to meet my eyes.

"Please check on Ma'am Isabel first, Sir. She's been asking for you."

"Damn it!"

I shoved open Isabel's bedroom door.

Then I froze.

Broken glass littered the floor. Clothes were scattered everywhere. The room was in complete disarray.

In the middle of the chaos sat Isabel.

Her hair was a mess. Her eyes were swollen from crying. Black eyeliner had mixed with the tears streaking down her face.

She looked like someone who had been attacked.

"A-Aeros..." she croaked.

I hurried to her side.

"What happened here?"

She grabbed my arm, her entire body shaking.

"Aeros... Lilith... she attacked me. She even stole my jewelry. I never thought she'd do something like this to me."

"What?!"

Blood rushed to my head.

The veins in my neck felt ready to burst.

"I'm going to talk to that woman! How could she—"

I was about to storm off and confront Lilith when Isabel suddenly wrapped her arms around me, stopping me.

"Lilith is gone! She left! She took Hilda with her and abandoned us!"

"What? Why would they leave if they were innocent? Isabel, tell me the truth! What happened?" I shouted, anger and an inexplicable pain colliding inside my chest.

Isabel burst into louder sobs and buried her face against me.

"When I got home... I found Lilith with another man inside her room. I caught them having sex, Aeros! They were both naked! When I confronted them, she went crazy... she attacked me so they could escape!"

My entire world crumbled.

The trust I had given Lilith felt as though it had been trampled and shattered.

The love I once had for her was replaced by a raging, consuming hatred.

My fists tightened until my knuckles turned white.

"That fucking bitch!"

I wrapped Isabel in a tight embrace while staring into the distance, my eyes burning with the desire for revenge.

"Don't worry... I'll make her pay for this. I'll make her suffer for what she did to you."

Isabel looked up at me.

Behind her tears, a strange glimmer flickered in her eyes.

"Don't look for her anymore, Aeros... just let her go."

.