Chapter 189 — What Love Survived

Chapter 189 — What Love Survived
I couldn’t breathe properly, even after I came back. Even after the room settled again. Even after Elara’s hand slipped from mine.

It felt like something inside me had been ripped open…

I saw everything she showed me. My own father.

My chest tightened painfully. I swallowed hard.

“She shouldn’t be apologizing…” I muttered under my breath.

Elara looked at me, confused. “What?”

I shook my head slowly. My voice came out rough.

“You shouldn’t be the one saying sorry…”

Her brows pulled together. “Edward…”

“No,” I said, cutting her off gently.

I ran a hand through my hair. Out of guilt and shame.

“I should be the one apologizing.”

I looked at her again. Really looked at her this time.

At the girl who had been through hell…
and still stood here, still loved me. Despite everything.

“I’m sorry,” I said. My voice was low. “I’m so sorry, Elara.”

Her eyes softened immediately. “You don’t have to…”

“I do.” I shook my head.

“I had no idea,” I continued. “I didn’t know any of this happened.”

My throat felt tight.

“I always knew my father wasn’t… the best man. But I didn’t know he was this ruthless.”

The word tasted bitter in my mouth. “I didn’t know he destroyed your life.”

Her eyes filled with tears again. “And your family…”

My voice broke slightly. “They died because of him.”

Silence.

“And your sister…” I swallowed. “She died trying to save his child.”

My fists clenched.

“And Felix…” I exhaled slowly.

“He’s been suffering all these years.” I looked at her again. “And despite all of that…”

My voice softened. “You still loved me.”

Her tears fell quietly now. “You still cared about me.”

I shook my head slightly. “I don’t deserve that.”

“You do,” she whispered immediately.

“I’m going to fix this.” She looked at me. “I’m going to find Felix,” I said firmly.

Her breath caught. “And I’ll bring him back to you.”

Tears streamed down her face. “And I’ll ask for his forgiveness,” I added. “I understand why he hates me,” I continued. “Why he wants to kill me.”

My jaw tightened. “If I were him…” I let out a slow breath. “I would do the same. Maybe even worse.”

Elara stared at me. But I didn’t stop.

“I won’t let anything happen to him,” I said. “I promise you that.”

Her lips trembled. “Edward…”

“I’ll make things right.”

She nodded slowly. Tears still falling.

“Thank you…” she whispered. I gave a small nod.

Then she wiped her face slightly.

Took a breath. And asked. “What happened that night?”

I frowned slightly.

“The night I shifted,” she clarified. “What was that?”

I leaned back slightly. “That…” I said slowly, “was the bond.”

Her brows furrowed. “The bond?”

I nodded. “Usually… it doesn’t happen like that.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“So… visible,” I said.

I let out a small breath.

“I don’t know why the Moon Goddess made it that way this time.”

I looked at her.

“But what happened between us…” I paused slightly. “…was real.”

Her eyes locked with mine.

“You are my chosen mate.” Her breath caught.

“You were chosen for me by the Moon Goddess.”

A small smile appeared on her face. Soft and beautiful. And something inside me eased. I smiled too.

“I used to think…” I said slowly, “that the Moon Goddess abandoned me.”

Her expression changed slightly.

“After the accident…” I glanced at my wheelchair briefly. “I thought she turned her back on me.”

My voice softened. “I thought that was it for me. But now…”

I looked at her again. “I understand.”

Her eyes searched mine. “She didn’t abandon me,” I continued. “She was preparing me."

“For what?” she asked softly. “For you.” The words came out naturally. Without hesitation.

“Just to give you to me…” I said, a faint smile on my lips, “…I don’t want anything else in this world.”

Her eyes filled again.

“Having you…” I added quietly, “…feels like I have everything.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Thank you, Elara…” My voice dropped. “For loving me.”

She shook her head slightly. “Thank you too,” she whispered.

“For always caring… for always protecting me.”

Before I could say anything else, she moved. She sat up properly and wrapped her arms around me.

I froze for a second. Then slowly, I hugged her back gently, like she is something precious.
Because she is.

The road was quiet. I kept my eyes on the road.

Hands steady on the wheel. Seraphina sat beside me.

Silent at first. Then I spoke. “I’ve seen you with Damien a couple of times.”

She turned slightly. “What about it?” I glanced at her briefly.

“Are you two… dating?” For a second, she just stared at me.

Then suddenly she laughed. But it wasn’t a happy laugh.

She sounded broken, with tears already dropping from her eyes.

“That’s what I thought too,” she said.

My brows pulled together slightly. “What do you mean?”

“I thought we were dating,” she continued. Her voice changed.

“But I didn’t know he was using me.”

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel slightly.

“Using you?”

She nodded. “To get information about Elara.”
Silence filled the car.

“I was so stupid,” she said with a small shake of her head. “I couldn’t see it.”

“You’re not…”

“Can you believe his sister called me a leech?” she cut in.

Her voice cracked slightly. “She insulted me… like I was nothing.”

She laughed again. But this time, tears slipped down her face aggressively.

“I really don’t want to talk about this…”

Her voice dropped. “But I feel like I should.”

I didn’t interrupt.

“I haven’t told anyone,” she added quietly.
Her hands trembled slightly. “Damien told me it was over…”

She let out a small, broken laugh. “As if we even had anything real.”

My chest tightened.

“I was just… stupid.” She wiped her tears quickly.

“Vulnerable.” Another tear slipped out. “Naive.”
Silence. I glanced at her again. Her face was turned away now.

But I could see it. The pain, the embarrassment, the heartbreak and without thinking, I reached out and held her hand.

She froze slightly. Then looked at me.

“Hey,” I said softly. “Stop crying.”

She tried to smile. But more tears came instead.

“It’s okay,” I continued. “Don’t listen to what Selene said.” Her lips trembled. “Or what Damien did.”

I squeezed her hand gently. “You’re enough.”

She smiled.

“You’re more than enough,” I added. “And one day…” I smiled faintly. “You’ll find someone who loves you the way you deserve.”

She stared at me. Tears still falling. “Thank you…” she whispered.

But she didn’t stop crying. If anything, she cried more.

I slowed the car. Then pulled over to the side of the road.

She looked at me, confused. I didn’t say anything. I just stepped out, walked around to her side and opened the door.

“Come here,” I said softly. She hesitated for a second. Then stepped out and the moment
she did, I pulled her into a hug. Tight, warm and steady hug.

“It’s okay,” I murmured. “Let it out.” And she did. Right there, in my arms.