Chapter 228: FEAR, ANGER, & RELIEF

"Why did they do that? They are so young…" Zaley’s voice cracked, carrying a weight he rarely allowed anyone to hear. He stood by the hospital window, staring at the girls being escorted back to their families. Victory was supposed to feel satisfying, but all he felt was defeat. His hands, capable of tearing down empires, trembled because of the ones he couldn’t save.

"Why did you save them?" Seline’s voice broke the silence.

He turned toward her, blank, as if the question itself was absurd.

"Because you can," she whispered. Then her gaze shifted to the ICU doors, where Rose lay, fighting for her life. "Why did they do that to her?" she asked, her tone bitter. "Because they can."

"Why are you here, Seline?" His question was quiet, almost weary.

Her lips curled into a broken smile, though her eyes glistened. "Because I can. I have my ways." She hugged herself, trembling. "Those girls… they’ll never forget you. I heard them whispering, calling you shepherd."

Zaley’s jaw clenched. "What’s the point? I couldn’t save all of them. I couldn’t."

"Trust me, Zaley…" her voice cracked, tears finally spilling. "Fifteen is a miracle in our world. I waited years for someone to appear out of nowhere and pull me out of that hell. It never happened." She bit her lip hard, her shoulders shaking. "I’m sure Layla waited too. But no one came."

Zaley froze, the words sinking like knives. His throat tightened, his heart lurching with an ache he couldn’t show. He lifted his hand slowly, hesitantly, and placed it on her head. Seline broke, sobs ripping out of her as she leaned into the touch, the façade of strength crumbling.

"Layla suffered more when we were kids," she whispered through her tears. "She was the first subject. She’s lucky she doesn’t remember most of it. She escaped early. But me…" she shook her head, clutching herself tighter, "I suffered longer. I thought someone would come. But no one did. You have done enough. Can't you give up now?"

Zaley’s eyes darkened, but his voice was calm, chilling. "No. I’ll butcher them. All of them."

Seline’s tear-streaked face lifted, her tone desperate. "It’s not your revenge to take, Zaley."

For the first time, his composure faltered. His breath left him sharp, but finally he nodded. "Fine. I’ll leave the Duforts to you. The rest…" His lips curled into a cold promise. "The rest will die by my hands."

"But why expose everything to the public?" Seline asked, her voice shaking, almost pleading. "You think they care? Every one of them has a price. They’ll take the bribe, shut their mouths, and forget. The Duforts will rise again."

Zaley’s smirk was slow, dangerous, evil in its certainty. "Then I’ll make sure they can’t forget. I’ll carve it into their memories. Burn it into their streets. I’ll make the whole world choke on this bitter truth. That—I promise you."

"Did Kade know your revenge plans?"

She shook her head. She is not even scared of her fiancé knowing about her plans. "I am trusting you with my plans."

Zaley nodded.

She looked at him, eyes tired and smile genuine. "I wish I had you back then."

"Don't get delusional. I still hate humans except my girls."

She started laughing, shaking her head, "I have no doubt."

Footsteps echoed behind them, and soon Kade appeared, followed by Dante with a cast on his hand.

Kade's gaze narrowed on Seline before it shifted to Zaley.

"Why are two standing so close?" It was the first thing he asked them.

"Hey, Seline." Dante wished her and then bowed his head a little. "Zaley."

Kade scoffed. "He is getting King treatment now?"

"I was just scared," Dante murmured.

"You are fired," Kade said.

He took a step forward towards Seline. "You. What are you doing here?"

Seline took her phone and typed something to show him.

Then she gave one final smile to Zaley and left.

Kade didn't seem to take that one little action well.

He is fuming.

Zaley can see the smoke coming from his ears.

"I pity you," he murmured.

They exchanged the details of everything that had happened in each other's absence.

"Are you sure Arthur and Noah will confess?" Kade asked him.

Zaley smirked. "I hold the kind of weapon they can never match. They will confess."

Kade raised a brow. "Is that your blade?"

Zaley's smirk deepened. "Something better."

Outside the hospital, Kirill rolled his sleeves with grim resolve before hitting the road.

Zaley’s home was silent, the kind of silence that used to follow him everywhere before Layla.

It was 5 PM.

By now, the living room should’ve been buzzing with the sound of cartoons blaring on the TV, Lilly’s laughter echoing between the walls.

But it was vacant.

For a second, his chest seized—shadows of the worst possibilities flashing in his mind. His pulse spiked.

Then Layla appeared, padding out of the hallway in one of his shirts, hair damp against her shoulders.

Zaley didn’t know what expression he wore, but the way she winced and hurried toward him told him it wasn’t good.

“Leon…” she whispered, her hand grazing his arm, grounding him.

He swallowed, his voice rough. “Where’s Lilly?”

Layla hesitated for a heartbeat, as though weighing whether to soften the blow of his panic. Then, gently, she said, “She’s downstairs. Playing in the park with Spencer and Eli. I thought she’d be better off with them for a while.”

The words sank in, and the tightness in his chest eased, but only a little. He nodded once, curt, the tension in his shoulders loosening by degrees.

Without another word, he turned and headed for the shower, needing the scalding water to burn away the weight of the day, the images that wouldn’t stop replaying in his head.

Layla followed him, barefoot, removing the T-shirt she wore, her presence a quiet reassurance.

She rested her head against his back, her arms slipping around his waist as if to anchor him.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, “I’m here. I’m safe.”

Something inside him cracked.

He turned, almost desperate, his hands gripping her as though letting go would undo her words.

In one motion, he pulled her up into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t careful.

It was raw, a storm breaking through him—fear, anger, relief, all spilling into the kiss.

Layla clung tighter, letting him pour his pain into her, answering it with her warmth.

For the first time all day, his chest loosened.

When he finally broke away, his forehead pressed against hers, his breath uneven.

“You know that I will always protect you and Lilly, right? And I am so fucking sorry I wasn't there with you when you needed me the most.” he rasped, the words trembling, stripped of all the armour he usually wore.

His hands shook against her face.

Layla kissed his jaw softly, her voice a vow.

“I know.”

His chest rose and fell in a shudder, the fight in him giving way to something far more fragile.

For the first time, he let himself lean on her.