Chapter 498

Chapter 498
THE END: Living for the future.

Theodore's POV.

My chest clenched at the sight, and suddenly we were back in the casino all over again. I wanted to save her, to keep her safe, but I was made helpless, weakened by my own ego.

It was the same fear that had ached through my chest then, the same fear that now glistened in her tear-filled eyes.

Except a gun hadn't been pointing at my mother this time. In her place stood her daughter, the woman who had hated me for years.

Back then, I hadn't been ready to let go because I wanted revenge. Now, all that mattered was my sister.

"I will... I will do anything you want," I pleaded, my voice barely holding together.

"Please, let her go," I begged weakly as I lowered my gun.

He watched me keenly, his eyes following my hand until the weapon reached the ground.

I dropped the pistol onto the grass and stretched out my arms in surrender.

"Move away from the pistol, boy," he ordered, his gaze never leaving the weapon.

I took a few unsteady steps away, keeping my hands raised above my head.

"Now let her go. I have done exactly as you instructed," I pleaded, my voice trembling.

"You want me to let her go?" he repeated with a devious smile.

Before I could react to the evil curve of his lips, he grabbed Raina by the hair and hurled her behind him.

Within the blink of an eye, he spun around and shoved her.

He pushed her off the cliff.

"Raina!" I screamed, horror ripping through me.

"You fucking bastard!" I roared as devastation crashed over me.

He chuckled dryly as he looked straight at me.

"You asked me to let her go, buddy, so I did," he taunted with cruel satisfaction.

My eyes remained wide as my body moved before my mind could catch up.

I sprinted toward my pistol and snatched it from the grass. With my arm flexing, I raised it toward him, my eyes catching the fear that flashed across his face before I pulled the trigger.

The bullet struck him directly in the head, leaving a trail of blood running down his forehead before his body crumpled to the ground.

I dropped to my knees, pain, regret, hatred, and terror colliding inside my chest until I could barely breathe.

"Rain... Raina," I choked out, my voice breaking.

I should have apologized to her over and over again until she forgave me. I shouldn't have left the country. I shouldn't have left her to face the darkness of losing Mom alone.

I shouldn't have returned to her life only to cause her even more pain.

It was all my fault.

My entire arm throbbed as my chest rose and fell heavily, tears spilling freely down my face while I struggled to breathe through the weight pressing against my lungs.

I pushed myself upright and staggered toward the edge of the cliff.

My knees gave way just inches before the very edge, and my body collapsed beneath the pain.

I grabbed onto the damp grass and crawled farther forward, my wound still bleeding as I dragged myself toward the edge.

When I reached it, I lowered my head against the ground, my breathing ragged as I fought to keep my eyes open.

Then my brows furrowed when I heard her voice.

"Theo... Theodore, please help me." Her voice came faintly, barely audible over the wind.

My eyes widened, and I jolted upright as strength surged through my exhausted body.

Raina was hanging over the cliff, her hands gripping a shrub whose roots had burrowed into the rocks below.

"Help me, Theodore," she pleaded, her voice weakening as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Immediately, I stretched myself forward and wrapped my hands around her wrists.

I clenched my jaw as I pulled her weight upward, the pain from the bullet wound shooting through my arm. A cry tore from my throat as I poured every ounce of strength I had left into dragging her higher.

I pulled her up to my chest and dragged her toward me.

She collapsed into my embrace as my back struck the ground.

"I'm sorry I didn't come earlier. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I left you. I'm sorry I wasn't a better brother to you and a better son to Mom.

I'm sorry I was never an uncle to your daughter," I whispered, my voice breaking beneath the weight of everything I had done.

"You're safe. You're safe, Rain," I murmured in relief as her body trembled against mine.

Her face pressed against my chest, and I felt warm tears soaking through my shirt.

"I'm sorry, Theodore. I'm sorry," she sobbed, her body shaking against me.

I wrapped my arms tighter around her and patted her back gently, tears slipping down my own cheeks.

I had been given another chance. I had done it. I had saved her.

It didn't suddenly erase the guilt of the past, but perhaps it meant we still had a future.

Too weak to get up, we lay there beneath the moonlight, holding onto each other as we waited for someone to find us.


I stared at Aaron as the nurse unwrapped the bandage that had covered my bullet wound.

"How do you feel?" he asked warmly.

"Do you want to know?" I teased, my lips curling into a playful smile as the nurse pulled away.

Aaron looked away shyly, and I giggled.

The nurse bowed and left the room.

"You can come and see how I'm doing," I invited playfully as I leaned back on the bed.

He smirked, then stood up reluctantly and walked toward me.

"Tell me, how are you feeling?" he asked, his gaze lingering on me.

I placed my lips on his, my hands stretching behind me to retrieve the box I had hidden beneath the blanket.

He pulled away and licked his lips.

"Are you always this horny? It seems you can't keep your hands away from me," he teased.

I chuckled, straightening my posture as I concealed the box in my palm.

I smiled at him, my chest warm as I took in the moment, unable to believe how good it felt to finally have this.

It had been one month since Raina and I reconciled, one month since I had returned to the Moranno mansion, and somehow, everything still felt like a dream.

I chuckled softly at the thought as I opened my palm.

"Since you know I can't keep my hands off you, will you marry me?" I asked, my heart pounding as I revealed the ring.

His smile disappeared as his eyes widened in astonishment.

"Aaron Clifton, will you marry me?" I asked affectionately, my voice softening as I held the ring between us.

"Of course I will," he replied happily before pressing his lips to mine.

I pulled away, slipped the ring onto his finger, and then caught a glimpse of Raina standing by the door.

She had bought the ring herself.

She gave me a thumbs-up with a bright smile before turning away.


Raina's POV.
      I watched Theo put the ring onto Aaron's finger, and I felt a warmth of relief spread through me.

Turning away, I walked to Susu's room, where I found Richard still sitting even though Susu was fast asleep.

"She might wake up if you keep staring at her like that," I teased as I walked in.

He chuckled as he got out of the chair.

"I was waiting for you. It seems my obsession has grown a bit more lately," he joked.

I smiled warmly, a quiet joy settling over me as I stood beside him.

I had almost lost him that day. Gotham's daughter-in-law had injected him with a drug that left him partially paralyzed in the middle of the road.

Luckily, his men had been lurking nearby, and they had been able to find him.

Looking at him now, standing beside me alive and smiling as though I had never come close to losing him, something inside me shifted.

For so long, I had convinced myself that I didn't need anyone. I had wrapped my heart in anger, suspicion, and fear until I could no longer tell the difference between protecting myself and pushing people away.

I had spent years believing that love was a weakness—that loving someone gave them the power to destroy me.

But standing there with Richard, I finally understood how wrong I had been.

I had held so much anger in my heart that I had rejected love. I had mistaken the love I felt for a feeling of convenience.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked affectionately as he leaned in to kiss me.

"About us, about our family," I replied, a quiet gratitude settling in my chest.

He pressed his lips to mine, and I felt even more warmth spread through my body.

He sucked on my lips with sudden urgency, his hand settling on my hip as he pulled me closer. 

His lips moved against mine smoothly, and my breath hitched beneath the intensity of the kiss.

"Mommy, is that you?" Susu's voice suddenly came from behind us, and we both froze.

I guess there was no having fun with the kids around.