Chapter 226 226

Chapter 226 226
Zoe arrived at Chloe’s penthouse just after dusk.

When Chloe opened the door, Zoe stood there looking exhausted, eyes swollen from days of grief and sleepless nights.

Chloe stepped aside immediately.

She glanced over Zoe’s shoulder instinctively, knowing she wouldn’t see her. Only the one bound to her could.

Still… the air felt crowded.

“I’m sorry,” Zoe said softly as she walked inside. “For putting you through this… after everything you’ve already been through.”

Chloe shook her head. “That’s nonsense. If this helps you, then it’s worth it.” Her voice softened. “I’m the one who should apologize. I should’ve been there for you.”

Zoe let out a tired breath. “You’ve been dealing with your own hell.” She gave Chloe a faint smile. “And even now, knowing I didn’t come alone… you’re still letting me stay. You’re the best.”

Chloe smiled back.

They stood in a fragile silence before Zoe spoke again.

“She says you look well.”

Chloe blinked. Then she smiled softly. “Tell her… thank you.”

Zoe nodded and walked deeper into the penthouse. Chloe helped her settle into her room, unpacking a few things and guiding her gently onto the bed.

Within minutes, exhaustion claimed her.

As Zoe slept, the room grew still.

But the presence remained.

Unseen.

Watching.

Chloe lingered in the doorway for a moment, then quietly retreated to her bedroom. She sat on the edge of her bed, scrolling absently through her phone, trying to quiet her thoughts.

A faint sound disturbed the silence.

Fabric shifting.

Movement where there should be none.

Chloe looked up.

Someone stood across the room.

Her breath caught.

It was her.

Ereshia.

Chloe rose slowly. “How… how can I see you?”

The woman’s expression was calm, almost distant. “Because I allowed it,” she said. “I was once bound to you. Those I have guarded before… I may reveal myself again.”

A stunned breath left Chloe. “I thought I would never see you again… never speak to you.”
She swallowed. “Then… thank you. For protecting me. When I was in the coma… when you fought for me… I never got to say it.”

“I did what I was assigned to do,” she replied evenly. “Nothing more.” She studied Chloe. “Can I see how you have been?”

Chloe frowned. “What do you mean?”

The woman stepped closer and took Chloe’s hand.

The world tilted.

Memories surged: pain, betrayal, fear, desire, survival.

Then she released her.

Her expression hardened.

“So… you blamed everything on me.”

Chloe recoiled. “What are you talking about?”

“When I touched you, I saw your memories,” she said quietly. “I saw what you endured… and I am sorry for that. But when he discovered our affair… You told him I coerced you.”

Chloe’s chest tightened. “You did,” she whispered. “You pushed me. I never wanted it.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“I did not force you. I did not violate you. I seduced you… And you chose to fall. If your devotion had been absolute… why did you surrender?”

The words struck deeper than any blade.

And then—

She was gone.

The room fell silent once more.

Chloe stood frozen, her pulse loud in her ears, her thoughts unraveling.

Had she been a victim…

Or a willing participant?

And which truth was worse?

————

Chloe stood in the quiet kitchen, staring down at the plate in her hands.

Pasta. Sauce. Something she had prepared earlier.

She wasn’t hungry.

But the act of serving herself felt grounding, something normal in a life that had long since stopped being normal.

Chloe leaned against the counter, forcing herself to take a bite.

The food turned to ash in her mouth.

“You’re thinking too loudly.”

Chloe froze.

She didn’t need to turn around.

Ereshia stood near the dining table, pale and still, like moonlight given form.

Chloe exhaled slowly. “About what you said… I don’t want to start doubting my feelings for Valerius.”

Ereshia raised a hand gently. “No one is doubting your feelings,” she said calmly. “I am only asking you to see clearly.”

She stepped closer.

“I saw your memories. I saw the things he persuaded you to do… things you did not want at first.”

Chloe’s grip tightened around the fork.

Ereshia continued softly: “When he brought another woman into your bed… You hesitated. You resisted. Yet he pressed, appealed to your loyalty… your fear of disappointing him… until you yielded.”

Her voice hardened. “That is manipulation. That is not harmless.”

Chloe’s eyes flashed. “If you saw my memories,” she said firmly, “then you also saw that I enjoyed it.”

Silence filled the kitchen.

“I didn’t know I would,” Chloe continued, voice shaking but resolute. “But I did. He showed me a part of myself I didn’t know existed. So don’t make it sound like I was forced.”

Ereshia studied her for a long moment. “I hope that is true love,” she said quietly. “And not gratitude mistaken for devotion.”

Chloe’s chest tightened.

“You feel indebted to him,” Ereshia continued. “He protected you. Provided for you. Saved you. It is easy to confuse rescue with love.”

She paused.

“I also saw Lucius in your memories.”

Chloe’s breath caught.

“The way you looked at him,” Ereshia said softly, “the way he looked at you… that intensity, it was not the same.”

Her voice softened.

“I know love when I see it, Chloe.”

Chloe shook her head.

“That was nothing.”

“Was it?” Ereshia asked gently. “Or was it something you fear naming?”

She stepped back.

“If you love someone… can you truly betray them? Can you seek comfort in another simply because you miss them?”

The question landed like a blade.

Before Chloe could answer—

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sound shattered the air.

Ereshia was gone.

Chloe stood frozen for one breath before hurrying toward the living room.

Zoe was already there, wrapped in a blanket, eyes wide. “That woke me,” she whispered.

Chloe nodded and opened the door.

Her breath caught.

Noah stood in the hallway.

Behind him were Melinda and Diana.

And Lucius.

His expression alone told her something was terribly wrong.

“Lucius… what is going on?”

He stepped forward.

“Something bad has happened,” he said gravely. “You need to prepare yourself.”

Cold dread crawled up her spine.

“What is it?”

Lucius hesitated then delivered the blow.

“Your mother has been taken by the Vampire Dominion.”

The world tilted.

“What? That’s impossible. How— how did that even happen?”

“Daniel kidnapped her,” Lucius said. “After what happened with Alexa. The Dominion tracked her scent beyond the protection perimeter.”

Chloe’s knees weakened.

“That bastard… I knew he was dangerous. If I get my hands on him—”

“He’s dead,” Lucius said quietly. “The Dominion killed him. And Alexa.”

Silence slammed into the room.

“And now they have your mother,” he continued. “They are demanding that you, me, and Valerius surrender ourselves. If we don’t… they will kill her.”

Chloe’s voice broke.

“Oh my God… they’ll kill her… what do we do?”

“We need Valerius,” Lucius said. “We cannot face them without him.”

“Then call him!” she cried. “Tell him my mother is in danger, he needs to come back!”

Lucius hesitated.

“We don’t know where he is… or whether he succeeded in finding the Three Terrors.”

“That doesn’t matter!” Chloe’s voice cracked. “My mother is in danger! This is my fault… I put her in danger again. What kind of daughter am I?”

Her hands trembled violently. “He has to come back…”

Melinda stepped forward, her face grim. “The problem,” she said quietly, “is that none of us know where he is.”

The words hung like a death sentence.

She looked at each of them in turn.

“We may have to fight this battle without him.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“And if we do… it will not be an easy fight.”

Silence swallowed the room.

Outside, thunder rolled across the dark sky.

Melinda’s final words fell like a funeral bell.

“We may all end up dead.”

Chloe stood frozen, heart pounding, the weight of impossible choices crushing her chest.

Somewhere in the night…

something ancient was waiting.

Watching.

Hungry.

And time was running out.