Georgia choked back a sob and said, “Luther, this would hurt you too much. I can’t be that selfish.”
“No!” Luther’s gaze locked firmly on her face.
His fiery eyes bore into Georgia as he spoke with a calm intensity. “Loving someone doesn’t always mean you have to possess them. Helping them, freeing them from their misery-that’s a form of love too.”
“Let me help you, Georgia! Even if it’s just this once, it’ll be worth it. At least I’ll have done something for the one I love. That way, I won’t have any regrets.”
Georgia’s eyes flickered, and after a moment, she blinked and replied, “But this would hurt you too much, Luther. I don’t want to owe you too much.”
Luther shook his head firmly. “No, Georgia. It won’t hurt me, and you won’t owe me anything. This is all my choice. Believe me, I just want you to find true happiness, to escape from all this pain. Watching you suffer makes me suffer too. I can’t stand seeing you like this, don’t you understand?”
“Thank you, Luther.” Georgia no longer resisted. This was undoubtedly the best plan. Deep down, she also wanted to use this fake engagement to drive Kayden away once and for all. She could never be a burden to Kayden, much less his mistress.
Luther’s lips curled into a slight smile as he said generously, “It’s an honor for a knight to serve his princess.”
“But!” Georgia suddenly hesitated, her tone awkward as she added, “But I don’t want your parents to get involved. I’ll also explain this to my family. Is that okay with you?”
“Of course! At least I know it’s just a fake engagement,” Luther replied, his tone calm.
“Thank you!” Georgia looked at him with sincere gratitude.
Luther said nothing more, but a glint of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes.
A fake engagement!
Heh.
He would turn this fake engagement into reality. Once the engagement party was held, he would ensure Georgia couldn’t leave his grasp. She wouldn’t escape him, no matter what.
As this thought crossed his mind, a cold smile spread across Luther’s face, becoming darker and more sinister with every passing moment.
Georgia was far too naive.
—
After leaving the concert hall, Kayden wandered alone to a nearby wetland park.
He wasn’t good at expressing emotions, so his face remained stoic as always. Yet, for a fleeting moment, his heart had ached. He knew that kind of pain-it came from losing something precious.
Georgia meant too much to him. How could he possibly lose her?
He couldn’t understand what had gone wrong, but everything seemed to spiral out of his control. Only now did he realize he wasn’t an omnipotent god. He couldn’t command Georgia’s heart, nor could he read her mind.
He was decisive in battle, ruthless and unyielding. He feared no enemy, not even the Hellblazer organization looming in the shadows. But he feared a life without Georgia.
Without her, he would revert to the bloodthirsty demon he once was-a merciless killer. The last sliver of kindness in his soul would vanish without a trace.
What had happened to Georgia during this time? Was it Luther?
No. Someone like Luther could never change the way Georgia felt about him. That despicable man wasn’t worthy of her love. It had to be something else-something that had happened to Georgia.
But what?
Could it be that Hellblazer had made their move?
That organization excelled at manipulating hearts, breaking people from within.
They must have targeted Georgia, plunging her into despair. Their goal was simple: to torment him from the inside out.
He couldn’t fathom that all of this was orchestrated by the Scott family in the shadows.
As he sank deeper into his thoughts, a chilling voice suddenly broke the silence behind him. “You look troubled.”
Startled, Kayden turned to see a woman in a red dress sitting beside him. She wore heavy makeup with bold red lips, exuding a blend of Western allure and sharp elegance.
Though her features were partially obscured by makeup, Kayden could tell she had a flawless face. He didn’t recognize her, but he could feel the cold aura radiating from her.
“Who are you?” Kayden asked coldly, his expression as unyielding as ice. His words cut like a blade.
The woman chuckled darkly before replying, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that I know you were just deeply hurt. Your woman left you for another man, so decisively. You seem helpless.”
“If you don’t mind,” she continued, her voice dripping with venom, “I could help you get revenge on those two.”
As she spoke, the woman reached out, her fingers lightly brushing across Kayden’s back.
In an instant, Kayden’s expression turned ferocious. With a swift motion, he grabbed the woman by the neck, pulling her close as his bloodshot eyes locked onto hers.
“My woman is not yours to insult!” he roared.
“Get out!”
With a powerful push, the woman stumbled back and fell to the ground, coughing violently as she clutched her throat. She glared at Kayden in shock and fear.
“You’re impossible!” she spat. “I was giving you an opportunity, and you respond with violence? No wonder your woman left you. Serves you right!”
She stood and prepared to leave, but Kayden’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Stay!” he barked.
The woman froze, trembling slightly as she turned back to face him. Her eyes were filled with both fear and defiance.
“You had your chance,” she sneered. “I won’t help you now, after you treated me like that.”
Ignoring her words, Kayden’s voice grew colder. “Who sent you? Don’t lie to me. You only get one chance to answer truthfully. If you don’t, I’ll kill you in a second.”
The woman’s heart froze at his words.
For a moment, she hesitated, before finally speaking. “My name is Priya Walsh. My sister’s in trouble, and I’ve come to ask for your help.”
“Who’s your sister?” Kayden demanded, his tone still icy.
Priya’s voice didn’t waver as she replied, “Sophie Walsh. A woman who has feelings for you.”
Sophie.
Hearing the name, Kayden paused briefly, his mind racing. He quickly remembered her-a girl he had encountered in Inassea. He had saved her life once. Afterward, her family had sent an assassin after him. He had severed the assassin’s arm in retaliation.
Kayden had known Sophie harbored feelings for him. He had seen her reluctance and sorrow when they parted ways.
“What happened to your sister?” he asked, his voice still cold.
Before Priya could answer, Kayden’s eyes suddenly widened. He lunged forward, shouting, “Watch out!”