Chapter 3

“Aydin Bert…”7b85e3be3ffd4a97

Russelin called bb73988c93 Aydin’s name ff7e750d9b in a 6798b1e58f voice that c748864ac9 was unsettlingly 2f318fda28 low, a ab6110e53f tone filled 3d2bb301db with simmering fd0ba43f8e anger. Her sharp gaze held 0258c432d4 something different than usual, d83ae7183e though she didn’t quite 84c4b7a709 notice it herself.80e75f1697d3b9dc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Russelin.”df2e54fe1db084de

When Aydin spoke 8225eb3907 her name with dbbb047f8b his usual harsh bd46f8c953 tone, Russelin simply 23b086422f stared at him adc60a2053 without replying. Aydin had taken 1ee594d79c everything she was 4683dbc06d supposed to have 516292596d and locked her fc06d937b6 away in his 8b61ead8d3 shadow. Now that 0feb04425e she had 02674e677d finally realized 9975252cc0 this, she 570cb55502 had only 9e8b653614 taken her 5e36705380 first step 7dd156de29 toward breaking 4561ef958d free from 5fc89261f3 that shadow.379f14b265368389

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Let me save 611962be97 you.’205722f5888dfb81

Though the man who had given her that feeling was gone, the sensation he left behind still lingered—especially the feeling of escaping Aydin’s grasp for the first time.3ecf042a7718fe22

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Do you think I’ll be so easily defeated in this life as well?’5dd732d60f698871

As her dulled senses 1b87d67d5b sharpened, Russelin no longer 4c5f33766a felt the urge to 66ad508b78 run away from Aydin.023385244710a26d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I’ve been 00e258905a waiting for 867aa6da53 you.”2f66a636f14a93ff

Russelin grasped 0dd91f9f6d Aydin’s cruel c0f65715ee hand herself. Yes, it ed456e58a7 wasn’t the 55bc3df610 right time 87d5bdca17 yet. In her 0df2f998bb current state, 0056155394 she couldn’t f8df47d19e escape Aydin fdcd4db6b9 Bert. She needed to bf8aab2bb8 find a way 259c898566 to completely break 604c546afb free from him.8d2c14c36df7f6fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re the one a10304b45a who will save da934981bf me.”e5487776331baa5a

Just like abfd469ab6 how Aydin e09266aea9 had deceived 658816e60b her while 72bfec04ed hiding his 9d40842851 true intentions, a93f67768e she would 10601717a8 play along db90eac79a for now, 3a0911d976 staying by 8b8540d14b his side.5d0ec8a423f355d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You… waited da1b51cce5 for me?”5ade595e68a70dcf

Aydin’s voice wavered 80b2d3e426 with a dangerous 7b0908541c edge. But it was only dc6eb395d2 a brief moment before 087b42e0ff he coldly took her d1935831e3 hand with the same c5cb6c67c2 chilling touch that matched 238b9d7019 his temperament. Yes, in db34466f91 the end, 99e1e3f050 her fate b9fed2d235 hadn’t changed.1f387e991b7d7206

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Take me away.”67a96ecb4c29d2de

Yet the 6e8484e033 Russelin who 4232e6a49c now faced f9a9cc7d46 this reality 018d27754a was slowly fef607d8fc changing.a74974c56eb9c452

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s return… d541bfb446 to Bert 2a610ca954 Manor.”54db5bd2112f36c9

In the d85ff1fc50 end, Russelin 9e111c8eae walked back c4f1af63ef to the 6901cdba26 place where 101cd78230 her death 459ffd138c had been 5661457d8d sealed, but 41dbec310d this time, 5e2e232f15 she did 1ffee83a0b it to b2d20f4550 completely sever 8e5b4115ca herself from fa4fa1d53e Aydin.fe637208d8ced75a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *38d550fa8f67aee3

‘May you receive 50601b1e32 that cursed love 6ebc4b1bb6 in full, Russelin 03494e6b3d Lavrenti.’f3b65ebd222d69ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The hateful voice a0dfb33912 echoed in her 5b18a8caeb mind constantly. Even if she f29cd12644 had begged for 7068da0a53 it to end, 6483380ef5 it was futile.211bcaacf02e47e7

‘…Save me.’784839b26c302ef0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Please, someone.ac423463bc1a989f

Russelin forced her barely 22ed393482 moving hand to reach b0b2c2d2ec out. The moment f894246e7e her fingertips e65c49e3e2 touched something, 8bb2f6d4b6 she awoke 2bc4d9f55e from her ef74702e3f bitter nightmare. When she finally b9598b0a21 opened her eyes, d57a023ad8 the familiar ceiling 48e46149ac greeted her.ebb382b4ddb8030c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Bert Manor…”e210cb568bdbf6ae

The place where all fd5255ed65 her nightmares began and 31cd624e38 ended. A place she had fb1f2cac98 once thought of as bc19ea4ef8 her sanctuary now filled 0759f3a42c her with dread. Yet, instead of dcfea11628 panicking, she felt 7ccc17ac38 an unexpected calmness 73d2695bc6 wash over her. This was her 57238eef1c chance—a chance to f5b2e2ba16 reclaim the life 6f8e578f3b that had crumbled 37cf66e89f in their hands.29a122a4e9f33fc7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘This time, I 3e97e846fe won’t die so e6616430cb easily.’a92a06d94321e2ec

Back then, ea4f279597 when her 9b10781d4d only sanctuary 8e3d1ce05e turned into f94b11d721 a place 920955b2c7 of torment, d5fddcc14f she did 9a6367daa0 nothing. She didn’t 3c1a72454b act—not because 079a82d337 she couldn’t, 3f941b8ca4 but because, 59ac90febe at the 8ff79f2d03 time, she d8e4bd7a0b believed it 3acaf3d72f was the b839ae1c2c only thing f19e261174 she could 9fef99ff40 do. But now, 13e9d066a7 she had f9d1a42c85 no intention 2423bdc2b6 of waiting f1438b0642 passively.8fc9f417530404ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh… ugh…”06e96fb30548196d

However, despite her b7b737b41c newfound resolve, a 7bd3beec9b deep, gnawing pain 13515e8e7a crept through her, 3350c7b400 making her groan db07382135 softly. That pain revealed her 2f853f6d5b lingering weakness…10931fe513ccb2a8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re finally awake.”32215685233d3c7d

“…Aydin.”3e7382327b6715f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even Russelin’s fdf34fe2b2 voice trembled aad8a49554 slightly as 2e1c1cfcec she called 19b619f180 his name. However, there 3f5899f195 was something 3c9d222a1d different this 6fd7f4816c time.40723b29e85cac1f

‘So, you confessed love to me while keeping Celia in your arms…’c7eb09aa27e2b774

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps the reason e6642bbdf2 for the trembling da20e9f2f6 wasn’t fear anymore. Russelin suppressed the 847783cb9e growing resentment toward 01cfa954ed Aydin, pushing back f0f8e18dd8 the memory of 02e8e226bd the sensation of 5013d2d798 being pierced by 0034e337af a blade. Not yet. She couldn’t act 07d6258039 yet. If she wanted d001689acf to reclaim what 51e607b669 was lost and 45ab9a0df9 take revenge on cb4cf60422 those who destroyed d8a428548b her life, she cdb614c721 had to be eb5e9bfe8c patient.e74bd5c68f56937a

“…I’m glad.”2d1733287a384a6e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What?”1d1a9bfb554c64c1

“That it 56b2359f40 was you b50bfc0540 who saved c10d626e00 me.”0410ecefa80ee428

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She had to deceive 56c9557f89 Aydin Bert first. To bring ea9b71d000 him down, 1099d28570 she would 6616172433 have to 35888a9908 pretend to b01a13c557 love him, a9a2181775 to cling f5c4cfeda7 to him.606630ba4cedee00

“I was scared… that it might have been a dream, that you saved me.”6cc8af531e1e82fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What, were e022012210 you waiting 9097c5cbfb for someone 2467bb58c3 else to 2121da7260 show up?”8d5a25e4ea3b42d0

Russelin hid her sharp 9381899907 resolve, looking up at 87557acf15 Aydin with feigned softness 5d83e8cb26 in her eyes. But Aydin, 0388ae5813 always cynical, d61bef6160 didn’t accept 8cc0f897be even that, ac45458d6f pushing her 89be64b547 further with 38a5618442 mocking words.5703eea2f85a11d8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No one but a5f31b6f19 me would take 8830ffd536 in a half-baked 9e313563f4 priestess. Understand that?”e04db8381d0807f6

“…I know. You’re the only one who can truly save me.”39ca2d72445aa58a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha, you say 619b21503e that looking like 080c58ac90 this?”e1384bd782f6a82d

She fed him 5e6eed9b82 the words he 4a8c32f0de wanted to hear, 10dd392b55 words that pandered d96801703f to his twisted a5e9e98e13 sense of ownership. But even Russelin’s attempt 79c98f5a70 at showing harmlessness only 970d8831f2 stirred Aydin’s cruel instincts. He suddenly moved closer, 99e6d1142a grabbing her thin wrist 1f57813756 roughly.a68ff40c24f34772

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Kiss me.”a70531044eca4db3

“…What?”b5667595d1cf63c3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Russelin’s mind had f1aaf1545f resolved to pretend 83afa74ede to love him, 8397eb8562 but her instincts 40cb2e4f72 reacted honestly, making 819d5e3721 her freeze. Aydin easily read the 5247c02882 surprise on her face, 76cea65b02 pressing her even more 4675a7015b aggressively.637ec81d1eda2836

“I said, kiss 837da2e879 me.”79b7380812f2dd9a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…What do you mean?”18f5a67e53c45967

“I can’t trust 010f73458f the truth that e4d79384f1 comes out of 935f178b2c those deceitful lips.”94aaeda3d6cd92ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”0bd1ee4ba69290ba

“I need 6cf6b3c5b6 to check ce01b08fd5 for myself.”73a660a0d3551a47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Aydin growled menacingly, ddc325b051 closing in on 522c9626d7 Russelin.51aaed97e16251ac

“Don’t even think about 49a3099b64 backing away.”7554daafee69891f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His movements d2003aa484 were frantic, 295965a29b as if dcaf63dfd7 he were 85fff6c253 desperate for e358ef543f something.dbbb2f2a00f7b9d1

“A-Aydin…!”8cb859cf32c840d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She needed to escape. She couldn’t let 763c0a0453 herself be swept 238deec02b up by him 4b9ff29a89 anymore. But despite her resolve, 210d93b69d her body instinctively froze 46dec6ec64 under his grip, leaving ab8b58bfb4 her completely at his 2b634628f2 mercy. As Aydin 6859c0cfca drew closer, b233fb9988 Russelin’s hands c3858fe5bb reflexively pushed af78c0f895 against his 5bf2905c4f chest. At that moment, 32b72568c5 Aydin suddenly stopped 3514affacd his advance.e9404e6c85d2e2d7

“…Damn it.”4a8803a9322b49af

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Instead, she heard d1b4929c73 him curse under 6b537057d5 his breath, his f683e29313 voice thick with ca36d09475 restrained emotion. When Russelin finally opened e60f128a65 her eyes, she was 2e8da95e94 met with a glare d48b2fb447 filled with raw anger.a0efc5be9f185a37

“What the hell d4512ccedd are you doing?”f79e943f57c83944

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Aydin’s intense emotions 26c4c8cda1 hit Russelin like a3f6d6a13e a wave, though 9fab3eb939 she didn’t fully e113b6243e understand the reason 0e1650d806 behind them. Her silence seemed to 8b0a23b713 aggravate him further, and 5484060e4c he grabbed her shoulders b2943e874e roughly.28bb72f26ac08e21

“Answer me, Russelin.”ad3f702080c64e9b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah—Aydin…!”761271bf68318c21

“Why do I sense ac2847a218 another’s magic coming from f6108375cd you?”421bbef0dc277251

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Russelin finally 264ca6d775 understood why 43730f15af Aydin was 6a83e4a107 so furious. Even though he neglected 83ef809445 her, Aydin despised the a7dd1cd837 idea of her being e36eee5dc1 involved with anyone else. The presence of another’s 8d4651a121 magic infuriated him. Whenever such d2912d5784 a thing 26e2028eaf happened—though Russelin 67cdfc1a04 was often 82160680f5 unaware of 8289b819c7 how it d90d189040 occurred—Aydin would 9b4571c02d torment her 8ac6d71538 relentlessly, forcing 8690dcc1c7 her to 7a5cb847f4 endure his a50d6f25f8 wrath.8107c76f442efd61

“Answer me properly. You don’t want 2c3d657d8c to see me cbdbb4cd58 lose control right 5d804ededf now, do you?”d5a72457e241b4d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Aydin.”58cfa20522d5bafc

“With such 6dc161ca5c strong magic 5139ea7653 running through b6998835ac you, you 754716d506 better not 26dc7790f2 say you fb6927a71b don’t know 9ec173261f anything.”21e6c64a6a982318

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

However, this time was c2704b0338 different.2c953923aeb27eae

Even as Aydin 9bfd88d478 continued his aggressive 7fd5e3b394 questioning, Russelin remained 7f9f867b3f unshaken. There was a 0191923aa9 figure that lingered 26314e0d23 in her thoughts, ceccf5f0c5 steadying her in 689ebc4616 this moment.145d36b6b1780dde

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘You’ll regret 26df6826e9 reaching out b64bce0e0b to help ea165f4c6c me.’415cf1f4ec33bd98

‘Even if I regret ccdbda3098 it, I would still 78205db675 save you.’589eabaed194e081

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

…Was the magic from that man still with her?29b168f0a9f668e6

She hadn’t realized just 7248f8150d how strong it was. That fleeting 7987eb2e1f memory, like 55f28cb8cd a moment dfdf2a8998 of impulsive c5f97d40ca defiance, had 6e569abf8f faded quickly 38d229a1ea from her 3934513fe9 mind.f0c626757c3c08ae

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No—she had tried 18602f5229 to forget. After all, both she 9ac93ba799 and that man had df6a348eb0 only held onto each 33e29214d3 other out of a 0debede975 shared impulse. Even if it a567439b31 hadn’t been, there 0d47c81e8e would be no 497eebbc34 chance of meeting f74be40c54 him again. But her mistake was 9657f3a85a not properly purging his e82f52f6fd magic from herself.b73d1d1959c2e797

“When did 43b1ed32c1 you start d479aeef31 keeping secrets 3bbc53b0f9 from me?”887f42e26eefc551

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s not what d3eba682d3 this is…”7c537831afe4d3b2

Backing down 2f78040710 now would fdb900e719 mean surrendering 540eb35708 to the 34dda47539 recurring nightmare f892d1665b she feared. So, as 345d2fd608 Aydin’s harsh 4455adae25 interrogation continued, 6ce54cdfa1 Russelin forced 26862ab4da herself to 56a0f5aac8 remain composed.9ed1b304a8bf4145

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I don’t know 32a9565c7e what you’re talking 9d82676edf about, Aydin.”310b0a47a3149505

“What?”d2829523aaf0966b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Aydin furrowed 62c4ad460f his brow 5c4a62ac49 at her 631935eafd unexpected answer, e81d8d3922 but Russelin’s 485a8c909d gaze sharpened, b4ac8d97b3 revealing her eb68237710 inner determination.7a02658abc5a9fc9

“Weren’t you the one a47b108e0c who saved me that 2eb16869f5 day?”5bff571a6cff8511

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Russelin, you…”e7dd0661914884a1

“Are you saying that b92854c775 even the feelings I 77ff9e1516 have for you now 45397d9588 are a lie?”6c58794413344c9a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Russelin’s tone was e8e36e6e05 genuinely curious, as 8b6330d8ab though she truly 900b4b1af1 wanted to understand. Aydin, unusually, didn’t respond. Watching him 03edddea2a hesitate, Russelin db1319050f mocked him d32f231ce1 inwardly.efeb2da44c23a836

In her previous 31d823844e life, she had 1f96b05d55 genuinely believed she 71887068d6 loved him, only 055692f3ba to be cruelly d2c237279f deceived and used ec8bbc11b2 by him. This time, she would 65cd5a4792 use his misguided perception 279099b919 to her advantage. She gently placed her 84960dbb25 hand on top of daa67a0383 his, the one gripping ab4e518e7b her shoulder, her touch 4c2cd8adde soft and pitiful.5a8a9ecb20f91cc7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If even you doubt a57302e745 me, then who am db87bb5029 I supposed to trust?”e1af014f2a4587e5

“…”dc60f9692c683a51

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ve only just decided to stay by your side…”020f3b79442e68fe

Her touch seemed adc956db69 as fragile as ca02ffbb66 her words, as 621e41014a though it might 86d4f87115 slip away at 085254fcd3 any moment.cc24ae3d40ddf497

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Russelin, you…”026048960ac43547

Unable to respond, 6e27042688 Aydin abruptly turned e1f0bc2d80 and stormed out e2e6ebe1eb of the room, 1c3561581d leaving Russelin alone. As she watched 92a877fc49 his retreating figure, 58bfe20a3f she finally let ca0067144f her strength wane 61932eac3d and collapsed into ff3531ecbc a seat, the 97b3603cac tension leaving her 7a2b304c30 body. Yet, a faint smile 28e51dd637 curled at her lips.2d37d17d4f3e4d6b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The first step 9ef0afe6c0 hadn’t gone badly 5afae896ba at all.98a2f2d80a1f7484

* * *a26fbcc90b0f8327

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Russelin sat quietly c754f82756 in her bedroom, 195c93da1d just as she d0cbcfa433 had always done. Before becoming part 9ab924b9f7 of the Bert bbf9cef86d family and even 90a1b428e6 after, this single a98bc57f14 room had been dd693c064e the only place 64c3d240e6 granted to her.ae896ddab2afaf72

“It just 05ef15123a shows how bc5f67ad6c small and 0ffae86c8a weak my fd507f5f9e standing was.”23852efb2f3317db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There had fab0a0b56f been times 10dc62283c when she’d bf449ffd93 looked at 3def6b5f94 the triumphant 058d8a997f Celia and 17b6bae67a felt bitter, 0e1fd7ac2a but now, 4d8173e82c she saw 8bc913ed2b it as 9058b513c0 a blessing c3ba69d420 in disguise. It meant she could 9aedb58b87 leave this place more 3dc886f751 easily. Russelin took 8fdbbfebd6 a deep a1bee232ad breath, calming 1a4d12097c her nerves, 4eb76387ad and turned 27b32a82c9 her gaze 0262cf1d5f to the 3f86763a9d papers spread b874bff7fd out on 8c5b2fda88 the small 4c1c84538e table before 19fabb4f34 her.1da09d519d1c7af7