Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Lucian’s Room

Mr. Crow couldn’t help but glance at Lana and spoke carefully,

“So… is this really the end from your side?”

Lana remained silent.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice steady but hollow.

“Yes. It is.”

She took a deep breath, her chest tightening.

’Before today, I thought that as long as I stayed by his side, he would eventually look at me,’ she admitted inwardly.

’But now I understand… my love isn’t pure anymore. It’s filled with expectation and pain.’

Out loud, she said calmly,

“I’ll continue to love him,” she confessed. “But I’ll reduce that love every single day. I won’t let it hurt me anymore.”

Mr. Crow looked at her, his expression softening.

“If you need help,” he offered gently, “you can always ask me.”

Lana rolled her eyes immediately.

“Even if I needed help,” she replied dryly, “you wouldn’t be the one who could help me.”

Hidden on the other side of the door, Lucian heard every word.

A faint smile curved his lips, not out of arrogance, nor because he felt proud that Lana loved him. No.

It was because he would never allow her to stop loving him.

’Give up on me?’ he thought calmly. ’That’s not an option.’

From the moment Lana started to like him, which he didn’t know when… she lost the right to take back her feelings.

He would make sure that every single day, Lana fell deeper in love with him.

And when he returned a year later, she would accept his proposal… no hesitation, no escape. They would marry.

Suppressing the excitement in his chest, he turned toward the wooden box from which the jade bangle had been taken earlier.

He lifted the cloth slowly.

The box wasn’t empty.

Beneath it lay another jade bangle.

Lucian picked it up carefully, his fingers brushing over the cool, smooth surface. He examined it for a moment before smiling softly.

“So it really was here all along.”

From the memories he had, when he had finally realized that Lana was the girl he had been searching for, he had given her the jade heirloom knowing full well that it came in pairs.

As long as he found the twin bangle, he could bind their fates together, slowly and inevitably drawing her to him.

Once she fell in love, marriage would naturally follow.

But later, he had uncovered the conspiracy behind it all… Lana’s cursed fortune, the hidden schemes, and the inevitable tragic end.

He had known then that there would be no happy ending for them. Even so, he had still chosen to try.

Who would have thought that in eliminating every enemy around Lana, he would end up dying himself?

Looking at the jade bangle he had desperately searched for, only to realize it had been with him all along, Lucian smiled faintly and rubbed it gently.

“You’re finally close to me again.”

He wouldn’t let her give up this time. Not ever.

Just before Lana had arrived earlier, he had already dropped his blood onto this jade, just as he had done with the bangle he gave her.

Now, as he stared at it, he knew the connection was complete. From now on, he could communicate with Lana… one-sided.

He exhaled slowly. ’I don’t have a choice,’ he thought.

’If I confess everything now, she’ll either forget all the injustice she endured… or she’ll be consumed by resentment from her past life.’

Either outcome would destroy her.

So he would take it slowly.

Running his thumb over the jade, he murmured,

“Just a few more months. A little longer… and you’ll be mine.”

The more he thought about it, the more satisfied he felt.

…………………

Meanwhile, Lana returned to the dining room. Soon after, Lucian joined as well.

They ate together, exchanging light, casual conversation as if nothing weighed on their hearts.

Once dinner ended, Lana excused herself and returned to her room.

Lucian watched her leave, then turned to Lucy.

“Do something for me,” he said quietly.

Lucy nodded in understanding.

The moment Lana entered her room, she decided firmly that she would cultivate all tonight.

“Don’t even think about stopping me,” she told Mr. Crow, sitting down decisively.

Mr. Crow had assumed she would cultivate all night because of heartbreak.

Just then, Lucy entered the room quietly and whispered something into Mr. Crow’s ear.

Lana opened her eyes briefly, saw them whispering, then closed them again.

’Probably about cleaning his cage or that ridiculous pooping area,’ she thought absently. She ignored them and continued meditating.

Mr. Crow looked at Lucy in shock, then glanced at Lana, nodded, and quietly left the room.

Lana continued cultivating for a while longer until her body finally relaxed. Sleepiness crept in, heavy and irresistible.

’I’ll just close my eyes for a few seconds,’ she thought.

She moved to the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

Her entire body loosened, warmth spreading through her limbs.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already morning.

Stretching lazily, she smiled and stepped out of her room… only to freeze.

Something was wrong.

Her body was moving on its own, her feet carrying her down the corridor toward Lucian’s room. Panic surged in her chest.

’Am I sleepwalking?’She wondered anxiously.

She stopped abruptly, standing still in the hallway, fear creeping into her heart.

’If this continues… I might really end up entering Lucian’s room.’

Taking a deep breath, she tried her best to regain control, scolding herself over and over again.

’Stop it. Calm down. This is ridiculous.’ Yet no matter how much she tried, her feet kept moving on their own.

Before she realized it, she was standing outside Lucian’s room.

Her heart thudded violently as she reached out and pushed the door open… only to freeze when she realized it wasn’t locked at all.

The moment she stepped inside, the faint scent of soap and warm steam greeted her.

Lucian walked out of the bathroom just then, wearing a loose bathrobe, droplets of water clinging to his hair.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep