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“Good,” he said, walking up to my side and ruffling my hair. “You’re too amazing to cry over a boy.”

“Will you ever be serious for once?”

“We’re all going to die one day, so what’s the point in being serious?” he quipped.

“I fear the woman who will marry you,” I muttered dryly.

He scrunched his nose. “Who said anything about marriage, Belle-chan? I’ll die before I get tied down to a woman.”

“Famous last words.”

Just then, Ella called out for us, announcing that dinner was ready.

“Fuck yes.” Shouma-kun pumped his fists. “Coming, Ella baby,” he shouted, rushing out of the room in excitement, not even sparing me a glance.

Ella had Shouma-kun spoiled. He was her favorite guest, not like we had any other guests, all because he would simply shove anything she cooked into his mouth. And Ella loved testing all her new recipes with him, not even catching onto the charming act Shouma was putting on. But he loved Ella and Ari like they were his own sisters, so I let them be.

My eyes went back to the window. Sadness and Arkane were still sitting in my chest like permanent guests.

I still loved him, and my heart would always love him, forever. That feeling wouldn’t change just because he broke my trust. My love for him was real. I loved both his good and bad, and I would continue to.

I would’ve fought for it. But it was worthless to fight for Arkane to love me back, to try and change him, to try to get him to see me in a different light. That was something I would never do, because I simply couldn’t. No story ended well when you tried to change someone.

Love was only worth the fight when it was two people in love as one. And right now, he didn’t love me back, and I was okay with living with that for the rest of my life.

My past, this world, not even Arkane would ever have the power to dictate my life.

My life would go on as it is. I would read, breathe clean air, and find joy with myself.

Yes, some days I would cry over him, feel sad, and sometimes break my heart all over again at the thought of him. But it all came from a place of lost love, not from the loss of my love for him.

And that was okay for me.

CHAPTER 32

ARKANE

“You’re in a mood,” Karl stated. I could feel all their eyes boring holes into my back, but I couldn’t be bothered as my eyes remained focused on the stained mural on my window.

“Possibly because he no longer has his little toy to play with. She mustn’t have been that good in…”

“Call her a toy one more time, and that’s the last word that will ever come out of your mouth,” I interjected Marcus, with a hard glare, before he could continue his joke.

The seriousness of my tone rang loud in the room, and Marcus’s laughter died as his eyes shifted to the floor. Jon, being the fool he was, threw a wide grin my way while Karl and Lucien gave me knowing looks.

I did use Bella for my personal gain, but that didn’t mean I liked her being disrespected, even by my own blood. Even the thought of her sent a pang through my chest.

“So, all this time, you thought she had it? Why didn’t you tell us?” Lucien voiced the question that was on everyone’s mind. But none of them were dumb. They all knew I suspected the White Hand would be one of them.

“I didn’t know for sure, but it turns out she doesn’t have it. She doesn’t even know of its existence,” I lied, watching the four men carefully, and not one of them looked the least affected. “So I’m moving the Sanctum Sollus to safety. I can’t risk it since the deadline is closing in,” I continued the lie. I didn’t mention where, but I’d soon leak that it was at the North End safe house.

They all nodded, so composed that I could hardly get a read on their reaction. Sadly, they were fucking good at this game, but the White Hand, whoever the fuck he was—he was too fucking good.

I was curious to see what his next move would be. I hoped it was a raid on the North End safe house. He was a clever one and wouldn’t take the bait easily. But right now, he had no choice, and his time was running out. Getting back the Sanctum Sollus would give him the upper hand.

But right now, I couldn’t care less because all I thought about was her.

It’s only been three days since she walked out of my life, surprising the fuck out of me when she gave me the codes like it meant nothing to her.