Betrayed by Blood: My Second Life as a Queen novel Chapter 378

Anyone else would have instantly puffed up their chest and sworn blind loyalty to her.

But not Lucian.

He smiled softly, his gaze incredibly warm yet deeply serious. "My loyalty to you is absolute, and I will never betray you. But I want you to maintain your guard around me regardless. Above all else, I want you to prioritize yourself, love yourself unconditionally, and protect yourself against the entire world."

A sudden lump formed in Willow's throat, her eyes trembling as the words washed over her.

Throughout her entire life—both past and present—ever since her parents passed away, everyone had drilled into her skull that she needed to be endlessly grateful. Grateful to Tessa's family, who had sacrificed themselves for her. Grateful to Xavier and the others who had carried the financial burden of raising her.

She was taught to always step back, to suppress her own needs, and to put everyone else first.

She was permitted to love her brother, to love Tessa, to love Elias—she just wasn't allowed to love herself.

And yet, here was Lucian, standing before her and declaring, "Love yourself unconditionally."

It was such a simple, unadorned statement. No poetic exaggerations, no dramatic flair.

He had delivered it as casually as commenting on the weather.

But it struck her with the precision of a master assassin, slicing through her defensive walls and carving its absolute sincerity into her very bones.

Willow realized then and there—how could she not fall entirely in love with this man?

Tears began to blur her vision, but just before the first drop could fall, her phone vibrated sharply in her hand.

She hastily wiped her eyes and glanced at the screen. It was a text from Sylvester: *[I can't stall them much longer.]*

Willow quickly typed back: *[On our way.]*

She locked away the swelling ocean of emotions in her chest and smiled radiantly up at Lucian. "Let's go. It's time to reel in the net."

Every single person involved in tonight's conspiracy was about to pay a catastrophic price.

Lucian, however, was in no condition for a public appearance. His custom suit was hopelessly wrinkled from their intense encounter, far beyond any salvation.

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