Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 199

Chapter 199

“Serves him right for underestimating me,” I said, savoring another bite. My confidence wasn’t boastful-it was matter-of-fact. Garland had made a mistake.

and he paid for it.

“Preparing for Elsa?” Lucian asked after a beat, his tone more careful now.

I nodded, swallowing the last bite before taking a sip of water. “Yeah,” I said simply.

Lucian hesitated, his hand resting lightly on the table. “So… I, uh, have a feeling our bond is all that you’ll be severing tonight,” he said, a strained smile flickering across his lips. He was trying so hard to seem unaffected, to play it cool, but I could feel the cracks in his composure. His heartache was nearly tangible, a heavy presence in the room.

“How did you figure that out?” I asked, deciding to humor him, though my tone was light. It was obvious he’d already worked it out, but I wanted to hear

him say it.

He sighed, his hand reaching for the pitcher to pour me a glass of juice. “Well, for starters, they reek of you, and you reek of them,” he said, his smile faltering but still in place. “And they seem… lighter. It’s not hard to notice, you know.”

I nodded slowly, his observation cutting through the air like a blade. He wasn’t wrong.

“Well,” I said, leaning back in my chair, “I guess you should be happy. At least this way, you get to bring back your Stasia.”

His reaction was immediate-a low growl rumbled from his chest before he caught himself and forced it down. He clenched his fists for a moment, then relaxed, shaking his head as if to clear the impulse.

“You said that to me when I was tied to the pole, remember?” I continued, my tone cool but pointed. “You told me I should’ve just said I wanted to leave. That you would’ve tried with her if I had.”

The words hung in the air between us, peeling open an old wound I knew had never fully healed. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered with something unreadable-regret, frustration, maybe even shame. He couldn’t deny it. He wouldn’t. But he also wouldn’t take the bait to lash out. Not this time.

“I was the villain in your love story with Stasia from the moment that bearded man brought me here,” I said, my voice steady even as the storm raged within me. “Indeed, you should be happy that I’m severing our bond. At least you’ll finally be free.”

I paused, the sting of unshed tears burning my eyes, but I pressed on. I wasn’t done.

“Besides, I take a lot of comfort in knowing it isn’t my fault that neither of you gained magic. Because the last time I checked, that was my fault, too, wasn’t it? If the sun didn’t shine, it was the Vladislav bitch’s fault,” I added, bitterness dripping from every word. I took a slow sip of my juice, keeping my hands steady even though my heart wasn’t.

Lucian sat there, silent, his face pale, his eyes wide. He didn’t have a response, and honestly, I didn’t need one. I wasn’t finished.

“You hurt me the most, Lucian,” I said, my voice trembling just slightly as I tried to compose myself. The weight of my own words pressed down on me, but I didn’t falter. He needed to hear this. “You behaved as if I was a burden, something you were forced to bear. When the issue with Geoffrey Olsen happened, you were the first to distance yourself from me.”

“It was the law,” he interrupted, his voice weak, as if he knew how empty the excuse was.

“And that is why we are here today, Lucian,” I shot back, a sharp edge creeping into my tone.

9:47 amp pp.

Chapter 199

The L your duty, your pride-it’s always been something, hasn’t it? I was always last on your list. It was always your pain, your revenge. Stasia, your pack, your elders, your people. Never me, Lucian. I was never a priority. To you, I was nothing.”

His head shook, and I could see the ears starting to stream down his cheeks. He tried to protest, his voice breaking. “That’s not true. You know it’s not true

I let out a painful, hollow chuckle, interrupting him before he could finish. “You were the first to cast doubt on my innocence. Lucian,” I said, each word cutting deep. “When I needed you to believe in me, you didn You believed those liars over me without hesitation. And you had your reasons, didn’t you? You said Bianca’s family had served yours for so long that she couldn’t lie. Indirectly, you told me I was the outsider. The newbie. The liar.”

Lucian’s shoulders trembled, his hands gripping the edge of the table as if it were the only thing anchoring him. His silence spoke volumes, and yet I could see his pain, raw and exposed, etched across his face.

“And then at the stake,” I continued, my voice soft but no less piercing, “you didn’t just stand there. You brought up Stasia. You couldn’t resist, could you? Reminding me-and everyone else-of your regret. Of the fact that you wished you’d chosen differently. You regret choosing me, choosing our bond.”

I laughed then, a low, painful sound that carried none of the joy it once held. “You made your feelings perfectly clear, Lucian. I’ve carried them with me every single day. And now? Now it’s my turn to let them go.”

Lucian looked like he wanted to say something, anything, but no words came. His tears fell freely now, his lips trembling as he struggled to find a response that wouldn’t sound hollow. But there was nothing he could say to undo the truth of what I had laid before him.

And for once, I didn’t care if he found the words or not.

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