The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 698

Chapter 698: Painful Memories-I

Aaron entered the foyer and looked around the familiar place where he had spent most of his childhood, running around and playing. The voices from the past still echoed in the air, and images from those days began to flash before his eyes.

"Aaron, you’re going to get a beating, I tell you," a woman’s voice called out as she hurried after a young boy running across the foyer, her expression angry.

"Mother, apologies. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I won’t go anywhere without telling you," the boy pleaded.

"What has angered my beautiful wife?" a man asked as he entered the foyer with his knights in tow.

"Ask your son," she replied, looking at the boy who was trying to hide behind his father. _{ƒгeewebnovёl.com}

"What have you done, young man, and how dare you anger my beautiful wife?" Reghan, the man, turned to face his son.

"I sneaked out of the estate alone," Aaron replied apologetically.

"You should not worry her. Once you’re old enough, I won’t stop you."

"Yes, Father."

"I know you’re going to be a brave lord, but bravery is only valuable when it’s shown at the right time. If not, it turns into a foolishness. Understand?"

"Yes, Father."

"Speaking of bravery, it reminds me of the gift I got for you," Reghan informed.

"Gift?" Aaron exclaimed excitedly.

A knight stepped forward and opened a long box he was carrying. Reghan pulled out the beautiful sword that was inside.

"A sword? For me, Father?"

"Yes. You’ve proven your sword skills at such a young age, so you deserve this," Reghan said, offering the sword to his son.

Aaron held it and moved it skillfully to test its balance. "It’s so good. Thank you so much, Father."

"Woh, Aaron, you look so good holding that sword," a beautiful young girl’s voice called out as she arrived in the foyer with her two maids following her.

"Sister Aaria, I will protect you and Mother with this sword," the young boy said with a resolute promise. "I will always protect you two."

"And what about Father?" Aaria asked.

"Father is the strongest man in the world. He doesn’t need my protection," the boy replied, walking over to his mother. "Will you forgive me now, Mother? I won’t do it again."

Evelyn knelt in front of him and hugged him tightly. "You know Mother worries about you."

He hugged her back. "I know, Mother. I’ll be a good son and won’t worry you anymore."

"I want a hug too," Aaria said, joining them and becoming a part of that warm embrace, while Reghan watched them with contentment, the smile on his lips revealing how happy he was with his family.

As Aaron remembered this, he could still feel the warmth of his mother’s and sister’s hugs. He wished it wasn’t just a memory but reality. His eyes turned moist, his heart heavy, and he found it difficult to breathe as so many memories rushed in at once.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he asked himself the same question again and again: Why did it have to happen? Why couldn’t they just live together? Why were they all gone, leaving him all alone?

In retaliation, he slapped her hard, sending her sprawling to the floor, blood oozing from her mouth.

Reghan, kneeling with barely any strength left, gripped his sword and stood up, summoning every ounce of energy he had left. His eyes locked onto Elrod as he marched toward him, but...

"Ugh..."

"Reghan?" Evelyn screamed as she saw Elrod’s sword pierce her husband’s stomach. Elrod smirked at her. "This is for spitting on my face and disrespecting me, I, your new lord from now on."

Evelyn could only cry, unable to find words. Elrod pulled out the sword, and Reghan collapsed back to his knees. Elrod then kicked him in the shoulder, sending him sprawling to the floor.

She called his name between her cries and sobs, "Re...gha..n." She desperately wanted to go to him, but another soldier, on Elrod’s signal, held her back. She was left to watch helplessly as Reghan lay dying on that very floor, his eyes never leaving the sight of his wife, even as life drained from them.

"Re...ghan..." her loud sobs echoed in the foyer.

Elrod was about to move toward Evelyn but Luis stopped him. "Elrod, she used to be the lady of this estate. Show her some respect."

"After destroying her family, now you want me to show her respect, do you hear yourself? Elrod smirked. "Respect? I will show when she is in my bed like an obedient servant."

"You want to take her? Fine, but let her decide," Luis said, walking over to Evelyn and offering her a dagger. "The choice is yours."

"What are you doing, Luis?" Elrod growled, enraged. "She is mine."

Before he could stop her, Evelyn hurriedly grabbed the dagger from Luis’ hand and, without hesitation, she stabbed herself in the stomach with all her strength, driving it as deep as she could. She chose death over humiliation.

She lay on the floor, her eyes filled with tears and pain as she looked at her husband, their gazes locked in mutual anguish as life slipped away from them both.