CHAPTER 222: CHAPTER 222

Raymond stood still, yet his heart beat like a war drum in his chest. His hands were balled into fists at his sides, but it wasn’t just anger that consumed him—it was fear, a kind of fear he hadn’t felt in lifetimes.

Valentina, he couldn’t afford to lose her, not this time.

Not after everything they had been through. Not after all the centuries, all the lives, all the waiting. This was her final reincarnation—he knew it deep in his soul. The cycle that had brought her back again and again had finally come to its end. There would be no more second chances. If anything happened to her now... she would be gone. Forever.

That terrifying truth was the very reason he had vowed to protect her at all costs.

He had made that promise the moment he saw her again in this life—the same eyes, the same gentle smile, the same presence that calmed the storm inside him. For years, he had walked alone, carrying the burden of power, legacy, and silence. But Valentina had returned and brought light back into his world. She had made him feel alive again.

And now? Now she was gone.

He had just found what he had been missing for decades—what had made every lifetime feel incomplete. And now, she was being taken from him again, stolen in plain sight while he was distracted. The bitterness of regret clawed at his throat.

How was he supposed to go on if he lost her?

How would he breathe, knowing that her soul wouldn’t return, that this was the end of the road for both of them?

He had done everything. He had protected her from the shadows, built walls of safety around her, shielded her from enemies she didn’t even know existed. He had hidden his true identity, suppressed his power, sacrificed his pride—just to ensure she lived a peaceful life, even if she never remembered who he was.

And yet... she was gone, how could this have happened so quickly?

How did he not see it coming Cecilia—he should’ve suspected her. How did he let his guard down?

And Benjamin? Could he still trust him? What if Benjamin was compromised? What if he had passed out at the wrong time or missed a sign that could have led them to Valentina?

Raymond’s thoughts raced wildly, tangled in panic and fury. His heart was heavy with uncertainty. His mind was scattered like shards of broken glass—nothing was aligning anymore.

At that moment, without wasting any more time.

Raymond was still. Too still. The air around him was heavy, almost suffocating, like a storm about to break loose. He stood with his back to Benjamin, staring at nothing in particular, but his mind was screaming. He was very, very confused. His thoughts were everywhere. His emotions were spiraling—anger, guilt, desperation, and dread tangled like wires inside his chest.

He didn’t know what he was going to do, he was just waiting.

Waiting for the message. Waiting for confirmation. Waiting for a miracle—anything that would direct him to Valentina. Any signal. Any lead. Any whisper of her presence. He needed it. He craved it like air. He was starving for answers.

And although his body stood firm, his soul was shaking.

Every second that passed felt like a century. Every minute she remained missing brought him closer to madness. His hands trembled slightly, not from fear—but from the overwhelming storm inside him.

And then...Benjamin spoke.

His voice was low, careful, the tone of a man who knew he was walking a thin line between mercy and wrath.

"I didn’t know," Benjamin said slowly, his eyes fixed on the floor. "I swear on everything, I didn’t know Cecilia was involved in this. I had no idea."

Raymond didn’t move, but his eyes narrowed.

"I never suspected her," Benjamin continued, his voice tightening. "Even after all these years... all the pain Valentina went through... all her deaths... all her suffering... I never... I never thought it was Cecilia behind it."

He shook his head, his throat tight with guilt. "Decades, Raymond. I’ve stood by your side all these lifetimes. We’ve watched Valentina return and suffer. We searched for answers. And now, to think... she was right there beside us all this time. Pretending."

Raymond said nothing. His silence was louder than any scream.

Benjamin clenched his fists. "I’m sorry. I truly am. I failed you. But you have to know this—my loyalty has always been with you. I’ve never worked against you. Never. I never wanted Valentina to suffer. I didn’t have a hand in any of this."

His voice broke slightly. "I thought I was protecting her too. I thought I was helping you."

He took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Please believe me. Please trust me. I’m going to make this right. I’ll do whatever it takes. Even if I have to die trying—I’ll bring Valentina back. I’ll make sure she returns to you safely. I promise you... I’ll make sure that Valentina comes back and safe."

At that moment, Raymond stood still, but his mind wasn’t. It was racing—turning, twisting, drawing connections he hadn’t dared to think about until now. Everything was clicking together, painfully, like pieces of a cruel puzzle that had been hiding in plain sight. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, the tension in his shoulders tightening with each breath.

He slowly turned and faced Benjamin, his voice low and sharp. "Rebecca..." he said, almost like he was speaking to himself. "If Rebecca is alive..."

He paused, letting that truth settle.

Then he nodded grimly, "And yes, she’s alive. I can feel it now. I know it. Everything about this is pointing to her."

His brows furrowed as he continued to pace, his thoughts flowing out loud. "What could Cecilia possibly gain from killing Valentina over and over again? What does she stand to benefit from all this pain, all this destruction?"

His voice was calm, but it carried weight—a deadly calm before the storm.

"Unless..." He looked up sharply, his eyes glinting with clarity. "Unless... they’re gaining something I haven’t seen yet."

He turned fully to Benjamin now, eyes burning. "If we can figure out what Cecilia gains from this, if we can understand the reason behind all this madness, we’ll be able to stop them. We’ll know where to look."

Benjamin opened his mouth, about to say something, but Raymond held up a hand. "No. Wait."

A shadow crossed his face. His lips pressed tightly together for a second, then he spoke with eerie certainty. "This... this just confirms my suspicion."

His voice dropped to a whisper, then rose again with power. "Rebecca is alive. And she and Cecilia... they’re working together."

He took a step closer to Benjamin, his voice filled with both fury and disbelief. "Cecilia always liked me. I just never took it seriously. I thought it was a passing thing, something childish. I didn’t think she could do this. I never thought she would betray Valentina like this."

Raymond’s jaw tightened. "We all thought Rebecca was dead. No one’s seen her in decades. She vanished. Everyone assumed she was gone. But now..."

He shook his head, and his tone turned heavier. "Now it makes sense. Maybe it was all a lie. Maybe they planned this long ago. Cecilia... protecting Rebecca, keeping her hidden all this time."

"And all those times Valentina died?" he continued, his voice almost cracking, "All those painful deaths... all those lifetimes lost? It was revenge. Pure revenge. For what, I still don’t know. But I can feel it. It was personal."

He began pacing again. "And since they’re sisters—real blood sisters—there’s no doubt that their bond runs deep. Strong enough to plot and execute something this vile... together."

Raymond’s fists tightened again. "They knew this was her last reincarnation. That’s why they’re rushing. That’s why they chose today."

His eyes narrowed coldly. "And they also know... I will fall asleep in four hours and forty minutes."

His voice dropped into a dangerous growl. "That’s why they did it now. Because once I fall asleep... I won’t be able to stop them."

He stopped pacing, his back straightening with newfound resolve.

"But they made a very, very big mistake."

He turned to Benjamin, his eyes burning like fire. "They never thought I would suspect. They never thought it would blow up this quickly. That was the mistake they made."