CHAPTER 183: FORGIVE ME

"Back? I am not back," Viktor whispered, his hands stiff at his sides. "I will not stay in Eryndor. We shall leave as soon as Lilith awakens."

Vanessa’s eyes widened in panic. "No, you should stay with me. Don’t you want to spend time with your mother? We have so much to catch up on. Lilith can leave, but you should stay with me. I cannot lose you again, Run...Viktor. I need you in my life."

"We have nothing to catch up on," Viktor said flatly. "I don’t know what you expected to happen after revealing your big secret, but I have no intention of staying here with you. I don’t know you. And I don’t think I want to."

"Viktor, please," she pleaded, grabbing his hand before he could pull away. "Tell the prince you want to stay, just for a while, to spend time with your mother. I have so much to tell you. I’ll prepare your favorite food. I’ll do anything for you. Please, don’t leave me again."

Viktor wrenched his hand from her grip, his jaw clenched tightly. "Did you ever love Lilith?"

Vanessa blinked, caught off guard. "I... I did. I cared for Lilith... deeply."

Viktor let out a cold, bitter laugh. "You’re willing to do anything for me a son you’ve only just reunited with, but what did you do for Lilith? She’s lived her whole life with you. What did you ever do for her? You caused her nothing but pain and suffering."

Vanessa’s eyes darted in confusion. "What? No, I... I tried. I loved her as much as I could. But no matter how hard I tried to love her more... I just couldn’t. She could never take your place in my heart. You were my happiness, my joy. Lilith brought me nothing but sadness... and bad luck." Her voice trembled, shame creeping in. "I never wanted a second child. I only ever wanted you."

Viktor stared at her in disbelief, struggling to comprehend her words. "Can you hear yourself? Lilith is your child, for gods’ sake! You speak as though she was something you picked up from the roadside. How cruel can you be?"

His voice shook, anger coursing beneath it. "You let your sick husband abuse her physically, emotionally and you stood there and watched. Lilith would have been burned alive if Hades hadn’t intervened."

He drew in a shaky breath, then asked quietly, "Let me ask you something. If I had been the one tied to that stake... would you have let me burn?"

Vanessa’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, her gaze falling to the floor.

"Answer me!" Viktor thundered. "Would you have let me die?!"

Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head, her voice breaking. "No," she whispered.

Viktor let out a hollow snort. "You disgust me."

Vanessa’s head snapped up, her eyes desperate. "Please, don’t do this to me. I love you, Rune. Don’t treat your mother this way. I..."

"You don’t deserve to be a mother," Viktor said, his voice cold. "And you certainly don’t deserve Lilith. Please... get out of my chamber."

"Please, Rune," Vanessa begged. "I should have done things differently, but you have to understand, I was devastated after you were gone, I was going through so much. Don’t let the past destroy our future. I will make it up to Lilith if that’s what you want. Will that make you stay with me?"

"Nothing will make me stay with a selfish person like you," Viktor spat coldly. "Leave my chambers. I want to be alone."

"I..."

"Get. Out. Now. Vanessa," Viktor said through gritted teeth, his patience snapping.

Vanessa sighed, her face crumbling with sadness as she gently placed the coat on the table and slowly walked out, closing the door softly behind her.

The moment the door clicked shut, Viktor snatched the coat from the table, strode to the window, flung it outside, and watched it fall to the ground with a light thud.

He slammed the window shut, his breathing ragged as he gripped his hair tightly. A storm of emotions crashed through him, rage, confusion, grief. He wanted to scream, to break something, anything that would dull the ache inside him.

His back hit the wall, and he slowly slid down until he sat on the floor, his knees propped up, arms resting limply on them.

Viktor let out a shaky breath, his eyes fluttering shut. Everything Vanessa had told him spun relentlessly in his mind, threatening to suffocate him. He felt a sharp and painful squeeze in his chest, his heart aching, but not for himself. It was for Lilith.

To think she had endured so much... to be cursed with such a mother. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the agony Lilith must have gone through in the hands of her stepfather and stepsisters, while her mother had stood by and done nothing.

All this time, he had thought Vanessa was weak and afraid, that was why she had remained silent. But now, he realized the bitter truth, Vanessa was simply too weak to love Lilith. She never thought Lilith was worth fighting for.

Viktor could feel his eyes sting as he dragged himself to his feet. He threw on the first shirt his hand touched and quickly left his chambers, his steps carrying him to Lilith’s room.

He hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the handle before he finally pushed it open and stepped inside, his movements slow. As he approached the bed, his gaze fell on her fragile form, and tears instantly welled in his eyes.

He lowered himself to sit by her side, his throat tightening as he shakily reached out to take her hand in his.

At the light touch, her eyes fluttered open.

"Lilith?" Viktor whispered, his eyes widened in surprise.

She blinked weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "Viktor... everything hurts."

He forced a trembling smile as a tear slipped down his cheek. "It’s going to be alright. You’re going to be alright. I will always be here for you," he promised softly.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she gently squeezed his hand, then let her eyes fall closed again.

Viktor tried to blink the tears away, but they came relentlessly, falling onto the back of her hand. "Forgive me, Lilith," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened to you. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry I failed you... as your brother."

His shoulders trembled as he lowered his head, struggling to suppress his sobs.

He remained there for several minutes, holding her hand in silence.

Finally, Viktor wiped the tears from his face and drew a steady breath. "I promise I will protect you from today until the day I die. I will always be here for you, and I will make sure no one ever hurts you again." He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead before pulling back to sit closer to her once more.

"That is my promise to you," he whispered.