CHAPTER 178: CHAPTER 178: THE REFLECTION

Serena stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Drops of blood still slid down her cheek, tracing her pale skin. Her face looked strange, like her expression had frozen in place.

She couldn’t tell what she was feeling anymore.

There were too many things inside her chest...fear, anger, confusion...all twisting together until she couldn’t breathe.

She lifted her hand and wiped the blood from her face. The smear left a dark mark across her cheek, almost like a flower drawn in red.

For a long moment, she just stared at that mark as if she wanted to dig into her own reflection, to see what was hidden underneath.

Then, slowly, her lips curved.

It wasn’t a real smile. It looked wrong.

A scoff escaped her lips, breaking the silence. She looked away from the mirror.

Without another word, she reached for her gown.

It had been beautiful that morning, like something made for spring. Now it was soaked in blood, heavy and cold.

She pulled it off and let it fall to the floor. The sound of wet fabric hitting the tiles echoed in the quiet bathroom.

Then she undressed fully, every layer falling away until she stood bare under the dim light. Her skin was streaked with dried blood, her hands trembling slightly, though her face showed no fear.

She stepped into the bathtub. The water rippled around her legs, warm at first, then cooling quickly as the red spread through it.

She sank down, deeper and deeper, until the water reached her shoulders.

Then her neck.

Then her face.

Finally, her head disappeared under the surface.

The water went still. Only silence remained.

For a long time, she didn’t move.

Then suddenly... a gasp.

She broke through the surface, her wet hair clinging to her face as she looked up at the ceiling, her breath coming fast.

A strange sound left her lips... half a laugh, half a whisper.

"Very well," she said softly, her voice echoing off the walls. "I never thought you would go this far. You’ve played your game well... I’m impressed."

Her eyes gleamed faintly.

She laughed again, but it was hollow, before she began washing herself.

Her hands moved slowly, almost tenderly, as she rubbed away the blood from her skin. She moved from her shoulders down to her arms, her chest, and her legs as if she were trying to scrub away more than just blood. It looked like she was cleansing something deeper, something buried under her skin.

The red stains faded, one by one, disappearing into the water. But the look in her eyes didn’t fade.

When she was done, she stood up, water dripping down her body, and stepped out of the tub. She wrapped a towel around herself, her movements quiet and careful, and went back to the mirror.

This time, the face that looked back at her wasn’t frozen. There was life in her eyes now, a faint smile on her lips, soft and mysterious.

She leaned closer to the mirror, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Serena," she said.

Serena was still standing in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection. Her face looked calm now, her eyes gentle, and her lips curved with a faint smile. For a moment, she almost looked like the same Serena from that morning...innocent, quiet, and graceful.

Then came a knock at the room door.

The sound was soft but sharp enough to break her thoughts. She turned quickly, her towel slipping slightly, and her heart gave a small jolt.

Without wasting a second, she reached for her clothes. Within moments, she was perfectly dressed again, her hair brushed down smoothly, with no trace of what had happened earlier left on her face or body.

When she opened the door, she froze.

It was her father, Lord Maximus.

For a second, neither spoke. He stood there, tall and strong as ever, but his expression was uncertain. His eyes were filled with something she had never seen in him before...worry.

"Can I come inside?" he asked quietly.

Serena only nodded. "Of course."

He stepped in slowly, his gaze scanning her as if he were afraid she would disappear any moment.

"I heard what happened," he said, his voice low and heavy. "You were surrounded by rogues. You were attacked..."

Serena interrupted softly, "It’s alright. I’m fine, Father."

He stepped closer, his eyes searching her face. "Are you sure you’re fine? Did they hurt you? Serena, tell me the truth."

She met his gaze calmly. "Nothing happened. You can see for yourself. I’m fine."

Maximus exhaled, relief washing over his face. He closed his eyes for a moment before saying quietly, "About this morning... don’t take the queen’s words to heart."

Serena looked at him, her expression unreadable. "And what should I not take to heart, Father? The part where I’m an unwanted child? Or the part where you love someone else and not my mother?"

Her voice was calm, but her words were as sharp as a knife.

Maximus froze. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at her.

For a long moment, silence filled the room.

Then, in a whisper, Serena asked, "Are you sure that I’m really your daughter?"

He looked shocked, then hurt. "Of course I am," he said firmly. "How could I not know my own blood? How could I not recognize what’s mine?"

Serena stiffened. Her fingers curled slightly at her side, but she didn’t look away.

He stepped closer, his tone softening. "Serena... you are never unwanted. If I had known about you, if I had known you even existed, I would have never stayed away from you, not even for a second."

His voice cracked as he spoke, the calm Alpha now looking nothing like a proud alpha... only a father, desperate to make his daughter believe him.

He took her hand gently and cupped her cheek.

"Remember this, baby," he whispered. "You are the first thing in my life. If I had ever known, I would have never abandoned you. You are my only daughter, my only child. You can never be unwanted."

Serena’s eyes softened a little. Her lips trembled, but her tone remained calm.

"I don’t blame you," she said softly, and then she reached up and slowly removed his hand from her face.

Maximus’s heart sank as his hand fell away.

Serena walked to the couch and sat down quietly. Her face was calm again, but her eyes looked distant.

"I just want the truth," she said finally, her voice faint. "It’s fine if you loved someone else. I just want you to tell me everything. Don’t hide it from me."

Maximus hesitated, his shoulders heavy. He sat beside her slowly, and after a long pause, he sighed.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I loved someone else. I loved her my whole life."

Serena didn’t look up. She just nodded slightly, waiting for him to continue.

"I had a mate," Maximus said, his eyes dim with old memories. "Her name was Elara. We were bound by the Moon Goddess herself. But fate was cruel to us. We could never be together as we wished."

His voice trembled slightly, filled with regret.

Serena’s fingers curled into her palm. Her face showed nothing, but her heart was pounding.

"Do you..." she said softly, almost hesitating, "do you have a picture of her?"