2024-09-09 16:12:33"What a small world! This is the fate between us, Sophia" Elijah murmured to himself.
He never expected that the woman he had been searching for had just slept right beside him the night before.
"Sophia, you saved me ten years ago. Now, it's my turn to save you!" Thinking of her difficult situation, Elijah resolved in his heart to make her the happiest woman in the world.
"Doug, head to the Donald family!"
"Yes, Dragon Marshal!"
... ...
Sophia walked up the steps to the Donald family mansion, her legs feeling like lead.
Her heart pounded in her chest, dread settling in her stomach like a stone.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside, only to be met with a room full of angry faces.
Her fiancé, Alan Shaw, stood at the front, his arms crossed, staring at her, like a predator sizing up its prey.
The rest of the family members filled the room, their eyes like daggers, full of judgment and contempt.
At the head of the table was Ethan Donald, who's the family patriarch and Sophia's grandfather, his face set in a deep scowl.
"Sophia," Ethan’s voice boomed, his tone harsh and unforgiving.
"Where were you last night?"
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat.
She hesitated, her eyes darting around the room. feeling the pressure of their stares.
"I… I went to a bar," she said timidly, her voice trembling.
Alan snorted, a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"She's Alan's fiancée. How dare she go to a bar and stay out all night?"
"Her behaviors will implicate us and offend the Shaw family."
"That's it. She's really a disgrace of the Donalds." "......"The room filled with murmurs of disapproval and contempt.
Those whispers were like daggers piercing her heart.
Sophia’s mother, May, stepped forward, her face twisted with anger, her eyes filled with disappointment.
"Sophia, why did you stay out all night?" she snapped.
"We’ve told you before, your only job is to marry Alan. But you cannot even do this right!"
Sophia’s eyes watered, her body trembling under the pressure of those accusations.
"So—sorry mum, I got drunk," she stammered.
"I ended up staying at a hotel."
"Just staying at a hotel? Is that all?" Alan's mouth twisted into a cruel smile.
He immediately pulled out several photos and tossed them onto the table.
Sophia's heart sank as she saw those pictures. She saw herself in the photos, leaning intimately on a man at the bar.Her face went pale, and her heart was full of dread.
"Can you explain it?" Alan asked, his voice dripping with mockery, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"I... I don't know him..." Sophia stuttered, her hands trembling, her mind a blur of panic and confusion.
"Enough!" Ethan’s voice thundered, slamming his hand on the table angrily.
"Sophia, kneel down!"
Sophia fell to her knees, her body shaking with fear.
"Who is this man?" Ethan demanded, pointing to the photos, his voice cold and unforgiving.
Tears streamed down Sophia's face, her vision blurring.
"I swear, I don’t know!" she cried, her voice desperate.
"I was drugged—I don’t really know what happened."
"Shame on you! You’re nothing but a disgrace to this family!" May cursed and slapped Sophia's face.
The sound echoed in the hall, a sharp crack that left Sophia’s cheek stinging, tasting blood.
Sophia bit her lip, trying to hold back her sobs.
Bob, Sophia’s father, looked at her with disappointment in his eyes.
"My daughter, you're ruining the reputation of the Donalds." He muttered, his voice low and pained.
"You’ve embarrassed us all. You freak! Who would drug an ugly person like you?" Reno, her cousin, taunted her loudly.
The room buzzed with mocks, which hurt Sophia repeatedly.
When Alan heard that the Donald family didn't believe Sophia, he felt a sense of satisfaction within himself.
He was the mastermind behind drugging Sophia!
Unwilling to fulfill his engagement to her, he had devised this plan to frame her, forcing the Donald family to terminate the engagement.
"Grandpa Ethan, I want to terminate the engagement to this shameless woman," Alan said indifferently.
Ethan Donald's face turned red with rage.
He hadn't expected Alan to demand this for real. His mind raced, thinking of the consequences.
"Alan, there must be some other way," he pleaded, his tone turning desperate.
The engagement is crucial the Donald family.
The old man’s voice quivered with a hint of fear—fear of losing their alliance with the Shaw family.
Alan scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest, his expression smug.
"I won’t marry such a shameless woman. She's a disgrace!"
Sophia trembled on the floor, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
"I didn't…”
"Shut up!" Alan snapped, not even glancing at her, his voice laced with irritation.
"You guys should feel lucky that I haven’t exposed it to the public."
His words stung, and Sophia felt the weight of her shame pressing down on her.
Ethan gritted his teeth, trying to maintain his composure. His face was flushed with a mix of anger and desperation.
"This engagement is important for our relationship with the Shaw family. Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice tight, almost trembling with the weight of their family's future hanging in the balance.
Alan smirked, enjoying the power he held over the Donald family.
"Very sure. If you want to salvage your reputation, end this now."
He turned away, his lips curling into a sneer.
"And keep her out of my sight."
Ethan's shoulders slumped. His eyes darted around the room, searching for another way out, but he found none. He had no choice.
"Fine," he muttered, his voice barely audible, weighed down by defeat.
"The engagement is off."
Alan didn't bother to look back. He left the room with a triumphant smile on his face.
"Good luck with your granddaughter," he said over his shoulder, his tone mocking, dripping with false sympathy.
"She's all yours now."
Sophia's heart sank further, her whole body going numb.
She knew what was coming next.
Ethan's eyes bore into her, filled with fury and betrayal.
"You've humiliated this family, Sophia!" he shouted, his voice cracking with anger.
"You brought shame on us!"
Sophia bowed her head, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
She tried to speak, but her voice was weak and faltering.
"Grandfather, I swear—"
"Silence!"
Ethan roared, his voice booming through the room.
"You broke our trust. And now, you will face the consequences."
His words were like a death sentence, final and unyielding.
May stepped forward, her face twisted with anger, her eyes blazing with fury.
"She deserves to be punished, Father! She has ruined everything!" she cried out, her voice shaking with frustration.
She had always been hard on Sophia, but now her resentment had turned into a seething rage.
Ethan nodded, his expression hardening into a cold mask.
"By the family rules, you'll pay for this disgrace, Sophia. Guards, bring the whip!"
His voice was stern and commanding, with no room for argument.
Sophia's face went pale. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her heart pounded in her chest like a trapped bird.
The guards moved closer, and one of them handed the whip to Ethan, who grabbed it with a cruel glint in his eyes.
His hand shook slightly with anticipation as he raised the whip high, the leather curling in the air.
The whip cracked with a sharp "Snap!", sending a wave of dread through her.
The leather lashed against her back, and the pain shot through her like a thousand needles.
"Ahh!" Sophia cried out, collapsing to her knees, her groan filled with pain and despair.
She knew there was no escape.
And the torture seemed endless. Her whole body ached with every lash, each strike a reminder of her isolation.
She was seeking mercy, but she knew none would come.
Suddenly, the front door burst open with a loud crash.
Elijah strode in, his eyes cold and unyielding. His presence was like a storm entering a calm room, instantly shifting the atmosphere.
Behind him, the Donald family's guards lay scattered on the ground, groaning in pain.
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357. No More Goodbyes
“Elijah…” A soft voice broke the quiet evening. Elijah stood at the edge of the city, watching the last light of the sun fade into the horizon. The sky burned with hues of orange and deep crimson, a reflection of the journey that had brought him here. The wind carried a familiar scent, one that stirred memories he had buried deep. Years had passed since the war ended. Evendore had changed under his leadership, rising from the ashes of corruption into something new. The people called him a legend—the Black Dragon who had defied fate and rewritten history. Statues had been built, songs had been sung, and yet none of it truly mattered to him. Because for all his victories, a part of him had remained empty. He turned at the sound of his name, his breath catching in his chest. Sophia stood a few feet away, bathed in the golden light of dusk. She had changed, yet she was still the same—strong, beautiful, and filled with a fire that had never faded. Her eyes held a depth that spoke
356. A New Dawn
“The world is finally changing, Sir.” Doug stood beside Elijah, overlooking the city from the tallest watchtower. Below them, the streets of Evendore bustled with life. Merchants called out their wares, children played freely, and workers repaired buildings that once stood in ruins. The scars of war remained, but hope had taken root. Elijah’s gaze swept across the city. “It’s changing, but not fast enough.” Doug crossed his arms. “Progress takes time.” Elijah exhaled, his shoulders tense. “Time isn’t always on our side.” The past few months had been filled with rebuilding, restructuring, and keeping order. He had expected resistance, and he was right. Not everyone welcomed the new Evendore. Former enemies lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A soldier approached, saluting. “Marshal, we have visitors at the southern gate. They claim to be old allies.” Elijah exchanged a look with Doug. Doug’s expression darkened. “Old allies? Or old enemies?”
355. A Leader’s Burden
“Elijah Norton, the world is waiting for your next move.” Elijah glanced up from the map spread across the table. Across from him sat an elder statesman, his expression calm but expectant. Others in the council chamber watched Elijah closely, their gazes filled with a mix of respect and uncertainty. Doug stood at Elijah’s side, his posture rigid. He could feel the tension in the room. The war was over, but leadership brought its own kind of battle. Elijah leaned back in his chair. “The world doesn’t need me to rule it,” he said. The elder gave a knowing smile. “Perhaps not. But it does need someone to guide it.” Elijah tapped a finger on the table. “Evendore must rebuild first. There are still families in mourning, cities in ruin. People need stability, not another ruler.” A younger council member frowned. “But without you at the forefront, chaos could return. Power-hungry men will see this as an opportunity.” Doug finally spoke, his voice firm. “The Marshal is not a kin
354. The Final Goodbye
“I have to leave.” Sophia’s voice was quiet but firm. The air in the room seemed to shift, as if even the walls understood the weight of her words. Elijah stood by the window, his back partially turned. He had expected this. The moment she woke up different, he knew. Still, hearing her say it felt like a blow he wasn’t ready for. Doug stood near the door, tense but silent. He watched his Marshal closely, waiting for his response. Elijah inhaled deeply before turning to face her. “Where will you go?” Sophia hesitated, as if the answer wasn’t clear even to her. “I don’t know yet. But I need to figure out who I am now.” Her fingers gripped the fabric of her sleeve. “Everything feels… wrong. Familiar, but different. I can’t stay like this.” Elijah studied her carefully. The woman before him was still Sophia, yet there was a distance between them, an invisible wall that had not been there before. Doug finally spoke, his tone careful. “Miss Sophia, the city is still in recover
353. A World Without Chains
“She’s waking up.” Elijah turned at Doug’s words. His hands, stained with ink from writing orders, clenched slightly. He had spent days dismantling the last of the corrupt families, ensuring Evendore would never fall into the same darkness again. But none of it had mattered more than this. He pushed the heavy door open, stepping into the dimly lit room. Sophia lay on the bed, her skin no longer deathly pale, but there was something… different. Her eyes, once warm and familiar, now held an eerie stillness. She blinked slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Elijah.” Relief surged through him, but it was laced with caution. He sat beside her, studying her carefully. “You’re awake.” She exhaled, as if testing the very act of breathing. “I feel… strange.” Doug remained near the door, standing guard as always. “Marshal, should I call the healer?” Elijah shook his head. “Not yet.” He looked back at Sophia. “What do you remember?” She frowned slightly, as though pulling me
352. The Price of Victory
"It's over." Doug's voice carried across the battlefield, but no one responded. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crackling flames and the distant groans of the wounded. Elijah stood still, staring at the Warden’s lifeless body. His hand was clenched at his side, his knuckles white. Victory had come, but at what cost? Doug stepped closer, his face grim. “Marshal, we should regroup.” Elijah exhaled slowly. “What’s the status?” Doug wiped the sweat and dirt from his forehead. “We won, but barely. Our forces are in bad shape. Too many losses.” He hesitated before adding, “Lando… he’s gone.” Elijah’s gaze snapped to him. “Gone?” Doug nodded. “Vanished after the fight. No one knows where he went.” Elijah’s jaw tightened. Lando had always been a threat lurking in the shadows. If he was still alive, this war wasn’t truly over. “We’ll find him,” Elijah said, though exhaustion pulled at his voice. Doug gave a firm nod. “Understood, Sir.” A sudden gasp made them tu
351. Breaking the Cycle
"You were never free, Elijah." The Warden’s voice echoed through the ruined battlefield. Dust and ash hung in the air, swirling around his towering figure. Sophia stood beside him, her expression unreadable. Elijah’s grip tightened on his sword. “Enough of your lies.” The Warden chuckled. “Lies? No, Marshal. Only the truth. You and Sophia—your entire existence has been leading to this moment.” He gestured around them. “Did you really think your survival was coincidence? That your strength was simply fate?” Elijah’s jaw clenched. He had spent years fighting, carving his own path through blood and loss. The thought that someone else had been pulling the strings made his stomach turn. Doug stepped closer, his breathing ragged. “Sir… don’t listen to him.” But Elijah had to know. “Explain.” The Warden smiled. “Very well.” He turned his gaze to Sophia. “You, my dear, are the key. The final piece of a long-buried project. Your blood, your abilities—none of it was natural.” So
350. A Battle of Ideals
“The choice was always yours, Elijah,” the Warden said, standing tall amidst the chaos. “And you chose wrong.” Elijah gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening around his sword hilt. The battlefield around them was in shambles. Soldiers clashed, blades rang, and shouts of agony filled the night. Smoke curled into the sky, and the ground was slick with blood. Doug and the others fought desperately, their forces barely holding on against the Warden’s elite warriors. The battle had tipped dangerously out of their favor, and Elijah knew it. He could hear Doug’s grunts of effort, the sharp clash of steel, but he kept his focus on the man before him. “You think I’d ever stand beside you?” Elijah growled, his eyes burning with fury. “You’ve destroyed lives, torn families apart. And for what? Power?” The Warden chuckled. “Power is what shapes this world, Marshal. Not honor. Not justice. You cling to those things like a drowning man clutching a broken raft.” He spread his arms. “But lo
349. The Last Betrayal
“Sir, we’ve got a problem,” Doug said, his voice tense as he approached Elijah. “Something’s wrong.”Elijah’s gaze shifted from the map spread out on the table to Doug, his expression already darkening. “What is it, Doug?”“There’s been a breach. A leak,” Doug said, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Someone’s been feeding information to the Warden. They knew our plans, our movements.”Elijah’s heart sank. He had always trusted the men and women under his command, but now, doubt crept in like a shadow. “Who?” he asked, his voice tight with anger.“I don’t know yet,” Doug replied, his voice steady. “But we’re working on it. We’ll find out who’s behind this.”Elijah clenched his fists. “They betrayed us. They’ve been working for him all along.”Doug nodded grimly. “Yes, Sir. The Warden knew exactly when to strike. It’s too perfect.”The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the camp, and Elijah’s attention shifted. Sophia appeared, her face pale and her eyes wide with worry. “Elijah,
