As Lucy settled down, her breaths grew steadier, but her grip on his cloak remained tight, as if afraid he might vanish the mont she let go.
Asher reached out, his thumb gently wiping away the lingering tears on her cheeks.
The Lucy who once carried herself with confidence, the woman who stood firm against her own fate, was gone. In her place was soone more fragile, soone who had endured years of grief alone.
And now, standing before her, he saw more than just an old love—he saw a woman who needed his protection.
She never gave up on him, not even when the entire world told her to move on with her life.
But there was one question that would not leave his mind. A question that clawed at the back of his thoughts, demanding an imdiate answer.
His voice ca softer this ti, hesitant. "Lucy… what happened to my mother?"
Lucy hesitated, pressing her lips into a thin line before speaking. "I tried to look for her, but she's been missing for years."
Asher's chest tightened. "What do you an missing? That's not enough—I need details."
She lowered her gaze, struggling to find the right words. "Five years ago... she vanished without a trace in her villa. I'm really sorry...I..."
Asher's fingers twitched, his expression darkening.
"Lucy..." His voice wavered for a mont before hardening. "I don't want to believe it, but I saw it—a video of you standing over her. Blood everywhere."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"
"I'm telling the truth," he added.
She stumbled back, shaking her head. "No… That's impossible! I would never—" Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire
"Then explain it," he cut in. "Because right now, I don't know what to believe."
"Asher, I swear—"
"Prove it," he said, voice low. "Because if I find out you had anything to do with my mother's death…" His fingers twitched again, the air around him growing heavy. "I won't forgive you."
"I..." Her voice caught in her throat. She couldn't believe it—he actually thought she was capable of doing such thing.
But she was innocent. She just didn't know how to prove it.
"I don't even know what to say, but believe , I have nothing to do with it. When I went to check on her that day, she was already gone. There was no one in that place at all."
"What about the blood?" he inquired.
"There was no blood. If there was, I would have slled it,"
Asher's eyes narrowed. It did not make sense at all, and he could not see any lies on her face.
"Then can you let cast a spell on your mind? I just want to confirm sothing."
This spell was normally dangerous for weaker beings, but Lucy could handle it as long as she willingly submitted to it.
"O... Okay." Her chest tightened, and she collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
The fact that he was even asking this ant he didn't trust her at all.
After everything—after staying loyal even when she thought he would never return—this was too much.
Asher exhaled, watching the pain he was putting her through. But he couldn't ignore this.
As long as doubt remained in his mind, he would never be able to love her the way he once did.
"Do it," she mumbled through her tear-streaked face, wanting to end it all.
He didn't offer her any words of comfort. Anything he said would sound like an excuse. He would make it up to her later—once she proved her innocence.
Golden light pulsed from his hand as he leaned in
The other Morningstars watched in silence. None of them knew what happened to his mother, so they couldn't tell if she was guilty or not. They could only hope she wasn't.
Asher pressed his fingers against her forehead, and the golden light enveloped her. The spell worked instantly, and her eyes turned golden too.
This was a variant of the one he used to learn languages. It didn't forcefully extract information—it simply revealed the truth behind her words.
"Are you directly responsible for my mother's disappearance?" he asked. Any lie would be exposed now.
"No," she responded.
Asher exhaled slowly, the tension in his chest finally easing.
The spell faded, its glow disappearing from his fingertips.
He looked at her, still kneeling, her shoulders trembling as she held back more tears.
Guilt weighed on him like a stone, but he had no other choice.
Without a word, he dropped to his knees and pulled her close, pressing her head against his chest. His grip was firm but gentle, as if afraid she might break.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I should have trusted you."
Lucy didn't respond. She just clutched his robe, her fingers tightening with every breath. Then, all at once, she broke down.
"I would never betray you.... I would never..." Sobs wracked her body as the weight of everything—his accusation, her loyalty, the years of waiting—finally crashed down on her.
Right now, she was just a woman overwheld by pain.
Asher held her, his hand cradling the back of her head. He knew words wouldn't be enough to fix this.
But at the very least, he wouldn't let go.
He made a ntal note to cherish her more and give her everything she wanted, no matter what it took.
But even with his doubts gone, one question still weighed heavily on his mind—where was his mother?
As the thought echoed in his head, he turned to the one being that might have the answer.
Deuz.
What was that video? Was it fabricated to deceive him? To push him into killing her?
His fists clenched. Sothing wasn't adding up—this ran deeper than deception.
Sothing as advanced as Deuz, with a mind faster than any supercomputer, wouldn't make such a reckless move. It knew he was more than capable of destroying it.
If it wanted Lucy dead, there were simpler ways. So why go this far?
What was Deuz really after?
What was the endga?
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