Chapter 147: Putting Eve’s Past Behind

As Isabella was casting the spell on Adrian, the rest of his women flocked around him, their expressions filled with a mix of relief, admiration, and pride.

Sophia nodded, her lips curved in a satisfied smile. "You've come a long way. To defeat someone nearly at the peak of Second Class while still being at First Class."

Eve, standing a little farther back, bit her lip, a hint of awe in her gaze. Looking around the familar castle, which had been her hell and looking at her "father", she felt

As Eve stood a few paces back, her gaze lingered on Baron Mortimer, the man who had once held the reins of her fate, now confined within a shimmering barrier conjured by Sophia.

Her father—the one who had twisted her life into a waking nightmare—was now nothing more than a prisoner, stripped of his power and status.

It was a surreal sight, watching him struggle against the magical constraints, his expression contorted with rage and desperation.

He clawed uselessly at the barrier, his roars of anger muffled and distorted by the protective ward.

That same man had once made her bow to his every whim, had forced her to carry out despicable deeds under threat and manipulation.

Eve’s fingers twitched as memories she’d rather forget resurfaced—the times he’d coerced her into using her spells for murder, when he’d treated her as a disposable pawn in his schemes.

The cruel, twisted smile he wore whenever he reminded her that her mother’s life hung in the balance, always using that fear to keep her in line.

But now, everything had changed.

She glanced at her surroundings, taking in the castle courtyard where she had once felt nothing but suffocating dread.

It was here that her father’s hold over her had been at its strongest. And now, that very same place had become a battlefield for his defeat—their victory.

She shifted her gaze back to Adrian, standing amidst his gathered companions. His presence radiated a quiet strength, the aura of a leader who had just triumphed over a formidable opponent.

He had come to her rescue when she had believed all hope was lost, tearing down the walls that had trapped her.

And now, he had fulfilled the promise he had made to her—to confront the man who had stolen her freedom, and to put an end to his reign of terror.

Eve took a deep breath, emotions swirling within her like a storm. Satisfaction, relief, but also something darker, something that made her chest tighten.

She had expected to feel triumphant seeing her father brought low, seeing him thrashing in a cage of his own making.

But instead, all she felt was… emptiness. He looked smaller now, pathetic even, nothing like the imposing figure that had haunted her nightmares.

It was as if the man she had feared for so long had been nothing more than a mirage, one that had dissolved the moment Adrian stepped in.

“He’s powerless now,” she told herself, the words feeling foreign on her tongue. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

But it was hard to let go of years of conditioning, years of believing that she was nothing more than a tool, a pawn under his control.

Her gaze flickered to Adrian once more. He had freed her—rescued her from that darkness—and she had pledged herself to him, determined to follow him wherever he would go.

But seeing Baron Mortimer like this, caged and defeated, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered… what if it wasn’t enough? What if he somehow found a way to hurt her again, to take back everything she had gained?

“Eve?” Adrian’s voice broke through her thoughts, gentle and grounding. She blinked, realizing he was looking at her, his gaze filled with understanding and concern.

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and her breath caught in her throat.

“You did it,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. “You really… did it.”

His eyes softened, and he reached out, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We did it,” he corrected softly.

“You’re free now, Eve. He’s not going to hurt you or your mother ever again. That’s a promise.”

The warmth in his touch, the certainty in his voice… it made something inside her crumble. She let out a shaky breath, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

“I… I thought I’d feel different,” she admitted quietly, her gaze darting back to Baron Mortimer’s struggling form. “I thought I’d be happy to see him like this. But all I feel is… empty.”

“That’s normal,” Adrian murmured, his hand gently squeezing her shoulder.

“After everything he put you through, it’s hard to just let go of all that pain and fear. But you’re stronger than he ever gave you credit for. You held on, survived, and now you’re standing here, facing him. That takes more courage than anything.”

Eve’s heart tightened at his words, and she swallowed hard, willing herself not to cry.

“I want to be strong,” she whispered. “I want to be someone who can stand by your side… someone who can protect what’s important to me.”

“And you will be,” Adrian said with unwavering confidence. He released her shoulder and stepped back slightly, giving her space to breathe. “You already are.”

A small, tentative smile tugged at her lips, the tension in her chest easing just a little. She looked up at Adrian, her gaze clear and steady.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling with sincerity. “For everything. For saving me, for saving my mother… and for keeping your promise.”

Adrian’s expression softened even further, and he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said quietly. “You’re part of this family now, Eve. And family means standing together, no matter what.”

The words hit her like a tidal wave, and she nodded, a single tear slipping down her cheek. “Family,” she echoed, the word feeling foreign but so, so right.

She glanced one last time at Baron Mortimer, watching as he slumped in defeat within his magical prison.

There was no more fear, no more hesitation. He wasn’t her captor anymore. He was just a prisoner, a defeated enemy in Adrian’s path.

Turning her back on him, Eve stepped closer to Adrian and hugged him. That chapter of her life was over. Baron Mortimer’s hold on her was gone, shattered by Adrian’s strength and resolve.

And now, she would do everything in her power to ensure that Adrian reached even greater heights—no matter what it took.