The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 698: Painful Memories-I

Aaron entered the foyer and looked around the familiar place where he had spent most of his childhood, running around and playing. The voices from the past still echoed in the air, and images from those days began to flash before his eyes.

"Aaron, you’re going to get a beating, I tell you," a woman’s voice called out as she hurried after a young boy running across the foyer, her expression angry.

"Mother, apologies. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I won’t go anywhere without telling you," the boy pleaded.

"What has angered my beautiful wife?" a man asked as he entered the foyer with his knights in tow.

"Ask your son," she replied, looking at the boy who was trying to hide behind his father.

"What have you done, young man, and how dare you anger my beautiful wife?" Reghan, the man, turned to face his son.

"I sneaked out of the estate alone," Aaron replied apologetically.

"You should not worry her. Once you’re old enough, I won’t stop you."

"Yes, Father."

"I know you’re going to be a brave lord, but bravery is only valuable when it’s shown at the right time. If not, it turns into a foolishness. Understand?"

"Yes, Father."

"Speaking of bravery, it reminds me of the gift I got for you," Reghan informed.

"Gift?" Aaron exclaimed excitedly.

A knight stepped forward and opened a long box he was carrying. Reghan pulled out the beautiful sword that was inside.

"A sword? For me, Father?"

"Yes. You’ve proven your sword skills at such a young age, so you deserve this," Reghan said, offering the sword to his son.

Aaron held it and moved it skillfully to test its balance. "It’s so good. Thank you so much, Father."

"Woh, Aaron, you look so good holding that sword," a beautiful young girl’s voice called out as she arrived in the foyer with her two maids following her.

"Sister Aaria, I will protect you and Mother with this sword," the young boy said with a resolute promise. "I will always protect you two."

"And what about Father?" Aaria asked.

"Father is the strongest man in the world. He doesn’t need my protection," the boy replied, walking over to his mother. "Will you forgive me now, Mother? I won’t do it again."

Evelyn knelt in front of him and hugged him tightly. "You know Mother worries about you."

He hugged her back. "I know, Mother. I’ll be a good son and won’t worry you anymore."

"I want a hug too," Aaria said, joining them and becoming a part of that warm embrace, while Reghan watched them with contentment, the smile on his lips revealing how happy he was with his family.

As Aaron remembered this, he could still feel the warmth of his mother’s and sister’s hugs. He wished it wasn’t just a memory but reality. His eyes turned moist, his heart heavy, and he found it difficult to breathe as so many memories rushed in at once.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he asked himself the same question again and again: Why did it have to happen? Why couldn’t they just live together? Why were they all gone, leaving him all alone?

His hands clutched his chest. His heart hurt—hurt terribly—as he let go of all the pent-up emotions. He had gotten his revenge, but it still felt empty, like a deep void inside him that nothing could fill. The sound of light sobs and sniffs filled the room as he stood there, crying, choked, unable to speak.

Nathaniel and Arthur entered the foyer and saw Aaron standing with his back to them. The man who had always been strong and protective now laid bare the loneliness and pain he had endured for the past two decades.

Nathaniel felt his own eyes turning moist, understanding what Aaron must be feeling in this moment.

Meanwhile, Aaron, who had tried his best to block out that particular day, to not waver from his resolve, could no longer help but remember—the most painful day when he lost everything.

Right here, in this very foyer where Aaron had his most cherished memories, he also held his most painful ones. The memories of his family being killed right in this place where he now stood, helpless to stop it.

His injured father was surrounded by enemies while Luis laughed at him. "Reghan Wynter, good to see you like this, on your knees."

His father, whom Aaron had always seen as the strongest man, the one he trusted to protect them all, was kneeling, hurt and covered in blood. Strength was leaving him, rendering him unable to speak, but his hand refused to let go of the sword in his grip.

"Luis... Mortimer... you will regret this day..." Reghan said, coughing up blood, his bloodshot eyes still filled with resolve and anger as he glared at Luis.

"You will break, but you won’t bend, huh? This is what got you here today, that arrogance of yours," Luis mocked him. "But I have a way to make you bend, and all that arrogance of yours will be gone."

Two men in soldier’s armor dragged a woman into the foyer. "Do not dare touch me," she growled at them, but they dragged her anyway and threw her to the floor, making her land in front of the kneeling Reghan.

"Reghan?" she murmured, pained by the sight of her injured husband.

"Evelyn," he coughed, reaching out a hand to her, but she was yanked away by her hair, clutched in a strong pair of hands, making her wince.

A tall, burly man—the leader of Luis’ army and his partner in all crimes, Elrod—dragged Evelyn away from Reghan, "I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this woman since the first day I laid eyes on her," his mocking voice echoed in the chamber as his evil gaze lingered on Evelyn’s beautiful, tear-streaked face, now marred with blood stains. "Looks like today my wish is going to be fulfilled. You see, there’s nothing left of your husband."

In response, Evelyn, furious and disgusted by the man, spat on his face, her gaze sharp as a dagger, ready to tear him apart.

In retaliation, he slapped her hard, sending her sprawling to the floor, blood oozing from her mouth.

Reghan, kneeling with barely any strength left, gripped his sword and stood up, summoning every ounce of energy he had left. His eyes locked onto Elrod as he marched toward him, but...

"Ugh..."

"Reghan?" Evelyn screamed as she saw Elrod’s sword pierce her husband’s stomach. Elrod smirked at her. "This is for spitting on my face and disrespecting me, I, your new lord from now on."

Evelyn could only cry, unable to find words. Elrod pulled out the sword, and Reghan collapsed back to his knees. Elrod then kicked him in the shoulder, sending him sprawling to the floor.

She called his name between her cries and sobs, "Re...gha..n." She desperately wanted to go to him, but another soldier, on Elrod’s signal, held her back. She was left to watch helplessly as Reghan lay dying on that very floor, his eyes never leaving the sight of his wife, even as life drained from them.

"Re...ghan..." her loud sobs echoed in the foyer.

Elrod was about to move toward Evelyn but Luis stopped him. "Elrod, she used to be the lady of this estate. Show her some respect."

"After destroying her family, now you want me to show her respect, do you hear yourself? Elrod smirked. "Respect? I will show when she is in my bed like an obedient servant."

"You want to take her? Fine, but let her decide," Luis said, walking over to Evelyn and offering her a dagger. "The choice is yours."

"What are you doing, Luis?" Elrod growled, enraged. "She is mine."

Before he could stop her, Evelyn hurriedly grabbed the dagger from Luis’ hand and, without hesitation, she stabbed herself in the stomach with all her strength, driving it as deep as she could. She chose death over humiliation.

She lay on the floor, her eyes filled with tears and pain as she looked at her husband, their gazes locked in mutual anguish as life slipped away from them both.