The tension in the room was palpable, suffocating. Nicholas stood stiffly, his jaw clenched, his fists trembling as he glared at the dark figure before him. He had been deceived—of that much he was certain—and the realisation cut through him like a blade.
"We made a deal," Nicholas growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You said she wouldn't remember anything from the past."
The figure remained unfazed, the wicked smile spreading further across his shadowed face. The hood concealed much of his features, but the glint of his teeth and the sharpness of his posture oozed arrogance.
"But she doesn't," the man replied smoothly, his voice tinged with mockery. "Does she?"
Nicholas felt his control snap. He lunged forward, grabbing the man by his collar. His grip tightened, the fabric twisting in his hands as he brought the hooded figure closer, his fury evident. "She remembers everything!" Nicholas snarled.
The figure didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled, a low, sinister sound that made Nicholas's blood boil.
"She doesn't remember anything from Selena's past," the man said, enunciating every word as if savouring Nicholas's frustration. "But I'm sure that's not what you wanted, was it? Serves you right, making deals with the devil. You should have been prepared."
He scoffed, then shoved Nicholas away with surprising strength. Nicholas stumbled back, barely catching himself before he fell. The man adjusted his cloak, smoothing out the wrinkles as if the confrontation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"You lying, conniving—" Nicholas began, his voice a venomous hiss.
"No, no." The figure raised a gloved finger, wagging it condescendingly. "I am many things, Zhiyuan, but I am not a liar. And you…" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "…You are not the only one who made a deal with me."
The words hit Nicholas like a physical blow. His breath caught in his throat as his mind raced to process the revelation. Not the only one?
"Who?" he demanded, his voice sharper now, desperation mingling with his anger. "Who else made a deal with you?"
But the man simply smiled, a chilling expression that promised no answers. Without another word, he turned on his heel and began to walk away, his footsteps unnaturally silent against the stone floor.
Nicholas took a step forward, his instincts urging him to pursue, to force the truth out of the enigmatic figure. But something in the man's presence—an aura of power and danger—kept him rooted to the spot.
And then the man was gone, fading into the shadows as if he had never been there at all.
Nicholas stood in the centre of the room, his fists clenched at his sides, his mind swirling with thoughts. Who else had made a deal with the devil? Who else was meddling in his carefully laid plans?
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the length of the room. The pieces weren't fitting together. Selena… she shouldn't have remembered anything. The terms of the deal had been clear—or so he had thought.
"She remembers everything," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with frustration.
But the man's words echoed in his mind, taunting him. She doesn't remember anything from Selena's past…
A goddamn loophole... He should have erased her memories as Ming Yue... Selena... It didn't matter if she had her memories as Selena, he could lie, cheat or manipulate his way out of it. But her memories as Ming Yue...
His thoughts turned to the people around Selena, no, Ming Yue. Who would have the motive—and the audacity—to make a deal with the devil?
He could only think of one person... Liying... That b*tch...
Hah...
Nicholas clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he considered the possibilities, if it was her, she would stop at nothing to ruin Yue'er. He needed to find her first. He knew deep down that it was her... Who else would know of his plans?
She was closing in... So he took care of her in his past life, and ended whatever she planned to do... But just as he removed the hindrance... His Yue'er...
Nicholas's gaze drifted toward the table, where piles of letters lay neatly stacked. Each one bore the crest of a noble family, sealed with wax that spoke of wealth and status.
After Selena's shocking declaration of calling off their engagement, an influx of proposals had arrived.
Lady this, Lady that—all vying for the position of his fiancée, now that the coveted spot appeared to be vacant. The brazenness of it was appalling.
Nicholas reached for one of the letters, breaking the seal with a flick of his thumb. The words inside were carefully chosen, dripping with false modesty and flattery, each phrase crafted to catch his attention and appeal to his supposed tastes. As if they knew him.
They didn't.
None of them could hold a candle to his Yue'er.
He let out a hollow laugh, the sound devoid of any real humor. The timing of it all was laughable, wasn't it? That devil—the one who had so gleefully played him like a puppet—had done this on purpose.
Nicholas's memories of his past life as Zhiyuan had been returned to him at the worst possible moment. Right after Selena had made her declaration, right after she had taken control of her own destiny, the memories had come flooding back.
The devil had orchestrated this perfectly, ensuring that Nicholas would feel the full weight of his mistakes.
His Yue'er.
The name echoed in his mind, a reminder of what he had lost—not just in this life, but in the one before.
He reached for another letter, his movements stiff and mechanical. This one bore Clara's seal, the familiar crest triggering a rush of unwelcome memories.
He broke the seal and unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the contents.
Clara's words were as sweet as ever.
She wrote of their shared history, of the promises they had made, of her desire to "rightfully" get engaged since Selena planned to call off the engagement.