As Julian walked out of the building. He thought he could still hear Alicia’s blood–curdling, cries in the hallway behind him. However, his surroundings were cerily silent as if there were countless demons lurking in the dark.

    He didn’t believe in the existence of deities, but he believed that the demons had manifested in greed, before infiltrating his soul. He got where he was today because of the darkness within his heart.

    anger, and delusion

    If he hadn’t been so focused on power, he would have known his feelings for Willow much sooner. Then, he wouldn’t have let ia /iwoman who loved him deeply suffer for four long years. What was worse, she even ended up losing Grace and Landon

    The great priest, Seraphion Lumas, once said that those who were fierce and antagonistic would harm the people around them. Happy endings would always remain out of reach.

    The wind roared in the night, lifting Julian’s hair and chilling him to the bone. The glow from the streetmp stretched his shadow on the street.

    He sat in the cooling car as he recalled everything that had happened in the past ten years over and over. He had no idea how he would exin all this to Willow. For that matter, he didn’t even know how to process all the information.

    It was downright absurd. Alicia used to be the apple of Julian’s eye, but it turned out to be a grand deception at the end of the day. Every time he took a flight to Grandsburg and stayed at her side, Willow was crying and suffering.

    Julian sat there for a long time. He wanted

    mechanical voice.

    to

    “We’re sorry, but the number you have dialed cannot be reached.”

    make a phone call to Willow, but she had blocked him. All he heard was a cold,

    Julian blinked gently as he stared offi

    space. He slowly leaned on the steering wheel.

    Faint sounds of fireworks could be heard from afar. Things were lively over there, but it had nothing to do with him.

    He only had boundless regret and resentment for thepany. Even if he somehow managed to redeem himself, he would still be burdened with sin.

    Julian’s phone rang. It was Liam. “Julian, have you gotten the medicine?”

    He responded softly, “I’ll be there in a minute.”

    Liam noticed there was something unusual about Julian. Before he could ask, however, thetter had hung up.

    About half an hourter, Julian gave the medicine to Mnie, looking lost. He left immediately after.

    Liam took off after him and asked, “Julian, what’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

    The night grew darker, and Julian looked forlorn. Turning around, he looked at Liam and didn’t speak for a long time. “Dad, I’ve wronged Willow terribly.”

    Liam fell silent for a while. When he was about to say something, Julian was already gone.

    Julian went up the mountain and made his way to Cornerstone. The walls within the chapel were pristine, and there was ba /bstafue of the deity in the heart of the sanctuary, exuding authority and benevolence.

    Seraphion sat at the chancel, his eyes shut in meditation. It seemed like he was waiting for something

    Julian walked over to the altar and got down on his knees in front of the deity statue. He pulled out the worn–out shoes from his clothes and raised them before the statue with trembling hands.

    His voice was soft and shaky as he spoke. “Mr. Lumas, I’d like to perform a prayer for myte unborn child.”

    Seraphion opened his eyes slowly, his gaze as merciful as the deitys as he looked at Julian, who was in grief. The moment bhe /b

    spoke, his voice was booming.

    “If I asked you to shed your worldly desires, would you do it?”

    Tears streamed down Julian’s cheeks, staining the marble floor of the chapel. He raised his voice and responded, “I will”

    Seraphion remained as calm as the surface of theke and asked again, “What about if I ask you to lower your pride or shatter your very being? What if you can never see the woman you love so deeply? Would you do it?”

    Julian closed his eyes gently and answered as loudly as he did before, “I will.”

    His voice reverberated throughout the sanctuary. The priest was gone, and he was left alone in there, kneeling. He repented and atoned for his sins repeatedly.

    Julian prayed to the heavens, begging for them to take Landon in if they ever saw him.