Chapter 75 - None Other Than Emilio Himself

'Still salty over what happened to her, huh.' 

'So you remember what you did,' Adrian sneered.

'You're so lucky I can't kill you right here and now.'

'Funny, you're the second person who's threatened to kill me today alone,' Emilio said, unfazed by Adrian's threat. 

Adrian stayed calm and collected, albeit inside, he felt like he was dying.

Out of the many Emilio had gotten killed, one would always have its place in Adrian's mind. His heart as well. 

Oh yes, this lady had managed to capture Adrian's eye from day one. It also didn't take long for his heart to be hers. 

Although her memory would always be preserved in his mind, he never forgot who caused this all. All the pain and mental anguish he endured.

And that person was none other than Emilio himself. 

Adrian had one talent in particular - holding back his emotions and acting like nothing was happening. 

Whilst he was first confused and dazed with as to what reason could explain Emilio's sudden visitation to Eudora, he now returned to his senses. 

He felt that Emilio deserved a fate worse than death. 

And that was when Madeline came into the equation.

It was like Emilio had developed this magical shield around it. 

Ironic since he had the capability to create and draw shields whenever he pleased. 

Oh yes, all this time he had been playing dumb. It only proved how great of an actor he was, and how he had been hiding his own rage after what Emilio did to her. 

It was as though she meant nothing. Like she was worthless. 

He hadn't even remembered why Adrian could've possibly been so upset with him until Adrian had not-so-sweetly reminded him. 

Killing others had been such a routinely task that he didn't remember those he killed. 

They were nothing but pawns to him. All just pawns for his pleasure. 

Offend Emilio and you were dead, literally. 

However, Adrian wouldn't have been so hostile to Emilio had they never met again. He blamed herself for her death.

All she had done was stand up for what she believed was right. 

Sticking to her own morals was the same thing that had gotten her killed.

Whilst in Emilio's eyes, it was her foolishness that had gotten her killed. 

That was the difference between Emilio and Adrian. 

She was brave, his late lover. 

Brave enough to stand up for what she believed was right even if it meant losing her life to be silenced.

Even if it meant her voice would be silenced for eternity, she still stuck to her morals. 

And whilst Adrian knew she could've found another way to do so that didn't include dying because of it… He was unable to stop Emilio from doing what he did next.

All it took was one slash, and she was no more. 

'I never got to say goodbye, and tell her how much I loved her.' 

'And for that, I'll do the one thing her death merits at the very least.' 

'Your death.' 

'Someday, you will pay.' 

'If Xavier doesn't see to it, then I will.' 

Adrian snarled at the door. 

Emilio and Madeline had already left by then. 

Adrian never noticed when had they left, but he still continued to stare at the door incredulously.

He had a lot of pent-up anger in him; he was unaware of what happened to her himself. 

Had he known… he would've done something about it. 

Perhaps had he begged enough, he could've traded his life for hers. Or perhaps he could've… 

No, not that.

He had saved many lives himself. 

He had many other things to live for. 

Why consider such a horrible thing? 

Adrian knew he was capable of more things if he was alive rather than if he wasn't. That, and how he could preserve the memory of her if he was still able to walk on Alaric's land. 

Sighing, Adrian remembered it was nearing that same date. 

The day she had lost her life. 

Her deathday. 

[Author's Note: Deathday as in the day someone died.] 

Obviously, he had plans already prepared. All he had to do was get Xavier to approve of them before he had a couple of hours free to do as he pleased - and in this case - celebrate and cherish the memory of his only love. 

Or who he believed would be his only love his entire life. 

However, he still had a long, long life ahead of him. Who knew what lay ahead? After all, life was full of surprises, as he had come to learn. 

And fate seemed to have something planned for him. 

Sighing, Adrian hoped to be able to get over being so emotional whenever he thought of her.

It had been centuries… eons… since she had died. 

Why was he so hung over?

Why did it feel like he was so empty inside whenever he thought of her?

Why couldn't he forget her even after so long?

He still loved her - he knew that. But… He also knew she wouldn't have wanted him to hurt so much whenever he thought of her.

What she'd want him to do was to be happy regardless. To spend life doing whatever he loved doing even if it meant doing it without her. 

She'd be content knowing he was happy. 

'I miss you, Cassandra,' Adrian whispered, knowing no one could hear him. 

Madeline and Emilio were still chatting outside. 

Speaking of Madeline and Emilio… 

"If you've come here to slap me again, please refrain from doing so," Emilio spoke, lifting his chin up in the air. 

Madeline lifted her hand in the air, "Well I wasn't going to but now you're tempting me." 

"So what, you came here to argue even more?" 

Knowing she came here to be the bigger person, she shook her head, "I didn't come here to argue, I came here to…" 

"Talk to you about how things are going to work out."

"Oh?" Emilio asked, caught by surprise by Madeline's words. 

"Why, do you have any objections?" 

"No," Emilio shook his head, adding, "You can go on."

Madeline forcefully smiled, although she was dying inside. 

"I was quite cruel before, what with slapping you."

"But I just found out I had a dad, and that same person tried killing me."

"Understandable."

Madeline lightly smacked him on the elbow.

"Let me speak." 

"Alright, alright," Emilio said, rubbing his elbow.

"I won't speak for the entire duration of your spiel."

Madeline frowned before she took a deep breath. 

"Picking up from where I left off, obviously we're both in shock."

"But I do not want to spend my entire life hating on you. Whether I like it or not, you're my dad."

"And you're going to get whatever punishment is coming to you. You know what? That's all up for Xavier to decide. I still don't know the full story of what you did in the past and frankly, I rather not know."

"What I do know though, is that if we are to have a father-daughter relationship, we do it on my terms."

"Got it?"

Raising his hand, Emilio hoped Madeline would allow him to speak. 

"Speak," Madeline ordered.

"What does 'your terms' mean?" 

Madeline managed a genuine smile on her face.

"It means no trying to kill each other, or threatening any of my friends, or hurting anyone in general for no reason." 

"What if they threaten me first?" 

Madeline blinked, staring at Emilio incredulously.

"What kind of a question is that?" Madeline inquired. 

"Did thousands of years of living here not teach you anything?" 

"How do you know I'm thousands of years old?" 

"That's what you're asking me?"

Pinching the skin between her forehead, Madeline knew this would be one heck of a ride. 

"Don't make me regret what I told you," she said to him. 

She could've done anything other than give Emilio a shot.

Heck, she could've ended things with their relationship still strained.

And yet, she chose to give him a shot. 

Would she come to regret this? Probably.

But was she still going through with this? Yes. 

Emilio nodded, "I won't, I promise."

"Good."

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Author's Note: So, about the mass release on Christmas, there will be a minimum of three chapters posted. Wondering how to raise that number up? 

For every gift 'Her Devilish Alpha' receives (applicable to luxury cars onwards only), a bonus chapter will be released on Christmas day. 

If the said number of chapters aren't released by Christmas, I will compensate by updating even more frequently for the days following Christmas. 

But obviously, if no gifts are received, then three chapters will still be released as my gift to you all for Christmas. 

And who knows… maybe there'll be a little surprise in the chapters posted for you all to read. Stay tuned for Christmas!

FYI, I know I haven't written much scenes between Madeline and Xavier, but… Mavier scenes are coming, I promise. 

Lots of love, mari. 

And also, this won't add any extra coins to the chapter.