Chapter 176 - Decision

Corbin's carriage was parked in front of the manor, the place where he hides Rebecca. He exited the carriage and went inside the manor.

He met Ebony in the living room about to go to her garden. "How's Rebecca?" he asked.​​

"She's getting better every day, my lord. Her skin already healed fully," she replied. "I'm going to leave for a while and fetch my sister so that she can restore Rebecca's original face," she added.

"When are you going to leave?" he asked.

"This coming Friday," she responded.

"How about, Rebecca? Who will take care of her?" Corbin asked.

"Rebecca can already use the toilet on her own and Anastasia already knows how to prepare the medicine, so there is nothing to worry about my patient's well-being," Ebony said.

"Good! I'm going upstairs to talk to Rebecca," Corbin said.

"Okay, I'll just stay here to wait just in case you'll need my assistance," Ebony said and lowered herself on the couch.

Corbin proceeds to climbs the stairs. When he arrived at Rebecca's room, he found her looking at her reflection in the mirror while brushing her hair.

She looked at him. "Hello Corbin..." she said.

Corbin went to her side. "Hello to you... you look better every day," he commented.

"Thanks to you, to Ebony and Anastasia. You guys save me from death - especially you," she said with gratitude shining in her eyes.

Corbin smiled. He took the comb from her hand and brushed her hair. "Your hair grows so fast, you used to be bald after the fire burns all your hair, now your hair is growing nicely. And looked at your skin, it already returned to normal! Amazing isn't it!" he commented.

"Yes, I'm completely healed. It's all thanks to Ebony's super effective herbal medicine, she made all these things possible in just a short span of time!" Rebecca said.

Done combing her hair, Corbin put the comb on the dresser table and went to the window, he looked outside.

Silence descended upon them for a few seconds.

Corbin looked at her. "Do you want to continue wearing Laura's look? Or do you want to get your image back?" he asked.

Rebecca cleared her throat. "Um... I want my original look back, although Laura's image is beautiful, I can't continue wearing this facade any longer. Can you help me? Can you remove this golden necklace from my neck? This necklace is suppressing my power, only by removing this necklace I can restore my image to its original state," she said in a pleading voice.

Corbin smiled. "Alright... I'll do it. But on one condition..." he said.

Rebecca sighed. "Here we go again - if you'll only help me just to use me in locating Laura then I'll say no!" she said adamantly. "I would rather become your slave to repay you in saving my life than betray my friends," she said.

Corbin grinned. "Oh, really-? You would rather submit yourself to become my slave than reveal to me Laura's location... is that right?"

Rebecca nodded her head. "Yes..."

"I see..." Corbin murmured. He fell silent for a moment while studying Rebecca's countenance. Such a stubborn woman!

He went to her side and clasped her shoulders gently. "My dear... I'm not asking you to reveal to me Laura's whereabouts this time, what I'm asking you is this... after I removed the golden necklace from your neck... can you promise me that you won't take revenge against the vampire couple who orders your death execution?"

Rebecca's brows furrowed in confusion. "B-but why? Why can't I take revenge on them!?" she asked outrageously.

"Because they're my parents!" He dropped the bomb.

Rebecca's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"I saved you out of the goodness of my heart. Now the only thing I'm asking from you - never takes revenge on my parents! After I freed you... go away... do not come back here and do not try to find my parents!" he warned her.

Rebecca looked at him in the eyes. "Are you afraid that I'm going to kill your parents and you can't save them?" she asked indignantly.

Corbin smiled in amusement. "My dear Rebecca... you know what I'm afraid of...? I'm afraid that in the end, I'll have no choice but to kill you. You see... I hate killing the people I already saved."

Rebecca bit her lip. She groaned in dismay. Why can't she take revenge on the people who put her to death? Because the one who saved her is the son of the couple who put her to death!

Her eyes narrowed to a slit. The very first thing she wanted to do after the golden necklace was removed from her neck is to find the vampire couple and kill them without mercy. But now she can't do it! She's furious!

Corbin met her blazing gaze. His countenance grows dangerously cold. "Rebecca... listen to me. You can't take revenge against my parents! You can't harm them or else I have to kill you now!" he said.

Rebecca looked at him with tear-stained eyes. She owed him for saving her life but she must take revenge on that vampire couple! Only their death can appease the anger burning in her heart.

Their eyes locked for a few minutes.

He knew that she was planning to take revenge on his parents. What he was afraid of is that his parents might successfully kill her this time and he can't be there in time to save her.

Rebecca released a deep sigh.

"So... what's your decision?" Corbin questioned her.

Rebecca stared at the floor, not ready to answer yet. She desperately needs to have her power back. She hated being hopeless and powerless. If her power is back she can't guarantee Corbin or even herself that she won't take revenge against his parents. She will always be tempted to do so.

Corbin studied the myriad of emotions flashing on Rebecca's face, she looked deeply conflicted inside. He will give her enough time to decide.

Rebecca looked at him. "Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"What-?"

"Why did you save me in the first place?" she asked the one question that bothered her.

"I dunno...maybe I like you... or I pitied you...what answer could I give you then? Honestly, when the guards threw you into the furnace I acted a bit late, but then I saved you at the last minute before death can completely devour you. I think you're worth saving... that's the weird thing that my heart and mind told me before I did the act of saving you... whether I'll regret saving you in the end... only time can tell. I'm just hoping that by the time we see each other again we won't be sworn enemies trying to slit each other's throat," he said.

She stared at his eyes that spoke volumes. She doesn't know what to say to him anymore. "Are you sure you don't want me to become your slave? It's my payment for your heroic efforts in saving my life," she said, changing the topic.

"Yeah... I have many slaves already. I don't want to add another one," he said.

"Okay... Are you serious about setting me free by removing the golden necklace?" she asked again just to be sure.

"Yes, I am the type of a person who honors his word and promises," he said with utmost sincerity.

Rebecca stared at the floor. It's hard to believe that he's allowing her to leave without any strings attached, this part of him truly amazed her. What he's offering to her right now is too good to be true. She can tell him a lie, promised him that she will not revenge on his parents, lie low for a few months and come back to kill his parents without him knowing that she's the one who killed his parents. Nice idea!

"So...have you decided already?" he asked her again.

Rebecca breathed deeply. "C-can you give me at least tonight to think about my decision? I'm pretty confused right now," she answered honestly.

Corbin sighed. "I see... if you're still planning to take revenge on my parents. I must warn you that they are not easy to defeat," he said.

She nodded her head.

"I'll take my leave now, I'll come back tomorrow night. Don't forget to think and decide wisely! The consequences of avenging my parents are dire, you have to be wise and smart or else you'll regret your stupidity later on," he warned her again.

Rebecca released a deep sigh and nodded her head.

Corbin was shaking his head because his instinct is telling him that the moment Rebecca got her powers back - she will find his parents and kill them.

He studied her face for a few minutes... then left the room.

Rebecca breathed deeply. The desire to get her revenge is so strong it consumed her mind. She gritted her teeth in anger. 'I'm sorry, Corbin. Even if you are the one who save my life I can't obey your command. I need to fulfill my revenge and kill your parents whether you like it or not!'

She looked at the golden necklace on her neck. "I'll finally get rid of you tomorrow!" she said with a smile.

Meanwhile...

Downstairs, in the living room.

"You no longer need to find your sister," Corbin told Ebony.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because the moment I removed the golden necklace from Rebecca's neck, she can already transform herself back to her image," Corbin answered.

Ebony's brows furrowed in confusion. "A-are you going to return her power? She will surely take revenge on your parents!" she warned him.

"I know, but maybe not... I hope she won't do it for her own sake," he said.

"So... you just let her go like that... as in free like a bird?" Ebony asked.

"Yeah... by doing this... sooner or later... she will let her guard down and she will lead me to Laura," Corbin smirked. "I'll take my leave now... I'll come back tomorrow evening to remove the necklace from her neck," he said. He turned around, walked towards the door, and exited.