Chapter 18: Avey

Lucian's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped into the lavish, glowing interior of the hotel. Each step felt heavy, weighed down by a mixture of disappointment, bitterness, and a hollow sense of defeat. His hands clutched the bouquet of Kadupul flowers, their beauty almost cruel now, mocking the emotions swirling inside him.He noticed the way people around him glanced at him their curious eyes quickly recognizing the flowers in his hand and understanding what they meant. Some smiled knowingly, others raised their eyebrows, silently gossiping.

But Lucian didn't care. His heart wasn't in it anymore. The once excited nerves, the flutter of anticipation, had long since died. He wasn't here to win anyone's heart. Not anymore. He was here to bury his own.

As he walked further into the hotel's open restaurant, he kept his distance from the tables, trying to blend into the background. The space was filled with laughter and conversation, families and couples enjoying their time together, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Lucian. He kept his eyes low, hoping no one would notice the darkness clouding his face.

But even as he tried to avoid the world around him, his eyes were drawn to her the one he was trying so desperately to forget.

Avey.

She sat at a table near the large glass window, where the sunlight poured in, casting a soft glow around her. She was as stunning as ever, dressed in an elegant floral one-piece dress, simple yet captivating. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, catching the light in just the right way.

She looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale a dream that Lucian could never seem to wake up from.

His heart clenched painfully at the sight of her. For a moment, he felt mesmerized, as he always had been by her beauty. But then the memories hit him like a tidal wave, and his fists clenched tightly around the bouquet. No, Lucian. Not again. You can't fall for this anymore.

He forced his gaze to harden, his emotions to shut down. He couldn't let her pull him back in.

What hurt the most wasn't just seeing her, but seeing her with him. Sitting across from Avey was Victor Vanez, the protagonist of this twisted world Lucian had found himself in. Victor, with his carefully crafted charm, sat there sipping his coffee, his gaze occasionally flickering over to Avey.

Lucian's stomach twisted in knots. He remembered how much effort he had put into inviting Avey here, how he had planned everything meticulously, pouring every ounce of his heart into this moment. And now, instead of sharing it with him, she had invited someone else someone who had no right to be there.he know she did it to hurt him in last time

Victor wasn't just any man. He was the central figure in this world, the hero of the story, the one destined to rise above everyone else. And Avey was meant to be one of his heroines. Lucian had learned all of this when the system had revealed the truth to him when he turned eighteen.

He had discovered that he was nothing more than a side character, a background figure in a plot that didn't care about him. His love for Avey had never been part of the plan. He wasn't the villain of the story he wasn't even important enough for that. He was just… there, a minor piece in a grander scheme he could never control.

well he was just supposed to be brother and son of one of the heroines afterall...as for affection or something with avey it wasn't in plan but due to luciam pracence that changed...but at end plot didn't changed much

Lucian watched them from a distance, his gaze cold and detached. The world hadn't changed. Nothing had changed. He had come back in time, but everything was still exactly the same as it had been in his past life. Avey and Victor, sitting together, just as before. Avey, oblivious to his feelings.

Victor, manipulating his way through every situation with calculated ease.

"So the world hasn't changed, huh?" Lucian whispered to himself, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Everything's still the same."

His heart ached, but not in the same way it had before. This time, there was no crushing sadness, no desperation. Just a cold emptiness. He was done with this. He had given everything his time, his heart, his soul. And for what?

To be ignored, overlooked, and cast aside?

Lucian let out a small, mocking laugh, shaking his head. He had been so stupid, so naive to think that anything would change just because he had come back. He watched as Avey sat there, staring blankly at her phone, while Victor continued sipping his coffee, as if he hadn't a care in the world.

And then, something strange happened.

Lucian saw Avey flinch. Her hand trembled as she raised her head, her eyes darting around the room, searching. She looked almost… lost, as if something had suddenly clicked in her mind. She glanced over at Victor, who smiled at her, but she didn't return it. Instead, her eyes kept scanning the room until, finally, they locked onto his.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stop. Their eyes met.

Lucian's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly shoved the feeling down, locking it away in the depths of his chest. No more, Lucian. You're done with this.

He kept his expression blank, his gaze cold and unfeeling. God-level acting skills, he reminded himself. You can't let her see anything. He stared at her for a few moments longer, then slowly let his gaze drift over to Victor, as if mocking her with the silent message: This is who you chose.

Avey just stood there, frozen, her body trembling slightly. Tears welled up in her eyes, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but no words came. Her emotions finally spilled over, tears streaming down her face in uncontrollable waves.

Lucian felt his chest tighten, but he didn't let it show. He wouldn't let her break him again.

Victor, noticing Avey's sudden distress, jumped up from his seat, rushing over to her side. He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently as he tried to figure out what was wrong. Lucian couldn't hear what Victor was saying, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore. He had seen all he needed to see. Searᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

For a moment, his eyes lingered on Victor's hand as it gripped Avey's shoulder, and a surge of anger flared up inside him. But instead of reacting, Lucian let out a soft, mocking laugh under his breath.

Lucian remembered the word's...He hesitated to touch her and someone hugged her without permission.this words do seem painful right he smiled

Without another word, Lucian turned on his heel and started walking out of the restaurant, his footsteps echoing in his ears like a death march. He didn't look back.

Victor continued to shake avey gently, trying to get her attention,

As Lucian walked away, the bouquet of Kadupul flowers still clutched in his hand, he felt nothing but emptiness. The flowers, once a symbol of his love and dedication, now felt like a cruel joke, a reminder of everything he had wasted.

"This is the end," he whispered to himself as he stepped out of the hotel and into the cold, unforgiving world. "There's no going back."now we aren't looking back ever again... Never

as i said last time...it is last time

And for the first time, Lucian meant it. He was finally ready to let go.

.....

good news guys imm getting contracted

due to all you guys love and support...i am very happy

well forgive me for my late update...i was actually sick he thought of not updating ch for today but contract accept notification changed my mind...so here we are haha

don't forget to give powerstones and collection

also give some incoroging words for authors haha