Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 182

‘That the people who still cared for and loved me might one day abandon me, hate me, and kill me…’

Even these people who love me so much.

Once Adeline understood that reality no longer followed the story’s set path, she tried not to turn away from the things twisted by her presence.

She tried to apologize for her mistakes and understand any resentment directed at her.

Because they didn’t know what Adeline knew.

They didn’t know how relentlessly the world, once bound to a fixed story, had tried to cast “Adeline” aside.

They thought she had simply moved on, happy and carefree, after leaving them behind.

Adeline didn’t want people to understand the depth of her suffering. In fact, she wished they would never know.

That’s why, even when everyone who knew her decided to imprison her against her will, she accepted it. She had no complaints.

But hearing Shane say he didn’t care if she died—that was unbearable. He’d even said she was a burden and that he was tired of her.

No matter how much he hated her, wasn’t this too much, especially in a moment like this?

After all, there had been a time…

“You said you loved me…”

You said you loved me.

You said losing me was scarier than being hated.

Adeline, breath hitching, burst into tears.

“I… I like you too, but you never trusted me! You wouldn’t even let me speak, and now you say you’re tired of me!”

“……”

“What do you want me to do…?”

Unable to hold back her tears, Adeline bit her lip, swallowing down curses. She didn’t want to say anything else she’d regret.

If she’d chosen to bear her pain alone, then it was only right to remain silent until the end. Whining because her pain wasn’t understood would just be childish.

She closed her eyes completely, unable to calm her emotions.

She didn’t want to see what expression Shane wore or even if he was looking at her at all.

“Shut up! Damn it, I picked the wrong hostage…”

“You shut up! Stop yelling—my eardrums are going to burst…”

The blade at her neck, the threat of pain—it meant nothing now.

Her life hadn’t been smooth enough that the mere threat of a blade below her throat would scare her.

When Adeline flared back at him defiantly, Harrison gritted his teeth.

If she truly was worthless as a hostage, just as Shane had said, there was no reason to keep her, but then again, there was no reason to spare her either.

At the very least, he hoped this woman held some significance to the boy holding Kaitlyn. In the midst of the confusion, he might just have a chance to rescue her.

Harrison gripped his sword with intent, bracing himself to slice her neck.

And then, the man who had been standing there coldly stepped forward.

There was no time to retreat or resist.

The man’s face was suddenly close, his expression twisted with a sinister smile.

“Go ahead. Kill her.”

Shane gripped the blade barehanded.

Adeline’s eyes widened in shock as she watched blood trickle down his wrist.

“Even if you want to die, I’ll make sure you can’t.”

“Ugh…”

“I’ll cut off the limbs of everyone you know, gouge out their eyes, and you’ll have to eat every piece of them—with that woman, together.”

Harrison froze in place, his body rigid.

At that moment, a familiar scent brushed past his nose.

Realizing it was Genevieve’s scent, Harrison took a sharp breath.

Before he could process it, a sharp blade pierced his side. There was no sensation, no pain. Harrison’s eyes widened in shock.

Beneath his chin was Genevieve.

In the blink of an eye, she had snatched Lloyd’s dagger from where it had been pressed to Kaitlyn’s throat and lunged at him.

Genevieve gripped the hilt of the dagger embedded in her husband’s abdomen and, gritting her teeth, slashed diagonally again before pulling it free. Blood spurted like a fountain, and Harrison’s knees buckled.

Seizing the moment, Adeline pulled herself away from him.

Genevieve gazed impassively down at her husband as he lay on the ground, then wiped her bloodied cheek with the back of her hand.

The gesture was futile. Her hands were already drenched in blood. Genevieve steadied her grip on the dagger and took a deep breath.

“Please, let me finish this, Your Grace.”

Biting her lip to hide the tremble in her voice, she continued.

“This is my share of this responsibility.”