Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 49
Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Selene
The next morning, I honestly thought I was still dreaming.
Because when I walked into the room and saw the table, covered from one end to the other with brightly wrapped boxes, glittering ribbons, and expensive-looking trinkets, I froze. My mouth fell open.
“What…” I pointed at the mountain of gifts in disbelief. “Are you serious? Is this all for me?”
Kane grinned proudly, leaning against the table. “Yes, Selene. We gave Sienna hers already. These are yours.”
1 blinked. “All of them?”
“Every single one,” Cross said, his tone lazy as usual, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips.
I turned back to the table, my heart racing. Everything looked so beautiful. Silk ribbons, rare crystals, perfumes that smelled like wildflowers after rain. Everything must have been so expensive.
“You rascals,” Father’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts.
I turned around and found him glaring at my brothers. His scowl was deep enough to scare the maids standing near the doorway.
It wasn’t just Father, though. Stepmother was glaring too, her arms crossed tightly. And Sienna, standing perfectly poised beside her, looked ready to breathe fire.
Cross blinked innocently. “What did we do?”
Sienna scoffed, her hands on her hips. “What did you do? Is that not obvious?”
Kane furrowed his brows. “What? We brought you a lot of gifts too.”
“That’s not the point!” Sienna huffed, flipping her perfect hair back. “I don’t care about your gifts! It’s the fact that you cheated! We all agreed to give sister fair gifts so no one would get jealous, but you two went behind our backs and brought this much. That’s not fair!”
My stepmother nodded firmly, glaring at the boys. “You two are such scoundrels! Why would you cheat like that?”
Kane just shrugged, completely unbothered. “It’s not our fault you guys are slow. Maybe you should cheat next year.”
Father’s face turned red, and his hand shot out to grab a vase. “Nobody stop me. I’m going to teach these fools a lesson!”
Sienna immediately pointed and said, “Yes, Father, I support you! Beat up Kane, I know he was the one who made Cross do
it!”
Kane’s eyes widened. “What?! No, I wasn’t! It was Cross’s idea! Come on, Cross, tell them!”
Cross crossed his arms, his expression calm and unreadable. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kane gasped. “You backstabber!”
Before anyone could stop him, Father started chasing Kane around the room, brandishing the vase like a weapon.
“W-wait! I’m serious, it wasn’t me!” Kane yelped, dodging behind the table as Father shouted something about ‘ungrateful
children.’
12:50 Tue, Dec 23 MG.
Chapter 49
The scene was ridiculous, and yet, everyone was laughing. Even Sienna, and Stepmother.
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. Watching Kane’s panicked expression while Cross casually sipped tea from the corner, it
was too much.
For a moment, I let myself sink into the scene. The sound of laughter, the warmth, the easy teasing. My heart felt full.
My parents loved me.
My brothers cared for me.
Sienna wished me happiness.
And Prince Adrian wanted me.
I smiled to myself. Everything was perfect.
‘Are you sure about that?’ A whisper brushed against my ear.
The laughter in the room didn’t stop, but my heart did. I froze, eyes darting around.
“Who said that?” I whispered under my breath.
No one looked my way. My family was still laughing, Father now chasing Kane out of the room entirely. There was no one behind me. Nothing but the faint echo of the whisper that shouldn’t have been there at all.
I slowly touched my head, frowning.
Maybe I misheard. Yes. Maybe that was all. But still, why did my chest suddenly feel so cold?
The laughter was still ringing faintly in my ears when the whisper came again.
Remember, Selene. Remember who you are, and the promise you made to yourself. Remember the trauma. The hardship you had to go through. Do not make light of your deaths.
My fingers trembled.
‘You lived nine times, and died nine times. Do not fall into an illusion that will never be real’
The
room spun. I couldn’t breathe or move.
My eyes darted toward my family, but my vision blurred for a moment before it cleared, and suddenly, they were all looking at me. Concern etched into their faces.
“Selene?” Stepmother touched my shoulder, her brows knitted together. “What is it, dear? Why do you look so pale?”
“Selene?” Sienna’s voice followed. “Sister, what’s wrong?”
Kane, Cross, even Father, all of them were looking at me with that same worried expression. But behind them stood me.
Four of me.
I felt my breath hitch as my eyes darted from one to the other. The child, tiny, wide-eyed, clutching a ragged doll to her chest. The teenager, eyes hollow, bruises hidden under her sleeves. The Luna, regal and broken all at once, her crown tilted slightly as blood streaked her cheek. And the warrior, battle-worn and fierce, blade buried in her stomach.
They all looked the same, their black and white hair cascading over their shoulders, those blue eyes piercing through me as if demanding I remember.
Chapter 49
They didn’t move. They just stared. And something inside me shattered.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“Ah,” I whispered, looking down at my trembling hands. “I see. It was all an illusion.”
Sienna blinked. “Huh? What are you saying? Selene, you’re not making any sense. Maybe you should rest-”
I sighed, the sound heavy, and blinked back the sting in my eyes. When I looked up again, my voice was calm.
“I do not have a family.”
They froze.
“What?” Stepmother whispered, her voice trembling. “We… are your family. How can you say that?”
I pulled my hand away from her touch, the warmth of her skin suddenly feeling like fire. Slowly, I stood, my gaze sweeping across all of them.
Father’s brows furrowed. Sienna’s lips trembled. Kane and Cross exchanged frightened glances.
“You heard right,” I said softly. “I do not have a family.”
I looked past them, past their faces that once looked so full of love and care. The air seemed to shift, the illusion trembling like glass ready to break.
“But, I will build one. It just won’t be with you.”
Sienna flinched as if I had struck her. She shook her head rapidly, her eyes wide and wet. “Selene, please, stop talking like that. Did we do something wrong? Please tell us, we’ll fix it, I promise!”
Her hand clutched my dress desperately, but I didn’t look at her.
I’d lived too long. Died too many times. And in every life, they all led me to my death.
So I let out a shaky breath, my gaze steady and cold.
“It’s too late for that. I will no longer fight for something that is not worth fighting for.”
The illusion began to crack.
“No-no, please!” Sienna yelled, echoing as her face twisted in terror. But her body was already dissolving, flaking into dust like painted ash. My father’s figure blurred, my stepmother’s hand reached out, and then shattered.
The temple, and the gifts melted away like frost under flame until there was nothing left.
Without thinking, I walked forward. My steps left faint traces in the snow that had appeared underfoot. The air was crisp and quiet, so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.
I was alone again. Or so I thought.
“Selene.” The sound of my name rippled through the silence.
I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat.
There, standing against the swirling snow, was a massive white wolf. Her fur shimmered like starlight, eyes glowing a soft, celestial blue. She exuded power. “You passed my trial.”
“Mira…”
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel For Fast Update Or More Novels: 
Join Our WhatsApp Channel For Fast Update Or More Novels: