Chapter 77\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted the porcelain cup to my lips and took a slow sip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tea was sweet at first, then faintly bitter as it settled on my tongue, a strange combination, but oddly soothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I lowered the cup, I saw Princess Avery staring at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her own cup was suspended halfway to her mouth, her fingers frozen around the handle. She looked as though she still couldn\u2019t quite believe I was here, sitting across from her at a small golden table draped with embroidered silk. The sunlight filtering through the windows hit her hair, making it shimmer as she blinked at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled and gently set my cup down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for inviting me, Princess Avery. The tea works wonders, especially after the meeting today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery set her cup down so abruptly it clinked against the saucer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard about that,\u201d she said, leaning forward instantly, her expression shifting into worry. \u201cI wanted to come, but Mother wouldn\u2019t let me anywhere near the hall. Did anyone try to bully you? Tell me who. I\u2019ll make sure they regret it. I\u2019ll put them in their place, and make them eat shit if I have to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind her, Molly nearly dropped the tray she was holding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Highness,\u201d she hissed, horrified. \u201cPlease be mindful of your words.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Molly turned to me and bowed stiffly. \u201cI deeply apologize, Lady Selene-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I held up a hand, unable to stop the small laugh escaping my lips. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Molly,\u201d I said, then looked at Avery with an amused smile. \u201cAnd besides, when they tried to mess with me today, I gave them shit to eat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, both of them just stared at me as if I\u2019d grown a second head. Then Avery burst into laughter. She held her stomach, her eyes sparkling. \u201cI\u2019m glad you did that. Serves them right!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I found myself smiling as I watched her. But the warmth in my chest reminded me of something I needed to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I folded my hands on my lap and looked at her sincerely. \u201cThere\u2019s something I want to apologize for.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery blinked, her laughter fading into confusion. \u201cApologize? For what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor my rudeness,\u201d I said. \u201cYou invited me many times, yet I never came. I don\u2019t have any excuse that justifies that. You didn\u2019t deserve to be ignored. Please forgive me, princess Avery, From now on, I promise I\u2019ll try to visit whenever I have the time. So we can spend time together,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery stared at me for a long moment. She didn\u2019t even breathe. Behind her, Molly gently nudged her arm. \u201cPrincess?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery jerked back to life, her cheeks turning a rosy pink, \u201cI-I would like that,\u201d she said quietly, her voice softer than I had ever heard it. \u201cThank you, Lady Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene,\u201d I corrected gently. \u201cYou can call me Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her blush deepened. \u201cThen\u2026 Avery,\u201d she replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In every past life, I was always alone. I had warriors who respected me, men who fought at my side, and died for me. To me, they were brothers. But I never had female friends. No woman wanted to stand beside someone whose hands were stained with blood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
People feared the woman who won wars. They respected me, yes, but respect is not companionship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So having even one friend in this life felt nice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery leaned closer, eyes bright with curiosity. \u201cSo? How was it, Selene? Did you really reject my brother?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, I simply stared at her. She was sweet, and kind. But her brother was the man who had dragged me through hell in every lifetime. The man whose choices, directly or indirectly, pushed me toward death.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Could I really be her friend?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Could I really allow myself to grow closer to her, knowing her brother had destroyed me again and again? Knowing that when the day came for my revenge, she might be caught in the aftermath?\u00a0<\/p>\n
And when that happened, what would she think of me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene? Are you okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cTo answer your question, no, I will not be your brother\u2019s mate. I\u2019ve already spoken with the Alpha and the Luna, and they accepted my decision. I hope you can also-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t even finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery suddenly released a loud exhale, her shoulders dropping in relief before a grin stretched across her face so wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, thank the goddess.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked at her. \u201c\u2026What?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cgods, did I say that out loud?\u201d Avery\u2019s eyes went wide as she slapped both hands over her mouth. \u201cThat came out wrong, I didn\u2019t mean it like that. I mean\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs, amusement tugging at my lips despite my best effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI see,\u201d I murmured, tilting my head just slightly. \u201cThen what did you mean, Avery?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUgh, I sound like a terrible person right now.\u201d Avery groaned, straightening in her seat. She drew in a deep breath, then met my eyes with sincerity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I meant,\u201d she said more firmly, \u201cis that I\u2019m relieved you\u2019re not Adrian\u2019s mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brows lifted. \u201c\u2026Relieved?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d She nodded without hesitation. \u201cI love my brother. He\u2019s handsome, responsible, respected, every woman in the pack would happily throw themselves at his feet just to get his attention. But he doesn\u2019t deserve you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery continued, her voice gentler now. \u201cYou deserve someone better. Someone who will put you first, who will actually see you, instead of staring at a duty list.\u201d She sighed. \u201cAdrian is\u2026 well, stiff. Everything he does is for the pack. He puts the pack above people, and emotions. And I understand why, he\u2019s been raised that way since he was a child.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused, studying my face with gentleness I wasn\u2019t used to receiving from anyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that\u2019s exactly why he isn\u2019t right for you. After everything that happened to you, you shouldn\u2019t have to become second to anyone ever again. You deserve someone who puts you before anything else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, I couldn\u2019t speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a strange warmth spreading in my chest. In my past lives, I had twisted her words, convinced she was telling me I wasn\u2019t good enough for her brother, that she looked down on me the same way others did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But now, hearing her speak sincerely, she wasn\u2019t protecting Adrian from me. She was protecting me from Adrian. Protecting me from another life of waiting, suffering, and dying for someone who would never choose me first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery had always been on my side. And I had never realized it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cThank you, Avery. You\u2019re a good friend.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She blinked, surprised. \u201cFriend? We\u2019re\u2026 friends?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said. \u201cFriends.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face lit up, bright and genuine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was the beginning of a real friendship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 77 Chapter 77\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 I lifted the porcelain cup to my lips and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27871\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}