Fated To Not Just One But Three novel Chapter 448

448 /449

Chapter 448: I didn’t Kill Her

Selene’s POV

The moment Olivia fainted, I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t stand it; rather, I just ran out of the room. I was being suffocated, and if I didn’t leave, I might have passed out myself too. Before anyone could stop me, I turned and ran. My footsteps echoed down the long hallway, my heart pounding loudly. I didn’t know where I was going — I just needed air, space, anything that wasn’t that room. By the time I burst into the garden, the night air hit me hard. I stumbled forward, gripping a stone pillar as I tried to breathe. The moonlight bathed everything in silver, but it didn’t calm me. It only made the ache sharper.

Then I heard footsteps behind me — fast, urgent.

"Selene!"

I turned, and my stomach twisted. Frederick. He looked... wrecked. His usual calm was gone. His eyes were wide with worry as he reached for me. "Selene—"

"Don’t," I hissed, jerking back. "Don’t touch me."

He froze, his hand halfway in the air. "I just wanted to make sure you’re alright."

"Alright?" I let out a broken laugh. "You think anyone in that room is alright?"

He looked down, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I’m sorry," he said quietly. "I didn’t come sooner. I didn’t know—"

"Stop." My voice cracked as I cut him off. "Just stop lying."

He frowned slightly. "Selene—"

"I hate you."

He blinked, startled, his brows drawing together. "I know you’re angry," he said softly, "but this isn’t the time—"

"No," I interrupted, my voice sharper this time. "You don’t understand."

His eyes met mine, confusion spreading across his face.

"I don’t mean I hate you because of what happened," I said, shaking my head slowly. "I mean, I hate you. Truly. Deeply. And I don’t want to pretend anymore."

He looked at me, completely lost. "What are you saying?"

My hands curled into fists. My chest rose and fell quickly as I took a shaky breath. "You remember a woman named Deborah?"

The name made him still. His eyes narrowed. "... Deborah?" he repeated carefully, as if the word were a ghost he hadn’t expected to hear. "You mean—"

"Deborah Voss," I finished for him. "My mother."

His face went pale.

"Yes," I whispered. "I’m her daughter. The woman you killed."

His lips parted, but no sound came out.

Frederick’s eyes widened slightly, his voice barely a whisper. "You’re her daughter...?"

I nodded slowly, my chest rising and falling. "Yes."

For a moment, he actually looked... happy. His lips parted in disbelief, and for a split second something warm flickered in his eyes. "Selene," he said quietly, as if tasting the name. "You’re that Selene? Deborah’s little girl?"

My jaw clenched. "Yes."

He smiled faintly, almost in awe. "She spoke about you all the time. She—"

I cut him off coldly. "The Deborah you killed."

His face went blank. "Killed?" he repeated, his tone shifting. "Deborah is... dead?"

My blood boiled, and before I could hold back my emotions, I slapped him hard across the face. "Don’t you dare pretend!" I shouted, my voice trembling with anger. "You know exactly what you did!"