Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 201: Shattered Dream (1)

Chapter 201: Shattered Dream (1)

Silence enveloped the dimly lit room after Alec told Vincent the reason why he needed Anthony’s help. Vincent was the kind who wouldn’t rest his mind unless he found the answers to his questions, and Alec knew he would need to tell him the truth behind Lauren’s condition at some point.

Although neither of them would admit how deep their bond was, the two had been like brothers for a long time, benefiting from each other’s strengths as they took different paths. It was the reason why Alec did not hesitate to tell the truth to Vincent.

Besides that, Alec knew he needed all the help he could get to find the cure for Lauren, and Vincent wasn’t just a simple mischievous womanizer as he looked, but someone with a strong foothold in his kingdom and powerful connections.

"If it is a curse from over a thousand years ago, I must say, it won’t be easy," Vincent muttered quietly, his playfulness gone now. His serious eyes were looking down at his glass of blood, thoughtful.

"I am aware of that," Alec said dryly.

"Is it the reason why you asked Amber to get you those books?"

"Yes."

Vincent’s eyes narrowed. "What exactly is your relationship with that woman? I heard a lot about her. She is strict and upright. She doesn’t do crazy things like that for anyone." There was a malicious glint in his tone, but he was sure Alec couldn’t be involved with Amber on a romantic level considering how much he cared for his wife.

Alec replied with a question, "Why do you seem so curious? Do you think I am having an illicit relationship with her?"

Vincent chuckled. "I cannot be certain, but I hope you do not." A smirk replaced his chuckle as he mused, "Lauren had somehow become a friend and I would not appreciate you cheating on her."

The edges of Alec’s lips rose as if what Vincent said was utterly ridiculous. He couldn’t see himself anywhere near other women. Lauren had entered his world and become its core. There was not a single thing that would make him turn his eyes on someone else.

* * *

Lauren’s heart raced as she found herself enveloped in an abyss of darkness. A gasp escaped her lips, echoing through the void. But in an instant, the darkness transformed, and she found herself standing amidst a foreboding forest. Tall, imposing trees loomed above her, their branches intertwining like gnarled fingers, casting long, eerie shadows that seemed to deepen the darkness.

Confusion washed over her as she surveyed her unfamiliar surroundings. This place was unknown to her, and of that she was certain. She wracked her brain, trying to recall how she had ended up in this peculiar place.

Flashes of memories flickered through her mind. She and Alec had visited Anthony’s house, only to discover Anthony was gone and his house was in a mess.

Then she remembered drifting off to sleep alone in their bed, the weariness of the day pulling her into slumber. With a growing sense of realization, she concluded that she must be in a dream. After all, her last recollection aligned with the act of falling asleep.

As she tentatively explored her surroundings, a mix of apprehension and fascination coursed through her veins. The dream manifested with vivid clarity, every detail etched into her consciousness. The rustling of leaves, the whisper of the wind, and the distant hoot of an owl created an ethereal symphony, amplifying the dreamlike atmosphere.

Lauren’s senses heightened as she ventured deeper into the dark forest, her mind attuned to every subtlety. The damp earth beneath her feet and the cool breeze caressing her skin felt surprisingly real, blurring the line between reality and dreams. Yet, deep down, she clung to the understanding that all of this was not real.

"Lauren..."

Lauren’s steps faltered as a voice called out her name from behind, causing her to turn on her heel. It was a gentle, feminine voice that resonated through the stillness of the dark forest. For a brief moment, she felt a flicker of recognition, as if the voice belonged to someone she knew. Yet, there was an unmistakable undertone of eeriness, a dissonance that sent shivers down her spine.

Her mind raced, desperately trying to place the voice. Lady Eleanor, the priestess who had appeared in her dream before, came to mind, but this voice held a different quality. It carried a peculiar blend of familiarity and foreignness, leaving her perplexed and uncertain.

"Who’s there?" she called out, her voice filled with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

Silence greeted her, stretching out like a veil between the trees. The forest remained still, as if holding its breath.

Then, just as she was about to dismiss the voice as a figment of her imagination, it returned, closer this time, whispering into her ear, "Lauren..."

Startled, Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. The voice seemed to caress her name, its eerie undertone wrapping around her senses like a spectral wisp.

Lauren’s voice quivered with a mix of anticipation and frustration as she called out, "Who are you? Show yourself."

Her gaze darted around the darkened forest, searching for any sign of the source of the haunting voice. But to her dismay, no figure materialized before her.

Anxiety crept into her as she continued her search, her eyes scanning the shadows.

"Have you forgotten me, darling..." The voice echoed once again, its sweet tones now tinged with a hint of familiarity. The words pierced through the depths of her being, sending a surge of recognition coursing through her veins.

Lauren’s breath hitched as realization washed over her like a wave crashing upon the shore. The way the voice addressed her, with its tender and affectionate quality, bore an uncanny resemblance to a voice she held dear in her heart—the voice of her mother.

But it was strange.

She had never dreamed of her mother for the entire thirteen years that had passed.

The voice, haunting yet tender, continued to resonate through the forest, playing with her emotions like a ghostly specter.

"Don’t you want to see me again, my dear one..." it echoed, its words both a beckoning invitation and an unsettling reminder of what was lost.

Lauren’s voice quivered with a mix of hope and vulnerability as she posed the question, her words laden with longing, "Is that you, Mother?"