They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 281 - 281 How Much I Hated You

Chapter 281: How Much I Hated You Chapter 281: How Much I Hated You His jaw was tight.

His eyes flickered with something heavy, something painful.

“This…” he began, voice low, “is a letter from Ruth.” Everyone stilled.

He held it up like it weighed more than it should.

“She sent this to me just before they were imprisoned.

Before communications were cut off.” Nnenna moved quietly to his side.

She didn’t say anything, but gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

Just a touch.

That was all.

But it was enough.

The trembling in his hand lessened as if her calm had transferred to him.

No magic.

No system cheat.

Just her presence, solid, unshaken.

“She wrote down everything,” Abuchi said, straightening slightly.

“The positions of remaining loyalist soldiers, the weak points in the occupation routes, a few supply locations, and even some hidden pathways they used when evacuating the palace.

If the Council had approved sending reinforcements sooner… if our second brother hadn’t stalled…” He didn’t finish that thought.

He didn’t need to.

Everyone could hear the anger buried beneath his calm.

And the guilt.

After a moment of silence, he inhaled sharply and continued, his voice more composed.

“Anyway… I’ll read it out.” The group leaned in, even Karen, grudgingly so.

Whatever tension had been in the air, it was now replaced by something else.

Hope.

Or maybe desperation dressed up as hope.

Nnenna stayed close to him, her hand slipping back to her side as she listened.

She wasn’t just a tagalong anymore.

She was part of this.

—————- To Abuchi, From Ruth (Read in a safe place only) Abuchi, I miss you.

Every second.

Every breath.

I don’t know how long we have before everything falls apart here.

They’re closing in on us faster than we expected.

If nothing changes, we’ll be imprisoned, or worse.

I’m scared… but not just for me, for everything we’ve been fighting for.

I’m writing this in a rush, so please forgive the mess.

I just couldn’t wait any longer.

I need your help.

Lionara’s help.

I believe in you.

That’s why I’m including information no one else has, not even the palace staff.

I’m counting on you to come, but only if it’s safe.

Promise me that.

You can’t use your real identity.

They’re already tracking major movements.

If you take the faster route or fly in directly, they will intercept you.

Word spreads quickly here, and someone on the inside is feeding them information.

Here’s the only path I trust Board a commercial flight to Ruby, then take a land shuttle to Marka, don’t stay too long, only enough to refuel and change identities.

From there, quietly cross into Truns, and then head into Jupp under cargo transport credentials.

Avoid electronic tracking at all costs.

And Abuchi… if the wind forgets the shape of the falcon in Marka, remember that rivers can carry what wheels cannot.

You’ll understand what I mean if things go wrong.

From Jupp, cross the southern border into Lumna.

That’s where the Black Forest Zone begins, the one people now call the Forest of Regret.

You’ll need strong lights, heat patches, and if you can get one, a sonic field repeller.

That forest doesn’t just swallow paths… it messes with your mind.

Once you reach the edge near Purlit, find the old checkpoint station, it looks abandoned.

Beneath it is a hidden entrance to a forgotten service tunnel.

It leads straight into Purlit’s town hall basement.

No guards, no cameras.

But it’s narrow, dark, and unstable.

Watch your footing.

From the town hall… you’ll have to improvise.

Patrols are everywhere.

But I know you.

You’ll find a way.

Please, come soon, if you can.

But if it’s too dangerous… don’t.

I’ll still understand.

Just know that I love you.

Always.

No matter what happens.

Ruth P.S.

Burn this letter after reading.

Or eat it.

I’m serious.

———– “This is it, guys,” Abuchi said, spreading the map on the makeshift table at the center of their meeting space.

His previous sad countenance gone.

But everyone knew he was probably just pretending to be alright.

“Let’s go over our route.” The group leaned in as he traced the roads with his finger, outlining their path toward Purlit.

They reviewed when to move, which roads to take to avoid patrols, and how fast they had to travel.

Getting into the kingdom undetected would be the first challenge.

Ruth’s instructions had included entry points, weak spots in their border defenses, and exactly where they needed to go once inside.

The room filled with quiet murmurs as each person asked questions, offered insights, and committed the plan to memory.

Every detail mattered.

One mistake could cost them everything.

By the time the final checkpoint was confirmed, the first light of dawn was starting to touch the edges of the sky.

They didn’t have much time.

One by one, they left to prepare for departure that night, just as planned.

As Nnenna turned to follow them, Abuchi reached out and gently held her back.

His expression was serious.

“Remember what you promised,” he said, voice low.

“Any sign of danger, any, you run.

Don’t try to be brave.

Don’t try to stay behind or help.

You run.

Just like you said you would.” She nodded, but before she could respond, he continued.

“And… I’m sorry for the way John and Karen spoke to you.” “It’s okay,” she replied, her voice calm.

“People can be like that sometimes.” “No,” he said, shaking his head.

“It’s not just them.

It’s… me.

They treat you that way because of how I treated you.

Because of the way I used to talk about you, to them.

How much I hated you.

That’s why they don’t respect you.

Even if I tell them to stop now, they probably won’t listen.

I’ll have to prove it through actions.” Nnenna was quiet.

She didn’t need him to grovel.

His apology, genuine and unguarded, was more than she had expected.

“I’m sorry I put you in this position,” he added, more softly now.

—————————— Happy Reading!