Chapter 351: [Bonus Chapter]Guilt Consumes Me

Xiran arrived with a champagne bottle and a bouquet of fresh flowers at Rivan’s house. Irlana rushed out to greet him, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders, she hugged him tightly.

"I am so glad you are here," she beamed at Xiran, her eyes twinkling and he saw how healthy she seemed in contrast to two weeks ago.

"Can’t miss your delicious cooking," he affectionately kissed her forehead and handed her the bouquet and champagne.

"Flowers are for you, this is for my wine-loving friend," he pointed to the champagne bottle. She giggled and took a deep whiff of flowers.

"Thank you! Let me put them in a vase," she guided him to the living room.

"Where is Rivan?" he asked, seeing the living room was empty.

"He is inside the kitchen, lending me a hand," Irlana had set the flowers in a blue glass vase and placed it on the table. Xiran entered the kitchen and Irlana followed.

Rivan was wearing an apron and was immersed in stirring something in a pan.

"Seems like you turned my friend into a chef, he never liked to cook. It was always me or Rumail who had to cook for him," Xiran teased Irlana and she began to blush.

"Xi! I can’t let a lady cook alone," both friends hugged each other and laughed. Xiran could see Rivan had a relaxed posture and he seemed genuinely happy. He had not seen Rivan so content in a long time and hoped that the relationship between them would blossom.

They stood there talking for a while as Irlana handed him a glass of red nectar and he slowly began to sip. It tasted like cheap wine and smelled obnoxious. But after Aselia all the blood tasted like that to him.

He only drank for survival now, not pleasure. Finishing his glass, Irlana led him outside to meet her mother. She had been changing her attire and getting ready for the evening when Xiran arrived.

The silver-haired vampire had been avoiding meeting the woman who had been so wronged by his father. He knew she would loathe him as he was still the son of the man who had tortured and raped her.

She was a sophisticated lady with a pleasant smile, her eyes reminded him of the green ocean as they met his and she stood up from where her seat was. Her golden hair which had hints of grey at her temples was neatly tied in a braid. There was no hostility on her face as Xiran had expected, only a hearty smile.

"Ma’am!" Xiran greeted her with the utmost respect.

"Please, call me Elrine," she requested, her hands were clasped in front like a proper lady and Xiran wondered if she belonged to some notable Elven family. She seemed poised and composed, no wonder she had survived his father for this long.

Both of them took their seats on the sofa and Irlana went back to the kitchen after a brief introduction. Xiran was lost at words, he didn’t know what to say to her.

"Thank you for rescuing and sheltering us. I never thought we would escape him," she humbly broke the awkward silence that hung between them.

"I apologise that it took me so long to finally do what I should have done ages ago and yet I failed to get rid of him," she noticed how his hands clutched the sides of the sofa so hard that his knuckles and veins both protruded out. His elegant features hardened making his jawline appear razor-sharp. Irlana was right, he detested his father and was nothing like him.

"Please, no apology is required. It’s not your burden to bear."

"The self-incrimination I have endured over the years makes me feel guilty about everything he has done. People tell me it’s not my burden to carry and yet my shoulders slouch from it and I can’t help it," his voice danced at the precipice of despair and regret and he wasn’t done yet.

"I am sorry, for everything he has done to you and Irlana," it hurt him on such a deeper level, he almost found himself drowning in a lamenting ocean.

"I understand how you feel but until you let this go you won’t be free of his hold on you. I am free and yet the slightest noise in the night wakes me up and leaves me drenched in sweat and with a pounding heart. I fear he would walk through the door any second. But I am learning to overcome this and move on. You should too," she calmly added. It baffled Xiran, he hadn’t anticipated her to be this composed.

"I will try, thank you," and she politely smiled at him. Her eyes reminded him of Aselia and he couldn’t help but think about her and sigh.

Irlana soon informed them that dinner was served and they all sat down around the dining table. The clattering of cutlery against the ceramics began.

"Pasta is extremely delicious," Xiran addressed his sister and complimented her as he took a mouthful.

"Thank you!" She beamed at him.

"I made the sauce," Rivan pitched in not letting Irlana take all the credit.

"We get it Rivan, you helped," Xiran snorted making everyone laugh.

Rivan served Elrine and Irlana and this swelled Xiran’s heart seeing they were getting along well.

"Irlana, are you planning on rejoining Rivan?" Xiran inquired after a while.

"Yes, we have been thinking and I want to be part of the costume design department. It will keep me focused," Xiran knew it will be a good idea, she will have a purpose and will stay close to them.

"Elrine, how about you? Anything planned?" she was thrown into deep thought at his question. She had been a prisoner for so long that she didn’t know she had the freedom to choose what to do with her life.

"I haven’t given it much thought but if you have any options, I am open."

"I run an orphanage and I always need help there with kids. Whenever you are ready or feel like it, you are more than welcome to join," Xiran added taking a bite of celery. Her eyes shone at his words and her lips pulled up in a bright smile.

"That’s a wonderful offer and I would love to work with kids. Give me some time and I will love to work there."

Somehow this satisfied Xiran, he could see from her demeanour what a calm person she was just like his mother used to be. He respectfully nodded at her.