Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 228: I’m Not Your Pawn!

Warlock Ch 228. I'm Not Your Pawn!

Victoria's heart clenched painfully. She wanted to say no, to tell him that he meant more to her than any plan or strategy. But the words wouldn't come. Because deep down, she knew that while her feelings for Damian were real, she had still used him.

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"I don't know how to separate the two," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Damian. I always have, even when you were Kaelan. But I also know how dangerous this world is. And if I want to keep you alive, I have to make choices—hard choices."

Damian's eyes softened slightly at her words, but the hurt didn't entirely fade. "You love me, but you still don't trust me enough to make my own choices."

"It's not about trust," Victoria said again, more firmly this time. "It's about doing whatever it takes to keep you alive. Even if it means you hate me for it."

Damian ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it, Victoria. You can't keep doing this."

"I know," she said quietly. "But I don't know how else to be. This is who I am."

For a moment, they just stood there. Finally, Damian let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know what to say anymore."

Victoria remained silent, her expression unreadable. It was clear that both of them were wrestling with emotions that neither wanted to confront fully. Damian took a deep breath, steadying himself before speaking again.

"But I will say it again," Damian began, his voice steady but carrying something that made Victoria flinch slightly. "I am not your pawn. Neither Cassius nor Evelyn. If you truly love me, treat me as your equal partner. I don't need something like what you did in my room last time."

Victoria's lips parted as if to respond, but Damian held up a hand to stop her. "Be honest with me. That's enough."

Without waiting for a reply, Damian turned on his heel and walked away, heading toward Cassius and Evelyn, who had been watching the exchange from a distance. He could feel their gazes on him—curious, concerned, maybe even a little proud—but he didn't acknowledge it. He just wanted to leave.

"You okay?" Evelyn asked softly as he approached.

Damian gave her a tired smile. "Yeah. Let's go home. Our mission's complete, right?"

She nodded, her expression sympathetic. She knew Damian well enough to recognize when he didn't want to talk about something, and this was definitely one of those times.

With a flick of his fingers, Damian dismissed the Crimson Devourer, the massive beast vanishing in a burst of crimson energy.

Evelyn's eyes briefly flicked to Victoria, who was still standing where Damian had left her. But something was different. The usual arrogance in her posture was gone, replaced by something… quieter. Thoughtful. She wasn't the cold, calculating queen they had come to expect. She looked like someone processing emotions she didn't quite know how to handle.

Cassius noticed it too. He glanced at Damian, then back at Victoria, before letting out a sigh. With a snap of his fingers, Valorian disappeared as well, the towering summon dissolving into particles.

Cassius didn't approach her, but his voice carried clearly across the space between them. "Victoria."

She turned toward him, her crimson eyes locking with his. There was no hostility in Cassius's gaze, but there was something else—something serious, something important.

"If you love him, stop hurting him," Cassius said, his tone calm but firm. "You only know a piece of his story, but you don't know the pain he went through."

Victoria's expression faltered for the briefest moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face.

Cassius continued, his voice unwavering. "He always acts strong and carefree, like nothing can touch him. Like he has no burden. He does it so no one worries about him. That's how he's always been. But deep inside…"

Cassius trailed off, his eyes softening. "He's tired. Tired of being used, tired of being treated like a tool. He's been through that before. Back when he was Kaelan, everyone wanted something from him—his power, his skills, his loyalty. And when he didn't give them what they wanted, they turned on him. You don't know what that did to him."

Victoria's fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to argue, to say she had her reasons, but she couldn't. Not when the truth was staring her in the face.

Evelyn stepped in, her voice gentler but no less firm. "If you really care about him, stop treating him like a piece on your chessboard. He's more than that. He's… well, he's Damian. And if you keep pushing him away, one day he won't come back."

Victoria didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked down, her mind racing. She remembered Kaelan—his strength, his kindness. And now, standing before his reincarnation, she realized she was making the same mistakes all over again.

"I didn't want to hurt him," Victoria said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"But you did," Cassius said bluntly. "And you'll keep doing it if you don't change."

Victoria stood there, silent, her usual regal composure replaced by something else—conflict. For someone who always seemed to be in control, she looked... lost.

Cassius added, "You can give our payment to my place." He turned on his heel and began walking toward where Damian and Evelyn were waiting. His casual tone and nonchalant attitude made it clear he wasn't looking for any more emotional baggage. As far as he was concerned, the mission was done, and that was all that mattered.

Victoria remained where she was, watching them go. The cold wind swept across the empty battlefield, carrying with it the lingering scent of blood and ash. Her eyes stayed on Damian's retreating form, a pang of regret stabbing through her chest. She knew Cassius was right. She knew they all were. But knowing and acting were two very different things, and for someone like Victoria—someone who had spent centuries mastering the art of control—letting go wasn't easy.

"I'll fix this," she whispered to herself, clenching her fists. "I promise…"