PAMPERED BY MY THREE BROTHERS: THE RETURN OF THE NEGLECTED HEIRESS-Chapter 1829: Love and Devotion

Is this where my life ends? A decades-long war... and it ends... tonight?

Two lifetimes—and if that were true, then Nathalie had been in this war longer than she could remember.

People say villains aren’t born, they’re made. That was true.

Nathalie wasn’t always this cruel. She was cruel in her own way, but back then, it was justified.

In the secret society, cruelty was a necessary trait for the aspiring head of a family. Otherwise, other secret families would not only see it as a weakness, but also exploit their resources and power. Everything she had done was necessary.

But because of her father’s betrayal—raising her to be the head of the Zorken Family only to give it away—something snapped in her. And her sisters, who were supposed to be supportive, simply took that order and fought her.

Taking advantage of the brewing turmoil within the Zorken Family, some other families saw their situation as an opportunity to bet on. They supported those they chose as if they were horses in a race.

With all of these combined, how could Nathalie stay down?

How could she not rage when she had seen the true face of the secret society behind its mask of elegance?

They say when one’s at death’s door, life flashes before their eyes. But somehow, nothing was flashing in hers as she watched the bullet spin in her direction. If anything, all that flashed were the sneers, the mockery she had seen and heard, and then silence.

’I cannot... accept this.’

But just as that thought crossed her mind, time ticked normally. Before she could move, Butler Gilbert suddenly appeared before her.

BANG!

Nathalie’s eyes widened, staring at the grimacing butler. He had jumped in front of her, shielding her from the incoming bullet. A searing pain sliced through his flesh, making his entire body tremble.

"Madam," he grimaced, holding onto the metal parts of the chopper to keep himself as her shield.

For a moment, she could only look at him blankly. At the same time, their chopper had already begun ascending.

BANG! BANG!

More shots were fired. Somehow, by the third hit, Butler Gilbert didn’t feel it anymore. The first one hurt like hell, but the second one had numbed him.

Blood flowed down his back like a river, pain gnawing at him from his back to the ends of his nerves. His grip on the metal bar was slightly slipping, but he held on as if his life depended on it.

Slowly, the corners of his mouth curved up as his eyes softened. Regardless of the pain and numbness taking turns every other second, his eyes were filled with nothing but longing.

"Madam," he whispered. "I’m... I’m sorry."

He was sorry he might not be with her to see her claim her ultimate victory. But knowing she would get out of here tonight was enough for him.

Shouts from below rang out as many more opened fire at the ascending chopper. But for Butler Gilbert, he could no longer hear them. All he could focus on was the look on her face and the single tear that rolled down her cheek.

"Please," he breathed, fighting the last shred of his consciousness and shifting all his will to protect her. "...be safe."

Nathalie pressed her quivering lips into a thin line as she closed her eyes. She clenched her teeth and looked up, scrambling into the chopper for her safety. But once she rolled inside, she crawled to the open door and gazed down at where Butler Gilbert was.

The second their eyes met, another soft smile formed on his face.

’Madam,’ he whispered in his mind, knowing she was safe inside. ’People may have called you all sorts of names, but in my eyes... you are the most beautiful, the smartest, and the most worthy of all.’

’In my eyes, you are the only worthy Zorken from the beginning... even to the end.’

He nodded at her once, his grip on the chopper loosening.

"Gilbert!" she shouted, reaching out to help him. But before she could grasp him, he already let go of the chopper. "No—"

Her breath hitched, eyes wide, watching him fall while his gaze remained fixed on her face with that soft smile.

’I know it is a sin, Madam,’ he thought, falling slowly while keeping his gaze on her face. ’But I do not regret being on your side all these decades.’

Because even if he had just stood a step behind her all these years, he was satisfied with it. It might not have been close enough to hold her hand, but it was enough to love her and give his heart’s devotion from a short distance.

’I am guilty of the crime of loving you... and I do not regret it.’

Butler Gilbert stared at her for as long as he could before his back eventually landed on the ground with a violent crack.

"NO!!" Nathalie shouted at the top of her lungs, her breath hitching as she saw blood quickly spread on the red grass beneath him.

Butler Gilbert’s eyes were still open, directed in their direction. But the life in them was gone the instant a single tear trickled down his side.

"Gilbert..." she breathed, but grief was something she wasn’t granted as a bullet hit the side of the chopper’s door with a sharp clang.

Jolting slightly, Nathalie shifted her eyes to the shooter, and her gaze quickly met Zoren’s.

"You—"

BANG!

Without thinking, Nathalie rolled to the side of the door and hid. The gunshots continued, hitting the side of the chopper, but not enough to stop it from escaping the battle zone.

Nathalie just stayed on the side of the open door, and when they were a bit higher, she peeked over slightly. She could still see Butler Gilbert’s figure, how he lay motionless on the red grass.

She bit her lips, her entire body shaking. She may have many people, but he had been with her even before this war had started. And even after all these decades, he remained on her side. If loyalty had a name, she was sure it would be Gilbert.

"Gilbert," she whispered, another tear rolling down her eye.

’My loyal servant... your death is not going to be in vain. I will avenge you.’

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