QT: Against My Will-Chapter 533 - 8.50 - A Mere Warm Up - War Of The Wickeds

Victor would have also thought that Silvia had been possessed if he didn’t personally keep track of the changes in her body.

"From the moment I saw you," Victor replied, a knowing glint in his eyes, "The confidence, the fearlessness in your eyes, it was clear that you were different from everyone else here."

"I suspected you were not from this world when you started to speak about the things from your dreams, and it seems I was right," he continued, his tone measured, "I’m also not from this world."

’No wonder...’ Elera trailed off, her mind racing with the implications of what Victor had just said, ’What about Nathaniel?’

Nathaniel was exactly the same as in the book. He seemed to have his own thoughts and opinions and didn’t just blindly follow the crowd or the rumors.

His affections only bloomed for the female lead after she had rescued him. Riley had prevented the rescue and revealed Silvia’s true face.

It was like one of those quick transmigration novels Elera had read before, where the male lead or the villain suddenly gained a boost in intelligence with a bit of help, so they could see through the female lead’s facade.

In these novels, the male lead or the main villain would always have the power to take down the female lead, no matter how favored she was.

"Elera, you need to wake up," said Victor with a calculated yet urgent voice, "This is not a dream. You can’t just rely on that to understand anyone else here and predict the future."

His hand moved up to his face, fingers deftly undoing the spell that concealed his true features, "You don’t believe me because I’ve been following Shina around like in your dreams, right?"

The spell came undone – his face became aged and worn, with deep wrinkles etched into his skin and his hair almost completely gray. "This is what she did to me. Silvia is a mere warm-up compared to this...this Shina doesn’t fail at executing her schemes."

Elera gasped as she saw Victor’s aged face, shocked by the damage that Shina had caused. But despite all of this, there was still something compelling about him, a magnetism that drew her attention to him.

"How did she manage to do this to you?" Elera asked, "You said you had it all under control..."

She continued, trying to make sense of the situation, "You had an upper hand this whole time, why couldn’t you just end it instead of bidding your time and letting her get to you like this?!"

"She killed Riley! How do you expect me to just let her get away with that?" Victor retorted, putting back his cover, his voice rising, "I know your tendencies, so for your own safety, do not provoke Shina Night in any way... I beg you."

’I’ve been trying, ok?! It’s not my fault that Shina had been approaching me every single day to talk with me about fashion!’ Elera sighed, feeling the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders, "What do you mean, by my tendencies?" she asked.

Victor paused for a moment, "You know how to get under people’s skin and hold your ground in every situation. I’m worried that if you engage with her, your natural responses might lead you down a dangerous path."

Elera raised an eyebrow, a touch of skepticism in her expression. "So, what? Should I just allow her to treat me like that Bertha? I’d rather face death than let myself be at the mercy of the female lead."

"That’s what I was speaking about," Victor responded. He brought a hand to his forehead as if trying to ease the growing tension that the conversation was causing. "Your resistance, your determination... She’s using that knowledge about you to drive a wedge between us."

Elera’s frustration deepened, her brows furrowing. "So, I’m doomed to be her plaything because of who I am?"

Victor’s gaze softened. "No, not doomed. But she will attempt to manipulate your perception of me while portraying herself in a favorable light. However, I know you have the ability to outwit her. You always had. For the time being, it might be for the best to let her think that we’re apart, so there’s nothing for her to disrupt."

Elera’s brow furrowed, her tone resolute. "But there is no longer anything between us," she declared.

"Right..." Victor nodded in agreement, a faint smile playing on his lips as he noticed her irritation. "You might try to deceive yourself, but you can’t hide the truth from me. We still love each other."

"The only truth is that I moved on, and you should too." With an exasperated snort, Elera turned on her heel and briskly walked away, her steps punctuated by a mix of determination and annoyance.

When Elera was away from Victor’s sight, a dark glint passed by his eyes, betraying a hidden intensity beneath his worried exterior.

Whenever the dead soul sucked him dry, he would often turn to dual cultivation and utilize sexual energy to aid in his recovery, which was what Shina could see Victor doing with Elera in the hospital.

His connection with Elera was strong and their energies were in sync. However, the unintended consequence of their dual cultivation was Elera’s pregnancy.

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While Victor wouldn’t have minded, he recognized that the arrival of the child meant Elera’s focus would naturally shift, placing the child as her first priority.

While he, in turn, wouldn’t even appear on her radar. That’s who she was, and he quite loved her for it, "Come out. There is no point in hiding from me."

Startled, Bertha bit her bottom lip and cautiously emerged from behind the tree. What female and male leads were they speaking about? Deep down, she hoped it wasn’t the one she had written about after her death, a pact that granted her a second chance at life.

The knowledge of her past and her true nature had to remain hidden, known only to herself. She couldn’t let anyone discover the truth, for nobody could know that she was the real Riley. Nobody.

"I-I didn’t mean any harm," Bertha stammered, her voice trembling. "I was merely passing by and happened to overhear your conversation."

"What are those? Tears?" Victor’s observant eyes caught the faint traces of tears glistening in Bertha’s eyes, "Were you crying? Is it because of Shina again?"

"Oh, it’s nothing," she replied, her voice wavering slightly. "Just something in my eye, I suppose."

"Could it be because of Nathaniel?" Victor questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Did you overhear that he’s going to be a father?"

Bertha, who was a survivor of Silvia’s abuse, had never fought back against her unfair treatment but still managed to survive. How?

Bertha’s breath caught in her throat as Victor mentioned Nathaniel’s name. She had hoped to keep her emotions hidden, but Victor’s insight seemed to pierce through her facade.

"No, no," she said, shaking her head. "It’s not that. I’m happy for him, but...I thought... you and Elera..."

Victor reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind Bertha’s ear, his touch tender and comforting. His voice softened as he spoke, "Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, even if it’s not meant to be."

Flinching, Bertha felt a rush of warmth spread through her at Victor’s gentle touch and his vulnerable side. The whole school knew the deep love he harbored toward Elera. He never hid it and always confessed openly.

A mix of sympathy and empathy washed over Bertha as she looked into Victor’s sad eyes. She knew the ache of unrequited love all too well, having experienced it herself. The pain of desiring someone who couldn’t return the same feelings was a bittersweet burden to bear.

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In a dimly lit room, a group of four individuals, each exuding a confident and assertive aura, gathered around a sturdy table. The air was thick with anticipation and friendly competition as they prepared for a second round of cards.

Tia Knight sniffed the air when Victor returned to the barracks. There was an air of secrecy surrounding him, raising her curiosity. With a knowing smirk, she couldn’t help but make a lighthearted comment, "Seems like you’ve been enjoying some late-night adventures."