The convoy eventually came to a stop near an old mountain church outside the city. It was the kind of place people visited to pray, to make vows they swore they would never break.
But what happened there was nothing anyone expected.
Cassian stepped out of the car without a word and removed his coat. Then, in full view of everyone, he lowered himself onto his knees at the base of the long stone staircase leading up to the church.
The guards reacted immediately, rushing toward him in alarm.
“Mr. Valcourt, what are you doing?”
His reply was steady, almost detached.
“When Valeria was dying, I said I’d crawl these steps if she made it through,” Cassian said evenly. “I don’t believe in God. I don’t care for faith. But I don’t break my word.”
Valeria’s eyes filled at once. “Cassian… you don’t need to do this,” she said softly, shaken. “That was just something you said in fear. Nobody expected you to actually follow through…”
But he was already moving.
He bent forward, his forehead striking the stone step with a dull, heavy sound.
Then he rose slightly, climbed one step, and repeated it.
Again. And again.
Each movement forced him to bow against the unforgiving stone. Skin split across his forehead, and blood began to trail down his face, dripping onto the steps. Around the church, murmurs spread quickly through the crowd.
“That man…”
“He must love his wife deeply…”
“What a devoted husband…”
Wife.
That single word cut through my chest more sharply than any blade.
By the time we reached the mountain church grounds, the rain had eased into a soft drizzle.
Cassian’s knees were stained dark with blood from the climb, but he still insisted on guiding Valeria inside first. He held her hand carefully, as though she might break if he loosened his grip, leading her through the heavy wooden doors.
Inside, the air smelled of wax and burning incense. Valeria liked places like this—quiet spaces where people whispered prayers they hoped would be heard.
Cassian never believed in any of it. Everyone knew that.
But he stood beside her anyway, because she did.
Valeria knelt before the altar and closed her eyes. Her voice came out soft and trembling.
“Please… keep everyone I love safe.”
Cassian didn’t kneel. He simply stood behind her, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder.
“If praying helps you,” he said quietly, “then go ahead.”
I stayed near the entrance, rainwater still dripping from my hair and soaking through my clothes. The bandages beneath were already damp again, sticking to my skin.
When Valeria finished, the church pastor approached them. He was an older man, visibly nervous but honored to have them there.
“Mr. Valcourt,” he said respectfully, “you’ve supported this church for years. We’re grateful. I wanted to offer something in return.”
He gestured toward a wooden table lined with potted plants.
“This is a rare mountain orchid. It’s said to bring peace and harmony to a home.”
Valeria leaned in, admiring it.
Then her attention shifted to another plant nearby.
“What about that one?” she asked curiously.
The pastor hesitated. “That one was already promised to another guest today.”
Cassian’s gaze followed hers.
Nearby, a young wealthy man stepped forward, clearly from some influential family, his demeanor casual and confident.
“That’s mine,” he said simply.
Cassian studied the plant for a moment longer, then looked at the man.
“We can exchange it,” he said calmly.
The man blinked. “Exchange?”
“I’ll give you my nightclub on 8th Street,” Cassian replied. “The downtown one.”
The man’s expression shifted instantly.
“Mr. Valcourt… that place is worth millions.”
Cassian gave a slight shrug, as if it meant nothing at all.
“If Valeria wants it,” he said flatly, “then that’s enough reason.”
My chest tightened at those words.
So he understood what it meant to love someone.
He just never chose to give that kind of love to me.
The young heir let out an awkward laugh. “Well… I’d be foolish to refuse that.”
The pastor quickly passed the plant to Valeria.
She smiled brightly and reached for it.
Then she suddenly gasped.
“Ah!”
She pulled her hand back sharply. Tiny puncture marks appeared on her wrist.
Everything froze.
A rare red venomous scorpion had hidden beneath the pot and struck her.
Cassian’s expression changed instantly.
“Valeria!”
He grabbed her wrist and bent down, pressing his mouth to the wound to suck out the venom.
“Don’t move!” he barked sharply without lifting his head.
Valeria’s voice shook. “Cassian… I feel dizzy…”
I clenched my jaw. I remembered a time years ago when I had been poisoned—he barely glanced at me and only said, “Endure it,” before walking away.
The doctor rushed in and checked her pulse. “The venom is spreading quickly. There’s a rare herb growing on the cliffside that can counteract it, but the terrain is extremely dangerous.”
Cassian stood at once. “I’ll go.”
Valeria immediately grabbed his sleeve. “No… please don’t. It’s too dangerous. What if something happens to you? I don’t want that.”
His eyes moved across the room and landed on me.
“Elira,” he said.
I stepped forward.
“Get it,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
…
The mountain behind the church was steep, wet, and unstable. Rain had made the rocks slick, turning every step into a risk.
I climbed with my bare hands.
Each movement sent sharp pain through my back. My nails scraped against stone, splitting and bleeding as rain mixed with blood and ran down the rock face.
The wind cut through my soaked clothes, clinging coldly to my skin.
At one point, my foot slipped on loose rock.
My body dropped suddenly.
For a brief moment, I thought I would fall straight off the cliff.
My hand shot out and caught a jagged branch embedded in the rock wall just in time.
It pierced straight through my palm.
Pain surged up my arm, but I forced myself not to make a sound.
Keep going.
Just finish it.
Why was I still doing this for him?
The question surfaced briefly, but no answer came.
By the time the sky began to pale with early morning light, I finally spotted the herb growing in a narrow crack in the cliffside.
I carefully pulled it free, gripping it tightly in my bloodied hand. On the way down, my consciousness faded twice.
Blood loss blurred my vision, darkness creeping in at the edges, but my body kept moving anyway. By the time I reached the church grounds again, the sun had already risen.
My legs nearly gave out beneath me.
But I still held the herb.
…
I handed it to Cassian, my hands trembling and soaked in blood. He didn’t even look at me—he simply took it and passed it to the doctor.
“Prepare it. Now.”
I leaned against the doorframe, gasping for air, my entire body aching from exhaustion, injury, and rain.
The doctor boiled the herb into a bitter-smelling solution while Valeria sat nearby, staring at it nervously. Cassian crouched beside her.
“Drink it,” he said softly. “I know it tastes awful, but it’ll save you. Don’t fight it. You want to live, don’t you?”
Valeria shook her head, tears falling. “I can’t… it’s disgusting…”
He studied her for a moment, then without hesitation drank the medicine himself. Before I could react, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, transferring it mouth by mouth.
“Like this,” he murmured. “It’s fine. Just a little at a time. That’s it…”
I froze.
My chest tightened so hard it felt like it might collapse. I wanted to look away, to move, to disappear—but I couldn’t.
Something inside me cracked deeper than any wound on my back.
Then she finally swallowed it all.
Cassian immediately stood and called out orders to the guards.
“Move out. Stay alert. Now.”
The gunfire started seconds later.
“Ambush!”
