Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 171  [Brightest Star] [1]

"....."

As her gaze remained fixed on the ceiling, her expression changed.

The horrified look turned to hopeful.

But that hopeful look broke into conflict and concern.

"Let's get out of here." I whispered weakly, walking towards her and grabbing her arm.

She was too shocked to even refuse me as I brought her back into the garden.

The two patrolling guards stood at the side, averting their gaze as I glared at them.

"Hmm?"

I turned around, glancing at Ashlyn as she jerked my hand away from her arm.

A conflicted look in her eyes and a slight hatred toward me.

"....."

I calmly looked at her as she took a step away from me.

Turning around, she tried to walk back inside the building.

"Where are you going?" I asked, grabbing her hand again.

She jerked my hand once again, replying in a harsh voice, "That address—."

"I know where that place is." I cut her off, "you don't need to go inside again."

She turned around, glaring at me, a pained expression on her face, tears pooling in her eyes.

"...Sigh."

I sighed heavily, rubbing my eyes as I slowly walked toward the patrolling guards.

"I am taking her back home," I informed them, "look after this place."

"But sir, she is the only witness," one of them replied, "we need her to be here."

"I am not asking if I can take her back or not." I replied calmly, looking at his face, "don't bother stopping me."

"But sir—."

"I will talk with your superior and explain it to him." I interjected, turning around, "nothing will happen to you guys."

It's already been more than an hour since the sun set, and Ashlyn's condition isn't good as well.

She was still trembling, gazing back at the orphanage as tears trickled down her cheeks.

'I need to move faster.'

I thought, glancing at the building as well.

Whoever wrote that message didn't specify the time.

From what I know, Tiffany's life is in danger, and what's worse is I don't know who is behind all this.

'Whoever that person is has something to do with me.'

I can think of some people who can do something like this, but I can't be sure right now.

"Let's go home." I whispered softly, grabbing her hand.

This time with a firmer grip so she couldn't escape.

But she didn't try anything as she quietly got dragged outside of the building.

I quickly moved toward my bike, sitting on it before signaling for her to do the same.

She sat behind me, quietly.

Starting the bike, I turned it around back to her home.

***

***

The light of Ashlyn's house flicked on, illuminating as she and Azariah entered through the front door.

A cozy living room greeted them with comfortable sofas placed around.

Azariah turned around to look at Ashlyn, her dull golden eyes blankly staring at nothingness.

Grabbing her hand, Azariah gently dragged her across the room before making her sit down on the sofa.

"Have some rest." He whispered, before moving towards the kitchen.

Grabbing a glass, he poured some water into it before walking back toward Ashlyn.

"Here." Passing the glass, he whispered while standing beside her.

She gently looked up at him, her dull golden eyes staring at him, her lips parting as she asked, "...Why?"

"..."

"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked again, standing back to her feet, "....why are you trying to be kind right now?"

"Calm down, Ash—."

"Answer me!!" She yelled, grabbing the glass and throwing it away.

The glass hit the wall, breaking into pieces, falling all over the floor.

"You're not in your right mind." Azariah replied, grabbing her shoulder to make her sit back down.

"I asked you something, Azariah." She snapped, glaring at him, "Why do you let me assume things? Just to see me suffer because of my own assumptions!?"

"I will tell you, calm down first." He replied, trying to coax her.

"No! You will just lie again like you did before!" She snarled, stepping away from him, "you will just say you like me, but I know that you don't!"

"You are making assumptions again." Azariah replied tiredly, to which she shook her head.

"I have seen how you look at Christina." She whispered softly, her voice brittle, "you don't look at me the same way... you don't."

"We will talk when you have calmed down." Azariah whispered as he turned around.

Ashlyn took a long step, grabbing his arm, snapping him back around, "Don't run away!"

"I am not running." Azariah grumbled, his patience waning.

"Then tell me, are you obliged to help me because of something?" She asked, looking into his purple eyes, her insecurities surfacing in her voice, "do you see me as some kind of time pass, a pet, or some whore—."

"Shut up!" Azariah yelled, making her flinch, her body trembling in fear, "one more word and I will knock you out."

"Who are you to me?" She asked, still glaring at him.

He took a step forward, looking down at her, "You don't need to know that." He whispered.

His body moved as he turned around, walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Ashlyn asked anxiously, walking behind him.

"Your sister." He replied without looking back, "she is alive; I am going to bring her back."

"Wait, no!" She yelled, taking a few long strides, blocking his way, "you are not going alone!"

"Just so you know, I won't apologize for what happened to those children." Azariah whispered, shoving her aside.

'Sorry is just a waste of time,' he thought to himself, 'I would rather do the right thing. Saving whom I can so I don't have anything to apologize for.'

"Are you an idiot!" Ashlyn yelled, grabbing his arm, "Tiffany has nothing to do with you, I will be more than enough to save her!"

Azariah halted as he stared at her, "Do you even know who kidnapped her?"

"Doesn't matter." She replied, shaking her head, not hearing his words, "you just go away from here."

"No, you stay here." Azariah replied, forcefully removing her hand, "Just stay safe for now."

"Are you doing this on purpose?" She asked, her bloodshot eyes glaring at him, "why can't you just listen to me?"

"Move aside—."

"They are after you, Azariah!" She yelled, grabbing his collar, "can't you understand this much? They might kill you, stupid idiot."

"Then do you want your sister dead?" He asked, removing her hand, "if I go, I might come back unharmed, but if I don't, Tiffany will surely die."

Ashlyn's expression turned blank again, the world around her crumbling as she looked at him in a daze.

Azariah sighed as he walked past her.

He stopped again, feeling a slight tug at the end of his clothes.

Turning around, he looked at Ashlyn shedding tears.

"I will come with you." She whispered, gasping for breath.

"No."

She tugged his sleeve harder, "she is my sister, please let me save her."

"You will just be a burden." He harshly replied, glaring at her.

"I won't be." She shook her head weakly, "I will listen to you, please."

Azariah sighed again, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"Go change into something else." He replied, looking at her baggy clothes.

She nodded, understanding him as she moved toward her room.

Azariah walked out of her house, leaning against the wall before taking out his phone. Dialing Adaliah's number.

The phone rang before she picked it up.

"What is it?" She asked impatiently.

"Ashlyn's sister got kidnapped." Azariah informed.

"So what?" Adaliah asked, her voice flat.

"They are asking for me in exchange for returning her." He replied, hoping for help.

"Do as you please." Adaliah replied without concern, "just don't die."

"Are you fucking serious?" He snapped, a furious look on his face, "Do I have any value in your eyes or not?"

"You do, that's why I said don't die." She replied, her voice serious, "and remember, if you die, everyone around you will also die. So be careful and don't hesitate to sacrifice others for your own safety because your life isn't just yours."

"....."

"Anything else you want to say?" She asked, impatiently.

After a long silence, Azariah asked softly, "Where is mother?"

"She has a meeting with someone." Adaliah replied, "are you planning to use your last wish?"

"..."

Azariah fell into deep thought. Different scenarios ran through his mind, but eventually, he shook his head.

"No."

"I see." She replied before hanging up the call.

Azariah bit his lip as he looked down. With nothing clear, he couldn't come up with any plan.

All he could do right now was prepare himself for the worst.

Click.

The door opened as Ashlyn stepped out, dressed properly for combat.

"....."

But Azariah didn't look at her, only at the portrait in her hand.

"She is my mother." Ashlyn mumbled, sensing his gaze on the portrait.

Hatred filled his mind as he looked at her portrait.

Azariah rarely made any promises, but whichever he did, he always tried to keep them.

But the one promise that he always regrets...

....Was the one he made with Ashlyn's mother.