The Damned Demon

738  To Be A Happy Family Again

Derek's eye flashed with a dark, unnatural gleam, glowing faintly with malice, "What did you two lack so much that the both of you let a filthy demon touch and corrupt you?" His words were a guttural accusation, as if the mere thought of it disgusted him, "How could you two betray me like this?"

Rachel's eyes widened in shock at his words, her pulse quickening as her grip on her mother tightened. She could feel the dark weight of his words pressing down on her chest, each syllable a hammer striking her heart.

His anger wasn't just at her—it was at them both, and for the first time, Rachel understood just how far gone her father was.

Cecilia's breath caught in her throat, but she gathered every ounce of strength within her as she stared back at Derek, her expression hardening. The words that had been buried within her for so long bubbled up, escaping with a quiet but powerful force, "Betrayed you?" she echoed, her voice steady and filled with an unshakable resolve, "How could you ask us that when you were the one who betrayed us? Not just us, Derek. You betrayed the entire world—the trust and respect people had for you, and still do. You hid so many evil things you did from us, trying to make us believe it was all for our own good when we both know it isn't true."

For a brief moment, Derek's stern expression faltered, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. But then his gaze sharpened, narrowing into a cold, unforgiving stare, "You foolish woman. You let yourself get used by a demon?"

"Maybe, but I would rather prefer than get used by you like you did all these years," Cecilia said with her fists clenched. Seeing her mother stand her ground bolstered Rachel's courage. She had never seen her mother stand up like this before, and it made her want to be strong too, no matter the consequences.

Derek raised one eyebrow slowly, almost in disbelief, and shook his head with a cold, condescending look, "Look at you," he began, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're talking back to me. I suppose that demon has truly corrupted you." His words stung, each syllable an arrow aimed at their hearts, "If not for me, you would've been married off to some scum from a lowly elite family who would have used you as nothing but a breeding tool, hoping that one of his children might get the attention of the Sterling family. Your life would have amounted to nothing. You would have ended up like your mother. We both know that don't we?"

Cecilia's chin quivered, and for a moment, her strength seemed to falter as his words struck deep into her, a reminder of the deep wounds on her soul. But even in her hurt, she stood tall, knowing that she could no longer stay silent.

Rachel, sensing the pain in her mother's heart, watched helplessly as Derek's words stabbed deep into her. But seeing her mother's trembling hands, she couldn't allow him to continue.

"That's enough," Rachel said, her voice breaking through the tension.

Stepping forward, she planted herself firmly beside her mother, her gaze unwavering as she looked directly into Derek's eyes. There was no fear in her now—only the resolve of someone who had seen the truth, "You've hurt us enough. So please... stop now. If you truly care about us, you will at least stop now," Rachel knew he didn't care about them, but somewhere, she still held a sliver of hope.

Derek's gaze flickered with an unreadable emotion, his eyes narrowing with disappointment and something darker, "Rachel..." he murmured, his voice soft but filled with a deep, biting regret, "I knew your mother was weak, but I expected you to be better. At least better than her, considering my blood flows through your veins. I had so many hopes for you—hopes that you would be like me or better. You had that fire when you were younger, that drive I had at your age. But ever since you met that wretched Hellbringer, things have never been the same. I admit it was partly my fault for thinking you were mature enough to handle your trauma on your own. But clearly, that left an opening for him to take advantage of you and make you betray your own."

Rachel's heart raced, but she shook her head firmly, her voice steady, "That's not true," she said, her tone hardening with conviction, "He might be a demon and someone who hurt me deeply at first. But he opened my eyes to who you truly are. You... You killed Cedric and tarnished his legacy before the whole world. Just alone for that, I can never forgive you. Nor will the world once they learn the truth."

Tears threatened to spill over Cecilia's eyes as she felt the hurt in Rachel's words, but she couldn't stop them now. She, too, glared at him, her voice thick with grief but unwavering, "That's right. You killed someone we considered family. And you made me give up his friends—his family—allowing you to murder them all. You lied to me, suppressed my memories, and manipulated me like a puppet, Derek. And I deserve to be punished for allowing you to do that." Her voice faltered briefly, but she pressed on, her heart breaking as she added, "But you... the devils will come for you. They will bury your soul in the depths of hell. No angel will save you."

Derek's expression remained eerily calm, as if their words had no power over him. He slowly nodded, acknowledging what they had said but not conceding to it, "Does it feel better, Cecilia?" he asked, his voice strangely calm, "To finally say everything you've been holding in?"

Cecilia's face twisted in sorrow and disgust, her voice barely a whisper as she looked him straight in the eye, "You are the most evil monster I have ever met in my life," she said, her tone quiet but fierce, "Even among the demons I have met and fought, you are the most twisted. I regret falling for your lies all those years ago. I should have rather lived a normal and 'worthless' life rather than marry you."

Rachel's chest ached at her mother's words, realizing just how much pain her mother had been carrying all these years. It had been so much more than she could have ever understood.

Derek's face remained unshaken, his expression now almost coldly amused, "Such blasphemous words won't do you any good, Cecilia. But seeing how you two have been corrupted to this extent, it leaves me no other choice."

Cecilia stiffened. "What do you mean by that? Are you going to kill us now?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance.

Derek's eye narrowed with a twisted light, "Kill you? Why would I kill my own wife and daughter?" His eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction, "No. You two are going to be hidden away in the depths of the Infinity Tower, out of sight, until I have control of the entire situation. I can't let you two betray me anymore or cause any trouble."

Rachel's stomach dropped, "What?" she demanded, stepping forward again, this time her voice rising in fury. "You can't do that! People will suspect you!"

Derek's eyes narrowed, his smile never fading, "People will suspect nothing. Because once I say it's over, it will be."

Without another word, Derek snapped his fingers.

The door to the room slammed open, and five guards in a blend of blue and silver armor stormed in, their steps heavy with purpose. They moved quickly, surrounding both Cecilia and Rachel before either could react. Their eyes were hard, unyielding as they closed in around them, making sure neither could escape.

Cecilia and Rachel stood frozen, their eyes widening in shock as the Vanguard Corps—the elite force tasked with protecting the President—closed in around them. These weren't just ordinary soldiers; they were peak S Rankers, the highest caliber of fighters, known for their strength, discipline, and unwavering loyalty to the one who holds the title of 'President'.

But never did they expect some of them to stoop low to do his dirty work.

Rachel clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that no matter how hard they fought, they wouldn't stand a chance. Even if there were no guards here now, it was pointless. This was literally Derek's world. There was no escape.

She glanced at her mother, the same realization dawning on Cecilia's face as they both understood the grim truth.

Derek's voice sliced through the tension like a knife, "You two shouldn't make a scene, unless you want to make this situation a lot worse for both of you," he said, his tone calm, almost matter-of-fact.

There was no urgency in his voice, no sign of desperation—just cold, calculated control, "Don't worry, there will be someone down there to keep you two company, and I will visit whenever I can."

The words hit them like a blow to the chest, "Down there..." Cecilia's stomach twisted. She had a sinking feeling about what he meant by that.

"You can't get away with this!" Cecilia's voice rose, her jaw clenched with determination, though there was a tremor of fear beneath it, "We can't just disappear into thin air. People will ask about us."

Derek, however, seemed completely unbothered. He gave a small, almost amused smile, as if her protest was nothing more than a slight inconvenience, "You're right," he agreed in a tone that sent a shiver down their spines, "But that's the easiest part. All I have to do is tell them that you two are working too hard to end the war against demons. Isn't that why you two even announced to the public about permanently moving to Mars?" He shrugged nonchalantly. "So, I can even hide you both for years, and they wouldn't care."

Cecilia's eyes widened as she now realized why he wanted them to move here!

Rachel felt her heart clench. Her fists were shaking with anger. Years? The thought was unfathomable. He had thought this through so thoroughly, making their disappearance seem like nothing more than a temporary break.

But she knew better. He was playing a dangerous game, and they were the pawns.

"But you can't hide us forever," Rachel shot back, her voice full of defiance, though it was tinged with pain, "You will have to kill us, or is that you don't have the guts to do it yourself?" The words left her lips bitterly, her eyes burning with hatred for the man who had been a father to her—who had destroyed so much of their lives.

Derek's expression shifted for a moment, a subtle flicker of something dark passing over his face. But his smile remained, cold and indifferent, "Seeing how spiteful you've become makes me reaffirm that I made the right decision to handle you both," he said calmly, "Of course, I can't hide you two forever." He took a step closer to them, the space between them feeling smaller and more suffocating with each movement. "That's why, once this war is over, I will erase both of your memories so that we can go back to being a happy family like old times."

Damn :#

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