Chapter 144: The Man Who Killed Me

Lewis reached out and brushed my hair back, slow and careful, like he was calming something wild inside me."Elena," he said quietly, "I know you’re angry. I know it feels unfair. But if force can’t fix this, then we wait. We watch. Camilla planned everything too carefully."

I stared ahead, my thoughts tangled.

"So Nolan..." My voice wavered. "He died for nothing?"

That dream still clung to me, heavy and sharp. Nolan had his flaws, but he didn’t deserve that ending.

"Not for nothing," Lewis said. " Camilla lured him there, but she covered her tracks well. Yenik backed her story. Harris sensed something was off, but without proof, they couldn’t hold her."

I turned to him. "Then what changed?"

"Lincy," he replied. "She was behind the plan to take Camilla out. The real question is who leaked the details. That trail led me to Mr. Wave."

The name sent a chill through me. "Mr. Wave?"

"He’s dangerous," Lewis said. "These people are like roots buried deep. Twisted together. It takes time to pull them out. But Lincy won’t stay hidden. The authorities are already closing in."

My doubts hardened into something colder. "She’s heartless," I said. "Completely."

"If you’re thinking of helping Lincy," he added, "there’s still time to act."

"Help?" I let out a short, bitter laugh. "Do you know how Riley died? Lincy pushed her there, little by little. This body was hers. I promised I’d see justice done."

Heat flared in my chest. Before it could spill over, Lewis pulled me into his arms. His hold was firm, grounding.

"Alright," he murmured. "I won’t interfere. Just don’t let it tear you apart."

I felt embarrassed, my anger fading. "Do you think I’m a child?"

He tipped my chin up, making me meet his eyes. They were deep, steady, serious.

"We haven’t spent many years side by side," he said, "but I’ve always watched you. Life with the Morrigans wasn’t kind. You learned to carry the dark alone."

His thumb brushed my jaw.

"But things are different now. You have me."

I swallowed.

"You can be angry with me," he went on. "You can joke, demand, lean on me. To me, you’ll always be that fearless girl. As for the storms let me stand in front of them."

"Carl..." I whispered.

No one could hear words like that and stay untouched.

"Don’t worry," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I’ll handle everything."

The autopsy report was released.

The Morrigans held a funeral.

Of course we went.

Lewis and I wore black and moved through the gates together. The air felt heavy, familiar in the worst way.

The same place.

The same family.

Last time, Nolan had stood here to attend my funeral.

Now, I was here for his.

The irony almost made me laugh.

One by one, we had fallen into Camilla’s trap.

And there she was standing before Nolan’s ashes, crying like she’d rehearsed it a hundred times. Tears slid down her face, empty of feeling.

Vivian sat nearby, dressed in black, hollow and unmoving. It was like everything inside her had already been drained away. Her eyes were red and swollen, but dry.

Greg and Malcom looked thinner, grief carved into their faces.

As mourners passed by, my gaze drifted

And landed on Tate.

Since last year, Tate had been overseas, busy strengthening alliances and expanding territory. He hadn’t even returned when I died.

But now that Nolan was gone, he was back.

The Morrigans had never been one of the strongest families, but they were always lively. Loud. Full of people coming and going.

Now everything felt hollow.

Grandma was still in the hospital. Nolan was gone. The house that once felt crowded now seemed to be falling apart, piece by piece.

Was this what that person wanted?

Watching it all from a distance, I felt nothing. No pity. No sadness. They had planted these seeds themselves.

What unsettled me more was something else.

If the one who held a grudge against the Morrigans was truly behind all this, then he wouldn’t miss Nolan’s funeral.

People like that always came back.

Not to mourn but to watch.

To stand in the wreckage and feel satisfied.

Which meant there was a strong chance he would show up today.

Lewis and I didn’t need to rush.

We only needed patience.

I kept my distance from the Morrigans to avoid drawing attention. I didn’t even look at Camilla. I blended in with the crowd, bowing my head like any other guest offering condolences.

Then someone moved toward us through the crowd.

Julian.

According to Lewis, he had been staying in the room that was supposed to be our wedding room. The irony almost made me laugh.

He looked terrible.

His face was pale, his cheeks sunken, his posture stiff like someone who hadn’t slept in days.

I gave him a quick look silent, sharp.

Stay calm. Don’t attract attention.

He understood immediately.

Lowering his gaze, he approached respectfully. "Uncle Lewis," he said evenly.

Then his eyes shifted to me.

"A... Aunt Riley."

I nodded gently, my expression calm. "You’re here. You don’t look well. Make sure you rest."

"Thank you, Aunt Riley," he replied quietly.

As he lifted his hand, something caught my eye.

The bracelet.

My breath paused.

I remembered it shattering the moment my life ended.

It seemed he had spent days searching the house for the missing beads. Now the bracelet was repaired, a new moonstone added but still incomplete.

"There’s still one missing," he said with a faint, tired smile. "No matter how hard I look, I can’t find it."

He knew.

He knew my ashes were part of that bracelet and yet he wore it every day.

Late regret means nothing.

I felt no sadness. Only a deep, crawling disgust.

Keeping my voice polite, I said, "You’ve known the Morrigans for a long time. Go and pay your respects."

To anyone listening, it sounded kind.

Julian heard what I truly meant.

Go to Camilla.

Get close.

Find out what you can.

Pain flickered across his face. "Aunt Riley, you "

"Go," I said softly. "The Morrigans are in chaos. They need you."

His jaw tightened.

"Understood."

Watching him walk away, shoulders hunched, I felt nothing. Neither satisfaction nor regret. He and the Morrigans had built this mess together.

I turned my gaze away.

I was about to speak to Lewis

When it happened.

Without warning, I looked up.

And locked eyes with someone across the room.

Cold slammed into me.

It started at my feet and raced upward, freezing my limbs, stealing my breath. My body went rigid, instinct screaming before my mind could catch up.

Those eyes

I knew them.

I would never forget them.

He was here.

The one who ended my life.

Standing at Nolan’s funeral.

And in that same instant

His gaze shifted.

And landed on me.