CHAPTER 10

At that moment Raymond leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze moving between Cecilia and Charles as they stood before him. His expression was calm but firm, exuding an air of quiet authority that made even the silence feel heavy.

"You've done well," he said finally, his voice measured.

"I'll review everything and let you know what needs to be adjusted."

Immediately Cecilia and Charles nodded, their postures rigid as they awaited further instructions.

"However," Raymond continued, his tone shifting to one of subtle reprimand, "there's something else we need to address."

At that moment his red-rimmed eyes fixed on them, sharp and unyielding.

"Your chemistry today—it was abysmal."

Cecilia blinked, caught off guard, while Charles shifted uncomfortably.

"You were acting like thugs," Raymond said bluntly, his words cutting through the room like a blade.

"Ruffians in the street. That's not what Valentina needs when she wakes up."

He leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk.

"When she opens her eyes, she will need a mother and a father. People who exude care, warmth, and guidance. Not local gangsters squabbling over nonsense."

At that moment Cecilia lowered her gaze, her jaw tightening, while Charles gave a faint nod, his hands clenched at his sides.

Then Raymond's voice softened, but his words carried the same weight.

"That's what I want you to be for her—a family. Nothing less."

The room was silent for a moment, the gravity of his words settling over them.

Then, as if on cue, both Cecilia and Charles bowed deeply, their voices in unison.

"Yes, Master," they said, their tones filled with respect and submission.

Then Raymond sat at his desk, meticulously flipping through the stacks of documents.

The weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on him, but his mind wasn't fully there.

It had been five days, and Valentina still hadn't woken up.

Setting the papers aside, he stood and walked briskly to Valentina's room.

The moment he entered, the sight of her lying still in bed sent a pang through his chest.

She hadn't moved since he'd placed her there.

Her breathing was faint, her glowing blue eyes hidden behind closed lids.

At that moment he stepped closer, brushing a hand lightly against her arm. Her skin was cold to the touch, but not lifeless.

Yet the risk was becoming undeniable. If she went another day without waking, her body might not endure the strain.

The potion wasn't too strong for a human, he thought grimly, though he had believed Valentina's resilience would see her through. Now, doubt began creeping in, threatening to undermine his certainty.

Two more days passed, and the situation grew dire. Raymond stood in Valentina's room alongside Charles and Cecilia, both of whom wore expressions of concern. Valentina's once vibrant complexion was now turning pale, her skin almost ghostly.

The faint rise and fall of her chest had slowed even further, her body barely clinging to life.

"She's not waking up," Cecilia whispered, her voice heavy with worry.

Then Charles stepped closer, placing a hand over Valentina's chest. After a long, tense moment, he spoke.

"Her heart is still beating," he said softly.

"But it's fading fast. If you don't turn her now, Master Raymond…" He paused, his voice breaking slightly.

"You'll lose her again."

Immediately Raymond clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he stared at Valentina's motionless form. The room was thick with silence, the weight of Charles' words hanging heavily in the air.

At that moment Raymond sat on the edge of Valentina's bed, his usually calm expression clouded with turmoil.

He gently took her hand, her fingers limp in his grasp. His glowing red-rimmed eyes fixed on her pale face, and for a brief moment, his resolve faltered.

Leaning down, he opened his mouth slightly, his teeth grazing her wrist. But then he stopped. His hands trembled as he pulled back, his mind filled with doubts and emotions he couldn't suppress.

He stared at her lifeless form for a long moment before sighing deeply and placing her hand back down. Quietly, he stood and walked out of the room, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the decision.

However Cecilia and Charles stayed behind, their faces grim as they watched over Valentina. Minutes passed before they, too, exited the room, closing the door softly behind them.

Raymond stood in the hallway, his gaze distant. Turning to Charles, he asked in a low voice, "How long before I…" He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Charles met his gaze, understanding the unspoken question.

"Perhaps another hundred years," he replied solemnly.

"Less Or maybe longer this time."

Raymond's jaw tightened, his mind racing with possibilities. Just as he was about to turn away, a faint noise echoed from Valentina's room.

Immediately all three froze, their heads snapping toward the closed door. Without a word, they rushed inside, their hearts pounding.

Valentina was awake.

At that moment Charles and Cecilia exchanged a knowing glance, their forms shifting back to the frail, aged figures they had presented to Valentina.

The room seemed to still as Valentina stirred, her movements slow and deliberate. She sat up halfway, her glowing blue eyes blinking against the soft light. There was something strange about her body—something unfamiliar yet not unpleasant.

Her hands moved instinctively over her arms and face, her fingers brushing against skin that felt smoother, stronger. But the sensation was so foreign that she couldn't make sense of it.

Raymond stood at the foot of the bed, his face lighting up with an unrestrained smile. "Congratulations, Valentina," he said, his voice warm and steady. "You're healed."

At that moment her eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching in her throat.

"Healed?" she whispered, the word trembling on her lips.

"That's… that's not possible."

Without waiting for a response, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, her steps shaky but determined. Her gaze darted around the room before landing on the mirror. Her feet carried her there as if by instinct, her hands already reaching for the scarf wrapped around her head.

With a deep breath, she pulled the scarf away and let it fall to the floor.

The reflection staring back at her was so stunning, so impossibly flawless, that she gasped.

Her face, once marred by scars, was now smooth and radiant. Her skin glowed with a warmth she hadn't seen in years. In fact, she looked even more beautiful than she remembered herself being.

At that moment She turned back to Raymond, her voice breaking.

"What… what did you do to me?"