The Thorne Family Secret Council Chamber. The Final Judgment and Final Duel.
The Thorne family's secret council chamber was solemn and oppressive. All the family elders were gathered, presided over by Lady Thorne, the Matriarch.
Eleanor stood in the center of the room, her hand tightly gripping the camera Seraphina had left. Though her contract with Alistair was terminated, the final consequences of the wager were about to be revealed.
[Power Reckoning: The Last Struggle]
"Eleanor Vance," the Matriarch sharply announced, "You violated Clause Seven of the contract and attempted to steal the Thorne family's valuable assets. You forfeit your inheritance and are hereby banished."
"I request permission to speak." Eleanor's voice was clear and firm.
She looked at Alistair. He sat in the elders' section, his face pale, his eyes filled with desperate struggle. He knew that the moment Eleanor spoke, he faced death.
"Eleanor, don't." Alistair shook his head slightly, his voice audible only to her. He preferred her revenge to her taking on this huge risk.
[Dog-Blood Climax: The Duel of Revenge and Redemption]
Eleanor ignored him. She placed the camera on the table and activated the projector.
"I did not steal assets," Eleanor declared. "I am here to expose the truth. The true criminals are the former heads of the Thorne family. They used the Core Algorithm to sacrifice innocent lives (including my brother) to sustain their desire for immortality, and they implanted this curse within Alistair Thorne's body!"
The projector displayed the evidence left by Seraphina: the Matriarch had personally overseen the creation of the "Living Algorithm Vessel."
[Double Twist: The Completion of Revenge]
The family was in an uproar. The Matriarch's face instantly turned ashen.
"Seraphina's Life Contract was intended to reverse this curse," Eleanor continued, her gaze locked on the Matriarch. "Now, according to family law, when the cursed one reveals the truth, the Algorithm automatically transfers to the strongest vessel in the family."
The Matriarch's body began to tremble violently, and an eerie black light emanated from her. The Algorithm had transferred!
Eleanor completed her revenge; her brother was finally at peace.
[The Final Price of Forbidden Love]
She turned to Alistair. He looked relieved, a genuine smile—the first in three years—spreading across his face. He was free!
But Eleanor knew she had lost the wager.
She walked toward him. Alistair reached out, ready to embrace her.
However, Eleanor walked past him, heading for the door.
"The contract is terminated, Tutor," Eleanor's voice was calm, though tears glistened in her eyes. "I lost control, I lost the wager, so I have no claim to the inheritance. But Seraphina's sacrifice redeemed your life. And my love redeemed my soul."
She walked out of the Estate without looking back. She chose freedom and solitude over love.
Alistair stood frozen, winning his life but losing her. He covered his face with his hands, letting out a desperate, painful roar.
(Author's Note):
Chapter Ten is the epic finale of the first arc! Eleanor completes her revenge and Alistair is redeemed. But the ultimate tragedy is this: she won everything—justice, power, and Alistair's life—yet chooses to leave him because she lost control (breaking the wager). This ending sets up the perfect Harem/Vengeance arc: Alistair is free, but he will spend the rest of his immortal life pursuing the woman who sacrificed everything for him.
By: KHChing