Mark pressed the button. For a brief heartbeat, nothing happened. Then the castle erupted. A thunderous roar shook the ground as flames leapt hungrily from every corner of the grand estate. The scent of burning wood and polished stone filled the air, thick and choking. Smoke coiled into the sky like black serpents, blotting out the last traces of twilight. Loren's heart lurched violently in her chest. Her eyes widened, tears glossing over as the fire swallowed the house she had grown up in, the walls that had witnessed a lifetime of memories. She staggered back, clinging instinctively to Velaxor's arm.
From the nearby trees, the friends stepped forward, mouths agape, their shock mirrored in the flickering orange glow reflected in their eyes. The plan had gone further than any of them had imagined. Velaxor exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and sorrow threading his words:
"We are free now," he murmured, his voice steady yet heavy, "though it cost us dearly. In the end, fate's chains melted in fire… even though I never intended to burn them alive."
Loren turned toward Mark, searching his expression. Rage? Triumph? Madness? She found only a calm, unnerving clarity that made her stomach twist. But before she could speak, a new sound cut through the roar—the wail of sirens and the pounding of boots on stone. The head servant emerged from the smoke and shadows, firefighters and police in tow. Loren froze. The friends stiffened, caught between awe and fear.
The head servant's gaze fixed on Mark like iron. "You will come with us," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Then, pointing at the remaining witnesses, he added, "We have many who can confirm your crime. The servants saw you carrying a large bag, placing strange items around the house yesterday. You won't escape this."
Mark's shoulders sagged subtly. There was no struggle; no defiance. He surrendered, the weight of inevitability pressing down on him. Loren stepped forward, voice trembling, ready to speak, to defend him, but the head servant cut her off sharply:
"You, miss, know nothing. He didn't do this to free you and Mr. Velaxor. He deliberately killed your father because he prevented him from marrying you."
The words struck Loren like a physical blow. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound emerged. Shock and disbelief made her body rigid. The fire slowly subsided, leaving behind a ruined skeleton of what had once been a magnificent mansion. Investigators soon discovered the unthinkable: every inhabitant of the estate had perished in the blaze.
Velaxor placed a steadying hand on Loren's shoulder, his touch grounding her in the midst of chaos. His voice was gentle, deliberate, almost a balm to her frayed nerves.
"This is the end of greed," he said softly. "Our parents wronged many people in their lives. Now, it is our duty to make amends… as we inherit what they've left behind. Loren, you cannot live alone, nor can you manage the inheritance by yourself. I cannot manage the house on my own either. It is best… we share our properties and responsibilities. You will be my life partner."
For a moment, Loren blinked, overwhelmed. Then a nervous, almost incredulous laugh escaped her. "Ha ha ha! Velaxor… after everything we did to escape these forced marriages, we end up deciding this ourselves?"
Velaxor smiled faintly, a glint of warmth breaking through his usual composure. "It is the best choice, Loren. Even after everything… we now decide by mutual consent, not by force. If you don't want to, that is fine."
Loren's face softened, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "No… no, I didn't mean I don't want to. In fact, after everything you've done, all your clever plans… I realize you are… a genius, authoritative, and charismatic. I… I feel my heart racing whenever I'm near you…"
Velaxor chuckled, low and self-assured. "Ha ha… I am an attractive man, right?"
"Stop! You're embarrassing me," she snapped, though her laughter betrayed her affection.
From the distance, Mark watched. His chest tightened with an unfamiliar sting of envy and defeat. He saw Loren's warmth, her laughter, the ease between her and Velaxor. Even though Velaxor had never sought to provoke him, the sight struck deeper than any words could. Then, the sound of the police drawing closer reminded him of his reality. His chance, his world, was over. He was taken away, the cold hand of justice a stark contrast to the fire he had unleashed.
Time passed. Slowly, the world outside the tragedy resumed its rhythm. Loren and Velaxor rebuilt their lives, managing the estates together, learning to navigate responsibilities, and cherishing moments of peace amidst the shadow of their past. They married, their union built not on parental force but on shared trust and understanding.
Mark, however, remained absent. Fate had closed its door to him. Though memories lingered, though whispers of what might have been haunted the edges of thought, he never returned to that world. Loren and Velaxor's life went on, full yet shaded by loss, while Mark became a ghost of ambition and consequences, remembered only as a force that reshaped their destinies.
To be continued...