Novels by Vermilion

Zia continued to back away until her back was pressed against the security fence. She couldn't take her eyes off the gun in Hans's hand.“I'm going to separate you from Eric, Zia,” he said.“Please, sir. Please don't kill me. Let's talk this over.” Zia tried to plead with a trembling voice. Hans stared at Zia for a moment as he stepped closer to her and pressed the muzzle of the pistol right against her forehead.“All right, let's talk. But I can pull the trigger at any time if you make me angry,” said Hans. Zia nodded slowly with conviction.Hans stood beside Zia, leaning his back against the security fence, but this time he did not lower the gun from Zia's temple. He was serious about his intention to separate Zia from her son. Summoning all her courage, Zia swallowed hard to calm herself a little before speaking.“Leave Eric, Zia.” This time, Hans' voice softened.“Can you give me a clear reason why you want me to separate from Eric so badly, sir?” asked Zia, her breath slightly he

Edward smiled slightly, seeing Zia, who seemed happy with Eric. At least, Eric didn't say many sweet things, but he could prove his words by trying to make Zia happy.“We only have one problem now. My father,” Eric muttered.“It's okay if ZEROAI returns to your father's hands, Eric. After all, it's his. And I still have other businesses to give to Zia,” Edward replied.Eric felt bad because his father wanted the company so badly. Edward didn't mind, but Eric still felt a little rude. The company was nothing compared to what Edward had done for him over the years. Edward's kindness had given Eric a better life. One of those things was giving him Zia.“Edward, I don't really need the company,” said Zia, also feeling bad that Edward had to give up what he had built.“So, what do you want?”“I just want a normal job. Besides, I believe Eric will provide for me well if we get married.” Edward immediately sneered mockingly because Zia suddenly showed off her affection for Eric.“What makes

Zia and Eric sat with their heads bowed, not daring to look at Robert and Edward, who were sitting in front of them, wondering what kind of expression they would show after the two of them announced their intention to get married.Their relationship was still being questioned by Hans, whose whereabouts were now unknown. But the two of them decided to continue ensuring that they would truly be together.“Just get married. I don't mind.” Edward spoke casually. Edward already knew that this would be the outcome. They were used to being together, cared for each other, and it was sure that love would blossom between them.“No. I do mind!” Robert continued to reject their relationship.“Why, Dad?” asked Edward.“Any man would be fine as long as it's not Eric.” Robert glanced at Edward, who was facing Eric. Since Zia couldn't meet them both at the same time, they finally decided to sit together with the excuse that Eric had come to visit Edward, and Zia had come to see her father. It worked.

“Don't be crazy, Eric. There are other people in this house!” Zia whispered, trying to push Eric's body away as he licked her.Eric ignored her. He continued to kiss every inch of Zia's body, leaving no part untouched by his wild kisses. He vented his disappointment at Zia for not wanting to fight for their love.If it was indeed because of her parents' blessing that Zia decided to end her relationship with Eric, the only way was for their parents not to be able to say no and for Zia not to be able to leave him.“Eric, are you really not listening to me?!” Zia complained.“Why should I listen to you when you want to break up with me?” Eric finally replied.Zia pulled Eric's body close and hugged him tightly. Honestly, Zia didn't want to break up with Eric either. She was just angry at her fate, which always seemed to be bad when it came to love. Zia was tired of having to fight again and again.Even though Eric was accompanying her, which meant Zia wasn't fighting alone, Zia was also

CRASH!BANG!The apartment door burst open violently, and a wooden beam flew toward Hans's head, knocking him to the floor and releasing his grip on Zia's neck.Eric arrived with Bianca. He immediately picked up the gun Hans had dropped and put it away while Bianca checked that Zia was okay.“I told you not to open the door for anyone, Zia!” Eric scolded, immediately hugging Zia worriedly.“But he's your father,” Zia replied hoarsely.“Because of my father—that's why I forbade you from opening the door for anyone.”Zia coughed while nodding in understanding in Eric's embrace.A sigh of relief escaped Bianca's mouth, who was just as panicked when Zia sent her a message that Hans had come to the apartment to see her. Zia even expressed her thoughts that Hans would talk about Zia and Eric's relationship. And Bianca knew that was impossible for Hans.“You hurt your own father, Eric...” Hans moaned, trying to get up while enduring the pain in his head.“I told you not to involve our relati

Now, Zia was face-to-face with Hans, who claimed to be Eric's father. She was a little afraid to let Hans in, but she had sent a message to Bianca to come quickly and accompany her to talk to Eric's father.Bianca was shocked and panicked, but Zia tried to assure her that Hans only wanted to talk about his relationship with Eric. Nothing more.Hans’s gaze swept around the room for a moment.“How long have the two of you been living together?” Hans asked.Zia laughed awkwardly. “Since I returned to New York after Singapore,” she replied honestly.“Weren't you married before?”Zia's head immediately dropped, worried that Hans would disapprove of her relationship with Eric. At that moment, the only thing Zia wanted to fight for was her relationship with Eric, who made her feel like she wanted to live a better life again.“Yes. I was married before.” But Zia had to be honest.“Your ex-husband passed away just a few months ago. But you seem to be doing okay.”Zia was stunned by Hans' words

Kael’s condition was deteriorating more frequently because he still couldn’t come to terms with the situation he was facing. Without his sight, Kael felt completely useless in this life.Eira patiently cared for Kael despite being constantly subjected to insults and abuse from her husband. Sometimes, Eira had to lie to Kael to get him to eat so he could recover quickly.“Kael, your condition will get worse if you don’t take your medicine,” Eira told him.“So, if I take the medicine, will my sight come back?” he replied sarcastically.Eira let out a long sigh. She’d run out of ideas on how to persuade Kael. Not only was her own body growing weaker, but she also had to constantly care for Kael, which left her many times more exhausted than before.Even without being reminded, Eira hoped for Kael’s recovery more than her own. She’d forgotten the fact that her body was in pain because she wanted Kael to live a healthy life again.“Isn’t this what you want, Eira?”Eira looked up slightly a

Eira was at her limit. She was in such excruciating pain in her throat and chest that all she could do was roll back and forth in that dark warehouse. There was no sign that Kael was going to open the door.In addition to the smell of dust, her nose now detected the faint, metallic scent of her own blood mixed with the scent of cherry blossoms, which only made Eira feel nauseous.“Eira? Where are you?!”Eira’s eyes flew open, even though she knew she couldn’t see a thing in such complete darkness.It wasn’t Kael’s voice, but she felt a slight sense of relief in her chest upon hearing someone call her name.Eira began crawling toward the door with what little strength she had left and tapped on it repeatedly. Her voice was gone. It was too painful to force herself to scream for help.“Eira? Hey, is anyone in here?”The voice sounded clearer and clearer. Eira tapped on the wooden door again, as if to let them know she was there.She heard the doorknob turn several times as someone tried

Realizing that so many people were watching—and even recording—his fierce argument with Eira right there, Kael finally lowered his hand, which had been about to tear Eira’s throat open with his sharp nails.He then dragged Eira out of the café, leaving the people around them, including Lucas, who stood frozen in place.Kael roughly shoved Eira into the passenger seat, then got into the car himself and immediately stepped on the gas pedal at full speed.On the drive, neither of them spoke. Kael was still seething with pent-up anger, while Eira struggled to hold back her tears, feeling utterly disappointed at being accused—and even humiliated in front of everyone—by her own husband, as if she were the worst woman in the world.“Get out!” Kael snapped as their car pulled into the driveway.Eira remained silent in the car, trying to catch her breath, before Kael finally pulled her out of the car and into the house.“You want to be fucked so badly, don’t you? I’ll give you what you want!”

Ever since that night, Eira and Kael’s relationship had grown increasingly tense and much colder than usual.Without holding back, Kael now openly brought different women home every day to show Eira that he was serious about committing a thousand sins—enough, perhaps, to sever the bonds of their destiny.Eira could even clearly hear, without a trace of shame, the sounds of moaning coming from Kael’s room.“What?!” Lucas exclaimed after hearing Eira’s story.Lucas never would have thought that Kael would go that far. Just hearing about it felt too terrible for someone who was to become the leader of the Valerius Clan—the most respected clan.Kael wasn’t merely defying his fated bond with Eira. In fact, he was directly defying the Moon Goddess with such courage.“This is going too far, Eira. Can’t you leave that bastard alone?” Lucas got worked up hearing Eira’s story.“You mean… I really have to die that soon?” Eira replied.“Just to focus on your own.”Eira gave a small smile. If she

Over the next few days, Eira ignored Kael a little, speaking to him only when necessary. However, she still tried to fulfill her duties as a wife, such as cooking, cleaning the house, and taking care of all of Kael’s needs.Eira also often left the house and returned before—or even after—Kael did. Since Kael didn’t ask her directly, Eira felt there was no need to explain anything to him.Even so, that doesn’t mean Eira was completely in the dark about her husband. She kept hearing rumors about her husband’s habit of hiring beautiful women for his own pleasure.“Are you really okay with your husband always getting caught with another woman? I mean, he's all over the news,” said Lucas, Eira's friend.Eira gave a small smile, trying to look like everything was fine.“Aren’t the rumors about Kael just like that?” Eira replied.“I guess so. But I’m pretty surprised to see you reacting so calmly.”“That’s because I’m used to it.”Eira had already decided to ignore the rumor, even though it

Eira patiently waited for Kael’s return, only to ask how he could have ended up with Alice and spent a long night with her. She even thought that perhaps the two of them were conspiring together to ruin her life.Yet Eira’s love for Kael was more than just sincere. She was so devoted to her love that she couldn’t bring herself to hate Kael even a little, even though there were plenty of reasons to hate Kael.Her chest rose and fell as she tried to control her increasingly tight and shallow breathing. She didn’t know how many times she’d coughed up cherry blossom petals today.Until finally, her throat felt itchy again, and she started coughing—for the umpteenth time.Her shoulders shook violently as she fought the pain. One hand clutched her neck, hoping it might slightly ease the agony she was enduring, even though it made absolutely no difference.Her breathing was ragged. Her gaze remained fixed on her palm, as if something were stoking the flames of her emotions.“Damn it!” she mu