"The shaman told us that if I didn't separate from William… I would eventually take his curse," Meridia said quietly.
"Because I was the only one capable of weakening it."
Her eyes darkened as memories resurfaced.
"He warned us that people would slowly begin to forget my existence… even the ones I loved the most."
Jade felt a chill run down her spine.
"At midnight," Meridia continued, her voice low, "I would start losing my memories… again and again. And little by little, I would simply… disappear from everyone's life."
Jade's eyes widened in shock.
"So I had a dilemma," Meridia said bitterly. "Either my life… or William's."
The fire crackled between them.
"In the end, we decided to separate. William returned to our country… carrying the curse alone."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"But he couldn't endure it."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Every midnight he forgot everything. Every day he woke up lost, confused… broken."
Meridia looked down at the floor.
"Day after day, he sank deeper into madness and depression."
Jade swallowed hard.
"I couldn't bear to see him like that," Meridia continued. "So I went back to him."
Her lips curled into a sad smile.
"And just as we expected… the curse began to affect me instead."
She lifted her gaze toward Jade.
"But William changed."
Her eyes became cold.
"He became obsessed with me."
Jade frowned.
"He wanted me near him at all times… terrified that the curse would return if I left."
Meridia's voice hardened.
"So he locked me away."
Jade's heart skipped.
"He chained me inside a dark room. I barely had food or water."
Her hands trembled slightly.
"He abused me every single day."
Jade felt horror rising in her chest.
"The William I once loved… was gone."
Silence filled the small house.
"One day," Meridia whispered, "I couldn't take it anymore."
Her eyes turned empty.
"So I killed him… to free myself."
Jade gasped softly, horrified.
Meridia slowly turned toward her.
"VESPERIS is the real devil in this story."
The flames of the fireplace reflected in her dark eyes.
"She did everything to make sure the Ooman family would never escape her curse."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Even when you think you've found a solution… she is always there."
Watching.
Waiting.
"No one can truly save them."
Meridia stared straight into Jade's eyes.
"And now…"
Her voice became heavy with meaning.
"You are walking the exact same path I once walked."
Meridia stared at Jade for a long moment before speaking again.
"There is something else you should know."
Jade frowned slightly.
"You were also born the night VESPERIS appeared… weren't you?"
Jade's heart skipped.
"How… how do you know that?"
Meridia's eyes darkened.
"Because that is the only way the curse reacts like this."
She stepped closer.
"Tell me the truth… have you had close contact with Daniel?"
Jade froze.
Her mind suddenly began to race.
That strange rule in the contract, The nightly kiss.
Her breathing became uneven.
Wait…
Her eyes widened as a terrifying thought crossed her mind.
"So… all of this was planned by Daniel?" she whispered.
Her voice trembled with anger.
"He knew from the beginning… that's why he came to me with that marriage contract!"
Her fists clenched.
"Just like his great-great-grandfather…"
Her chest tightened painfully.
"He trapped me."
Her voice broke.
"He used me… He wanted to sacrifice me from the very start."
Meridia watched her silently.
"That is why I told you to leave," she said calmly.
"Leave before the curse begins to take you as well."
Her voice grew colder.
"Before people start forgetting you… just like they forgot me."
Jade's blood ran cold.
"If you stay with him," Meridia continued, "you will lose everything."
She looked straight into Jade's eyes.
"Your life."
"Your existence."
Jade stood there, trembling.
"Run away while you still can."
.
.
.
Jade returned to the market in a daze.
Riguel had only been gone for a few minutes, but when he came back, he immediately noticed something was wrong.
Jade was standing near the stalls, motionless.
Her expression had completely changed.
"Hey," Riguel said, approaching her. "I thought you disappeared."
Jade forced a small smile.
"I'm here."
Riguel looked at her carefully.
Her usual lively energy was gone.
"What happened?" he asked. "You look… different."
Jade quickly shook her head.
"It's nothing," she said.
Her voice sounded distant.
"I'm fine."
Riguel didn't look convinced.
"You sure?"
Jade avoided his gaze.
"I just… want to go back."
Riguel raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Alright."
They began walking back.
But Jade remained silent the entire way.
Her thoughts were spinning endlessly.
Daniel knew.
Her chest tightened again.
He knew from the beginning.
Her hands clenched.
That contract…
Her heart felt heavy.
He used me.
She stared ahead coldly.
I was nothing more than a sacrifice.
The door of the chamber slammed open.
"You used me!"
Jade's voice echoed through the room as she stormed inside, her eyes blazing with fury.
Daniel looked up from the desk, startled.
"What are you talking about?"
"The curse!" she snapped, her voice shaking with rage. "You knew perfectly well that I was the one who could weaken your curse!"
Daniel froze.
For a moment, he said nothing.
"Daniel!" she shouted. "Answer me!"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"You're the worst… the most deceitful person I have ever met!"
Her eyes burned with betrayal.
"You knew that I would be the one losing in the end! That's why you put money in the contract!"
Her voice cracked.
"You knew I would lose my memory! That people would forget me! That I wouldn't exist anymore!"
Daniel's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Wait," he said, stepping toward her. "What are you talking about?"
He tried to reach for her hand.
But Jade violently pulled away.
"Don't touch me!"
Her voice broke.
"Leave me alone!"
She turned and ran.
"Jade! Wait!" Daniel called after her, alarmed. "What are you talking about?!"
But she didn't stop.
"Leave me!" she cried.
She ran through the courtyard, her vision blurred by tears, her mind consumed by anger and betrayal.
She didn't see the road ahead.
Didn't see the car approaching.
Everything happened in a second.
Screech.
Impact.
"JADE!!"
Daniel's shout tore through the air.
For the first time… the cold, composed Daniel Ooman lost control.
His face showed pure panic.
Jade's body fell to the ground.
Motionless.
Blood slowly spread beneath her head.
Daniel rushed toward her, dropping to his knees beside her trembling form.
"Jade…!"
His voice shook.
But she didn't move.
Her eyes were closed.
Her body lay there…
Lifeless.
Daniel's hands trembled as he held her.
For the first time in his life, fear gripped his heart.
Real fear.
"Jade… wake up…"
But there was no response.
Only silence.