Read Novel Full Chapter 485: Regret
Chapter 485: Chapter 485: Regret
Raya lowered her eyes and nodded.
No one knew what she was thinking. If they did, they might have stopped her because at that moment, Raya felt torn apart.
’They’re living so happily,’ she thought bitterly. ’And I’m struggling just to decide what to do.’
’Shouldn’t they pay?’ another voice whispered inside her. ’Why should they be happy while I suffer?’
With that thought, she picked up her food.
The moment she took the first bite, she froze.
The taste was exactly like what her mother used to make.
A sharp wave of shame washed over her.
Her eyes flickered as guilt seeped in, because she knew whatever she planned to do next would shatter Helena completely once the truth came out.
But she truly desperately needed an outlet, some form of closure.
With that thought anchoring her, Raya lifted her eyes and looked at Helena.
She paused briefly, then curved her lips into a gentle smile.
"In the future," she said softly, "if you ever need my help, you can always come find me."
Helena studied Raya with mild confusion before returning the smile, calm and unhurried.
"Before that future arrives," she replied evenly, "I hope I’ll never reach a point where I have to beg for help."
Then she looked at Raya again, her gaze warm but resolute.
"As for you, there’s only one thing I can say. As long as you keep staying in this base... I’ll make sure that you never faces any suffering and never has to struggle."
The words hit Raya like an invisible hand tightening around her throat.
She clenched her fist beneath the table, her knuckles whitening, and lowered her head, continuing to eat as if she hadn’t heard a single word.
Helena noticed but she merely smiled and said nothing more.
When dinner ended, Helena didn’t immediately move to clear the plates.
Instead, she looked at Raya and asked gently, "Do you have any arrangements for the night?"
Vlad smiled politely. "Silas already made arrangements for us."
He stood up and glanced at Raya. "We should take our leave now. We’ve already caused enough inconvenience."
Turning to Helena, he bowed slightly. "Thank you for having us."
Helena waved her hand dismissively. "No need to be so formal."
Then her eyes settled on Raya, who seemed lost in thought. "If you want," Helena added lightly, "you can stay."
Raya’s eyes brightened instantly, and she was about to agree
"No."
Vlad’s voice cut in firmly.
Both Raya and Helena turned toward him. Vlad spoke with a serious expression.
"I need to discuss something with Raya, there’s no reason to impose further."
He extended his hand toward Raya.
Raya hesitated, then spoke softly. "I just need to use the restroom for a moment."
Vlad frowned. "I’ll come with you."
She shook her head quickly. "How can you follow me into the restroom? I might as well not go at all."
Helena smiled faintly. "Then I’ll go with you."
She stood up, leaving Vlad with no room to object. A trace of unease crept into his chest.
’Whatever Raya is planning,’ he thought, ’it has to involve Ivy... or Silas.’
Raya clenched her fists, then nodded.
She went to the restroom and returned shortly after.
When she came back, her expression looked unnaturally stiff, almost forced.
She brushed past Vlad without even slowing down and headed straight for the entrance, not sparing her brother a glance.
Vlad frowned and turned to Helena. "Did something happen?"
Helena shook her head, her smile serene.
"I only gave the young lady some advice. If she chooses not to follow it, she may suffer in the future."
Vlad nodded slowly. "Then I’ll take my leave."
He hurried after Raya.
Helena, however, remained standing, her eyes narrowing slightly as she recalled the restroom.
When Raya had reached the washroom earlier, she had smiled awkwardly and said, "I’ll go in first."
After coming out, she washed her hands, then suddenly lifted them to her nose.
"That’s strange," she muttered. "There’s a weird smell."
Helena had looked at her. "What kind of smell?"
Raya extended her hand. "Maybe there’s something wrong with the hand wash. It smells like poop, not clean at all."
Helena leaned in slightly, sniffed, then stepped back.
"That does seem to be the case. I’ll change it right away."
"Wait," Raya said quickly. "Or... you can just bring a new one now."
Helena nodded and went to fetch it.
When she returned, Raya’s behavior had become noticeably tense.
Helena caught a faint milky fragrance in the air and smiled gently. "What’s that other scent?"
Raya answered at once,
"I used perfume. The smell felt off, and I didn’t want my brother to misunderstand. It’s one I often use milky, popular among young girls."
Helena nodded thoughtfully.
"Then I should get some for my daughter too. I’ll even tell her it was your suggestion. She’ll feel at ease knowing we’ve put the past behind us."
Those words made Raya’s fists clench tightly.
"Ugh... No need aunty... We... I... Don’t suggest her this fragrance... Ivy might not like it. As for the past... Let’s not mention it Ivy may feel jealous..."
"Oh, no, child. Ivy would understand you and you haven’t done anything hideous. So just feel relaxed."
Raya forced a smile, nodded and turned away, her steps hurried, as if she couldn’t bear to let Helena see her expression any longer.
Outside, Vlad caught up to her. "What happened?" he asked with concern.
"Why are you in such a rush? Did Helena mistreat you?"
Hearing her brother’s worry along with memories of Helena’s kindness Raya felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest.
Regret.
She had always believed no one cared. That Silas had chosen Ivy and abandoned her. That Ivy had a loving mother while she had nothing.
But now she realized Silas loved Ivy because they were meant to be together.
Helena had treated Raya like her own child. And her brother... had always been there.
Raya clenched her fists again, her steps faltering.
’Did I really make the right choice?’ she asked herself for the first time.