Read Novel Full Chapter 523: Angelina’s Decision
Chapter 523: Chapter 523: Angelina’s Decision
It was only a dream.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her breathing.
"What a strange dream..." she murmured.
Yet the memory of dying still clung to her, making her heart tighten again.
’I shouldn’t have died like that...’
She found herself wanting to see Archie desperately, as if confirming his existence would anchor her back to reality.
Just as that thought crossed her mind....
The doorbell rang. Angelina froze.
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
Before she could even move, the doorknob clicked.
A surge of terror shot through her.
’This is like a horror movie... The door will open, and Damien will walk in...’
The handle turned. The door opened. Archie stepped inside.
Angelina exhaled sharply, relief washing over her so suddenly that her knees almost gave out. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"I missed you..." she murmured.
Archie blinked, completely taken aback by the sudden embrace. A faint blush crept across his face.
"What... what happened?" he asked, confused.
Angelina realized what she had done and flushed slightly.
’I just hugged my fiancé. There’s nothing strange about that,’ she reassured herself.
Archie smiled gently and returned the hug, patting her back. His presence felt warm, steady, reassuring.
"Thank God... nothing happened to you," she whispered unconsciously.
Archie paused, then understood.
’She must have had a nightmare,’ he thought, finding her reaction unexpectedly adorable.
Since she seemed shaken, he decided to cheer her up. He reached for the paper bag he had been hiding behind him all this time.
Angelina noticed it immediately. Her eyes lit up.
"What’s that?"
"Why don’t you see for yourself?" Archie replied.
She eagerly took the bag and opened it.
Inside was a beautiful golden dress.
Angelina froze.
Memories surged unexpectedly, her parents once giving her gifts like this, moments of warmth she rarely received compared to the attention they lavished on her brother.
She ran her fingers over the fabric. It was soft, luxurious, clearly expensive.
Archie must have spent a lot.
She looked up at him, emotion filling her eyes.
Compared to her past, Archie was the first person who consistently cared for her, supported her, and never treated her as secondary.
At that moment, something inside her settled.
’I’ve already made my decision,’ she realized.
She liked him. She wanted to build a life with him. She wanted to protect humanity.
She did not want the world Damien described to ever come true. She smiled.
"You gave me a gift," she said softly. "So I prepared something for you as a reward."
Archie watched, surprised, as she hurried into the kitchen and began bringing out several dishes she had already prepared.
A bitter smile spread across his face.
In truth, he would have been happy even if she had only held his hand, yet he could sense her mind was still processing many things.
Still, this was progress. From lying to him... to cooking for him.
That was already more than enough.
’I shouldn’t be greedy. One step at a time,’ he reminded himself.
They ate dinner together in a warm, peaceful mood.
.......................................
The next day, however, reality returned.
Angelina stood outside Ivy’s residential building, waiting.
After the previous incidents, security had tightened drastically. No one was allowed within twenty meters of Ivy’s apartment without clearance.
Contacting Ivy had become extremely difficult.
So Angelina waited. Morning passed. Afternoon faded. The sun began to set.
Only in the evening did Ivy finally appear.
Angelina straightened immediately, gathering her courage as she stepped forward to meet her.
When Angelina hurried in front of Ivy, slightly out of breath from both anxiety and the long wait, Ivy stopped walking and looked at her with an unmistakably cold expression.
"What are you doing here?" Ivy asked.
The tone alone made Angelina’s stomach tighten.
She already knew this conversation would not be easy.
Meanwhile, Ivy’s gaze lingered on Angelina, her eyes sharp and distant.
Even though, in her previous life, Angelina had never outright bullied her, there had been countless moments when Angelina treated her like a servant, pushing dirty chores onto her, mocking her quietly, even gloating in subtle ways.
To claim she held a good impression of Angelina would have been nothing but a lie.
’I have no reason to accommodate her,’ Ivy thought.
Angelina, however, seemed unusually self-aware today. She lowered her head slightly, gathering courage.
"I understand that you must hate me," she admitted. "But there’s something I need to tell you. Something... that can help you."
Ivy frowned faintly but did not interrupt.
Angelina took a breath.
"I have information about Damien."
Ivy’s eyes sharpened instantly.
She motioned for Angelina to continue, but Angelina hesitated, glancing around nervously at the guards and the open corridor.
Understanding the concern, Ivy turned without another word.
"Come with me."
They entered the apartment.
The door shut behind them with a soft click, sealing off the outside world.
The room smelled faintly of coffee and clean linen, calm and orderly in stark contrast to Angelina’s racing heartbeat.
Ivy sat down and looked at her.
"Speak."
Angelina opened her mouth... then paused awkwardly.
"I... I’m thirsty," she said. "Could I have a glass of water?"
Ivy frowned slightly but waved her hand.
A paper cup filled with water materialized instantly in her palm.
She handed it over.
Angelina stared at the cup, then at Ivy, awe flashing in her eyes.
’So this is why she rose so quickly... why she succeeds at everything,’ Angelina thought, realizing again just how vast the gap between them had become.
She took a sip, steadied herself, and began.
"The day Damien escaped from you... he contacted me."
Ivy’s expression did not change, but her attention sharpened.
"He asked for a private meeting," Angelina continued.
"During that meeting, he told me that once he gained enough power, he would repay me. He promised that I would remain among the elite when everything changed."
Angelina clenched the cup slightly.
"At that time... I was blinded by greed. I agreed to help him."