Sweet Revenge With My Billionaire Vampire-Chapter 144: I Forgive You, Uncle Richard

Adeline’s throat tightened. For all the nights she’d imagined what each of them would say to her if they ever met again, none of them ended with this. She expected only hatred, not an apology or this quiet surrender.

She knew Evans and Alfonso were deep in their greed and desperation, but Richard... she had always assumed he was simply the quieter snake. She had never realized that perhaps he’d been more reluctant than she thought.

Richard kept his hand there, waiting. Sensing her hesitation, he exhaled. "It’s alright if you don’t forgive me," he added gently. "I deserve that, too. But I hope you live your best life from now on. I hope..." His voice trailed off as he glanced toward Enzo, who still sat beside her. "I hope you’re happy with him."

Enzo raised an eyebrow, his mouth pulling into a skeptical line. He wasn’t so easily convinced. Apologies from men like Richard didn’t come without layers. Still, he didn’t interfere, letting Adeline decide.

Adeline looked at her uncle, really looked at him. And somewhere in that tired face, she saw regret and pain.

Lifting her hand, she placed it lightly over Richard’s, and a small, warm smile touched her lips. "I forgive you, Uncle Richard. And... thank you."

He blinked, stunned. He hadn’t truly expected her to say it. He didn’t think he deserved it. But hearing those words from her made his chest rise with a sharp, shaky breath. He nodded once, wordlessly, and slowly pulled his hand back.

Enzo glanced at Adeline, watching her smile, and although he still didn’t quite trust Richard, he didn’t say anything to ruin her moment.

—

The door to their room swung open with a quiet creak, and Enzo stepped in first, holding the door for Adeline as she followed behind him. The late afternoon sunlight had started to fade, casting a dim amber hue through the windows of the estate. They had just returned from the prison visit.

The moment Adeline stepped through the doorway, something shifted in her body. She slowed abruptly, her steps faltering as a wave of dizziness rolled over her. Her brows drew in a tight grimace, and her hand flew to her forehead, her fingers pressing against her temple as she winced, a soft groan slipping past her lips.

Enzo, who had just closed the door behind them, noticed immediately. He reached for her instinctively, the light mood that had accompanied them on the drive back vanishing in an instant. "Hey... are you alright?" He asked, his voice laced with worry.

She shook her head slowly, blinking through the lightheadedness. "I don’t know. I suddenly feel dizzy. And kind of nauseous."

A crease carved itself across Enzo’s forehead, his blue eyes scanning her face. "Nausea?" He echoed the word like it was something foreign to him. Then, he let out a short, amused breath. "I’ve never experienced that before, so I have no idea what it’s supposed to feel like."

Still holding her forehead, Adeline gave him a side glance as he reached up and gently patted her head, his lips quirked in a half-smile. "Guess you’ve still got some of that human side intact. Maybe you’re just hungry. You want some blood?"

She scoffed, lowering her hand from her forehead to her hip. "Why on earth would I want blood when I feel like I’m about to vomit?"

Enzo paused, his hand hovering awkwardly in the air before he laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. Yeah... that makes no sense."

He fell silent for a second, then added curiously, "But wait— what exactly would you even vomit, though? You haven’t eaten or drunk anything aside from blood since the past—"

He stopped short, his eyes suddenly widening as a horrifying realization seemed to dawn on him. He gasped softly. "Wait... Are you going to vomit blood?"

Adeline stared at him for half a beat, then burst out laughing. She covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders shaking as she tried to contain it. "You’re such an idiot, Enzo Laureati," she said in between laughter, shaking her head.

Enzo feigned hurt, letting out a short hiss as his hand moved up to clutch his chest. "Ouch... You’re so mean to me, Adeline."

Still giggling, she turned and made her way to the bed. He trailed behind, his eyes never leaving her as she reached the edge of the mattress and carefully began to sit, hoping the dizziness would pass with a bit of rest. But she’d barely touched the bed when his voice stopped her.

"Wait."

She straightened back up, watching as Enzo advanced towards her. He didn’t say anything more as he lowered himself in front of her, settling onto one knee.

Adeline’s brows pulled together in curiosity. "What are you—?"

"Hold onto me, dear," he said without glancing up, his hands reaching for the laces of her shoes.

She obeyed, placing both her hands gently on his broad shoulders. She watched as he loosened the laces, lifting one foot and removing her shoe, then the other.

Once he was done, he set them aside neatly and rose to his feet, brushing a hand lightly across her cheek. "Wait here."

He turned and strode toward the closet, disappearing inside for only a few moments before emerging with something bulky and soft in his arms. A blanket. Thick and fluffy, warm-looking even from a distance.

She simply stood there, her arms crossed loosely beneath her chest as he approached the bed. Still saying nothing, he stepped around it and spread the blanket out neatly over the mattress, smoothing it into place before turning to her.

And then, without warning, he reached down and slid one arm behind her back, the other curling under her knees.

Adeline let out a startled yelp as he lifted her into his arms. "Enzo!" she gasped, her hands flying up to loop around his neck. "What are you doing?"

He didn’t answer, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he smiled at her—a smile that was equal parts adoring and smug.

She felt the slow shift of his muscles as he climbed onto the bed on his knees, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as he slowly lowered her into the center of the blanket he had just laid out.