Sweet Revenge With My Billionaire Vampire-Chapter 148: I’m Not Going With You, Father.

The shriek of metal being crushed filled the air as it rolled off the road, crashing into the trees and disappearing into the small woods beside them. Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, the chains shattered—bursting into fragments of dark mist that vanished into thin air.

Adeline stared at the place where the car had been, eyes wide, lips parted in disbelief. "W-what the...?" she whispered, unable to finish the sentence.

Andrei’s gaze drifted from the direction of the destroyed car to Enzo, and he said, "My liege, that looks like—"

"Argilia’s chains," Enzo interjected, nodding once.

Adeline snapped her gaze toward him, stepping down from his arms to stand on her own. Her hand remained on his chest as she looked up at him. "Argilia? What’s going on?"

Before Enzo could answer, the portal began to ripple more violently, as though something on the other side was pressing against it, preparing to emerge.

All three of them turned in unison, their eyes snapping to the distortion.

Enzo’s arm slid protectively around Adeline’s waist, pulling her close against his side. Without taking his eyes off the portal, he murmured, "We’re about to find out."

A heavy foot landed on the road with a dull thud, clad in thick blackened boots that looked like they’d crushed bones rather than walked on dirt. Then came the towering frame of a man—broader and taller than even Enzo.

The portal behind him pulsed one final time before releasing him fully into the human world. A thick, crimson cape draped down his back, heavy and royal, sweeping the ground as he moved forward. The cape nearly hid the rest of him, but through a narrow slit at the front, a glimpse of dark clothing could be seen beneath.

He looked directly at Enzo, his brow furrowed with quiet disapproval, but his expression held no surprise. After all, he’d expected to see him here. His gaze then slid past Enzo and landed on Adeline—and what had once been coldness twisted into something else. He shifted his eyes from her, and his lips curled slightly in disgust, as though her mere presence offended him.

Damien stepped aside from the portal, and just as he did, another figure began to emerge. An elegant, black shoe touched the ground, followed by its twin. The edge of a black gown spilled into view, followed by the woman herself—Argilia.

She stood gracefully beside Damien, her gown spreading at her feet. Her golden jewelry glinted under the moonlight, woven into her hair that was perfectly tied up into a bun. She didn’t speak and simply stared at the three ahead of them.

"What on earth..." Adeline murmured under her breath as she took them in. Her gaze snapped to Enzo, hoping for some explanation, but he was locked onto Damien.

Then Damien spoke, and the very sound of it was like thunder cracking across the night. "Enzo."

Just one word—but it ripped through the air and sent shivers down Adeline’s spine. Her entire body tensed, and her hands moved to rub her arm without realizing it. It wasn’t fear exactly, but a feeling she wasn’t sure of. If her heart were still beating, it would’ve been hammering against her chest at the moment.

Without sparing her a glance, Damien gestured lazily toward her, his voice edged with mockery. "So... She’s no longer human now? You turned her?"

Andrei’s eyes narrowed, disbelief flashing across his features. "How can he tell from that distance...?" he thought silently.

Adeline, on the other hand, wondered, "Does he know who I am?"

Enzo stepped forward, his hand slipping behind him to pull Adeline gently behind his broad frame. He stood in front of her, his eyes never leaving the man ahead. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"What are you doing here, Father?"

The title hit Adeline like a slap, and she gasped. "Father?" she repeated quietly. Her head peeked out from behind Enzo’s back to get another look at the man, and now that she really looked, she could see it. They both had the same sharp jawline, neck-length hair, the same stare, and the same stance. Damien was older, but the resemblance was undeniable.

"Do you remember what Vincent told you three months ago?" Damien asked. "I gave you three months to return. Well... your time is up. I would’ve killed this girl right here, like I said I would if you didn’t return. But I’ve realized... she’s not worth that much effort."

Adeline’s hand flew to her neck in shock, a small hiccup escaping her lips. "K-kill me?"

Damien turned slightly and pointed behind him, toward the still-rippling portal. "Be a good son, Enzo. Get in here. Let’s go home. I’ve got things to take care of—things more important than this."

Enzo let out a breathless laugh. It wasn’t loud or mocking, just tired. He dropped his gaze to the ground and lifted one hand, covering his eyes as if trying to hold himself together through sheer will. "How many times do I have to tell you, Father? I’m not coming back."

"I’m not asking, Enzo," Damien said coldly. "You can either walk through this portal on your own... Or you can be stubborn, and I’ll drag you through it by force."

Enzo stepped aside, revealing Adeline. "Adeline is my mate. And soon, she’s going to be my wife. If you think I’m leaving her behind for anything, you’d better think again."

Silence followed, and Damien’s expression went blank. Then, he shifted his attention to Adeline, who was now fully exposed to his gaze. His eyes moved slowly from the top of her head to the tips of her shoes, examining her.

Every second that passed under that gaze made Adeline’s breath shake. Her hands trembled at her sides, and it felt like her legs might give out at any moment if she didn’t plant her feet firmly.

Finally, Damien nodded once and returned his attention to Enzo. "Very well, then. Since she’s no longer human... I will allow you to bring her with you."

"No," Enzo replied instantly. "She has a home here, a life she fought for, and people who care about her. She’s not going to abandon all of that... especially not for this."

Damien scoffed lightly and shrugged. "Then abandon her and let’s go."

Enzo shook his head. "I’m not going anywhere with you, Father."