When a Vampire’s Love Is a Lie

I stood at the corner of the staircase, hidden in the dim lighting of the late night. Shadows cloaked me as I silently watched the scene unfold at the front door below. My husband, Alaric Blackwood, and our son, Laurence Blackwood—who should have been sound asleep—were standing there together. Alaric had always been calm and composed, never one to act impulsively in front of me. But now, he was overwhelmed with emotion, embracing the young woman at the door as his voice choked with tears. "You're finally back. It's been eighty years..." Eighty years? I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing Alaric's face. In the ten years we'd been married, he had hardly aged. I used to tease him about his youthful appearance, and he would simply smile it off. But now... He and that woman combined weren't even close to eighty years old. As I pondered this, something else caught my attention—what he called her. "Selena... Lena... I've missed you so much." I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. Lena. So that was her name. My name was Evelina Ravenshire. Ever since Alaric and I started dating, he had always called me Lena affectionately. I had questioned him about it once, asking why he called me that way. He had looked at me with a gentle smile and said, "Because 'Lena' sounds beautiful." Now, looking back, I curled my lips into a bitter smirk. He had been calling out her name all along. Selena Evernight returned his embrace with a soft smile and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek before turning her gaze toward Laurence. "Is this... Laurence?" Alaric nodded eagerly and pulled our son forward. "Laurence, this is Selena. She's your real mother." Laurence hesitated for a moment before reaching out. The moment his fingers brushed against her cold skin—just like his own—he gasped in shock. "You're a vampire too?" Selena gently stroked his head. "Yes, you carry my blood and Alaric's. We are both of the Eternal Ones." Laurence's hesitation vanished, replaced by excitement as he threw his arms around her. "This is amazing! That means I'm a pureblood vampire, not some—" He suddenly frowned, his eyes darkening with disdain. "—a half-breed between a vampire and a human." Hearing those heartless words, I trembled with fury. The child I suffered so much to bring into this world, the son I raised with love and care—he resented me for making his bloodline "impure"? I remembered how desperately I had wanted a child with Alaric. After years of struggling, I finally chose to undergo IVF. The process had been grueling. My stomach had been pierced with countless needles, my body pumped with medication, my health monitored endlessly. And then, when I finally became pregnant, the morning sickness was unbearable. I could hardly keep any food down. But every time I saw Alaric press his ear against my belly, listening intently to the tiny life inside me, his face filled with anticipation—I felt like all of it was worth it. Alaric had taken care of everything for me, from household chores to my daily walks. I felt truly blessed to have such a loving, attentive husband. When I finally gave birth to Laurence, Alaric had held him in his arms, overwhelmed with emotion, whispering over and over, "Finally. This is our child, Lena." Alaric had always been composed, never prone to emotional outbursts. But in that moment, he was so overjoyed that I had never felt surer of my choice to be with him. I had met Alaric ten years ago during a trip to Crimsant. It was love at first sight—for him, at least. He pursued me relentlessly, showering me with affection. My parents had strongly opposed our relationship, but I had been unable to resist the depth in his piercing blue eyes. Against their wishes, I moved to Crimsant to be with him. At first, I had been anxious about my decision, but Alaric remained the devoted, loving husband he had always been. After Laurence was born, he became even more dedicated, embracing fatherhood wholeheartedly. Or so I thought. Now, I realized I had been living in a carefully constructed illusion. His love, his tenderness—they were never meant for me. I had been nothing more than a replacement. No wonder we had struggled to conceive. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. He was a vampire. I was human. We were never supposed to have a child. My pregnancy had been so excruciating because I hadn't been carrying a human baby at all. That was why it had been so difficult. Laurence had once clung to me as a child, but at some point, he had grown distant. Now, I understood why. Alaric had told him the truth. He had learned of his real origins—and in that moment, I had become nothing to him. Even my son... was never truly mine. For ten years, I had been nothing but a pawn in their game. I bit my lip hard and fixed my gaze on the woman in Alaric's arms, waiting for her to turn and reveal her face. I needed to see for myself what kind of woman could make Alaric wait for eighty years. Selena held onto both Alaric and Laurence, her smile radiant as she lifted her head to speak. And that was when I saw her face. She had long, flowing black hair... and a face that looked exactly like mine. The shock made me stumble back a step. I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from gasping out loud. She looked exactly like me ten years ago. Especially her eyes—when she smiled, they were identical to mine.