When I Lost My Emotions, He Lost Me Forever

On her son Lucas Blackwood's tenth birthday, Elara Blackwood finally dragged her battered body to the gates of Blackwood Estate, looking bruised and barely human. The security guard immediately blocked her path. Gripping the iron bars, Elara tried to gesture, forcing out broken, voiceless sounds. The guard's face twisted with disgust. "Move along. Where the hell did you come from? Don't bring this mess to our gate." He raised his stun stick, ready to drive her off. Just then, Elara caught sight of a tall, commanding figure stepping out of the estate. It was her husband, Sebastian Blackwood. Her eyes, peering through matted hair, blazed to life as she redoubled her pounding on the iron gate. She knew even in this state—tattered clothes, matted hair, a throat too injured to speak—Sebastian would recognize her. After all, everyone in Newport City knew how Sebastian worshiped his wife, Elara. Years ago, he had staked his inheritance to marry Elara, signing a high-stakes pact with the family patriarch. He worked himself to the bone for a year, securing overseas markets Blackwood Group had never conquered. That same year, he had seven stars named after her. It was a declaration that his love, like the constellations, would burn across the sky forever. During the four years Elara was gone, Sebastian fell apart. In the first year, he abandoned everything, searching for her across continents. In the second, he spiraled into depression, brushing dangerously close to the edge—only their son kept him going. By the third, he spent countless nights in empty churches, sitting in silence, praying for her to be alive. Throughout, beauties pursued him, yet he remained unmoved. He swore Elara would be his only wife in this lifetime, vowing to wait forever. Many even targeted little Lucas, coaxing him to accept a stepmother. The boy never wavered. "My mother is Elara. I want no other!" This burning devotion fueled Elara through endless days trapped in the island laboratory, enabling her to collaborate with the police to dismantle the infamous crime syndicate. Yet in the final mission, a traitor's betrayal saw her captured by the syndicate's leader. After suffering through unimaginable hardships, she finally escaped from her captor. Yet framed as a traitor, she bore the stigma of betrayal. Until things became clear, Elara couldn't contact her superiors. So she kept moving, pushing forward through exhaustion and the elements, driven by nothing but the need to make it back to Newport City. Elara was certain Sebastian would recognize her instantly. Just like at that masquerade years ago, when he had picked her out from a crowd of identical Snow Whites. Now, he was walking straight toward her. Elara trembled, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She waited for him to take her into his arms. But he stopped just short of the gate. "Honey!" A figure came running, and Sebastian automatically opened his arms, welcoming her into his embrace. Elara recognized that face. It was her half-sister, Vivienne Hale. The daughter of the woman who had driven her mother to death. She stared in disbelief as the husband who'd once adored her freely gave the embrace that was once hers alone to another woman. And that woman was Vivienne, the person she despised most! Elara stood frozen, as if lightning-struck. Then Lucas came skipping over with a group of children, their laughter filling the air. Drinking in the sight of her son's soft, youthful face, Elara felt her anger melt away. She mouthed his name, her hand reaching out unconsciously. Lucas, oblivious, wrapped his arms around Vivienne's waist with childish affection. "Mom, everyone wants your homemade cupcakes!" Elara's world shattered. Her son was calling Vivienne "Mom"! When little Lucas was five, he'd witnessed Elara's mom being killed by Vivienne's mother. He'd once shared Elara's hatred for that pair. How could he now, after mere four years, so easily accept the enemy as family? Meanwhile, Sebastian, who'd sworn to love only Elara forever, gazed down at Vivienne in his arms, his eyes holding tenderness so profound that it appeared unbreakable. "Lucas, she didn't sleep well last night. Don't trouble her." Vivienne affectionately tousled Lucas's hair. "It's okay. If Lucas's friends want some, I'll go bake them right away." Lucas shook his head. "No, I don't want Mom to work so hard." "What a sweetheart." Vivienne stroked Lucas's cheek while Sebastian's arm encircled her waist. What a spitting image of a happy little family. Elara's eyes brimmed with tears as she rattled the iron bars harder. Finally, Sebastian and the others noticed the commotion. All eyes turned her way at once. Elara's palms grew slick with nervous sweat. "What's she doing at the gate?" Sebastian shot the guard a cold glance after barely sparing Elara a look. "Handle it." The guard stiffened. "I tried to send her away, but she won't leave." He stepped forward again, lifting his stun stick and striking her without hesitation. "Ah—" Elara doubled over in pain, but she refused to let go of the gate. Her eyes stayed locked on Sebastian, burning with desperate intensity. Sebastian frowned slightly. "Wait."