They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 551: This Whole Time... You Knew Then her lips curved into something that was not quite a smile. "You know we are responsible for the assassins in Lionara," she said evenly. "You are good, better than I thought, and you still manage to surpriseevery time." Then a genuine smile returned, faint but tinged with steel. "You made one mistake, though. The killing part, that wasn't me." She stepped back just slightly, her gaze never leaving his. "That was my idiot husband." Somto's gaze hardened as he studied her face. She did not look like she was lying, but he was not fooled by the practiced innocence in her expression either, so he held his ground.

Nnenna's mind churned with questions, each one crashing into the next.

Who was this woman? Why did they look so alike? Why was she happy to see me, yet had apparently tried to kill me? How did Somto know her? And more disturbingly, how did she know me? Her eyes flicked around the lavish dining hall. Which royal house was this? If they could kidnap someone from Prigrian, though it clearly took careful long term planning, just how powerful were they? But this didn't feel like the right moment to ask.

Arthur's expression was unreadable, but there was a dangerous focus in his eyes that told her he had sof the squestions... just at a higher level. He didn't wait.

"You're Athena," Arthur said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Queen of Reshmi. You've got sguts, extending your claws all the way from this continent to ours. And my kingdom, no less." "This has nothing to do with you or your kingdom, Arthur," Athena said, her tone cool but carrying an edge. "And have srespect, I'm one of those that practically raised you." Arthur's lips curled in something that wasn't quite a smile. "Yeah. Until you suddenly cut yourself off from everyone and everything when you married into this family. I'm sure you remember that day vividly. I don't need to remind you of the exact words you used to sever ties with your loved ones, do I? Or how you refused to help your sister and her family that year?" "Sparethe lecture," Athena cut him off, her voice snapping like a whip. She gestured to the housekeeper. "You should be on your way now." "I'm not going anywhere without them," Arthur said coldly.

"Don't test my patience, Arthur. I'm only sparing you because I still consider you family. Go on now," she said, her voice softening unnervingly.

But Arthur didn't move.

"Fine. Stay if you want," Athena said with a dismissive flick of her fingers. "But don't blme for not considering our past relationship later." She turned to Somto, her eyes narrowing. "Now, move over. Letsee my niece." "Niece?!" Arthur and Nnenna exclaimed at the stime, their voices laced with disbelief. Somto's expression darkened instantly.

Athena arched a brow, looking genuinely surprised. "Why do you look so shocked? He didn't tell you I'm your aunt?" she asked, flicking her gaze sharply toward Somto.

"I don't understand," Nnenna said slowly, her eyes narrowing. "You're related to the Achebe royal family?" That was the only explanation that made any sense to her, at least in the middle of this insanity.

"Achebe who?" Athena scoffed, like the nitself tasted bad. "Oh, you mean that family who stole you." The bite in her tone made it clear, this was personal.

"Stole me?" Nnenna's voice sharpened as she whipped her head toward Somto. "Do you know anything about this?" Somto didn't answer. He didn't even blink.

"No," Athena cut in, her voice turning almost soft, like she was delivering something heavy. "Not them. I mean biological. I'm your mother's sister." The words landed like a punch.

"I... I don't understand." Nnenna's brows knit, her voice unsteady. "You're saying... you're my aunt?" Arthur hadn't moved since Athena spoke. Biological. The word was still ringing in his ears like an alarm.

If Athena is Nnenna's biological aunt, doesn't that mean...

Doesn't that mean... Nnenna's Anastasia?! All this time... over a decade of searching, and the person he had been chasing ghosts for had been right here, right beside him, for more than a year.

His gaze slid to Somto, waiting to see the sshock on his best friend's face. But Somto's expression was unreadable. Too unreadable.

No.

Arthur's jaw tightened.

His best friend couldn't possibly know this... and keep it from him.

Right? But what Arthur saw on Somto's face wasn't shock, it was guilt.

"You knew?" Arthur's voice was low, deliberate, each word carved out like stone.

Nnenna's head snapped toward Somto, her gaze cutting deep. "This whole time... you knew. And you kept it from me?!"

"Hold your horses, people. You can figure this out later." Athena's voice slid in smoothly, using the Chaos to NO her advantage. She stepped around Somto before he could react, closing the gap toward Nnenna. Nnenna instinctively stepped back.

"You don't have to be afraid of me, dear," Athena said, her tone om softening, though her eyes still carried that unshakable authority. "I would never hurt you." Nnenna let out a bitter laugh. "You tried to kill me. You kidnapped me. You hurt Somto. You hurt Arthur. And you're the reason my adopted father is dead." Somto moved forward quickly, reaching for her hand. "I won't let her hurt you again—" She pulled back before he could touch her.

"You lied to me," Nnenna said, her voice tight. "I can't believe I thought we could be more." Her own words felt like a punch to the chest. More?

It didn't matter if he liked her or not in that instant, what mattered was the ugly truth in her mind. She could not trust him. And trust was the only bridge that could have led them there. Somto's brows furrowed. "Be something more?" He could barely process it. "Did you just say... be something more?" Share to your friends