Chapter-7 | The missing part…..

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“But I feel like I need to clarify something,” Rowan said, his voice quieter than usual. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. “I feel like our love is… you know… a bit hollow on the inside. Like, I love you, but I don’t know why I love you.”

Aria’s heart skipped a beat. She had prepared for many conversations—strategies against the CRONARCHS, missions that could decide the fate of the war, even casual talks about what they might do if they ever found peace—but she had never prepared for this.

Rowan sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “For you, it’s different. You have memories of our previous life together. But I don’t. I feel like I’m supposed to love you, like it’s written somewhere in the stars that I should—but inside, it’s just… empty. And I don’t know why.”

Aria swallowed hard, her throat tightening.

“I think I need to rest,” Rowan finished, his eyes searching hers for something—maybe understanding, maybe permission to leave.

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and disappeared into his room, leaving Aria standing there like a statue, frozen in place.

She felt like a truck had hit her heart, leaving it broken and shattered into bite-sized pieces, scattered like debris from an explosion. But beyond the heartbreak, there was something else.

Something was wrong with Rowan. His mind was fractured, his memories twisted. One moment, he was devoted to her, ready to stand against the CRONARCHS. The next, he was lost, questioning everything—including her.

“Something is wrong,” Aria muttered to herself. “Something is different about him.”

A soft chime echoed through the quiet library.

A holographic screen appeared in front of her, glowing with the crimson seal of the High Council of the CRONARCHS. Her stomach churned.

MESSAGE FROM THE HIGH COUNCIL OF CRONARCHS

> Dear Aria,
Our beloved ex-council member, we have been monitoring your actions and noticed something… nostalgic.Aria and Rowan, together again. Laughing. Dancing. Fighting side by side. Have you forgotten the lesson we taught you? Will you be able to tell him the truth?Will he trust you once he knows what you did? The damage will be irreversible. But there is still a way to fix everything—or shall we say, erase everything? By the way, if you’ve noticed Rowan acting like a jumbled-up wire… just know that we made it happen. Until we speak again.

Click the button below to reply.



Aria’s breath hitched. Her hands trembled as she reread the message.

They knew.

They were playing with her, dangling the truth over her head like a blade waiting to drop. If she told Rowan the truth now, everything they had built—however fragile—would crumble.

A thousand memories crashed into her at once. The screams. The blood. The moment she had made the choice that could never be undone.

“The CRONARCHS are right,” she whispered, almost convincing herself.

With a shaking finger, she pressed the blue button and began recording a voice message.

To: Sir Eryndor

Subject: You were right

“How much can I praise you? You always put me back at square one with your little mind games, you piece of shit. Don’t you remember what I did to you know who? You don’t want that to happen to you, do you? So here’s a little advice: stay out of our way.”

She hovered over the ‘Send’ button, hesitating for a single moment before pressing it.
Message Sent.
She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing.


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6:54 PM

“Ariaaa!” Rowan’s voice echoed through the hallway. “What do we have for dinner?”

She turned to see him standing at the entrance to the dining room, looking like his usual self—like the man she loved. But now, every interaction with him felt like a ticking bomb, waiting to go off.

“Some fried chicken and sirpentious head,” she answered, forcing a smile.

“Oh, nice. Those are my favorites!” Rowan grinned as he walked closer.

Aria felt her heart squeeze. Of course, they are, she thought. I should know—I was the one who used to make them for you.

“Trust me,” she said, setting down a tray of food in front of him. “I would know.”

Rowan chuckled, sitting down and grabbing a piece of chicken. “That’s a lot of food.”

“Yes, now eat up,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

She turned her gaze to the window, watching the golden meadow outside sway gently in the evening breeze. A peaceful landscape. A perfect illusion.

Then, suddenly—

“ARIA! WAKE UP!”

Her eyes shot open.

She was in the lab. The chair beneath her was cold and metallic. The dream had felt so real.
She groaned, rubbing her temples. “I really thought I got some peace, huh?” she muttered to herself.

The clock read 5:46 AM.

Any moment now, she would get a reply.

Ding.

Her stomach dropped.






‘To: Aria Venn/Rivest
Subject: Truth and Trust
> Dear Aria,
You still haven’t learned any manners, have you?You think you can scare me with what you did to Alexander? That’s amusing. It won’t work anymore.We’ve grown stronger, better, and more capable. Besides, we have the most powerful weapon in our hands—Rowan himself. Imagine what he will do when he learns the truth. He may not have his memory, but that fire inside of him? It’s still there. All I need to do is ignite it.And guess who holds the lighter?You do.
Your last name—Venn. That name means more than you let on. You know that.
The name of King Artemis himself. Sir Alexander Venn.But of course, you already knew that. Didn’t you, Queen of Artemis?Just imagine Rowan’s face when he finds out who killed his parents. Bye.’



Aria’s fingers curled into fists.

No.

No, no, no.

They were trying to rip everything apart—again.

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to steady her breathing. The walls were closing in, but she wouldn’t let them win. Not again.

But one thought loomed over her like a shadow, dark and consuming.

If Rowan ever found out the truth…

Would he ever forgive her?

Or would he be the one to destroy her first?

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To be continued….