Menedelia went to her room, open the cabinet, and took the box containing the onyx ring. She exited her room, went to Rebecca's room, and handed the box to her.

Rebecca accepted the box. "Thanks, Granny! I'll take a look at it for a few minutes," she said. ​​

"Keep in mind, if you dare take the ring out of the black box, it will emit a signal and alert that husband of yours of your whereabouts. As long the ring remained in the box it's protected with my spell. You can stare at it as long as you like but don't take it out of the box if you don't want your husband and that vampire couple to find your location!" Menedelia warned her.

Rebecca nodded her head. "I got it, Granny!" she replied.

Menedelia was shaking her head while exiting the room. It seemed Rebecca was missing her husband! She left the house and hovered in the air. She landed at the roof of the house.

She will keep on guard, just in case Rebecca will get tempted.

Corbin and his entourage rushing to this place to get Rebecca is not something that she can afford to happen. She can't allow them to get her charge!

Back at Rebecca's room.

She already opened the box and stared at the onyx ring for a long time. Corbin's handsome face flashes in her mind. All the sweet memories they have shared rushed in her memory, filling her heart with warmth. Despite everything, she had admitted to herself that she has feelings for Corbin. But his parents ordered her death, and she can't forget that painful event that almost cost her life!

Fresh tears emerged in her eyes. She's feeling emotional all of a sudden. Her gentle sobbing turned into a full-blown crying session as she placed her hands on her belly. Right now, she's pitying her twins, they will grow up without knowing their father. She feels guilty because she's the reason why her children will never know their father.

She continues crying a river of loneliness and sadness.

Meanwhile, up in the roof.

Menedelia heard Rebecca's sobbing. She took a deep breath and released a deep sigh, feeling sorry for her pregnant charge. Falling in love with the son whose parents she can't forgive is Rebecca's misfortune in her life.

Life in this world is like that. There is no guarantee of a happy ending because pain and trials always get in the way of a couple's happiness. Corbin and Rebecca's love story is just like that of other ordinary couples. There is no happy ending in the end unless one must swallow one's pride and surrender.

Shaking her head, she hovered down and went inside the house.

She entered Rebecca's room and addressed her. "Why are you crying while staring at your wedding ring? Did you already miss your husband?"

Rebecca nods her head. She bit her lower lip and wiped her tear-stained face with the hem of her dress.

"Enough of crying! I'll take back the ring and hide it in my room," Menedelia said.

Rebecca didn't reply but nods her head.

"Stop crying and sleep early," Menedelia said gently.

Rebecca lay down on the bed and wrapped the blanket around her body. "Good night, Granny!" she said and closed her eyes.

Menedelia picked up the black box and brought it back to her room for safekeeping.

Done putting the box inside the cabinet, she went to bed and sat on the edge for a while.

She was thinking about Zero and Nini. What happened to them?

She was sure that after Nini meets her family, she will be marrying Zero in the future. She also knew that Zero doubted her prophecy, but that won't last long. Sooner or later, he will come back seeking her help.

She can make that lad her cash cow. Every time Zero seeks her services, she will ask for a monetary reward. This way, she no longer has to perform a fortune-telling job in the town, exposing herself and Rebecca to frequent danger, especially that she already made an unknown enemy recently.

She and Rebecca need to lie low and hide.

She can't put Rebecca and the twins' life in danger all the time. She must protect them at all cost!

Although there's still enough money left to sustain her and Rebecca's needs, sooner or later, it will decrease to zero until no more left one day. She doesn't want to wait for that day to happen. She must have a steady source of income, especially that she has a pregnant woman under her care.

She will wait patiently for Zero to come into the forest to seek her help.

She began yawning, time to sleep!

She lay her body down on the bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

....

Meanwhile, across the miles, in the capital.

Zero and Nini were talking to each other in the garden of the manor.

Nini was crying silently. "I don't want to get married yet! I want to explore the world! I'm imprisoned in a room for twenty years, and after tasting freedom, I'm getting married right away! This is unbelievable! I haven't stayed long enough beside my family! I want to stay with my family and bond with them!" she grumbled, feeling upset after her parents informed her about her impending wedding.

Her mother and father explained to her that they're just following the family tradition, that women in their family should get married at the age of twenty years old and they already found a good husband material for her, it's no other than Zero!

Nini looked at her husband to be with tear-stained eyes. "Please talk to my family, tell them that you don't like marrying me! That you don't like me! Please have mercy on me! They can't force you to marry me, right?"

Zero released a deep sigh. He wants to tell Nini about the tragic prophecy of her dark future. But her parents forbid him not to tell her until such time that they can find the right people who can make a good solution to prevent the prophecy from taking place.

There will be a family gathering happening in the manor to announce to their family, friends, and relatives that he and Nini will be marrying each other next month.

It's going to be a happy occasion. Unfortunately, the bride is having a tantrum right now. She's not pleased with the wedding. What he's going to do to comfort her?

He can't continue ignoring her pleading. He must do something!

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Nini, please listened to me..."

Nini looked at him.

Zero groaned. "Honestly, I don't like marrying you too! I don't want to marry yet! But I have no choice. Can you see-? We're in the same situation..." he said.

"Then we will beg my parents to cancel the wedding!" Nini begged.

Zero sighed deeply. "Not that easy... dear. I do have a solution for us. Do you want to hear it?"

"Tell me now!" she said excitedly.

"Let's go ahead with the wedding to make your parents happy. Then after the wedding, we will live in one house but in a separate room. Two years later, we will separate, and you can have your freedom back. How about that?" he said, expecting a pout from her.

Silence fell upon them for a few minutes.

Ninin was digesting his suggestion slowly.

Contrary to Zero's expectation, after giving his suggestion a deeper analysis, Nini finally smiled. "You have a better plan, Zero! It's better than nothing! I'll take it! You have to promise me! Do not back out on your words!" she demanded.

"Of course, I won't back out on my words! Rest assured that we will live in a separate room, and I will give your freedom back after two years," Zero spoke in a serious voice.

Nini finally wiped the tears from her face. Her crying is over. "I'll take your offer! After all, you are my friend. You won't betray me, right?" she said, looking deeply into his eyes, trying to read his soul.

"Of course, I won't betray you! I'm your guardian, remember?" Zero said, he wore a serious expression on his face.

Nini looked at him for a long time. She's satisfied with the sincerity she saw in his eyes. "I trust you with all my heart," she said and yawned. "Let's go back inside the house now. I'm getting sleepy already."

"Okay," Zero spoke and stood up.

The couple left the garden and was already back inside the house in split seconds.

They climbed the stairs and walked into the hallway.

"Good night. See you tomorrow," Nini said.

"Night night. Sleep well," Zero replied.

He proceeds to the guest room at the end of the hallways. While his bride to be, went to her room.

Inside Zero's room.

He jumped onto the bed without bothering to change his clothes. He was tired of being pressured by Nini every day to help her beg her parents to ditch the wedding preparation and announcement.

He never expected that Nini agreed with his suggestion right away, but she did!

Poor girl! She has no other choice.

He has no choice as well!

He doesn't have the heart and guts to insult the entire Helix Vanguard Clan. Refusing their offer of marriage is not a good idea. Not everyone is given a golden chance! He's a lucky guy!

Down the road, he can always find a way to break the marriage alliance. But right now, it's better to get along with their wedding plans, maybe this way, he can prevent Nini from killing her whole family.

After completing his mission of finding the missing baby, he's now starting on his next mission which is to prevent Nini from committing a horrendous act in the future. It would be his biggest contribution to their clan, and that is saving their leader from the enemy's dark intention.

Keeping Nini by his side every day and making sure she's not going to hurt anyone is a big challenge for him, knowing the severity of the prophecy.

He could be killed by Nini anytime!

His life could end in his wife's hands. What a tragedy it would be!

And that was the last thought that keeps repeating in his mind before he drifted into dreamland.