Chapter 18

Maria snorted, rolling her eyes as if she didn't care. "Ruby knew what she was signing up for when she accepted this role, Nicolas. Besides, it's not your fault that your old enemy is crazy."

"Not my fault?" Nicolas gave his mother a sharp look. "I took the woman he loved, and since then he has never stopped haunting me. Every woman who comes near me is raped and killed before he's done with his vengeance. You know, Mom, I didn't want Celine to be his next victim. That's why I chose to disappear from her life."

"And that was the right decision," Maria said coldly. "You did the best thing by staying away from her. She should be grateful you didn't involve her in this mess."

Nicolas clenched his fists, anger and sadness mixing in his chest. "Mom, how can you talk like that? Celine is the woman I love, she doesn't deserve this suffering. However, precisely because I love her, I have to separate. Every day, I feel empty because I can't be with her. But I know she's saf