The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 291: Ch 290: I want to help - Part 3

Selene leaned back into the pillows, her plate now empty, the warmth of the meal settling her stomach but not her thoughts.

Luke stood by the doorway, arms folded casually, though the concern in his gaze was hard to miss.

"What happened to the Vale estate? And the people who were inside?"

She asked, voice even.

Luke hesitated.

"Most of them escaped uninjured. A few burns, some shock, but nothing fatal."

Selene let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Despite everything, part of her had feared the worst.

Her eyes drifted to the window as Luke continued.

"But, no one knows what happened to the head of the family. Vincent Vale’s missing. There’s panic everywhere."

He added.

Selene said nothing at first. The words echoed in her head.

Missing.

Not dead. Not confirmed. Just gone.

A quiet kind of hollow opened up inside her chest, one she couldn’t quite name.

Her fingers twitched on the blanket, and her system, still sluggish, didn’t respond to her internal prompt. It left her feeling half-blind.

’I am the only one who knows that father died.’

"I see."

She muttered.

Luke leaned forward slightly.

"You don’t have to worry about all that right now."

"I’m not worrying. I’m done with that place. I decided that a long time ago."

Selene said, more sharply than she intended. She softened a moment later.

And yet...

Even if she was finished with the Vale name, that didn’t mean she could leave it to collapse.

She thought of Noah and Nora—the only two people in the family who had never treated her as less.

They weren’t perfect, but they were strong. Capable.

The Vale family needed stability, and the twins could provide it.

A beat passed between them before Luke stood up fully.

"Alright. You should rest. I’ll be back later—don’t break the place while I’m gone."

Selene forced a small smile.

"No promises."

Once the door shut behind him, Selene waited exactly three seconds before sitting up and scanning the room.

She extended her awareness, calling for the system again. This time, it responded with a flicker. The interference was fading.

She stood up, bare feet brushing against cool floorboards, and padded silently toward the window.

Her fingers ran along the frame. A weak point glowed faintly through her system’s interface. A nudge. A twist. The window clicked open.

Before she climbed through, Selene grabbed a pen and scribbled a short note on the back of a receipt she found by the bedside.

[Thank you for helping me. You were kind when I needed it. – Selene]

She left it on the table and slipped out without another sound.

Luke returned twenty minutes later, balancing a small tray with tea and a warm towel. He nudged the door open and paused.

The bed was empty. The window, slightly ajar. The note caught his eye. He sighed, walked over, and picked it up.

"Of course. I should’ve known"

He muttered to himself.

Despite the bitter taste in his mouth, he smiled faintly.

______

Selene moved fast through the streets, hood up, body still aching.

The system had recovered enough to help guide her home, and by the time she slipped through the back door, exhaustion was already creeping in again.

But she didn’t get far before two voices caught her attention.

"Selene!"

She turned. Noah and Nora stood in the hall, both looking relieved and tense at the same time. They rushed over, eyes scanning her for injuries.

"Are you okay? We heard what happened. The whole estate—Did you hear about it as well?"

Nora asked first.

"And Father—Is he...?"

Noah added, his voice caught between concern and confusion.

Selene shook her head.

"He’s gone. Missing. I don’t think he’ll be coming back."

The twins stared at her.

"You’re sure?"

Nora asked softly.

"I’m sure. And it’s time someone else took control of the Vale family."

Selene said, voice low.

The words hung in the air. Neither Noah nor Nora responded right away.

"You mean us?"

Noah asked.

Selene nodded.

"Who else? You’re both strong. Respected. You have influence. If you step up now, no one will question it."

Nora looked uncertain.

"Is this... part of a plan? Are we doing this because of what happened?"

Selene didn’t flinch.

"No. You’re doing this because you have to. If you don’t, someone else will. And you both know the kind of people who’ll try to take over."

"But—"

Nora started, only to trail off.

Selene stepped forward, eyes meeting both of theirs.

"You don’t have to do this for me. You don’t have to carry out my ideas or my revenge. Just make the family better. Stable. That’s enough."

For a long moment, neither twin spoke. Then Noah nodded slowly.

"If we do this... you’re not coming with us?"

Selene shook her head.

"I’ve got my own path now."

Nora hesitated but then gave her a tired smile.

"Then we’ll handle it. For real this time."

Selene smiled back, and for the first time in a long time, it wasn’t tinged with bitterness.

Nora stepped closer, her expression tight with worry.

"Are you sure about this, Selene? About Father being gone? What if this is just another trick? He’s done it before."

Selene met her eyes steadily.

"He’s not coming back."

Noah shifted beside her, eyebrows furrowed.

"You sound certain."

"I am. He’s gone. For good."

Selene said firmly.

Nora didn’t look convinced.

"How do you know that? Did you see him fall? Did something happen?"

Selene’s jaw tensed. She looked away, the silence stretching long enough to draw tension into the room.

"Selene?"

Nora pressed, her voice quieter now.

But Selene didn’t answer. Her gaze stayed on the floor, and her lips were pressed into a thin line.

Noah and Nora exchanged a glance, uncertainty flickering between them. The lack of response said more than Selene intended.

Nora folded her arms.

"If you’re hiding something, just say it. We have a right to know."

Still, Selene said nothing. She couldn’t bring herself to explain what had truly happened—not the entity, not the dungeon, and certainly not the part she played.

The room settled into an uneasy silence, suspicion thick in the air.