The Villains Must Win-Chapter 100: Valerian Cross 20

"A truth potion," Evelyn purred. "It took some time, but it’s finally ready. So be a good girl and open your mouth. Say ’ah.’"

Stephany recoiled, slamming her back against the wall. "No!" she hissed. "You can’t do this! That’s a violation of my privacy—you have no right!"

Evelyn only chuckled. "Oh? But if you have nothing to hide, then surely there’s no reason to refuse. Right?"

Stephany’s body trembled with fury. She had to get out—she had to get out. Evelyn took a slow step forward, the vial gleaming between her fingers.

"Stay away from me!" Stephany shrieked, her voice cracking. She turned to her brother, desperation clawing at her chest. "Valerian! Make her stop!"

Valerian hesitated.

Evelyn’s sharp gaze flicked toward him, watching him waver. Her lips pressed into a thin line.

"What?" she sneered. "Are we abandoning the plan just because she’s your sister? Don’t go soft on me now, Valerian. You and I both know we won’t get to the bottom of the stolen items unless she talks. And who knows what she did with the key while you weren’t looking?"

He didn’t respond.

So she twisted the knife deeper.

"Have you forgotten, Cross?" Her voice was silk over steel. "Have you forgotten how many of your men died? How many humans perished when the vampires resisted silver? When they consumed fast recovery potions to hasten the healing of their wounds? How they grew bolder each day, terrorizing homes, kidnapping women and children—leaving families in ruins?"

Her gaze slid toward Stephany, her smile sharpening like a dagger.

"Have you forgotten the wailing children left orphaned in the streets? The grieving mothers who buried their sons? All because of a single traitor who handed over those items to the enemy."

The room turned unbearably silent.

Stephany felt the air leave her lungs.

Her body went cold.

"I-I . . ." She swallowed thickly. "That wasn’t—"

But her voice faltered.

Valerian’s expression turned dark. His soldiers, who had remained on the sidelines, clenched their jaws in silent agreement. They had lost comrades. Friends. They had seen too much death.

And now—Stephany was standing before them, accused of aiding the very monsters responsible.

She could feel their judgment pressing down on her, suffocating her.

Evelyn’s knowing smirk sent a shudder down her spine.

"I think it’s only fair," Evelyn murmured, "that the traitor faces justice. Don’t you agree?"

Stephany’s breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. No. No, no, no.

Valerian’s eyes closed for a long moment. Then, at last, he spoke.

"Leave us."

The command was quiet, but firm.

The soldiers hesitated only for a second before obeying, filing out of the room without a word.

When the door shut, only three remained—Stephany, Valerian, and Evelyn.

Valerian exhaled, his voice laced with something unreadable.

"You too, Evelyn."

The woman arched a brow. "Are you sure?"

"Just go."

Evelyn sighed dramatically before strolling toward the exit. At the door, she paused—turning slightly.

"Don’t get too soft, Cross."

She left with a knowing smile.

The door clicked shut.

Silence hung heavy between them.

Stephany trembled, fists clenched.

Valerian’s face remained unreadable, but his eyes—his eyes—looked at her as if she were a stranger.

And for the first time—Stephany felt truly afraid of her brother.

"If you don’t want me to use that truth serum on you, you better spill the truth now, Stephany. This is your last chance."

Valerian’s voice was sharp, and cold. The weight of his command pressed down on Stephany like a heavy shroud, leaving her trembling where she stood. She swallowed hard, her throat tightening as the walls around her seemed to close in. There was no way out. No way to escape the truth any longer.

Her lips quivered, and her body shook violently, fear gripping her like icy chains. Tears welled up in her eyes before cascading down her pale cheeks. "I’m sorry, brother . . . please . . . please don’t let them hurt me."

Before she could collapse under the weight of her confession, Valerian was already upon her, pulling her into a firm but protective embrace. His presence, though burning with tension, offered a fleeting moment of comfort. His voice softened only slightly as he murmured against her hair.

"No one is going to hurt you, not while I’m here. But I need the truth, Stephany. Only then can I protect you."

Stephany sobbed harder. Her hands clenched the fabric of his cloak as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to the world. She turned her teary gaze to his face, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You . . . you won’t be mad at me?"

Valerian stilled. A dark shadow passed over his expression, but he forced himself to remain composed.

"Promise me, brother," she pleaded, her desperation thick in the air. "Promise me you won’t be mad, and you will protect me."

His jaw clenched. Every instinct in him screamed that something was wrong, that whatever she was about to reveal would change everything.

"I promise," he said finally, his voice low, wary. "Just tell me the truth."

A long silence stretched between them. Stephany hesitated, gathering the courage to shatter the fragile peace between them.

Then, she whispered the words that would bring his world crashing down.

"I . . . I fell in love . . . with a vampire."

For a moment, the room felt void of air. Time slowed, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows across Valerian’s face as he processed what she had just said. His grip on her loosened.

"You’re . . . you’re joking." The words barely left his lips, strangled by disbelief.

Stephany shook her head, fresh tears spilling over. "It’s true, brother. I . . . I love him. I love Lucien. I’m sorry."

Valerian staggered back as if she had struck him. His vision blurred, his heartbeat hammering against his ribcage like a war drum. The name spilled from her lips like poison.

"Lucien."

The moment he uttered it, realization struck him like lightning. He gritted his teeth, his hands curling into fists as rage boiled beneath his skin. "Lucien ? Lucien Blood? The lord of the noble Blood vampire households? Have you lost your mind, Stephany?!"