There Is No Paradise Where I Ran Away To (14 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 123

The prison, devoid of even a single sunbeam, distorted the passage of time. There was no way to tell whether a day had passed or two. All one could do was endure within the pitch-black darkness that seemed to stretch on forever.

A drop of water, fed by the damp air, fell from the ceiling and landed with a soft plink on Vivian’s forehead. She flinched, tightening her body against the chill carried by something as trivial as a droplet.

Edwin had known Vivian’s plan from the very beginning. The proof was clear—he’d tried to secretly leave for Perrington in the dead of early dawn. Yet he couldn’t dissuade the stubborn Vivian. Instead, anticipating she’d flee to Haverbridge, he’d taken photographs in advance.

To lock her away in a place like this. To prepare false charges. To wait patiently for her to step into the trap he’d set.

She wanted to ask him why—why he’d urged her to run away with him when he’d seen through her intentions all along. Why he’d hypocritically suggested they descend quietly together to Odelion, where no one would find them.

The only thing she could vaguely guess was that even that had been part of his test.

Edwin must have tossed out bait for amusement, simply to observe her reaction—whether she took it or not, it would’ve been entertaining to watch.

You’ve always deceived me, broken me down, and forced me to see the very bottom.

Recalling this truth, her once-burning heart instantly emptied, leaving only coldness swirling within.

She couldn’t even remember what she’d worried about, unaware she’d already fallen into his trap.

The more overwhelming her sense of emptiness grew, the deeper her self-reproach became. Despite vowing hundreds, thousands of times not to be fooled again, she’d ended up right back where she started—her judgment betraying the resolve she’d believed unshakable deep within.

If her parents were to die by Edwin’s hand, it wouldn’t be Edwin who killed them—it would be as if she herself had done it.

Knowing full well he was her enemy, knowing he’d bring harm to her family, she’d still left an opening for him.

She couldn’t suppress the hollow laughter or the tears welling up. Not wanting her cries to fill the dark, empty cell, she clamped her mouth shut. Holding her breath and squeezing her eyes tightly, she swallowed her tears by force, and gradually her heart settled somewhat.

Now only one option remained: the bitter letter she’d written, imagining the absolute worst of worst-case scenarios. Since Edwin had uncovered everything, the only thing left to trust was the letter entrusted to Theo.

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