Chapter 427 - I’ll wear this proudly…to honor her
Chapter 427: Chapter 427 - I’ll wear this proudly...to honor her
Voren glanced over his shoulder into the softly lit room. The gentle glow of the bedside lamp illuminated Seraphine’s peaceful sleeping face. She hadn’t moved at all since she lay down, her breathing slow and even.
After everything that had happened that day, she looked completely exhausted, like her body and heart had finally given out.
He quietly looked back at Vladimir and gave a small nod. "Alright."
Carefully closing the door behind him so he wouldn’t wake her, he followed his father down the hallway. Neither of them spoke a word. The silence between them wasn’t comfortable, but neither man seemed ready to break it just yet.
By the time they reached the upper deck, the entire scene had completely transformed. Only a short while earlier, the yacht had been alive with laughter, music, beautiful flowers, and all the joyful wedding decorations.
Now it was as though none of it had ever existed. The crew had worked with incredible speed. Every ribbon had been taken down, the chairs were gone, the floral arrangements had disappeared, and even the dance floor had been cleared away.
The deck looked spotless and bare beneath the moonlight, with only the gentle sound of waves lapping against the yacht surrounding them.
Voren rested his forearms against the balustrade and looked out across the dark, endless ocean. "I’m listening."
His voice remained calm. He still hadn’t forgiven his father. The wounds Vladimir had caused ran too deep to disappear overnight. But despite everything, he could also see the heavy grief weighing down on the older man.
Vladimir stood beside him for several long moments before finally speaking. His shoulders looked heavier than Voren had ever seen them. "Voren..." His voice carried genuine, raw regret. "I’m deeply sorry."
He lowered his eyes. "There are no words that can erase the way I treated your wife." Pain filled his entire expression. "I’ll spend however long it takes trying to earn her forgiveness. I don’t even know if I deserve that chance."
Voren remained silent, letting him speak. Vladimir slowly lifted the small velvet box he had been holding. "I wanted you to accept this."
Only then did Voren notice the box in his father’s hands. His eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it?"
Vladimir carefully opened the lid. Nestled inside were two breathtaking ruby necklaces, one designed for a woman and the other for a man.
The rubies glowed beautifully under the deck lights, their deep crimson color rich and mesmerizing. The craftsmanship was unlike anything Voren had ever seen.
Every tiny detail looked ancient, elegant, and completely timeless. No modern jeweler could have recreated something so extraordinary. The necklaces looked priceless.
Voren instinctively frowned. He had no desire to accept anything connected to Vladimir after everything that had happened.
Sensing his hesitation, Vladimir quietly continued. "Your mother prepared these before she went into labor."
The words instantly stole Voren’s full attention. His eyes snapped back to the necklaces.
Vladimir gently ran his thumb over the soft velvet lining. "She told me... she had a feeling she might not survive." His voice became unsteady. "So she asked me to keep these safe." His eyes grew glossy with emotion. "When you were old enough, I was supposed to give them to you and your future wife. They were meant to remind you of her."
Voren stared silently at the box. Every emotion inside him tangled together in a messy storm.
Vladimir looked away, ashamed. "I didn’t value them back then." His voice was full of deep regret. "When Olivia convinced me that Oriana had survived... I forgot they even existed." He laughed bitterly at himself. "It wasn’t until we decided to attend your wedding that I remembered. I figured we shouldn’t arrive empty-handed. So I brought them."
His expression hardened. "Olivia agreed." Another humorless laugh escaped him. "Now I realize she only agreed because she never knew what was inside. If she’d known, she would’ve found another way to manipulate the situation. She also knew better than to ask too many questions. She couldn’t risk exposing herself."
Vladimir carefully held the box out toward his son. "Now that we know how precious these truly are... will you accept them?"
Voren looked down at the necklaces again. His vision slowly blurred. With slightly trembling hands, he accepted the velvet box. He held it carefully, almost like he was holding a precious piece of the mother he had never known.
"If these came from my real mother..." His voice grew thick with overwhelming emotion. "Then of course I’ll accept them." A tear gathered in the corner of his eye. "I’ll wear this proudly...to honor her."
Relief spread across Vladimir’s face. "Thank you." He let out a long, heavy breath. Then his expression became serious once more. "I don’t want you worrying about anything else tonight. Spend time with your wife. I’ll take care of everything involving Oriana."
His eyes reflected quiet determination. "We can’t invite leaders from the other packs because of how delicate this matter is. But every member of the Grimroot Pack deserves to know the truth. They deserve to know who their real Luna was."
Voren gave a firm nod. "I agree."
There was nothing more that needed to be said. Father and son quietly returned to their rooms.
When Voren opened the door to the honeymoon suite, he immediately noticed movement. Seraphine was no longer asleep. She sat upright on the bed with the blanket gathered around her.
Her wide eyes landed on him the second he stepped inside. They looked as round as saucers, and curiosity practically radiated from her face.
"What did he say?" The question came out so fast that Voren couldn’t help smiling.
He closed the door behind him. "I thought you were asleep."
Seraphine folded her arms, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "I’m not. So stop avoiding the question. What did he want?"
Voren chuckled softly. Her curiosity always made her look so damn adorable. Instead of answering right away, he walked over to the bed and sat beside her. Then he placed the velvet box gently in her lap.
"It’s a gift... from your late mother-in-law."
Seraphine blinked in surprise. Slowly, she opened the lid. The instant she saw the matching necklaces, her jaw dropped. "Oh my God..." She stared at them in complete amazement. "I’ve never seen jewelry this beautiful."
The rubies sparkled brilliantly beneath the bedroom lights. Voren smiled. "They’re ancient. The craftsmanship is unbelievable."
He leaned behind her, gently brushing her hair aside before fastening the ruby necklace around her neck. The gemstone rested perfectly against her skin, like it had always belonged there.
Seraphine reached into the box and picked up the second necklace. With a warm, loving smile, she carefully placed it around Voren’s neck and fastened the clasp.
When they looked at each other again, neither of them could stop smiling.
Seraphine gently touched the ruby resting against her chest. "I really wish I could’ve met her." Her voice became soft. "I think... I would’ve loved her."
The words broke something deep inside Voren. His body suddenly trembled. His breathing became uneven. A single tear escaped, quickly followed by another. "I never got to meet her either, Sera." His voice cracked with raw emotion. "But somehow... I’ve loved her my whole life."
Seraphine immediately wrapped both arms around him, holding him tightly against her as she let her own tears fall. She rested her cheek against his shoulder. "So do I." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "And I promise you, she’ll receive every bit of justice she deserves. And the honor that was stolen from her."
After several quiet moments, she slowly pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. "There’s something else I’ve been wondering." She hesitated briefly. "Your dad..." Her expression softened. "Do you think... I should forgive him?"
Author’s note: This was another emotional Chapter for me. Please let me know what you think.