The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 137

Lylah's POV

“All I want is to give her peace during the little time she has left. Is that so wrong in your eyes?” Rowan asked.

For a moment, I said nothing.

His words hung heavily in the air.

Cancer?

Cora had cancer?

And three years was all the time she had left?

“Only three years, Lylah,” Rowan continued quietly. “That isn’t so long. And after she’s gone, died..." He reached for my hand, gripping it tightly. “…we can be together again.”

My stomach twisted.

“I don’t care what you ask of me,” he went on, his voice almost desperate now. “Say it. Anything. As long as you come back to Blackfang and stand beside me as my Luna—”

I ripped my hand out of his grasp.

A low growl rumbled from deep in my throat.

I had never thought it possible for someone to sound so utterly repulsive.

How could he say something like that?

He had cheated on me with Cora—and now he spoke of her death as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience?

“How can you speak about Cora’s death so casually?” I said coldly. “You disgust me.”

Even I—who despised her so much—had never once imagined her dying, let alone built plans around it.

“Because I’ll say anything if it convinces you that you’re the only woman I love,” Rowan replied without hesitation. “You already think the worst of me, don’t you? Why should I bother choosing my words carefully now?”

But I wasn’t truly listening anymore. My thoughts drifted back to what he’d said about Cora. About her illness.

Cora had lied too many times, making it difficult to believe Rowan’s claim.

Was it even true?

I blinked—and suddenly Rowan was too close.

He was leaning toward me.

Trying to kiss me.

Instinct took over.

In the blink of an eye, my leg snapped upward. I drove my heel straight into his leg—the one that had once been crippled by injury.

I didn’t hold back.

“Argh!” Rowan’s scream tore through the air as he collapsed forward, clutching his knee.

“Lylah—” His head snapped up, eyes blazing with shock and pain. “How could you…” He hissed through clenched teeth. “You kicked me? You knew that was my weak spot!"

His voice trembled with disbelief.

“You used my weakness against me?”

I lifted my chin calmly. “I suppose being the only one who remained at your side while everyone else spat on you for your disability has its advantages now."

While he was still stunned, I stepped forward and drove my fist into his face.

The impact snapped his head sideways.

Blood blossomed along the corner of his lips, crimson against his skin.

“Lylah—”

“Monster!” A shrill voice suddenly cut through the air.

Cora.

She rushed toward us, seemingly appearing from nowhere. The moment she saw Rowan bent over in pain, she hurried to his side, wrapping an arm around him and helping him straighten.

Her eyes then turned on me. "You're a monster!"

Furious.

“What did you do to him?!” she shouted. “You rotten bitch! You tried to kill my mate?!”

Her voice shook with fierce devotion—the rage of someone defending the person they loved.

And somehow… that only made my chest tighten bitterly.

'You’re such a fool,' I thought silently. 'Blind and foolish. He doesn’t love you. He was just speaking about your death like it meant nothing.'

The words burned on my tongue.

But I didn’t say them.

Cora suddenly raised her hand, aiming straight for my face.

Before it could land, I caught her wrist.

Twisting it sharply, I dragged her closer—

—and slapped her across the face with all the force I had.