Chapter 16

Similar scenes overlapped in her mind, and Cersei hazily recalled how, many years ago, Louis had done the same. After two years of dating, filled with love, he had knelt beneath the cherry tree where they had first declared their feelings and proposed. Back then, she had felt only nervous excitement about stepping into their next chapter. But now, she felt hesitation as well.

It’s true that Cersei had truly moved on from her past relationship. But in matters of the heart, she still felt somewhat inexperienced. She had always been cautious, lacking courage when facing unfamiliar experiences. Whether facing Louis’s hundred declarations of love back then, or Hurley’s proposal now, Cersei was afraid—afraid he might become another Louis.

Suddenly, warmth filled her palm. Looking down, she saw her mother’s hand. Startled, she looked up to see Esme smiling, both gentle and resolute. “Just listen to your heart. For everything else, as long as we try our best, we’ll have no regrets.”

She looked down again at Hurley, still kneeling before her. In the raised ring box, diamond facets gleamed brilliantly in the light. The silver band had been polished smooth, clearly engraved with their names. Through his deep gaze, she could see his nervousness—no less than her own. It seemed he was telling her to consider only her own feelings, to make the decision that felt right to her.

She asked her heart: Cersei, are you willing to accept his love, take another chance, and be his lifelong partner? In that moment, she could hear the rapid beating of her own heart.

With a soft breath, Cersei extended her hand toward him and nodded. “I…” But before she could finish, a figure in a server’s uniform suddenly pulled a knife from beneath the cart and rushed toward the group at the center of attention. “Die!”

The crisis unfolded in an instant. Countless screams erupted as guests scattered in all directions. Only one person moved against the flow. “Cersei!” Three voices cried out simultaneously. Hurley felt his heart skip a beat. Just as he stood up to pull Cersei to safety, the glinting knife surged toward her.

She instinctively dodged sideways, forgetting the steps beside her. Pain shot through her ankle, causing her legs to buckle and fall. Before she could raise her head, the knife was already at her face! In that moment, the thought that flashed through her mind: how familiar the face beneath the mask seemed, though she couldn’t place where she had seen it before. “THUD!” The knife tip penetrated flesh. Bright red blood sprayed out, blooming like a crimson flower on a chest.

The attacker, thinking she had succeeded, raised their eyes only to be shocked by the identity of the person who had intervened. “Louis Harris?!” “Ugh…” His eyes were filled with pain as he looked at Cersei, whom he had pushed toward Hurley. Louis tried to speak, but every breath was excruciating. Not a word came out.

Seeing her first attack had missed, the assailant yanked out the knife and lunged at Cersei again. Hurley shielded her, turning to deliver a powerful kick to the attacker’s wrist! The knife clattered to the floor.

Hotel security rushed in upon receiving the alert. By the time the attacker tried to retrieve the knife, it was too late. The weapon had been kicked far away, and security had pinned them to the ground. Cersei struggled to compose herself, her hands shaking as she took out her phone to call both police and an ambulance.

Security ripped off the mask from the still-struggling attacker. Just as Cersei finished her calls and turned to see the face, she frowned. The face was familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen it before.