Chapter 238

Nolan Reed wasn't the mastermind behind Aria Bennett's death, but he was far from blameless.

Yet she no longer hated him.

Especially after learning that he had later jumped to his own death—that the phone call she'd overheard wasn't him cheating with Serena Blake, but a setup.

She had finally let go.

But the love between them had long since withered. She remained distant, never bothering to reach out.

They could still interact, but the childhood intimacy they once shared was gone forever.

Some things, once lost, could never be reclaimed.

"The ending in your dream proves we were never meant to be," she murmured with a sigh.

Had they not been trapped in that novel's world, without Serena's interference or the constraints of fate—

Perhaps they might have had a happy ending.

But there were no "what ifs" in this life...

Nolan's heart ached, but he forced a smile. "Yeah. We missed our chance."

Aria had died because of him. In this lifetime, he didn't dare hope for more.

He stubbed out his cigarette, took a deep breath, and ruffled her hair like he used to when they were kids.

"From now on, you're my sister." The words came out strained, but he finally said them.

Aria looked up, meeting his weary, pained—yet resolute—gaze. Her eyes reddened instantly.

She tugged at his sleeve, just like she had as a child, and whispered, "Nolan."

Maybe that single word sealed their fate—brother and sister, nothing more.

His eyes grew damp too. "If anyone bullies you, I'll take care of it."

Aria smiled. "Okay."

It was over. From now on, he would be her brother.

"What happened after I died? How are Mom and Theo?" Her family was still her greatest concern.

Nolan recounted everything, stopping only when he reached the timeline of his own suicide. "After that... I don't know."

Hearing that Theo had nearly died from grief and that Evelyn had aged overnight shattered Aria's heart.

But one detail stunned her. "You mean... Dad came back? And he avenged me?"

"Yeah." Nolan nodded. "Those families went bankrupt within a year. Logan Price and the others either died or were left crippled—none of them got off easy."

"Serena Blake was disfigured in a car accident. She's wheelchair-bound now. No happy ending for her."

Aria couldn't believe it. Serena was the novel's heroine, and those men were the male leads. How had her father dismantled them so easily?

Was he another "Chosen One"?

Or had her death shattered the world's rules?

"What did Dad look like when he returned? Do you know where he'd been all these years?"

Nolan shook his head. "No idea. He just showed up out of nowhere after hearing about your death and started his revenge."

"All I know is he seemed to have been in some kind of trouble before. That's why he couldn't come back sooner."

"But things are different now. You and your father will reunite."

In the dream, Aria's father had glared at him like he wanted to kill him.

If Evelyn hadn't intervened, the man might have taken him out too.

After that, neither Evelyn nor his own mother would see him, so he knew little about Aria's father.

But one thing was certain—the man was terrifyingly powerful. Crushing those families had been as easy as stepping on ants.

Disappointed by the lack of answers, Aria still felt a wave of relief.

Her father was alive. He would come back.

"That's all that matters."

Nolan agreed. "You'll see him again."

They sat in silence a while longer before Nolan finally started the car and drove them home.

By the time they reached the Reed residence, both had composed themselves.

Rebecca Reed and Evelyn Bennett were relieved to see them laughing together.

Only Arthur Reed sighed to himself.

His son had truly lost the girl he loved.

He held Rebecca closer, grateful she had returned.

Dinner was a feast prepared by Rebecca and Evelyn.

As they sat down, Rebecca poured wine for everyone and handed Aria a wooden box.

"Aria, from now on, you're my daughter. This is your godmother's gift."

Inside was a set of heirloom jewelry.

Aria accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Godmother."

The two families enjoyed the meal, chatting over tea until Aria and her family said their goodbyes.

Nolan offered to drive them home, and this time, Aria didn't refuse.

Though they weren't as close as before, the tension between them had dissolved. They truly felt like siblings now.

In the following days, Aria focused on filming. Director Gideon Marsh pushed the crew hard to stay on schedule, and Serena caused no further trouble.

The team relocated to another province for outdoor shoots, staying over half a month. Damian Cross, Nolan, and Tristan Cole all visited the set.

Silas Kane didn't come because of Serena's presence but kept in touch with Aria through messages.

After wrapping the first season, Director Gideon gave everyone a break back in the capital.

Though called a "season," it was only twelve episodes. Post-production would be rushed.

Gideon planned to release these twelve as a test. If reception was good, they'd continue. If mediocre, they'd take their time. If it flopped, they'd scrap the project entirely.

This was standard for web dramas—better to cut losses early than waste resources on a full season no one wanted.

After filming, Gideon felt confident. The plot was tight, the sets and costumes exquisite, and the post-production team top-tier.

The female lead might draw criticism, but everything else was flawless.

The assistant director argued that controversy meant attention—as long as the show itself wasn't panned, the buzz would help.

So Gideon remained hopeful. If even this failed, he'd swear off web dramas for good.

The entire crew shared his optimism.