The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: 03/02- Second Chance
Aeliana felt her breath hitch as Lucian’s words settled between them like an unmovable wall. His golden eyes, once so warm and full of affection, were now laced with cold finality. This wasn’t just a warning—it was a line drawn in the sand, and if she crossed it, there would be no coming back.

“I understand,” she said softly, meeting his gaze with quiet resolve. She had fought so hard to keep him, but she had to acknowledge the truth—Lucian was offering her one last chance, not out of blind love, but because he needed to see if she could truly respect him, his boundaries, and their fragile bond.

Lucian studied her, searching for any sign of hesitation, but for once, Aeliana didn’t waver. She had made many mistakes, but this time, she would prove her sincerity. No more missteps, no more carelessness—she had to earn back the trust she had lost.

Mal, standing a few feet away, observed the tense exchange in silence. He had known Lucian for years, and never before had he seen him lay down such an ultimatum. It was both a test and a shield—if Aeliana failed him now, it would be the final wound that severed them completely.

“I won’t tolerate betrayal, Aeliana,” Lucian continued, his voice unwavering. “Not from you, not from anyone. I have given you everything—my trust, my patience, my heart. But if you throw this away, then we are done. Not just as lovers, but as allies. The elf kingdom can forget about this alliance.”

Aeliana swallowed hard. She understood the gravity of his words. This wasn’t just about their love anymore—it was political, it was personal, it was everything. If she failed him again, she wouldn’t just lose Lucian; she would jeopardize the fragile connection between their people.

“I swear to you,” she said, stepping closer. “There won’t be another mistake. I know I hurt you, and I can’t erase that, but I will prove to you that I’m serious about us.”

Lucian didn’t move, his expression unreadable. He wanted to believe her—part of him always would—but doubt still clung to the edges of his mind like a shadow. Could she truly change?

Mal finally spoke, his voice calm yet firm. “Then let it be clear. This is not just a second chance—it is the last chance. If either of you waver, it ends here.” He glanced at Lucian, then Aeliana. “No more excuses, no more misunderstandings. If you are to move forward, it must be with complete honesty.”

Lucian nodded, crossing his arms. “Fine. But know this, Aeliana: I will not beg for your loyalty. Either you want this as much as I do, or we part ways now.”

Aeliana clenched her fists, determination blazing in her eyes. “I want this. And I’ll prove it.”

Lucian studied her for a long moment before finally exhaling, the tension in his shoulders loosening just slightly. “Then we’ll see.”

Mal stepped forward, breaking the heavy silence. “Then it’s settled. But don’t expect trust to be repaired overnight. You both have a long road ahead.”

Aeliana nodded, understanding that actions—not words—would be the only thing to mend what had been broken.

Lucian turned away slightly, running a hand through his hair. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that Aeliana could change, that their love wasn’t doomed. But deep down, a small part of him still whispered a warning.

One last chance.

And this time, there would be no forgiveness if she failed.

Aeliana’s heart pounded in her chest as Lucian’s ultimatum weighed heavy in the air between them. One last chance. The words echoed in her mind like a final judgment, an invisible noose tightening around her fate. She had no room for hesitation—one wrong step and everything she had fought for would be lost.

With a deep breath, she met Lucian’s piercing gaze and nodded. “I understand,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. “I accept your terms.”

Lucian watched her carefully, his face unreadable. His golden eyes, once so full of warmth, now held only wary caution. He had loved her—maybe he still did—but love alone wasn’t enough. He needed trust. And trust, once broken, wasn’t so easily restored.

Mal exhaled, breaking the silence. “Then we move forward with clarity,” he said. “No more games, no more misunderstandings. If you mean to make this work, then prove it.”

Aeliana swallowed hard. She had been ready to fight for Lucian, to win him back by any means necessary, but now she realized this wasn’t just about winning. This was about earning.

She had spent so long caught in the storm of her emotions, desperate to hold on, but now she saw that love alone wouldn’t fix what was broken. She had to rebuild, piece by piece, and that meant accepting the possibility that, even if she gave it her all, Lucian might never look at her the same way again.

The thought was terrifying.

Lucian ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Fine,” he muttered. “We’ll try again. But don’t expect things to go back to the way they were.”

Aeliana nodded again, feeling an invisible weight pressing down on her shoulders. “I don’t expect that,” she admitted. “I just… I want to move forward, whatever that looks like.”

For the first time since their argument, something in Lucian’s gaze softened. He wasn’t ready to forgive her completely, but maybe—just maybe—he was willing to see if she could prove herself.

Still, the tension lingered.

Mal, ever the pragmatic one, spoke next. “Aeliana, if you’re serious about this, then you need to set boundaries too.” He glanced at Lucian knowingly. “Love isn’t just about sacrifice—it’s about balance. If you let fear drive you, you’ll never have something real.”

Aeliana bit her lip, realizing how much she had let desperation cloud her judgment. She had been so afraid of losing Lucian that she hadn’t even considered what she needed.

Lucian, on the other hand, frowned at Mal’s words. “I’m not asking her to beg,” he said, crossing his arms. “I just need to know I can trust her again.”

“And she needs to know she won’t always be walking on thin ice,” Mal countered, his gaze unwavering. “A relationship that survives out of fear isn’t a relationship at all.”

Aeliana blinked, startled by the truth in his words. Had she been so consumed by guilt that she hadn’t even noticed how much she had been afraid?

Lucian didn’t respond immediately. He simply exhaled, looking away, deep in thought.

After a long pause, he spoke again. “Fine. Then let’s make this clear.” He turned to Aeliana. “We will try again—but I need time. I need space. And if anything like this happens again…” His eyes darkened. “Then we’re done. No discussion, no second chances.”

Aeliana straightened, taking in his words. It hurt, knowing how fragile their relationship had become, but she had no choice but to accept it. “Understood,” she said firmly.

Lucian studied her for a long moment before nodding. “Then we’ll see.”

The conversation left the air heavy with unspoken emotions. The road ahead was uncertain, and though Aeliana had secured one last chance, she knew better than to take it for granted.

She had to show him—not just through words, but through actions—that she could be better, that she could love him in a way that didn’t hurt him.

And as Lucian turned to leave, Aeliana found herself whispering a silent promise:

I won’t lose you again.

Mal watched the exchange between Aeliana and Lucian, his mind heavy with thoughts that he couldn’t shake off. While he had never doubted that Lucian’s heart was in the right place, he couldn’t help but wonder if the conditions Lucian set were too harsh on Aeliana, especially given that she had never meant for any of this to happen.

In the quiet moments following their conversation, Mal’s eyes lingered on Aeliana, who stood with her shoulders slumped, her face drawn in deep thought. The guilt that had once seemed so overbearing on her was now tempered by something else—a quiet determination. But Mal still couldn’t help but feel a sense of injustice brewing inside him.

It wasn’t her fault.

She hadn’t chosen to be in that situation with her cousin, Silvion. Her heart had always been with Lucian. Yet the circumstances had spiraled out of her control. Mal had seen how much Aeliana had struggled with everything that had happened—the pressure, the guilt, the responsibilities weighing on her like a thousand stones. She didn’t deserve to be punished for something that was, in essence, not her fault.

“Perhaps Lucian is too harsh,” Mal muttered to himself, his brow furrowed. He knew Lucian had his reasons—his pride, his honor, his fear of being hurt again—but he also understood that Aeliana was far more fragile than she appeared. The heartache she had suffered in silence was deeper than most realized.

As Mal turned to look at her, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness. He had always seen Aeliana as his own responsibility to help guide and watch over. Even if Lucian couldn’t see it, he would always do whatever he could to make sure Aeliana didn’t lose herself in this tangled mess of love and duty.

It was no longer just about her reconciliation with Lucian. It was about her healing, too. And for that, she needed time—time and the space to heal, to grow stronger in her own right. Mal hoped that Lucian would realize this before it was too late.