Villain MMORPG: Almighty Devil Emperor and His Seven Demonic Wives - Chapter 1553

Chapter 1553: Ghost of The Past
Villain Ch 1553. Ghost of The Past

He looked at Jordan. “But if you want to offer her something. Like therapy. Or whatever helps people with… trauma or mental health stuff… that would be good. That would be great, even. I just—” He hesitated. “I just don’t think she’ll take it.”

Jordan’s brow furrowed slightly, nodding slowly as if confirming something he’d already suspected.

“I’ve offered it,” he said at last. “Quietly. I sent someone I trusted. A specialist.” He paused. “She refused. Flat out. Said she was fine.”

Allen scoffed, not even surprised. “Yeah. That sounds like her.”

Jordan studied him for a long moment, then asked gently, “Do you think she needs it?”

Allen’s lips parted, then closed again. He stared down at his own hands—hands that had built his gaming career, commanded monster armies, burned players to ash. But they still couldn’t reach her. Not really.

After a beat, he said, “Yeah. I do.” His voice was low, but sure. “I think she’s been hurting for a long time. And I think no one ever taught her how to stop.”

Jordan sat back in his chair, expression unreadable, but his silence was heavier now—like it carried respect.

Allen’s eyes didn’t lift.

“She just… she hides it well. You wouldn’t see it unless you’ve lived it.”

Another pause.

“Which I did.”

Jordan didn’t speak right away.

He leaned back in his chair slightly, observing Allen in that way of his—still, unreadable, like he wasn’t trying to decode his son’s words but measure their weight.

Then, quietly, he asked, “How about you?”

Allen blinked. “Me?”

“Do you need it?”

Allen huffed out a half-laugh, short and awkward. “No. I’m not the one who went through all that. She did.”

Jordan’s eyes narrowed—not harsh, just focused. “No,” he said firmly. “You also went through it. You know that.”

Allen looked away. Didn’t deny it.

Jordan leaned forward, his tone calm but absolute. “She might be stubborn, but from what I’ve seen… it’s like she wants to forget you ever existed. Like cutting you out of her life is how she heals. She wants to concentrate on her new family. On Evan. On keeping things clean.”

Allen didn’t move.

Jordan exhaled. “I sent someone to check.”

Allen turned his head slightly. “You did?”

“Not a spy,” Jordan said, holding up one hand. “Just someone investigating your old family life. I wanted to know if I needed to step in. If she was being forced to cut ties. If your stepdad was the one behind her silence. If he was abusive or manipulative. If Evan was being used. If your mother was scared.”

Jordan looked Allen in the eye. “But the reports said otherwise.”

Allen sat there, silent.

Jordan continued, voice lower. “They looked like a normal, happy family.”

Allen didn’t argue.

Because it was true.

The silence in the room deepened, but inside Allen’s head, it wasn’t quiet.

Memories stirred. Faint, faded snapshots…

A much younger version of himself dragging a duffel bag up the marble stairs of the family home.

Evan’s voice—bright, high, full of joy—calling out, “You’re my brother? For real? That’s so cool!”

A living room filled with sunlight and laughter that didn’t include him.

His mother in the kitchen, pretending to be busy when he walked in.

Her always just finishing a phone call. Or needing to step out. Or “suddenly” remembering she had something upstairs.

She didn’t yell.

She didn’t curse.

She just evaporated.

Like his presence bent the air and she instinctively moved away from it.

Even back then, he knew.

She didn’t hate him.

But being around him?

It hurt her.

And she never told him why.

Maybe she didn’t have to.

He never pushed.

He’d watch from the hallway when she and Evan curled up on the couch, watching cartoons. Hear the laughter echo down the hall.

He didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t insert himself.

Because he knew where he didn’t belong.

Sometimes, yeah, it stung.

He was still a kid.

Still wanted that.

But even as a teenager, he understood when not to ask for things.

He’d slip out. Sit in the backyard. Take a walk. Go anywhere else until the warmth passed.

And his stepdad?

He was… perfect. Annoyingly perfect.

He brought Carla flowers on Thursdays. Helped Evan with homework. Hosted family barbecues where Allen felt like a ghost.

The only thing he ever did wrong?

Was pretend Allen wasn’t part of the picture.

Allen finally exhaled, long and slow.

Then said quietly, “They are a happy family.”

Jordan nodded once. Letting the statement settle.

“That’s why…” Allen continued, “my stepdad tries to protect it. It’s a perfect family. And I don’t want to destroy it.”

Jordan’s gaze sharpened. “Even though they hurt you?”

Allen hesitated. “In the past? Yes.” He met his father’s eyes. “But she moved on. And I should too.”

Jordan didn’t speak.

Allen glanced down again, fiddling with a thread at the edge of the chair’s armrest. “But yeah, I don’t like how my stepdad always blames me. Like I’m the reason she’s not happy. That’s the part that pisses me off. Like I chose to be born. Like I ruined her.”

Jordan’s voice came low. Measured. “What do you think her reason for crying was this time?”

Allen tilted his head, jaw tightening.

“Was it because she found out you’re a Goldborne?” Jordan asked. “Or because of your new reputation?”

Allen shook his head slowly. “No. She’s not a gold digger. I know that.”

“Then what?”

Allen opened his mouth— Paused.

His chest felt tight, like the words were there, but stuck.

He wanted to say it was regret.

Wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, it was guilt. That some part of her finally cracked open and felt what she’d done.

But even that?

Felt wrong.

Like a fantasy he didn’t deserve to believe in.

He looked up.

“I don’t know,” he said softly. “Maybe it was just… too much at once. Me. Evan. Everything. Maybe it made her remember. Or maybe she didn’t want to.”

Jordan didn’t press.

Allen stood slowly. “I’m not asking you to fix her. Or step in.”