They Said the Serpent Was a Prank, but I Found the Scales This Morning Chapter 09

They Said the Serpent Was a Prank, but I Found the Scales This Morning Chapter 09

“Shut up!”

Everett swept every book and paper off the desk. A vein throbbed faintly at his temple.

Looking at the girl before him, the one who resembled Maren by only a fraction, he had no patience left.

For the past six months, he had searched every corner of the mountains and found no trace of Maren.

Yet Tessa kept clinging to that fake marriage contract, insisting she already belonged to him and dogging his steps day after day.

As if possessed, she kept trying to justify herself.

“Everett, I only felt sorry for you.”

“Maren was clearly using the fact that she saved your life to force you into marriage. I was the one who understood what you were thinking. I was the one who could read every word you wrote. You and Maren were never right for each other.”

“If you never cared about me, why did you always protect me? Why did you always take my side? I meant something to you, didn’t I?”

Only then did Everett understand.

Everything had been his fault.

He had crossed lines he never should have crossed and given Tessa illusions she should never have had.

The person in his heart had always been Maren.

But later, like everyone else, he had grown used to her obedience, her gentleness, and her endless grace, assuming she would always wait for him in the same place, quietly and without complaint.

Before him, Tessa’s eyes flashed with resentment as tears slid down her face in heavy streaks.

Everett closed his eyes in exhaustion.

His voice was hoarse, but his answer was still absolute.

“Even if Maren is truly gone, she is the only woman I have ever loved.”

“Tessa, if you weren’t the sister Maren loved with all her heart, I would never have looked at you twice.”

Tessa stared at him blankly.

Then, as if all the strength had been drained from her body, she stumbled and collapsed to the floor.

But Everett would never again help her up.

At that moment, lightning tore suddenly across the sky.

Outside the house, cries for help rose from somewhere in the rain. In the blink of an eye, the sounds grew louder, messier, and saturated with panic.

Everett realized what was happening and shot to his feet.

A flash flood had broken through.

The next morning, I learned that Raven Hollow had been hit by the worst flood it had seen in hundreds of years.

Rain had poured all night, and Cael had not returned.

Thankfully, by the time the first gray light appeared, the rain had finally stopped.

I changed my clothes and went down the mountain with the white tiger attendant.

Roads were washed out.

Bridges had collapsed. Everywhere I looked, Raven Hollow was scarred and broken.

Many people had lost their homes entirely.

Before long, I found a shivering little girl near the broken bridge.

Her leg was injured, and she was clearly trying to endure the pain, but she still looked up at me timidly and begged.

“Can you save my sister first? She’s really scared of pain.”

I looked toward the younger child not far away, the one being held and comforted by a young woman.

Then I raised my hand and gently touched the little girl’s head.

“But you’re scared of pain too, aren’t you? Let me clean your wound and stop the bleeding first. Then I’ll go check on your sister.”

Silly girl.

I sighed softly.

Behind me, an incredulous voice trembled.

“Maren… is it really you?”

I turned back and saw Nora staring straight at me, her eyes shaking with shock.

Beside her stood Frank, wearing the stern expression I had known all my life.

But now, both of them looked as if they had aged a decade overnight.

I still had to save others, so I gave them a calm nod and turned to leave.

Nora swayed, her hoarse voice breaking with tears.

“Maren, don’t go. Back then, your father and I wronged you.”

Frank stepped forward too, his throat tight.

“Maren, we only wanted to keep you close. That was why we let Tessa take your place. Crane was old and had no children. We thought you wouldn’t suffer if you married him, so we hid it from you and arranged the whole thing.”

My steps paused.

The truth was, I had always understood.

My parents had always believed Tessa was too frail.

If Tessa went to the city with Everett and lived under his protection, they could finally feel at ease.

As for me, I was hardworking and obedient. If they married me off to someone nearby, I could remain close and care for them as they grew old.

In their eyes, it was the best of both worlds.

Precisely because I understood, it had hurt so bitterly back then.

Fortunately, now my heart no longer stirred at all.

I still did not look back.

I walked away quickly.

Behind me, I heard Nora ask one last question in a trembling voice.

“Maren, that man… does he treat you well?”

I did not answer.

I only lifted my eyes toward Cael, who was hurrying toward me from not far away.

His gaze swept quickly over my entire body.

Only after confirming I was unharmed did he finally relax. Then his hand settled carefully at my waist.

“I left a note. The flood has receded, and I said I would handle the relief work in the settlement. I told you not to come down in case you caught a chill, but you still…”

My lips curved faintly.

“The baby missed her father. And I missed my husband. So I came.”

Cael looked helpless, but the corner of his mouth lifted in open indulgence. Quietly, he tightened his hold on my hand.

Leaning against him, I raised my eyes again and caught sight of a familiar figure standing there as if he were a hollow ghost.

Across the fractured bridge, Everett stared at me from far away without moving.

Those dark, ink-deep eyes had once been my favorite thing about him.

Now they were filled with countless emotions I could and could not understand.

Shock and pain.

Regret and bitterness.

For a moment, it felt as if all the years between us had gathered in that single look.

And it was only that one glance.

In the next moment, I walked away with Cael, hand in hand, toward a completely different path beyond the broken bridge.

The hand Everett had once flung away so carelessly was now held firmly by the new love of my life.

My steps grew lighter and lighter, leaving every gaze tangled with regret far behind me.

From then on, I left the old world behind.

And walked free among the mountains and the sea.