As the days raced by in the hospital, the day of Elara's discharge finally arrived.
Her two brothers and father came to pick her up, ready to take her home.
Ara remembered clearly how she had behaved in her past life during this very moment. After being rescued, she had acted hysterical and unyielding. She had refused treatment, rejected medications, and only gave in when Damon was brought to persuade her.
Her selfishness had hurt the ones who loved her most—her father, Callum, and Sean. And worst of all, she had hurt Adrian. He never showed it, never raised his voice. His face stayed cold and expressionless, but Ara knew now how deep the wounds had gone.
Back then, she had only trusted Vivienne, believing she was the only one who cared. But in this life, Ara had vowed things would be different. She would cherish her family. She would make it right.
Soon, her belongings were packed, and the staff cleared the room. Callum and Sean went to settle the discharge papers while her father escorted her to the car.
Once inside, Ara's heart grew heavy. There was something she had been aching to ask.
"Dad…" she whispered softly.
The single word made her father's body stiffen. Hearing her call him that again after so long shattered the walls around his heart. His eyes burned, brimming with emotions he could not voice.
Ara had distanced herself from them ever since she was forced into marriage with Adrian. No matter how hard they tried, she never let them in.
And even now, at the hospital, her thoughts had been clouded. Adrian had not visited her once since her rebirth. Instead, she had received signed divorce papers. She had spoken to her family, even smiled faintly at times—but her heart always circled back to him. Always to Adrian.
Her father felt the weight of her silence. Guilt gnawed at him. Had he failed her as a father?
He knew Damon didn't deserve her love, but she had been blind to it, lost too deeply. All he could do was watch her destroy herself, powerless to stop it.
"Yes, Ara," he finally said, voice thick and trembling.
The sound pierced her chest. Her throat tightened, her heart heavy with regret.
"Do you think… Adrian hates me now?" she asked, her voice quivering, each word cutting her deeper than a blade.
Her father's eyes widened in shock.
They had avoided Adrian's name, careful never to agitate her. But now, Ara was the one bringing him up.
He didn't know how to answer.
After a long silence, her father finally spoke.
"Do you still want a divorce, Ara… or do you want to fix your relationship?"
Ara's breath caught. She lifted her gaze to him, her eyes shimmering. For a moment, she said nothing, then her voice came, low but steady, carrying a strength she hadn't felt in years.
"I want to fix my marriage, Dad."
Her father's heart clenched. A faint, relieved smile tugged at his lips. He had known his daughter all her life, and from the moment she asked about Adrian, he had already guessed her answer. Still, hearing her say it out loud filled him with a quiet joy.
Surprise lingered, but he didn't press her for reasons. If this was the choice she had made, then he would stand by her, no matter what.
"Good luck then, Ara," he murmured warmly, stroking her hair the way he used to when she was little.
A soft laugh escaped him, not of mockery but of deep relief. She had finally come back to her senses, finally chosen not to give up. His daughter was ready to fight for her marriage—and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to hope.
Her throat burned, guilt and determination warring inside her. For once, she could see the light of hope in her father's eyes, and she swore silently she wouldn't let him down again.
The rest of the car ride was wrapped in silence, but it wasn't an empty silence—it was heavy with unspoken promises.
Soon enough, the car slowed to a stop before the towering gates of Ravenhurst Manor.
Ara's heart skipped a beat.
The wrought-iron gates loomed high, their intricate design of ravens spreading their wings casting sharp shadows under the fading light. They weren't just for show—hidden within the black metal shimmered faint sensors, and tiny red lights blinked in rhythm. Security cameras tracked the car's movement with an almost predatory gaze.
A low hum filled the air. She realized it wasn't the engine—it was the faint vibration of the laser detection grid woven into the estate's perimeter. Even the air around Ravenhurst felt guarded, untouchable.
The car rolled forward as the gates opened with a slow, deliberate groan. A scanner swept across them as they entered, flashing briefly over Ara's face. She shivered, realizing that Adrian had built a fortress, not a home. Nothing escaped his notice here.
The drive stretched long and intimidating, lined with ancient oaks whose branches tangled together like silent watchers. The gravel crunched under the tires, echoing against the forest that bordered the estate like a wall of shadows.
When the manor itself finally came into view, Ara's breath caught.
The mansion rose like something out of legend—its dark stone walls bore the weight of centuries, yet sleek, glass panels reflected the dim sky in sharp contrast. Along the roof and corners, faint glimmers of hidden cameras winked, almost invisible unless one knew where to look.
Adrian's world was a fusion of past and present—mystery and technology, history and dominance.
As the car approached the front steps, Ara's pulse quickened. She remembered this place all too well.
In her past life, she had cursed these walls, called them a prison, a cage. She had fought with Adrian here, screamed at him, shattered everything good he silently offered her. Yet she also remembered the quiet moments—the way he always left a light on in the corridor so she wouldn't stumble in the dark, the way her favorite tea always appeared on her bedside table though she had never asked.
Her chest ached with regret.
And now, here she was again.
The double doors loomed ahead, carved with designs of ravens taking flight. Above them, sleek biometric scanners blinked faintly, and Ara knew no one stepped foot in here without Adrian's knowledge.
This wasn't just a home. It was Adrian's kingdom. His fortress. His shadow.
She drew in a trembling breath, her fingers curling into fists on her lap.
This time, she wasn't stepping into Ravenhurst as a reckless, selfish heiress.
She was stepping in as a woman determined to reclaim her marriage.
Her father glanced at her, but said nothing. He didn't need to. The weight in her eyes said enough.
As the car door opened and Ara stepped out, she lifted her chin to the dark, imposing mansion.