They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 552: Before I Start the Killing...

Could... could this be what he had been waiting to hear for months??

And now it was slipping away before it could even take shape.

He turned to her quickly. "What did you mean when you said we could be something more?" he asked, his voice sharper, almost pleading.

"It doesn’t matter anymore." Nnenna shook her head, her eyes a storm of anger and hurt. "You’ve been lying to me for who knows how long. You know how much pain I’ve been through these past eleven years. You know it took me years to accept who I am. And still, you let me believe a lie, even when you knew the truth."

"I’m sorry," Somto said quietly, staring at his empty hand like it was proof of everything he had just lost.

"When did you find out?" Nnenna’s voice was steady, but her eyes burned. She didn’t even glance at his failed apology.

Arthur snapped out of his own spiraling thoughts at that question. His anger flared, but he forced himself to stay silent. This wasn’t about him. This was about Nnenna, her entire life hanging on the secret Somto had done keeping for... years.

"I... I’ve known for—" Somto stammered.

"Don’t you dare lie to me again," Nnenna cut in coldly.

He swallowed. "I’ve known for more than eleven years."

Her breath hitched. "You’ve known since the beginning?!" The disbelief in her tone carried a sharp, trembling edge.

say it. "All those nights I poured my heart out to you... every time I told you how not knowing was killing me... you had the answer to a question that has haunted me for more than half my

you’re upset. Both of you," he added, glancing at Arthur. "It’s my fault. But please, this isn’t the time to tear each other apart. We’re still kidnapped,

Arthur’s jaw set

voice cutting through the silence. "Well, you finally have us here. What are your

softened. "Of course not. You’re family. I would never try to kill

can’t stop lying, can you,

head jerked toward

he said, fury vibrating in every word. "Your own sister was family, yet you and your psycho husband murdered her

pale, but he

what you started. You

faltered for the first time. How much does he know? How

chest. "Wait—" her voice trembled, but her eyes burned, "you

Never seen their faces. But the rage came instinctively, roaring up like it had been waiting in her bones her whole

that answers my question. Since you brought me here to finish the job... go on. Finish what you started." She didn’t care whether Athena actually would or not, there

trying to drive a wedge between my niece and me, Somto? You have no evidence for any of your claims."

doing for the past ten years? I’ll give you credit, you’re a chameleon. You hid well. But

expression shifted. The polite mask cracked. "Well," she said at last, her tone flattening, "since it seems you already know far too much, I might as well stop pretending." The faint smile she had

to Nnenna. "I’m sorry, dear. It was never my intention for things to go