We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 194

“While I couldn’t give you everything you wanted, I have punished and expelled all those who treated you unfairly. There are no more people in the estate who tormented you. If you allow me, I want to help you seek revenge against the remaining ones who caused you pain.”

As Ian spoke, he thought to himself, if he was one of those people, he would punish himself as well.

“Hmm… I will admit that I was wrong about some things. But as for revenge, well, I’m not sure.” .

Melissa felt that the idea of revenge itself was rather futile. Yes, seeking revenge may be satisfying in the moment, but wouldn’t it ultimately make her the same as those she hated?

She didn’t want to stoop to their level, but as she hesitated, Ian, after a moment’s pause, asked quietly,

“Mel, I have one question for you.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

She responded in a neutral tone, believing she should answer fairly. Ian hesitated, his lips moving but not forming the words, before he asked in a low voice,

“Why did your pheromones disappear?”

“…”

Melissa was taken aback by the question. She thought any question would be fine, but when asked, she found herself speechless.

Ian noticed the brief flicker of pain in her purple eyes, and without realizing it, he clenched his fists tightly.

What had happened to her? Why couldn’t she release her fresh pheromones? Why was she behaving like someone who had never imprinted? What could the cause of this be?

He decided not to dwell on foolish thoughts anymore, but his curiosity grew. No, it was more than curiosity—it was concern.

Pheromones were as vital to an alpha or omega as any part of the body. Was there something wrong with her body? If she had been in pain all along, if this was an ongoing condition, he felt he had to help.

He couldn’t turn away from this. It was something he would never back down from, no matter what.

“…Do you really want to know?”

Her voice, which had been calm until now, wavered slightly. Ian caught the subtle tremor.

“Please, tell me.”

The ache in his heart, sensing her pain, made his chest tighten, but he needed to know. No one else could understand this like he could.

Taking a deep breath, Melissa allowed herself a moment to recall that day. Just thinking about it made her heart race, but she felt it was better to get it out.

As she began to speak, her voice was surprisingly steady. Ian listened intently.

“It was a very difficult day. You must know this, but being told to leave the mansion with the person you imprinted on was almost like a death sentence.”

Ian held his breath, listening carefully as she continued.

“I don’t really remember what mental state I was in when I left the mansion and got into the carriage. Oh, but I can clearly remember the contemptuous glares from the head maid and the other staff.”

“…”

“I had doubts about what you said, you said I was going to a nearby villa. The journey was longer than I expected. You said I’d need about a day to get there. Anyway, we were driving along a cliffside road when the carriage suddenly stopped. The coachman said he needed to check the wheels, but the door wouldn’t open. Then I heard something hit the carriage. Now, thinking back, it must have been the sound of an arrow piercing the carriage.”

Everything was as Ian had expected, as he had investigated. His heart ached with such intensity that it felt like it was tearing apart.

What had Melissa been thinking at that moment? Her imprinted alpha had mercilessly cast her aside, and then she was attacked. It made sense that she would misunderstand everything.

“The carriage caught fire almost immediately, and the inside was filled with thick black smoke. It was hot, suffocating… I struggled to survive, but the carriage tipped over. It felt like someone had deliberately tried to make it fall into the ravine.”

Ian learned something new from her words. The carriage hadn’t fallen due to the fire, it had been intentionally tipped. The background to this was likely Monica, but there were probably others involved too.

“I thought I was done for, but that was when I awakened my magic. Because of that, my pheromone gland was damaged, and my lungs and sense of smell were severely impaired from inhaling smoke and heat inside the carriage. Fortunately, my lungs healed, but my sense of smell and pheromone gland couldn’t be fixed.”

“That’s… that…”

“Now you understand, right? I don’t have to say more.”

Ian, overwhelmed by the revelation that Melissa had lingering effects from the incident, was nearly in a state of panic. He couldn’t even respond, just staring at her in silence.

“Hmm… It feels good to talk it through, to have things clear in my mind. I used to think revenge was beneath me, but now I’m not so sure.”

“If that’s what you want, I will do anything, anything at all.”

Frozen by shock, Ian could barely speak, his face drained of color, as though he might collapse at any moment. It felt as if someone was choking him.

“Really?”

“Yes, yes…”

“Even if you’re part of those I want revenge on?”

“Yes, if that’s what you want…”

Melissa couldn’t help but laugh softly at his words. She couldn’t understand why he was doing this. Was love really more important to him than his own well-being? But then again, what did it matter now?

Still, she wanted to know. She had no answer on her own, so she had to ask Ian, the person most deeply involved, for an answer.

“My revenge is that I want you and Monica to experience the same thing I did. The suffocating feeling, the danger to your life, and the desperate struggle to survive in that hellish moment. I want you both to feel that too.”