<h4>Chapter 478: 478-I Failed Terribly</h4>


    <strong>Yorick:</strong>


    "Promise me. Promise me you will not hurt her," I said, breaking the hug for a moment while my hands remained on her arms, looking at her with hope in my eyes.


    She rolled her eyes again, clearly disappointed in me. Still, there was a hint of relief on her face that I was responding to her with care this time rather than judgment.


    "I promise I will not inject anything into her. Spare me for what I have already done to her, the food and the exhaustion," she replied, rolling her eyes and grunting, as if I were asking too much when all I wanted was security for my mate.


    It did not matter. I was happy. At least she agreed.


    "Mother, you have no idea how proud you have made me today. I want to fix everything. I want to help Clementine with her purpose and help her get back on her feet so she can go see her mate," I stated, smiling as I gently shook her.


    Sheughed at my behavior.


    "Come on, you are being ridiculous. Let me go," sheined, and I shook my head teasingly.


    "But your mate is not pregnant, so I guess her mate will be disappointed he did not get it right," she joked.


    I gave her a puzzled look, upset by the way she spoke about their personal life.


    "I mean, it is their personal life," I said. "I will be happy as long as she is happy. That is all."


    My mother gave me another sharp look, as if she were confused by how deeply I cared for Clementine, enough to let her return to her mate and start a family.


    "Thank you, Mother. Thank you so much," I added, hugging her again and making herugh.


    "Now go talk to her. She must be waiting, wondering why you left so suddenly," she said, breaking the hug and pushing me back lightly.


    I nodded and turned around, entering the room with a wide smile on my lips as I looked at Clementine.


    I knew it was possible my mother was lying, but this small hope was something I wanted to hold onto, just so I could ease Clementine’s mind. I knew what my family and I had put her through since the day she arrived, all the games we had yed with her life.


    "What is it?" she asked, wearing the same false smile, as if she were still in love with me.


    "You do not have to pretend anymore," I told her, smiling back.


    "What do you mean?" she questioned, watching me carefully.


    "My mother is no longer going to force us to be together. You are free to go, Clementine. You are free to be with the one you love," I exined.


    I stepped aside, revealing my mother as she entered the room, looking tired. She nodded her head.


    "Yes. That is the truth. You can go wherever you want," my mothermented, still looking upset, as if she had been forced into it.


    "Why would I want to leave, Yorick? I love him. He is my mate. I want to be with him," Clementine replied, continuing to act as if she were still affected by the poison.


    "You do not have to act. It is fine," I said. "I told her, and she knows I never gave you the medicine."


    I revealed the truth, which my mother already knew.


    Clementine looked at me in confusion.


    "What medicine? I do not understand. What are you talking about, Yorick? What was the medicine supposed to do?" she asked.


    That was when I began to feel anxious.


    Was she punishing me? But why? Why would she not simply be relieved and ready to leave? Why drag this out?


    Then I looked at my mother and noticed the proud smile on her face.


    "What is going on?" I asked my mother, because her smile unsettled me.


    "Nothing. Aren’t you happy that she is choosing you?" my mothermented, turning to look at me with disbelief in her eyes. "You wanted her, and now that she is epting you, you look confused and want her gone. Come on, son. Do better. Go ept your mate."


    There was something off about her as she began pushing me toward the bed. I turned to Clementine and saw her smiling at me, but the smile made me uneasy.


    I finally snapped, pushing my mother’s hand away. I did not want to be forced toward the bed anymore. I faced my mother, turning my back to Clementine.


    "What did you do?" I asked.


    That was all it took for her smile to fade.


    "What are you asking me?" she replied, her expression turning stern.


    "Tell me the truth. What did you do?" I asked, breathing heavily.


    She gave me a strange look, one filled with disbelief and hurt, until the false calm finally disappeared.


    "What you could not do."


    The moment she said that, I snapped my head toward Clementine, then back to my mother.


    "You promised!" I shouted, feeling pressure build at my temples. My hands shook as I clenched them into fists.


    "I promised I would not inject anything into her from now on, and I apologized for whatever I had already given her," she stated calmly.


    I ced one hand on my forehead and the other on my waist.


    "Did you give her the poison?" I asked, lowering my hand and facing her fully.


    She remained calm as she folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot against the floor.


    "You’re wee."


    The moment she said that, it felt as if the ground dropped beneath me. I slowly turned to Clementine. She smiled at me, unaware of what had been done to her.


    "Was she—" I stopped, then looked back at my mother. "Was she pregnant?" I asked quietly.


    My mother’s smile faded.


    "It was just the beginning."


    As soon as she said that, I dropped to my knees with a loud thud. The satisfied look on my mother’s face vanished, reced by worry.