The Villianess's Redemption (HYUNJIN ff) ✓

38. The Weight of Fate

Chapter 38: The Weight of Fate
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Y/N's Pov

The wind felt cold against my skin, despite the warmth of the room. I stood by the window, staring blankly at the darkening sky, my thoughts a whirlwind of despair. Everything had taken a sharp, unexpected turn, and now, I felt more lost than ever. Jisung was gone, Eliza was still missing, and the whole situation was spiraling out of control.

Was this really all because of me?

My heart felt heavy as memories of Jisung flashed before my eyes—his playful grin, the way he’d always managed to lighten the mood, the warmth he brought to every room he walked into. And now he was dead, all because he had discovered something he shouldn’t have. Something I shouldn’t have let happen.

The door creaked open behind me, and I felt Hyunjin’s presence before he even spoke. He crossed the room quietly, stopping just a few feet away from me. I didn’t turn to face him. I couldn’t.

“Isabella…” His voice was soft, laced with concern. “What’s wrong?”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “What’s wrong?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Everything is wrong, Hyunjin. All of it.”

He took a step closer. “Talk to me.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I forced the words out. “Maybe… maybe this is all happening because I meddled too much with the story. I tried to change everything. I wanted to escape my fate, to avoid my own death. And now, Jisung’s gone. Maybe he took the place that was meant for me.”

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I couldn’t hold them back anymore. “If I hadn’t interfered so much, maybe… maybe I should’ve been the one who died.”

Hyunjin moved quickly, closing the distance between us. He gently grabbed my shoulders, turning me to face him. His eyes were wide with shock, his grip firm but gentle. “Don’t you dare say that, Isabella.”

“But it’s true!” I cried, my voice cracking as the tears spilled over. “I’ve been running from my fate this whole time, and now… now Jisung is dead. And Eliza… what if we’re too late for her too? What if......she also...”

“Stop,” Hyunjin interrupted, his voice strong but filled with emotion. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. “Don’t you ever say you should’ve died. None of this is your fault. Do you hear me? Jisung’s death wasn’t your fault. And we’re going to save Eliza. I swear it.”

I sobbed into his chest, my fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as I let the weight of everything I had been holding in finally break free. “But what if........what if I ruined everything?”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” he whispered, his hand gently stroking my hair. “You’ve been fighting for all of us, for your life, for our lives. You can’t blame yourself for everything that’s happened. We’ll fix this. We will.”

His words were a balm to my soul, and slowly, I felt myself calming down, though the pain still lingered. He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against mine as he whispered, “We’ll get through this, together.”