I did not understand .

And perhaps, deep down, I didn't want to understand .

All I know is that within my embrace is my daughter . A child I will have with someone who truly means more than the world to me . But Adria is not only my child . She is also the Child of the Ori, for she is a G.o.d by all sense of the word .

Time is at her command .

And dream is her reality, at least until the day she is born into reality through me .

That is the truth .

The only truth .

"You don't need to understand, mother . I will be born regardless, as it is my destiny . Father will always love you, as it is his greatest flaw . You just need to follow your heart, as you always have, and all shall fall into place . It is the very reason that you are here in the first place, for you and I are bound by fate . "

My daughter speaks up and removes herself from my embrace .

One moment she is within my arms and the next she is standing some distance away .

Flames continue to swirl around her as if they have a life of their own .

Adria smiles faintly and looks towards the sky . She is just like her father, gazing at something that I am unable to see . Perhaps the future . But perhaps the truth .

I don't know why but it feels too painful to know the truth, even if the truth will set me free . Strangely enough, I just know it will despite not know what it is exactly .

"Don't worry, mother . One day you will know the truth, all of you . Every action has its consequences, even to those who sits above all else . But every punishment will eventually end, even if it is forever . "

That is so cryptic .

And what does she mean by punishment? Am I being punished? Is that what she means?

I have so many questions, but I don't think I will get any answer .

Perhaps it is better to just live in blissful ignorance . At least it is far more happier than understanding the unchanging past .

But whatever sins I have committed before in another life, I do wish for forgiveness . Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .

"If father has ever forgiven anyone, he will forgive you, for you are the mother, the lover and the child, all in one . You have dreamt for far too long, mother . It is time for you to finally wake up and continue to live and see the future . "

Adria tells me, as if she could read my mind . She is a G.o.d after all .

But more than that, she is my child, my child with Max .

And if the future is truly set in stone and my destiny cannot be changed, then I will be glad to welcome it all with open arms .

"Adria . "

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I speak up, wanting to hold her once more . Just once more . But she gives me a smile, telling in no real words that lingering in a dream will not bring the future I desire .

"There will be a time for that, mother . There will always be a time for that . "

I nod understanding, as the dreamscape fades away .

It will never return, for I am fully awake now, and even if I don't know the truth of the past, I do know the truth of the present and the truth of the future .

I slowly open my eyes, finding myself still buried under the debris .

Despite that, all my injuries are gone, and so is the pain .

I should be dead, but I am not .

There is only one real explanation for that .

I know that now . Everything has been leading to this very point .

It is from the moment I first met him .

The moment I fall into love with him .

My future is already set in stone . My destiny is never my own .

It is my punishment . Punishment for what I have done, even if I do not remember . It is so long ago, far longer than my own morality .

While I could fight the curse, I do not want to, for I love him genuinely and sincerely with all my heart and soul . It is the truth . It is the only truth .

In the past . In the present . And in the future .

"Steph . Oh my G.o.d, Steph . Stay still . We will get you out of there . "

Misha calls out while trying to remove the debris . Joshua is the same, tearfully .

Our father is no longer with us even if his body is still here, unmoving . Father has given his life to stop me from accepting my fate . He is blinded by love for me, as I am blinded by love for Max .

And I believe that Max is so blinded by love for me .

It is his greatest flaw, isn't it? But he does not see it, thus that is why we are all here .

That is why we are all here .

"It's okay, Misha, Joshua . I am fine . Max will not let me die . "

I tell my younger brother and sister . I then close my eyes despite neither of them understands what I have just said . They continue to remove the debris with tears in their eyes .

Tears for me . And tears for our father .

Our father is not dead, for Max will not let him die .

I don't know why I know that, but I just do .

It is like how I know who Adria is despite seeing her for the first time in person .

I will see her again in the future . It is a promise . My promise to my daughter .

And soon enough, flames surround me and teleport me away .

I am no longer lying under the debris . I am now standing within the arena, facing someone who I have desperately trying to get to for many days .

His face remains expressionless, but I can see the emotions swirling within his eyes . The flames cannot hide them from me .

"Stephanie Connors . Do you believe that you are worthy?"

Max asks . His burning eyes pierce into my very being, seeing everything there is to see .

I did not need to hide anything from him, for I am his, now and always .

"Whether I am worthy of your love or not, Max, you should already know . "

I response calmly and close my eyes to wait for the judgement . My heart remains unwavering even as the flames swirl around me, trying to burn me to ash .

It is painful . Excruciating painful . But the painful it is, the more I know that he does love me .

Max will always love me . That is the truth .

Thus, I did not let out a scream . I did not let out a cry . I did not let out a tear . I only give a smile .

A smile on my face as I open my eyes and see Max standing in front of me . He is no longer sitting upon the throne, looking down at the world and finding everything insignificants .

"When did you know?"

Max asks me . Curiosity flickers in his eyes . They are no longer burning . Flames no longer surround him .

And the people are no longer watching . They are all gone .

But they are not important . Only Max is .

He is no longer under the control of the Ori, whoever they are .

He is just Max now, pure and simple .

"I think I have always known, Max . From the moment I first met you . I will fall in love with you . It is my whole reason for existing . "

I response . I did not answer his question as he already know the answer to that, but it is the answers that he is looking for .

Max blinks in surprise at my response . It is the first time that I have seen him surprise . He then chuckles and waves his hand, and the world burn all around us, reducing everything into ash .

"Those dreams you have for these past few days, I was trying to reach out to you, Stephanie . It is very difficult with the overwhelming power of the Ori, but they are gone now . "

Max tells me as flames swirl around his body .

"Yes, I know, and I am sorry for unable to come and find you, Max . I really do . "

Max shakes his head and reaches out his hand and caresses my face .

I lean my head into his palm, feeling his touch and warmness .

It has been so long . So very, very long .

"No, Stephanie . You did find me, in your own ways . You awoke me from my slumber and helped me pa.s.s the trial of the G.o.ds . The Ori has never intended to kill anyone . They merely want to test us and see whether humanity is worth saving or not . And since I am still here, I guess we humans are worth saving after all . "

Max tells me with a smile .

I didn't really need to know that . Whatever the Ori wants isn't really important to me . I didn't care for the world and what happens to it . I only care for one person, and he is within reach now .

"Those dreams that I have . Is it all real?"

I question despite knowing that it is . I just want to hear it from him . No . I want him to love me sincerely and genuinely as I do .

It is fate that has brought us together, but it is us who remains together .

"No, Stephanie . But it is what I desire most . "

Max always tell me what I really want to hear the most .

His hands wrap around me, taking me into his embrace and allowing me to lean onto his shoulder . My hands did the same .

And despite the surging flames all him, I am completely unharmed .

"Did you know that I didn't care for the Ori or anyone in particular? I only did what I did because I care for you, Stephanie . What happen to the world is not more important to what happen to you . You are the most important person in my life . "

Max tells me as I rest on his shoulder .

"Don't you mean one of the most important persons, Max? What about Adria?"

I response .

"Adria?"

Max questions . He is surprised once more .

"She is our daughter, Max . I saw her in my dream, the dream that I have when I died . "

I answer . I lift my head . My eyes match his gaze, staring into them .

Max didn't know . He didn't send me that dream, unlike all the other dreams before .

Of course not .

Adria is the one who did, from even before she is born . She is just like her father, in so many ways .

My hand rises and cups his cheek gently, caressing his face before running down towards his soft lips .

I think I am ready for that kiss now . I am no longer afraid .

His eyes soften, knowing exactly what I want .

Max gently lowers his head, allowing his lips to spread their warmness and sweetness upon my lips . It is so sweet, and our lips soon part, allowing our tongue to exchange that sweetness in full .

It fills out my body, burning me up inside .

And without hesitation, I throw both of my hands up and around his neck and neck, pulling him into a deeper kiss until I am lying on my back on the sand with him on top of me .

It takes many minutes for our lips to part, but our eyes remain locked to each other .

"Max . I love you . I love you so much . "

I p.r.o.nounce .

"As do I, Stephanie . I love you from the moment I have saw you . "

Max confirms what I already know while his hand and fingers run along my face and touching my lips .

Strangely, there is a hint of hesitation in his eyes . It isn't because he didn't love me . No . It is because of something else . I am unsure what that is .

Perhaps, Max has never been with a girl before? It wouldn't be too strange to a.s.sume so .

And I haven't been with a man before either . It will be a new experience for us .

"Max . Please take me . Take me right now and make me yours . "

I take the initiative .

The hesitation in his eyes lingers for longer than necessary, but it soon vanishes as he finally made up his mind . I am glad that he did . It would be very strange, otherwise .

His lips soon capture mine again, allowing me to taste that unique sweetness once more .

And he will soon fill my entire body, as he is destined to .