The Legendary Valkyrie Awakens: I'm Their Eternal Regret

Gemma Elliott barely had time to react before Brendan Edwards tightened his grip on her wrist and snapped, "Gemma, how could you do something like this? You actually wanted to Sallie's reputation?! You are beyond redemption! No matter what happened between the two of you, she is still family. How could you be this cruel?"

Gemma trembled without control. "Brendan, I didn't do it," she said weakly. "I swear I didn't."

Brendan wrapped an arm around Sallie Elliott and pulled her close. He glanced toward Gemma. "What? Are you going to claim Sallie framed you? Apologize to her right now."

With great effort, Gemma lifted her head. Tears clouded her vision as she looked at Brendan, the man she once insisted on marrying no matter the cost.

For six years she had loved him in silence. Three more years passed after that as his wife.

Even though she knew she had only taken the place meant for her older sister, she still held onto the foolish hope that someday he might treat her with a little warmth.

Yet now, because of Sallie's accusation, he treated her like garbage.

The coldness in his eyes crushed the last piece of hope she carried.

Tears slipped from her lashes.

She spoke slowly, each word trembling but clear. "I didn't do it. I won't admit to something I never did."

"Brendan, please don't blame Gemma. This is all because of me." Sallie's voice trembled as she leaned closer into Brendan's arms. "When we were children, I accidentally lost her and she suffered outside because of that. Later, I went abroad for treatment, and she ended up marrying you in my place. I shouldn't have returned. I'm to blame for the strain on your marriage. This is all my fault."

Her crying turned uneven as she struggled to finish her words. "If she resents me, then I deserve it."

The moment those words left her mouth, Brendan's anger flared.

For years, he had searched everywhere for Sallie without stopping. The woman he loved had finally returned, so how could he allow her to suffer even the smallest grievance?

His arm wrapped around her as he held her close. When his gaze shifted back toward Gemma, every trace of warmth disappeared, leaving only hatred.

"People answer for what they do." His voice carried a cold edge. "You will stay here until you realize your own mistake."

Without waiting for any answer, Brendan lifted Sallie into his arms and headed straight for the exit.

"No! Brendan! Please!" Gemma pleaded. But he didn't look back once.

No one answered Gemma, and the darkness swallowed the room whole. The despair in her chest seemed to crack something open in her mind.

In that moment, the memories she had lost for six years rushed back all at once.

A chill spread across Gemma's eyes. In the next second, she kicked the door open forcefully.

Whenever she once looked at Brendan, her eyes had been full of love. Now only fury remained.

A hoarse laugh escaped her throat.

"Pathetic," she muttered. "I abandoned the highest rank I held in the Dominion. I did it for my family. I did it for the man I loved. And this is the result."

Memories surged back like a flood.

"Death, are you certain about this? If you want to return to the Elliott family, we will have to implant a chip in your brain. Every memory connected to the Dominion will disappear. Without those memories, you will live as an ordinary woman," a voice said within the memory.

"I have decided," Gemma answered calmly. "I will give up everything. I want to go back to my family."

"In that case, the Dominion will grant your wish."

Six years earlier, she had been the most feared warrior in Eighwell and the ace commander of the Dominion.

Because of family. Because of love. She chose to seal away every memory tied to Death and live as an ordinary person.

What did she receive in return? Contempt from her own family. Cruelty from the man she loved.

Gemma slowly closed her eyes. When they opened again, cold light filled them.

"Sallie. Brendan. Every member of the Elliott family," she said quietly. "Don't complain when I destroy everything you have."

The moment she stepped outside, the night wind pulled at her thin clothes. Neon lights from behind cast a cold glow across half of her face.

"Death is back."

After stepping out, Gemma took out her phone. She reached out to Plume, a subordinate who once served under her in the Dominion, and sent a message announcing that she would soon return.

Within an hour, the news spread everywhere. The return of Death swept across multinational organizations, the Dominion headquarters, the military command, and many other circles.

Across the world, influential figures in different fields stopped what they were doing. Assistants received immediate instructions to clear schedules.

Everyone prepared to welcome Death's return.

...

At the same time, Brendan couldn't calm the uneasy pounding in his chest. A sense of foreboding lingered in his mind.

Not long after, Brett Yates appeared at the hospital entrance. He was Brendan's bodyguard, the man Brendan had ordered to remain and watch Gemma.

The moment Brendan saw him, he stood up abruptly. "Why did you come here? Didn't I tell you to stay there and keep an eye on Gemma?"

Brett answered without hesitation, "Mr. Edwards, Gemma disappeared."

Brendan's expression shifted instantly. He turned and rushed out.

"Brendan!" Sallie called after him and hurried to follow, but she couldn't catch up.

In a rush of panic, Brendan drove back to the house. The moment he arrived, he spotted Gemma walking out the door.

"Gemma! How dare you! I told you to reflect on your own mistake!"

She asked coldly, "And why should I listen to you?"

The presence around her felt fierce enough to crush anything that stood in its way.

Was this really the same woman he had lived with all these years? The wife who always smiled gently and endured everything without protest?

Shock slowly turned into humiliation, and before he knew it, humiliation had twisted into blinding rage. "Gemma! Stop causing a scene and come home with me."

Brendan still believed nothing had truly changed. In his mind, this was just another outburst from Gemma. He assumed that once her temper cooled, she would return home like always.

Soon enough, she would wake before dawn, prepare his meals, and quietly resume the role of the obedient wife he was used to.

That assumption collapsed the moment he tried to reach for her. Before his hand could even touch her, Gemma knocked it aside.

"Keep your hand off me. You make me sick." Her gaze turned cold as ice. "Brendan, you should thank your father. If it weren't for him, I would never have married you."

During the six years since she left the Dominion and chose to live as an ordinary woman, the people she called family and the man she loved had treated her as though she meant nothing.

Only one person had ever shown her genuine kindness. Xander Edwards. Brendan's father.

Brendan stood there, staring as Gemma walked away.

Ever since she returned to the Elliott family, she had always acted gentle and compliant. Around him, she had been quiet, careful, and eager to please. Never once had she spoken to him like this.

Once the shock faded, a mocking laugh escaped him.

"Interesting, Gemma," he muttered. "So this is the trick you're trying now? Throw a tantrum, then pretend you don't care? You really think this little performance will make me pay attention to you? Go ahead then. Let's see how long you can keep pretending."

...

At the Eighwell Command base, chaos had already taken over the entire compound.

"It's her! Death has returned!"

Inside the command center, people crowded every corner of the room. No one could tear their gaze from the massive screen up front. A single message filled the display.

"I'm back."

The post came from Death.

"Move aside!" Adrian Johnson forced his way through the packed crowd as he cleared a path.

A tall man in military boots stepped forward. Rhys Clarke moved with calm authority, his sharp eyes scanning the room while his presence carried discipline and command. He stopped in front of the screen.

Adrian spoke quickly, unable to hide his excitement. "Mr. Clarke, we've confirmed it. That account belongs to Death. It has been silent for six years. This time... she has really returned."

For a moment, Rhys did not respond. His eyes remained fixed on the location attached to the post. Olnstead.

His jaw tightened slightly. When he finally spoke, his voice turned cold. "Prepare immediately. Locate Death before the self-destruct sequence on those classified files activates."

"Yes, sir!"

Rhys's expression hardened. He pulled a cord from around his wrist. A bullet casing was tied to it.

For six years, he had kept it with him.

Death would soon return.

And the debt between them had waited long enough.

This time, he would not allow her to disappear from his world again.

Gemma hailed a cab and gave the driver the address of the Elliott house.

Since marrying Brendan, she had been living at the Edwards estate. But after tonight, the very thought of facing him again filled her with disgust. Instead of returning there, she chose to go back to the Elliott house.

The taxi stopped outside the gate. Gemma stepped out, walked to the door, and knocked. When the door swung open, the Elliotts poured out-cutting off her path.

Jeremy Elliott, her father, roared, "After what you've done, you still dare to come back here!"

Not a single question came from Jeremy. He showed no concern about what had really happened and no interest in the truth.

How absurd!

For the sake of this family, she once abandoned everything and left the Dominion behind.

Now, the sacrifice seemed pointless-stupid, even.

"Gemma, how could you arrange something like that against your own sister? I never imagined you would become someone like this." Gemma's mother, Averie Elliott, stared at her, distress on her face while the disapproval in her eyes remained clear.

Darwin Elliott and Robert Elliott, Gemma's two brothers, were visibly trembling with anger. They wanted nothing more than to cast her out of the family.

"Go back to your room," Darwin said coldly. "You will stay there until we decide how to deal with this. Leave before we allow it, and you can forget about calling yourself an Elliott ever again."

A short laugh escaped Gemma.

These were the people she once believed were worth giving up everything for.

In the beginning, the feeling inside her had only been disappointment. After enduring humiliation and contempt again and again, even the last trace of affection she once held for them disappeared.

"I'll say this once." Her tone turned cold. "I didn't do that. Sallie was the one behind it. If someone needs to take responsibility for what happened, it's her."

Gemma had just finished speaking when Sallie suddenly cut in, tears spilling down her face.

"Dad, Darwin, Robert, please don't blame Gemma," she said between sobs. "This whole thing is my fault."

Her crying grew heavier as she spoke. "This is on me. I'm the one who caused it. If someone needs to apologize, it should be me. Gemma, I'm sorry."

Darwin spoke immediately. "Sallie, you don't owe anyone an apology. None of this is your fault."

Robert looked ready to explode. "Gemma, stop twisting the truth. Sallie is even taking the fall for you, and you still refuse to admit anything? Are you seriously going to keep blaming her?"

A quiet laugh slipped from Gemma's lips. Watching Sallie's familiar performance unfold again, she stepped closer. "Oh?" she said with clear mockery. "You want to apologize? You want me to forgive you? Then kneel down and beg."

Sallie stared at Gemma with disbelief.

The woman before her no longer looked like the timid Gemma they used to push around.

"That's enough, Gemma!" Darwin shouted angrily. "Sallie already stepped aside and let you have Brendan. What more do you want?"

His voice was laced with undisguised reproach. "They grew up together and were always meant to be together. If Sallie hadn't left the country because she cared about your feelings, do you really think Brendan would've ever married you?"

Gemma laughed again, short and sharp. Her eyes filled with open scorn.

She said slowly, "Sallie refused the arranged marriage, and since the Elliott family needed someone to take her place, you pushed it onto me." Her eyes lifted, sharp and steady. "And now you expect me to be grateful?"

A quiet laugh followed, cold and mocking. "What a pity. I have no interest in Brendan either. Sallie, you can just take him. The two of you are perfectly suited for each other." Her tone dropped even further. "Within the next few days, I will file for divorce."

The words fell, and the air around them turned still.

Everyone in the Elliott family stared at Gemma. Shock spread across their faces.

Had they really heard her correctly?

Was this really Gemma, the same woman who had once loved Brendan deeply?