---- At first, I mever considered her ideas seriously.


    I thought they were childish.


    How could womenpete with men in strength? But soon...


    I realized, howeverte it was, that she never said it was about physical strength.


    It was the strength within.


    The strength of a powerful mind.


    And somehow, as I saw her fighting against those experiments...


    against the effects of that serum...


    T realized she was the strongest woman I had ever met.


    Her will.


    Her stubbornness.


    That fire in her eyes was undefeatable...


    unless...


    She sounds remarkable, Alex said quietly, her fingers pausing over the makeshift bandage.


    She was, Damien admitted, his gaze distant.


    But loving her? It was like chasing the wind.


    No matter how much ground I covered, she was always...


    out of reach.


    Alex swallowed hard, her throat tightening.


    And yet, you chased her anyway.


    ---- Chapter 468 [ did.


    Damien chuckled bitterly, dragging a hand through his disheveled hair.


    And I will continue to chase her till myst breath.


    That made Alex to stop, and her eyes look up at him.


    She could hear something breaking and soon she realised it was her heart.


    That innocent heart that has dared love someone that wasn''t here from the beginning.


    ---- Chapter 469 Maybe I was stupid.


    But when I was with her, it felt like the world made senseeven when she turned it upside down.


    Alex looked away, her chest aching.


    She didnt want to hear about this.


    And yet, she couldnt stop herself from saying what she felt.


    What I gather about her...


    she must have loved you.


    She must''ve had a hard time expressing it.


    Damien''s expression softened.


    You''re right.


    My princess struggled with that.


    She didnt even know what she felt.


    The raw honesty in his voice stung more than Alex expected.


    She had no right to feel this way, no right to wish he''d look at her the way he spoke about Zariyan.


    But she did.


    Love''s funny like that, Alex said, leaning back ---- against the tree beside him.


    She forced a small smile, her fingers brushing the dirt idlya feeble attempt to hide the tears in her eyes.


    It''s not about logic or fairness.


    Its just...


    there.


    Damien turned his head to look at her, his expression unreadable.


    You sound like someone who knows.


    Maybe I do, she replied, meeting his gaze.


    Or maybe I just wish I did.


    Their eyes lingered on cach other for a moment longer than necessary before Damien sighed, his head falling back against the tree.


    You said love isn''t about logic.


    Then why does it always feel like a battle? Because it is, Alex whispered, hugging her knees to her chest.


    It''s a battle with yourself.


    With your fears, your doubts.


    And sometimes...


    it''s a battle to prove to them that you''re worth it.


    That you''re worth fighting for...


    even if you have to