Chapter 325
you don’t need to keep looking for Lex. He… he said he doesn’t want to continue anymore. He left on his own, and no one knows where he went.”
Dian had arrived just in time to hear those words. His heart immediately tightened.
Had Nina been looking for his brother?
Since Lex had disappeared before Dian returned, and because he had spent the following days either recovering or serving his durian punishment, none of the other mates had mentioned the situation to him.
Until now, he had no idea Nina had been searching for Lex.
A trace of suspicion appeared in Nina’s eyes.
“Then why didn’t he tell me himself? Why leave without saying goodbye?”
Lani forced a smile.
“Maybe… maybe he didn’t dare.”
Rosen frowned instantly.
Based on everything she knew about that stubborn boy, there was no way that explanation was true.
Lex liked Nina far too much.
How could he possibly decide he no longer wanted to try?
Her expression darkened.
“Lani,” she said sharply, “don’t lie to Nina. Lex would never say something like that.”
“Mate, I… I’m not lying.”
Lani lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes.
He had promised Lex.
Yet he also hated deceiving Nina.
He felt trapped between impossible choices.
Technically, those words had indeed come from Lex.
Rosen’s voice became even colder.
“Tell the truth. Right now. Otherwise, you’ll be kneeling on durians every day from now on.”
Lani nearly burst into tears.
You little brat. You’ve gotten your father into a terrible situation.
He loved eating durians. He definitely did not love kneeling on them.
As he stood there agonizing over what to do, Dian felt a similar panic.
His fingers twisted nervously at the hem of his clothes.
Should he tell the truth himself?
After only a few seconds of hesitation, he made his decision.
Dropping to his knees before Nina, he blurted out, “Nina, I know what happened.”
Then he told her everything. Every detail he knew.
Although Nina had never directly asked him, these were answers she deserved to have.
That meant he was not technically breaking his promise.
Lani stared at him in disbelief.
You little traitor!
Didn’t you promise your brother?
You’re selling him out this easily?
Dian secretly pouted.
Nina is more important.
Besides, I am not as stubborn as you.
Kneeling on durians hurts.
After hearing the entire story, Nina fell silent. A complicated storm of emotions churned inside her chest. She had never imagined Lex had sacrificed so much for her.
His voice had not been damaged at all. He had traded it away.
And that strange behavior the night they returned from the shore… It had been because of his face.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
The mysterious doors that had opened for her.
The guardian’s assistance.
The opportunities she had received.
Lex had been responsible for all of it.
Even though she was not a mermaid herself, she understood how important voice and appearance were to the merfolk.
Those things were precious beyond measure.
After a long silence, she turned toward Lani.
“Father, can you find him?”
Because of their blood connection, they should still be able to locate him.
“I probably can,” Lani replied. Then he hesitated. “But Nina… do you really want to find him? His appearance may have changed already. His voice is gone too. Aren’t you bothered by that?”
When Lex visited him before leaving, he had worn a mask.
Lani knew his son well enough to understand what that meant.
Whatever had happened, it was severe enough that Lex himself could not accept it.
Without hesitation, Nina nodded.
“Yes. I want to find him.”
Then she added softly, “And no, I won’t be bothered by it. He did all of this because of me.”
No matter what happened, she needed to speak with him.
There were things that had to be said.
Besides, his merman pearl was still inside her.
If there was any way to help him recover, she would try.
And even if recovery proved impossible, if Lex still wanted to stay, she would never reject him because of his appearance.
After all, she herself had spent years being judged for her looks.
How could she possibly look down on someone who had given so much for her?
The only thing she felt was heartbreak.
Lani’s heart softened.
Nina truly was an extraordinary female.
Those foolish boys of his had stumbled into unbelievable fortune when they met her.
“Alright,” he said firmly. “I’ll activate our bloodline connection immediately. We’ll go find Lex.”
Perhaps Nina could give his son the courage to stop running from himself.
Without delay, Lani activated the bloodline sensing ability and began leading the way.
Nina followed.
Dian hurried after them, his handsome face scrunched into a miserable frown.
His mating ceremony was being postponed yet again.
Why was the road to becoming Nina’s mate so difficult?
It was all his brother’s fault.
Following the pull of the bloodline connection, Lani eventually guided them to a familiar stretch of rocky cliffs.
The moment Nina saw them, realization dawned.
She knew where Lex was.
At that very moment, Lex sat alone inside the glowing sea cave.
His gaze wandered over the luminous plants he had once shown Nina.
After leaving, he had not known where else to go.
So he came here.
To the place that held their memories.
The place where they had spent their first real day together.
Everything here belonged to them.
His eyes settled on a translucent blue plant swaying gently in the current.
Nina had loved this one.
She had even talked about taking it home and growing it herself.
Maybe he could try transplanting it.
If it survived outside the cave, perhaps he could ask someone to deliver it to her.
His gaze drifted toward a crimson plant nearby.
She liked that one too.
Slowly, he wandered through the cavern, revisiting every corner they had explored together.
Each flower.
Each glowing vine.
Each shared moment.
Every memory felt vivid enough to touch.
The more he looked, the more he missed her.
They had been apart for less than three days.
Yet his longing had already become unbearable.