Chapter 290
A small frown appeared between Nina’s brows. “Setan, you… you really don’t need to waste your time on me. Let’s just pretend that night never happened, alright? I can’t take responsibility for you, and you don’t need to take responsibility for me either p>
She felt that perhaps Setan had simply become too fixated on what happened that night—too obsessed with the idea of “taking responsibility.” That was probably why he had chosen to stay.
Heartbreak immediately surfaced in Setan’s eyes.
“Nina… why? Is it because I’m not good enough somehow? Tell me, and I’ll change p>
“No, that’s not it.” Nina sighed softly. “It’s just that you don’t need to stay because of responsibility. And besides… don’t you already have a female you like? It wouldn’t be fair to her either p>
Setan froze. “A female I like p>
Nina thought he liked someone else?
“Yes,” Nina said. “Didn’t you say before that you already had someone you liked p>
He had said it himself that day.
Setan thought back for a moment. Then, regret crashed into him so hard he smacked his own forehead.
He had said that publicly before. Back then, he hadn’t realized the female from that night was Nina. Unable to face his own feelings honestly, he had denied his attraction to her in front of everyone.
Looking back now, he felt unbearably stupid.
Nina had been standing right in front of him the whole time, yet he hadn’t recognized her.
And then there was that night at the hot spring… If he hadn’t walked away then, perhaps he would already be one of Nina’s beast husbands now.
The thought made his regret deepen until it felt unbearable.
Those males had all become Nina’s beast husbands because of what happened that night at the hot spring.
But because of his own stupidity, he had missed his chance entirely.
At this moment, Setan wanted nothing more than to go back in time and beat his past self senseless.
How could he have been that stupid?
Two loud smacks rang through the quiet night.
Setan struck himself hard across the face twice.
“Nina, I’m sorry. I was talking nonsense back then. I don’t like any other female p>
His eyes locked onto hers. “The one I’ve always liked… is you p>
Nina had not expected him to suddenly hit himself. Startled, she instinctively took a small step back.
She genuinely couldn’t understand what he meant.
Setan hurriedly explained, “Ever since that night, I’ve been looking for you. Back then, I didn’t know the female from that night was you, which is why I said those things. The female I said I liked… was the very person I’d been searching for all along p>
His eyes were filled with nothing but Nina.
“Nina, even though I didn’t know it was you at the time… the truth is, I already started falling for you from that moment onward. I never stayed by your side out of some sense of responsibility. I stayed because I like you. That’s why I wanted to remain with you p>
Perhaps in the beginning, before he knew the truth, he had thought about taking responsibility for that mysterious female.
But Nina had made him realize something—you couldn’t force responsibility into a marriage when there was no love.
A complicated emotion stirred in Nina’s chest.
“You p>
She had never expected this. The person Setan liked so much… was actually her?
A trace of apology appeared in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel that way about you p>
At her words, the light in Setan’s expression dimmed.
“I know you don’t like me right now,” he said softly. “But I’ll work hard to make you like me someday. No matter how long it takes, I won’t give up p>
It was his own fault that Nina had misunderstood. He had been too foolish. Too stupid.
All he wanted now was the chance for Nina to one day accept him. No matter what he had to give, he was willing.
Setan stepped closer, his eyes carrying unmistakable pleading.
“Nina… let me stay by your side, please? Don’t send me away. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like me. I won’t cross any boundaries p>
He only wanted a place beside her.
Even if all he could do was watch her from afar like this, it would still be enough.
“But Nina hesitated, sympathy surfacing despite herself. “You shouldn’t waste your time on me. You might never get anything in return p>
After all, Setan had helped her many times before.
She couldn’t bring herself to be completely cold-hearted toward him.
Setan looked at her steadily, his gaze filled with certainty and quiet devotion.
“That’s alright. I’m willing to do it. You don’t need to give me anything in return. I don’t ask for much—as long as I can stay, that’s enough p>
Even if his feelings were never returned, he would accept it willingly.
Afraid Nina would still refuse him, he hurriedly grasped for another excuse.
“And… Sunny needs his father too, doesn’t he? Even if Sal takes good care of him, a biological father is still different p>
Truthfully, Setan knew the excuse sounded painfully weak.
Sunny didn’t care about him at all.
Several times, Setan had tried approaching him, and each time the child had completely ignored him.
But Setan understood why. He had never spent a single day taking care of Nina or Sunny. So what right did he have to expect the child to acknowledge him?
Still, he couldn’t think of any better excuse now. As long as he could stay beside Nina first, everything else could come later.
The regret in his heart deepened again. If only he had found Nina sooner p>
Then she would not have suffered so much alone.
Every time he imagined her surviving by herself in the savage wilderness, his chest ached unbearably.
Nina rubbed lightly at her fingertips. The words of refusal seemed lodged in her throat, unable to come out.
After a long moment, she let out a soft sigh. Do whatever you want p>
Truthfully, she herself didn’t know how to handle her relationship with Setan anymore.
Things between them had become far too complicated.
A small, deeply satisfied smile finally appeared on Setan’s face.
“Thank you, Nina p>
As long as she didn’t drive him away, it was enough.
He would spend the rest of his life making it up to her and Sunny… and slowly winning her heart.
Not knowing what else to say, Nina finally murmured, “Let’s go back p>
“Alright p>
Setan nodded gently and followed Nina back toward the stone house.
Meanwhile, back at camp, the beast husbands had gathered the children into a tight circle.
“Little ones,” Sal began solemnly, “your fathers want to discuss something with you, alright p>
The children blinked up at them curiously.
“What is it p>