Chapter 40: The Perfect Answer

If this happened again, Aphrodite feared that Lia would drain every bit of power from her, leaving her truly defenseless.

If Lia decided to do anything else to her afterward, she could only be at her mercy.

However, crawling to the door wouldn’t do any good anyway. In her current state, she definitely couldn’t stand up and run, and there was still no way to escape from Lia’s grasp.

But why was Aphrodite trying so hard to do this?

The answer was simple—Bella’s barrier.

Aside from blocking out auras and cutting off sound transmission, this barrier had another purpose: to prevent Lia from slipping away without anyone noticing.

This barrier was specially constructed by Bella, tailored for Lia alone.

Others could come and go from the room as they pleased, but Lia could not. If she tried to leave through the door, the barrier would bounce her right back.

Just a little more, almost there.

With relentless effort, Aphrodite inched awkwardly toward the door, moving like a clumsy caterpillar, little by little, until her fingertips were just about to touch the doorframe.

Freedom was right in front of her.

Yet, just as victory was within reach, Lia, who was facing the wall in the corner, suddenly shuddered violently without any warning!

It’s over!

Aphrodite’s heart gave a heavy thump as she shut her eyes in despair.

What must come, comes!

She could already see the tragic fate that awaited her.

But the “second assault” she was bracing for never came.

Instead, she heard Lia’s familiar, slightly chilly voice ring out: “Strange… Why am I standing here?”

Aphrodite cautiously opened one eye and peeked over her shoulder.

She saw Lia staring blankly around at her surroundings, her expression genuinely puzzled about her current situation.

Aphrodite immediately breathed a sigh of relief, nearly breaking into tears of joy on the spot.

It seemed the other had returned to normal, and didn’t even remember what had just happened.

This was a huge relief for Aphrodite.

At least she no longer had to worry about Lia coming after her for what had just occurred, once she’d recovered.

But was that really the case?

Of course not!

The act of standing there looking confused, scanning her surroundings, and then asking those questions—

It was all just an act!

From the moment Lia’s body trembled, her consciousness and memory had fully returned.

That was precisely why she needed to keep facing the wall.

She remembered everything!

She remembered how, during the Heart-Erosion episode, she’d pinned Aphrodite to the floor like a beast and greedily absorbed her power; remembered how she’d nearly lost control and almost kissed her; and, even worse… after her mind regressed, she’d mistaken the other for her long-deceased mother, hugging, nuzzling, and… saying all sorts of mortifying things.

She’d even ended up—actually biting her!

Every frame, every word, was branded in her mind as if by a searing iron!

She had no idea how to face Aphrodite now—or rather, how to face herself after doing such things.

So, the instant her mind became completely clear, the overwhelming shame and embarrassment made her instinctively choose—face the wall!

Lia needed this method to cool down her brain, control her expression, and buy herself some time to collect her thoughts and consider her next move!

Erase the memory?

That idea was the first to spring up. It was the simplest, most decisive, and image-saving method.

Normally, with her usual style, she would’ve done exactly that.

But… this time she hesitated.

On one hand, Aphrodite had saved her twice.

Once from that black sphere, and once just now, when she lost control from the Heart-Erosion. Even though Lia had absorbed so much of her power…

Aphrodite hadn’t pushed her away or hurt her—instead, she guided her power, helping her calm down. Even when Lia lost her senses, Aphrodite still patiently comforted her.

On the other hand, Lia had already misunderstood and threatened Aphrodite once before, and this time the problem was entirely her own doing—the other girl was innocent.

If she repaid kindness with ingratitude and just erased her memory without a word, that would be too much!

She, Tilia Stuart, might act decisively at times, but she wasn’t that blind to right and wrong.

More importantly… erasing memories wasn’t risk-free; it always left a subtle trace on the target’s mind.

To do that to the one who’d saved her twice… Lia simply couldn’t forgive herself.

But… if she didn’t erase the memory, was she supposed to talk to Aphrodite about “how did mom taste” or “how did it feel to get bitten”?!

Just kill me already! Lia howled inwardly.

After a fierce internal struggle, just as her shame was about to overwhelm her rationality, she caught sight of Aphrodite out of the corner of her eye, attempting to sneak toward the door.

A brilliant idea came to her in a flash!

If… if the other girl also “didn’t remember,” wouldn’t that solve everything?

As long as Aphrodite didn’t bring up what had just happened, and Lia herself acted as if she’d “just returned to normal and had memory gaps,” then everything that had just happened could be treated as if it had never occurred!

Yes! That’s it! The perfect plan.

Now all she needed was a cooperative “amnesiac” partner.

Having decided, Lia quickly composed her expression, trying to appear a bit dazed, as if she’d just woken up.

“Strange… Why am I standing here?” Lia turned around and asked in the most natural tone she could muster, while shouting inwardly.

Come on, say you don’t remember anything either!

When Aphrodite heard Lia’s “innocent” question, her last bit of worry vanished like smoke.

Wonderful! She really doesn’t remember!

She quickly suppressed her overwhelming delight, forcing her face into as natural a smile as possible.

Who was she kidding! Of course she’d play along at a time like this!

What was she supposed to say: “Oh, you had an episode just now, hugged me and called me ‘Mom,’ and even bit me”?

She could guarantee, if she really said that, the newly recovered girl in front of her would explode on the spot, and do anything to silence her!

So Aphrodite breezily glossed over all the key details.

“It’s nothing major.” She waved her hand lightly, tone relaxed.

“You just had a Heart-Erosion episode, so I helped guide your power a little. You might have felt a bit unwell, so you walked over to the wall to rest for a moment. How are you feeling now? Any better?”

A perfect answer.

Aphrodite gave herself a mental thumbs-up.

Lia listened to Aphrodite’s “cooperative” reply, and the tension in her heart finally eased. She even felt a strange sense of gratitude.

This friend… uh, this benefactor, I, Tilia Stuart, will acknowledge for now!

Lia nodded, following along: “I see… I do feel much better now. Thank you. Sorry for the trouble again.”

“No trouble, no trouble at all.” Aphrodite hurriedly waved her hands, though in her heart she thought—

As long as you don’t suddenly pounce on me calling me ‘Mom’ or try to take a bite, anything is fine!