As Lucifer left the vicinity of his penthouse room, he was fuming with unbearable rage.
Rage at Derek for degrading Mia in front of the entire Evorywood.
Rage at Mia for enjoying that degradation.
Rage at Christopher and Sarah for enjoying the rape of Mia and Amelia.
Rage at Sarah for begging him to impregnate her.
Rage at Sarah and Christopher for killing that same fetus.
Rage at the brutal cannibalism Rotveil practiced on her dead daughter's fetus.
Rage at Mia for breaking promises time after time.
Rage at Mia's degrading and absurd fetishes.
Rage at himself for even trying to fulfill those fetishes.
Rage at how he spoke to his mother Mia.
Rage at how he slapped Mia with his own hands.
Lucifer's entire mind was drowning in rage… rage and nothing but rage.
His anger and his helplessness were both devouring his sanity and rationality from the inside.
He just wanted to leave everything behind… maybe just die and finally find peace.
But that option wasn't possible.
Lucifer was so furious that he truly believed if he didn't release this anger soon, he would literally burst from within.
He wanted to punch something, shatter something, destroy his own hands.
He felt like he was living in an actual, literal hell.
In the same penthouse room where Lucifer had been moments ago, now only the sound of wet, broken sobs echoed.
It wasn't just Mia crying—Ruby was sobbing too, lungs heaving.
Ruby, tears streaming, turned to Amelia and asked in a choked voice:
"Lass… what does it mean when he says I'm just a motherly figure to him, but not his mother?
Why did he say he has no possession over me?
When he calls me 'mumma' and even gave me the same place as her mother… then why… why does he have no possession over me?
Yes, I like that type of sex… but if he doesn't want it, I'll never try it.
After seeing his mood tonight, I'll never even dream of it.
I'm satisfied with threesomes or foursomes.
Why the hell would I want to get fucked in the middle of town?
And even if I did… why would I want to be degraded?
Didn't Isolde also have sex with him in the middle of town?
Didn't he spank her?
But… but… that was fun… and loving…
Then… why would I ever want to be verbally abused, drink someone's piss, or let someone belittle me?
Just thinking about it makes me want to puke…"
Then Ruby pointed accusingly at Mia and continued, voice trembling with fury:
"Amelia… why the hell does this ungrateful woman get to have Lucifer as a son?
What do I lack compared to her?
If she wants to, she can go fulfill her fantasies… why hurt my son this much?
What hasn't he suffered for this bitch… and look—she still hasn't learned her lesson.
Look at her… she can't even control her own desires.
He never stopped her from having sex with others… he just wanted to show his possession over her… just wanted to show their special relationship… so he set a few conditions.
Why can't she honor even one of his wishes?
What did he ever ask from you?
To bear his children?
To let him have control over your mouth and your sexual drive?
Is that so much?
You ungrateful woman—he took all your burns… he even took revenge on those fucking Ashers for you.
When your husband was smiling while watching you get used like an animal… he made you Grand-Duchess… he gave you everything you could never achieve in your whole life… and look—you asked him to degrade you?
If he does what you desire, then what's the difference between Christopher, those Ashers, and him?
They involuntarily degraded you, humiliated you, fucked you, used you—that was rape… a black spot in your life…
And now you want the same thing from Lucifer… which he despises from the core of his being?
Woman, I didn't know years of fucking had moved your brain inside your pussy or asshole.
You ungrateful mother… you don't deserve a child like Lucifer…
I don't know what past-life merit you have that the gods favored you so much…
You bitch—who gave you the right to hurt him?
Can't even grant one wish of your child and dare to call yourself a mother?
What audacity…?"
While Ruby sobbed and cursed Mia, Mia just listened.
What else could she do? Everything Ruby said was true.
What had she ever given Lucifer?
The love he deserved?
She didn't even know about her child's death experience.
She didn't even know how he lived his daily life until 6–7 months ago.
Could 18 years of negligence be made up in 6–7 months… or a year, two years, three years?
No… she couldn't. No one could.
A home?
No… until 7–8 months ago, he had no home.
He spent most of his life in the library.
Even the home he had now—this ducal palace—was given to her by him after he eradicated the Ashers.
Food?
Definitely not… half a year ago, she didn't even care if he was alive or not.
Worrying whether her son had eaten wasn't her duty… it was the maids' duty.
So she had given him neither love, nor a home, nor food.
From what right did she call Lucifer her son?
Every single point Ruby made was painfully true.
But let's see what Lucifer had given her:
Love?
He loved her more than anything.
His love for her equaled his love for Amara, the supreme creator goddess of this world, whom he considered his godmother.
Home?
Yes—this ducal palace where she now resided was given to her by Lucifer.
He had declared her Grand-Duchess of this duchy.
Food?
Most definitely… she lived in his duchy, ruled in his duchy, so she ate from Lucifer's account.
And what had he asked in return?
Only this:
"Mommy, just be mine always.
You want to have sex with others? Okay…
Just don't get impregnated by them.
Maintain some self-respect… you are now Grand-Duchess.
Yes, I don't want you to share your kisses with anyone.
Nor do I want anyone else to suck your milk… they are mine…
That's all I want from you."
So was it really so hard to fulfill even one of his wishes?
Now Mia's eyes were watery with self-loathing.
She felt disgusted with her own temperament.
She felt her sanity slipping away.
She could see Lucifer's visage drifting farther and farther from her.
Her heart was in panic.
Here she was—guilty.
Here she had taken the initiative to kiss Baldwin.
If she had clearly told them beforehand that they weren't allowed to kiss her or touch/suck her boobs, they would never have dared.
So now… what could she do to pacify Lucifer's anger?
How would she even talk to him?
How to start?
Would he listen?
Would he love her again?
Would he call her mommy again?
Would he ever lay his head in her lap again?
Would he ever…
Suddenly, while Mia was lost in these spiraling thoughts and Ruby was still cursing her, the entire ducal palace shook violently—like an earthquake.
But unlike a normal earthquake with continuous trembling waves, this one was different.
The earth trembled—yes.
Continuous trembling?—No.
Trembling with deep, explosive booms?—Yes.
Mia, Ruby, and all the other women panicked at the sudden shaking. Just as they were about to stand and run, Lovertia appeared in the penthouse room along with Gracy and Lucelith.
Seeing the panicked faces, Lovertia spoke calmly:
"Don't worry… it's not a natural quake.
It's just Dad—he's angry and wants to release his pent-up frustration… so he's punching Loravela Peak in the Gigori Range mountains.
Don't worry too much."
Everyone heard it clearly.
Amelia asked Lovertia: "Which peak? Loravela? I've never heard of it."
Lovertia replied: "It's not surprising you don't know, Mother Amelia.
It's a lone mountain in the northeast of our duchy, near Nightbloom Forest.
Dad has already punched it flat."
Amelia asked again: "How did he get there? Isn't it thousands of miles away? Not to mention he'd have to cross the Ursula River."
Lovertia: "Mother, he didn't cross the river. Actually, he went two or three peaks beyond the origin of the Ursula River, so he didn't need to cross it.
And as for how he reached there… it's even simpler—he ran."
This time Ruby asked: "You said he ran and reached? Tia, that's thousands of miles away. About an hour ago he was right in front of us."
Lovertia nodded: "Yes, I was there with him too… Papa was very hurt. He even cried… and after that he ran toward the mountains to find an isolated peak to punch down so he could release all that pent-up frustration."
Then Lovertia glanced at Lucelith and Gracy and said:
"Both of you—go give Derek and Jacob 100 doses of this pill and 10 doses of that pill. Tell them both that from this morning all free meals are over. They have to work if they want to eat."
She handed them two heavy pouches.
"Make sure they swallow every single one—not even one should remain."
Gracy and Lucelith accepted the order: "Okay, eldest sister."
Gracy led the way, Lucelith followed.
When they reached the extreme corner of the room, they made some hand gestures and rearranged a few vases in different positions.
Suddenly the space lit up slightly and a hidden room appeared beside them—previously invisible.
Gracy and Lucelith entered and forcefully fed Derek and Jacob all the pills, delivering their final warning.
Then they made the secret hand gestures again, rearranged the vases as before—and whoosh… the room vanished once more.
When Lucelith and Gracy returned, Mia asked:
"Derek is here?"
Lovertia: "Yes."
Mia: "Since when?"
Lovertia: "Since the last seven days."
Mia's anger flared—her heart filled with hatred. She said: "Lovertia, open that room again… now."
Lovertia: "Why?"
Mia: "It's my order, Tia. Open that room."
Lovertia: "Who are you, Lady? What right do you have to order me around?
I'm the eldest princess of my dad."
Mia: "I'm the mother of your father… now don't waste time—open the gate."
Lovertia: "Forgive me, Lady… but my dad told me that my grandma will come back again in the morning.
So don't try to fool me.
Now please excuse us."
With that, all three of them vanished into the shadow world.