Devilish secretary
Chapter 388 King of Darkness

Chapter 388: Chapter 388 King of Darkness

Lilith blinked slowly, the light from Gray’s phone screen glowing against her face as she stared at the email he showed her. The sender name caught her attention immediately—darknight999.

Something about it made her heart tighten. A strange weight pressed on her chest. And yet, she tapped to open it.

The message loaded.

Her hands trembled as she read:

[ Subject: Goodbye, from the dark...

I don’t know how to write professional emails, so I won’t even try. Hi Gray, hi Ray, hi Alex... and hi sweetheart~

It’s me. Darkness.

I know, this is random. Maybe confusing. Maybe... unfair. I’m sorry. But I had to say something before I go.

I was born in the dark. I disappear in the dark. I’ve always belonged to it. That’s why you never saw me much. The one who never stayed long.

I didn’t want to interrupt your lives. I only came out when I had to protect. When I had to make sure we survived. That was my role.

You’re wondering why you collapsed recently.

That was me.

It was my time. My existence was never meant to last forever. I always knew that. That’s why everything felt heavier this time. Because I was trying to stay longer... trying not to leave yet.

But I can’t.

My time is over.

Now—please pass the phone to sweetheart.

•••

Hey, sweetheart.

Are you crying already?

Tsk... don’t cry too much, or I’ll come back and haunt you just to wipe your tears myself.

If you’re reading this, I’m probably gone. Gone in the way only darkness can be. No trace. No goodbye hugs. Just this last message.

But before I vanish, I want you to know something.

From the moment I saw you, I thought, "Ah... that’s what warmth looks like."

You were never afraid of me. Even when I scared you a little, you still touched my hand. You let me sit next to you. You didn’t flinch when I spoke.

You... made me feel real.

Sweetheart, I don’t know what happens next. Maybe I’ll come back someday. Maybe I won’t. But I want to leave a little piece of myself with you.

If you ever feel the wind whisper across your cheek, that’s me.

If you wake up from a nightmare and the room feels less cold than it should, that’s me.

If a candle flickers when there’s no breeze—don’t be scared. That’s me.

I’ll always watch over you. Even if I can’t hold you. Even if I’m not part of this world anymore.

Gray, Ray, Alex... protect her. She’s more than light. She’s home.

And to you, sweetheart... thank you for giving even the darkest corner a little bit of your light.

I loved you.

I still do.

And I always will.

–King of Darkness ]

Lilith couldn’t breathe for a second.

The phone slipped from her hand and fell softly onto the bed, the screen still glowing with the last words: "I always will."

She didn’t make a sound, but the tears streamed down her cheeks in silence. Her fingers dug into the blanket beside her as if trying to anchor herself. Gray sat beside her, his jaw tight, eyes glistening. He didn’t say a word either.

Even the room felt different. Like a soul had just left quietly, respectfully, without slamming any doors.

"Hhh..." Lilith’s breath hitched as her chest rose and fell too fast. Her fingers trembled at her sides, knuckles pale, as if even her skin couldn’t hold the storm inside her any longer. Her jaw clenched tightly but it was no use. The tears had already started to blur her vision.

She wiped at them with the back of her hand, but more kept falling.

Her heart felt like it had been stabbed and twisted, not by a knife.but by absence. A silent goodbye. A disappearing act. Darkness... had left her.

The room felt cold. Her knees gave out as she sank to the floor beside the bed, clutching the blanket with both hands, her breathing growing uneven. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out—only broken gasps, like something inside her had cracked too deep to find the words.

"I... I didn’t say goodbye..." she whispered, barely audible. Her lips quivered. "I didn’t even know..."

Her body shook with each breath, and for the first time, Lilith felt helpless. Not angry. Not dangerous. Just... grieving. It was a grief she didn’t know how to carry.

A warm hand touched her back gently.

"Lilith..." Gray’s voice was low, rough with his own emotion. He knelt down beside her, his palm resting between her shoulder blades. "Hey... breathe, alright? I’m right here..."

But Lilith only let out a soft, heartbroken noise and covered her face with her hands. "I should’ve known... I should’ve felt it. I should’ve protected him. He—he just disappeared like he never existed..."

Gray’s chest tightened. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in the safest, strongest hold he could manage. Her cheek pressed to his collarbone, and her fingers curled against his chest like she was afraid he’d disappear too.

She was crying silently now, tears soaking into his shirt, her breath warm against his skin.

"He didn’t say goodbye," she murmured after a long pause, voice shaking. "He joked. He left behind jokes and soft words... but no goodbye..."

Gray rested his chin on her head, his own eyes misty as he held her closer. "That’s his way. He didn’t want you to cry, even when he knew it would hurt. He loved you in his quiet way... and this was all he could give."

The silence that followed was full of emotions too loud to speak.

And then Lilith whispered something that nearly broke him:

"He said he’d watch over me... but I’d rather have him here."

Gray closed his eyes, letting her words sink deep into his bones. "I know," he said again softly. "I know, sweetheart. I would’ve given anything to keep him, too."

They stayed like that for a long time—her buried in his arms, trembling and hurt; him holding her like she was made of glass, murmuring small things like "You’re safe," and "I won’t leave you." Over and over, like a prayer.

Lilith eventually quieted down, her sobs fading into shallow breaths. Her body was exhausted, but her eyes stared at nothing—wide open, like she was still watching for him to return.