Chapter 120: Chapter 120: A new name Chapter 120: A new name She was only a project. A thing to acquire Belzebuth’s talent... but for what reason? Why would her mother want that talent for her? Sure, it was powerful — but what was the purpose behind it all? These questions had haunted her since that fateful day. And the worst part was, she could no longer get the answer — because her mother had died that very day. Zara’s tears flowed freely, her black eyes locked into Noah’s silver gaze. She expected to see pity there. Pity for the fact that she was chasing after a man who didn’t even care if she lived or died. Pity for the childhood she had barely survived. Pity that her own mother had seen her only as a tool. But what she saw in Noah’s eyes wasn’t pity. It was compassion. It was love. And it was respect. Compassion for her pain. Love — the kind she had never dared believe in, not from a man like him, known for gathering women around him. And respect... "W-why... why are you looking at me like this? With love and respect?" she asked, her voice hoarse with pain and disbelief. Noah smiled softly. "I told you I liked you. I was honest — it wasn’t a joke. So how could I not look at you with love and affection?" "And as for respect..." He reached out and took Zara’s trembling hands in his, wrapping them with comfort and warmth. "How could I not respect you? You lived through a childhood of pain, with a mother who only saw you as a tool — who cursed you, beat you, tried to break you. And then, when your father came... when the whole village was destroyed by his hand... even then, you survived." "You went through all of that... and yet, Zara, you didn’t turn evil." It was incredible. Because anyone else — anyone with even half her past — would have become a villain, bent on revenge and destruction. But Zara hadn’t. "No," Noah whispered, smiling. "You searched for love, Zara. You didn’t chase hatred. You chased love. Some would say it’s pathetic, chasing after the one who destroyed everything around you." His eyes softened. "But I say... it’s incredibly brave. To chase love when the world pushes you toward hatred. How could I not respect that?" "...how could I not respect you, Zara?" His silver eyes locked onto her black, bottomless ones. The contrast between them was striking. It was beautiful. It was mesmerizing. Zara’s body trembled. She had never seen her situation this way. She’d always been running from her true feelings, afraid they made her weak, pathetic — for wanting love from someone who clearly didn’t care. She had always thought she was pathetic. "I-I’m... not pathetic?" she whispered, almost like a question, timid and fragile. "You’re not pathetic," Noah said firmly. "You’re brave. You’re strong. You’re courageous. Because let me tell you — few, if any, would’ve chosen the path you did." He gave a small, crooked smile. "Me, for example? I doubt I would’ve chased love over vengeance." "So no, Zara. You’re not pathetic." And then — she cried. Again, and again, and again. It wasn’t just crying. It was a release — all the burdens, all the pain, all the wounds she had carried alone for so long. "Let it out," Noah murmured. "You no longer need to chase love from the wrong place." HIC. HIC. Zara’s cries grew louder. "You no longer need to chase someone who doesn’t care." HIC, HIC. And louder. "You no longer need to hold back your feelings out of fear." HICCC. HICCC. Even louder. "Because, Zara..." She surged forward, wrapping her arms around him — clinging to him as if afraid he’d vanish. The feel of his warmth made her calm down and feel at ease. Noah simply hugged her back, calmly, his eyes soft, his smile gentle. "You’re loved," he whispered. "Because you are loved, Zara. By Neko, by Alice... by me." He grinned softly. "And believe me — many more will love you." "So don’t hold back. Don’t hide. Come out and face it. And you’ll see... it was never as hard as you feared." Noah gently cupped her face, lifting her chin until their eyes met again. Her black eyes were swollen and wet, her face a streaked mess of tears — but maybe that was why the moment felt so rare, so painfully beautiful. "We love you," Noah murmured. "And we will not abandon you. Not now, not tomorrow — not ever." "So let us in. Let us into your heart, like you already crept into ours." "Y-you won’t... hurt me?" Zara asked, her voice so small it was barely a whisper. Noah’s chest clenched at the sight. He hated seeing her like this. Not just Zara — he hated seeing any of his women like this. But all he did was smile gently, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "I won’t. Honestly, I’m pretty sure Neko would kill me if I ever did." He added the last part teasingly. And it worked — because Zara let out a soft, shaky laugh. She smiled. A smile so stunning, so radiant, it was almost a shame her face was blotched with tears — but maybe that was what made it so unique. Zara had finally opened her heart. And then— [Zara’s affection for you has reached 75%.] Her feelings had taken a deep leap. But at this point, Noah didn’t even care about that. All he wanted... was for Zara to be free of her burden. To be happy again. So he smiled softly. "Welcome to the family, Zara Bane." Immediately, Zara shook her head, a brilliant smile blooming on her face. "No — not Zara Bane. I’m changing my last name." Her voice was light, yet sure. "Zara Bane is the past." She had decided to let go. To stop chasing a love that would only hurt her. Because now — she had found love. Real love. This was her new beginning. And she wanted a new name to mark it. "Choose for me," Zara said softly, a little shy, a little uncertain. "Choose my last name." Noah blinked, surprised — but soon, a grin stretched across his face. "Well, lucky you — my naming sense is incredible." Lies. But Noah leaned in anyway, playfully confident. "I’m Noah Weaverheart. So... let’s flip that." His grin widened. "From now on, you’ll be Zara HeartWeaver." The Weaver of Hearts. Zara HeartWeaver. —End of Chapter 120—