# Chapter 175: Dream or Nightmare
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 175 of "Forgotten Wife: Let the Traitors Kneel Down" — and oh, what a heart-wrenching chapter this one is! We're going to witness a reunion that should have been pure joy but instead shatters into a thousand painful pieces. So grab a tissue, settle in, and let's dive into this emotional whirlwind together.
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The battle had taken its toll on everyone, but perhaps no one felt it more than April. The young woman stood there, swaying on her feet, her head spinning as the world tilted dangerously around her. She had been pushing herself far beyond her limits, pouring her magic into blessing armor after armor until her body screamed for rest. Alessandro, ever watchful, caught her before she could collapse entirely, his arms steady as he asked gently, "Are you okay?"
" Yes," she murmured weakly, "I just need to rest."
He could see it — the strain etched into her features, the way her magic had drained her nearly dry. "You used too much magic, didn't you?" His voice carried both concern and gentle reproach.
April nodded sheepishly. She had intended to bless Cassian's armor as well, but the sheer number of wounded had consumed her attention. When Alessandro saw the state she was in, any plans for additional blessings died on his lips. Without a word, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, settling her down with the utmost care. "I told you to rest," he said.
" And I did..."
"But you kept using your magic even though you hadn't fully recovered."
" There were too many injured, and I couldn't... leave them."
"I know," he said softly. " You couldn't leave them."
April nodded, and Alessandro gently stroked her hair, a tender gesture that spoke volumes. But while their affectionate moment warmed their hearts, it struck a different chord in Cassian, who had been standing nearby. Watching them — the way they cared for each other, the unspoken intimacy between them — sent a painful jolt of memory through him. It reminded him of Maya. Of what he had lost. Of the hollow ache that had lived in his chest since she vanished from his life.
Feeling utterly miserable and more than a little uncomfortable, Cassian cleared his throat and announced, "I'll leave you two alone to continue flirting."
Before either of them could respond, he turned and strode out of the tent, needing to escape the sight of their happiness — not because he begrudged them their joy, but because it mirrored what he so desperately wanted and could not have.
Once outside, Cassian made his way toward his own tent, but to his surprise, he found an unexpected visitor waiting for him. Ethan. The sight of the man immediately put Cassian on edge.
"What are you doing here?" Cassian asked, his tone guarded.
" I want to talk to you. Do you have a moment?"
"Would you leave if I said no?"
Ethan's expression made the answer clear. " No."
With a resigned sigh, Cassian gestured for him to speak. Ethan didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I've seen Sophia's daughter at the camp. Why was she allowed to come?"
"Nobody took her," Cassian replied wearily. "She just showed up. And in case you don't know, she's someone hard to convince — she does what she pleases."
" Even if she refuses to leave, she can't be here," Ethan pressed, his voice growing more serious. " It's very dangerous. And it's not just because of the monsters."
Cassian frowned, a knot forming in his stomach. "What do you mean?"
"Some elven soldiers have seen her. They know she's one of us."
"They're under your command. Surely you can control them."
Ethan shook his head grimly. "They are under my command, however, they are not loyal to me."
"And what does that mean, exactly?"
"What they might do if they find out who she really is..." Ethan paused, frustration coloring his words. " She's part of the elven nobility, do you realize that? Human kings are cruel to their descendants, and elves... elves are even more so. The danger she faces here isn't just from the battlefield — it's from those who might see her as a pawn or a threat."
Cassian's jaw tightened. "Even so, I can't do anything to make her leave. April is fully aware of what you're saying. She knows the danger she runs being here, but as I said before, she won't leave — no matter what we say. That's her decision."
"Her decisions are foolish and reckless," Ethan shot back, his words sharpened with frustration. " She's a spoiled brat who knows nothing about the world."
That did it. Something inside Cassian snapped. His eyes hardened, and his voice dropped with barely contained anger. "You don't know anything about her, so don't talk. Don't think about doing anything to make her leave. She thinks you were her friend."
" And I am," Ethan replied, though his tone softened slightly. " That's why I won't do what she asks me to do. I've respected the decision she's made."
"Even if that puts her in danger?"
"If that happens, I'll be there to help her."
Cassian stared at him for a long moment, then let out a bitter laugh. " You're a fool, just like your brother."
Ethan said nothing more. He simply turned and headed for the exit, leaving Cassian alone with his swirling thoughts.
Once the tent fell silent, Cassian sank into contemplation. Was he right to support April's decision to remain? Or should he have listened to Ethan and tried to convince her to leave for a safer place? Deep down, he knew the truth — April wouldn't be swayed. She was stubborn beyond measure, and once she set her mind to something, nothing in the world could change it. He wanted to respect her decision, to stand by her side, but a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that he was failing her somehow.
His internal debate was interrupted when someone entered the tent. Cassian assumed it was Ethan returning, ready to press the issue further. But when he looked up, all rational thought abandoned him.
Standing before him was Maya.
No. It couldn't be. He must be hallucinating. The exhaustion had finally caught up with him, and his mind was conjuring cruel illusions to torment him. He stared at her, frozen, gawking like a fool. She looked absolutely beautiful — her dress was a simple, straight-cut beige garment that did nothing to diminish her radiance. Her hair fell around her shoulders like a silky waterfall, and when she tucked a stray lock behind her ear, the gesture was so achingly familiar that it physically hurt.
"You're not going to say anything?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Cassian approached her cautiously, as if she might disappear the moment he got too close. He reached out and caressed her cheek, marveling at the warmth beneath his fingertips. " Are you really here?" he whispered, barely daring to believe.
"Yes, it's been a long time. How have you been?"
"How... how did you get here?"
"It's a long story," she said softly.
Cassian didn't care about the details. The only thing that mattered was that she was here, standing in front of him, real and tangible. He pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if his life depended on it. Every day since they'd been separated, his only wish, his only longing, had been to feel her in his arms again.
"You can't imagine how much I've missed you," he breathed against her. "I've dreamed of having you like this, in my arms. Tell me this isn't a dream."
Maya gently stroked his head, her touch soothing the raw edges of his soul. "No, it's not a dream. I'm with you right now. I'm in your arms. I'm real."
He pulled back just enough to cup her face in his hands, drinking in every detail of her features as if seeing her for the first time. Then, overcome with emotion, he pressed a soft, tender kiss to her lips.
"I'm sorry, Maya," he said, his voice cracking. "Forgive me for not going to look for you. I wanted to, but the war started—"
She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing his apology. "Don't worry. I know perfectly well. I know you couldn't come for me, and it would have been futile for you to try."
"What do you mean?"
Maya opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, the tent flap rustled and a man stepped inside. He was undeniably handsome — tall, with features that seemed almost otherworldly. His clothes were elegant and similar in style to Maya's, which struck Cassian as odd. When he saw the two of them together, the stranger's brow furrowed with displeasure.
"Maya, what are you doing with this human? I told you to wait outside."
"It was taking too long," Maya replied. "But now I see why."
Cassian's mind raced. What was happening? Who was this man? "Who is this guy?" he asked, his voice strained with confusion and dread.
But Maya didn't answer him. She moved to the stranger's side, gently guiding him toward the exit. "Fay, wait for me outside. I'll go now."
The man — Fay — left with clear reluctance. "Don't take long. Don't forget why we're here."
"I'm not," she assured him.
When they were alone again, Cassian demanded, "Who was that guy? And what did he mean by what he said?"
Maya wanted to lie. Desperately, she wanted to tell Cassian anything other than the truth. But she couldn't. The words clawed their way out of her mouth, unstoppable and merciless. "It's Faylion... one of the fairy princes. He's my fiancé."
The world stopped.
Cassian stood there, utterly speechless, as the beautiful dream he had been living moments ago shattered into a thousand jagged shards. He had finally reunited with the woman he loved, the woman he had ached for every single day. But she hadn't returned to him alone. She had brought home a fiancé.
The fairy prince.
"Tell me you're joking," Cassian pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper. "That man can't be your fiancé. That can't be. It must be a lie, right? Please, tell me it's a lie."
Maya clenched her hands into fists, her nails biting into her palms. She felt utterly helpless, trapped by a truth she could no longer deny. "I can't lie, Cassian. I'm obliged to always tell the truth now. Even if I wanted to tell you that Fay is just a friend, it would be a lie — and I can't say lies anymore."
Her words struck him like a physical blow. His heart shattered into pieces, each shard carving deeper into his soul. What had happened to her during those months they were apart? What terrible circumstances had led her to accept a fairy prince's hand in marriage?
Standing there, watching the woman he loved wrestling with a truth she was bound to speak, Cassian understood the cruel irony of fate. He had dreamed of this reunion for so long. He had hoped, prayed, and yearned for the day he would see her again.
But this wasn't a dream.
It was a nightmare.
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## Reader's Impressions & Rating
Oh my goodness, where do I even begin? This chapter was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish! The brief tender moment between April and Alessandro was a lovely reprieve from the tension, and I appreciated seeing their relationship deepen. The confrontation between Ethan and Cassian was also thought-provoking — it raises so many questions about loyalty, protection, and whether respecting someone's choices is always the right path.
But the reunion with Maya... oh, that absolutely *destroyed* me. The way Cassian's joy transformed into devastation was so raw and visceral that I felt every ounce of his heartbreak. Learning that Maya cannot tell lies anymore due to her connection with the fairies adds this tragic layer of inevitability to their doomed reunion. And Faylion, the fairy prince? A devastating twist I didn't see coming!
This chapter masterfully balances tender moments with gut-wrenching revelations, and the pacing is perfect. I'm on the edge of my seat!
⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
## Next Chapter Prediction
This cliffhanger sets up so many possibilities! I predict the next chapter will see Cassian grappling with whether to fight for Maya or let her go, and tensions will rise between him and Faylion — perhaps even a confrontation or challenge. Meanwhile, April and Alessandro may learn about Maya's situation, and with Faylion present at the camp, there might be political implications involving the fairy realm. I also suspect Maya's secret might force her to reveal crucial information about the war or the fairies' involvement — and Cassian will be forced to choose between his heart and his duty.
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