Chapter 48
B
As she spoke, she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her hands with exaggerated force, as if afraid of catching some kind of disease.
“If it weren’t for you, Billie’s child and mine would already be in elementary school by now. Theo, you stole his credit, his future, his place. I’m merely setting things back to how they should’ve been. You should be thanking me for being so polite about it.“>
With that, she flung the bloodied handkerchief at my face and dragged Billie away without another word.
I silently tossed the handkerchief into the overflowing box in the corner of the room. My chest tightened with grief so intense, I could barely breathe.
When Shena fell into a vegetative state after the accident, the Collins Family spared no expense seeking doctors both at home and abroad. But nothing helped–her condition only worsened.}
Eventually, Master Collins remembered the Marvin family’s ancient acupuncture techniques said to revive those on the brink of death. And because he had once helped me handle my parents‘ affairs after their murder, I owed him a great debt.}
So I agreed to marry Shena–not for love, but to repay kindness and honor my parents‘ dying wish that I never practice medicine for profit. Even though I was still young, I spent countless sleepless nights experimenting on myself before I dared treat her.”
The final time I collapsed from exhaustion, Shena had already opened her eyes and could sit up on her own.
Master Collins was overjoyed. He arranged a grand wedding for us and I devoted myself to caring for her–body and soul.
But three years later, she entered my room on her own, saying she wanted to deepen our bond. That night, she wept in my arms, swearing she’d fallen in love with me over those three years.}
I believed her.
I gave in willingly, letting myself drown in the illusion of love.
Especially after we had Bastian, I was more desperate than ever to hold on, convinced that our child was the salvation I had been seeking all along.
But after Billie returned to US, everything changed. Her affection grew cold. She barely looked at me anymore–and worse, her gaze toward Bastian became empty, almost resentful.}
Then came the lie that broke me: she told everyone that it was Billie who had brought her back to life. That he, who had fled overseas to treat his failing health before she even woke up, was her true savior.
And I–who had stayed and sacrificed everything–became the schemer who tricked Master Collins and stole another man’s honor.
Even the contract we signed, agreeing to eight years, was twisted into a scheme used to manipulate her.
Every time Billie fell ill, she’d take it out on me. Her people would restrain me, strip me and she’d whip me with that special lash she kept just for these moments.
The moment Shena left the house, my thoughts were interrupted by the thick stench of smoke.}
I followed the trail to the backyard–and what I saw nearly drove me mad.
Billie, cradling his dog, stood smugly by the fire while servants tossed Bastian’s belongings into the flames one by one.”
“Move it! Shena said this house is under my control now. Anyone who doesn’t like it can get out.”}
My eyes turned blood–red. I rushed forward to stop them, but his hired men blocked my way.}]
“Who gave you the right to burn Bastian’s things?!“}
Billie just smiled coldly as he stroked his dog’s back.
“Pudding likes Bastian’s room,” he said casually. “So Shena gave it to him as a kennel. But he doesn’t like used things–they’re filthy.”
Then, as if to drive the knife in deeper, he picked up Bastian’s last cherished item, held it in front of me for a moment… and threw it into the fire without hesitation.
In that moment, I realized ‘something terrifying.}
To Shena, Bastian was worth less than one of Billie’s dogs.
I went numb.
I stood there, watching the flames die down and gave up struggling.
Then I laughed–wildly, bitterly.
“Burn it all,” I said. “Burn it good.“}
And with that, my legs gave out beneath me and I collapsed to the ground.”
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in bed in my old room.
