Chapter 3 Fever
That night, Iliana felt her forehead burning.
She figured she was running a fever. Wrapping herself in a coat, Iliana got out of bed to look for a thermometer.
The hallway lights were off. Bryson didn’t seem to be back yet.
But just as she passed the guest room, she heard faint voices from inside.
“Brys, will she be upset if she knows you keep me here?”
It was a familiar female voice.
Iliana froze in her tracks.
That voice had haunted her for years. She’d heard it countless times from Bryson’s phone.
It was Bryanna.
He actually brought Bryanna here.
This place was supposed to hold only their sweetest memories.
Iliana remembered that snowy day when Bryson held her close and pointed out this very villa to her.
Not a single flake touched her coat because he shielded her from it all.
He’d said, “Lia, this is a gift for you. A place that belongs to us and us only.”
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And now, Bryanna had stepped right through the door.
Bryson’s voice was too muffled to make out clearly.
All Iliana could hear were the soft, intimate sounds of something she didn’t want to imagine.
Iliana’s heart ached.
Three years of her love still couldn’t compete with one month of Bryanna.
She didn’t want to hear any more. Iliana turned and fled back to her
room.
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Her fever made her body burn, yet she felt nothing but cold inside.
By midnight, Iliana was delirious with fever until she fell into a pair of arms scented faintly with perfume.
“Lia… you didn’t even know you’re burning up?”
The man’s voice was as gentle as ever, but laced with a certain chill.
Iliana slowly opened her eyes and met Bryson’s charming eyes.
For a second, Iliana was dazed. She caught the scent of jasmine on his
clothes.
The same jaśmine that Bryanna always wore.
Iliana asked in a hoarse voice, testing him, “Where were you?”
Bryson tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with practiced ease. “Working late at the office. Otherwise, how could I make money to support you?”
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Vishers
Even now, he still wouldn’t tell her the truth.
Iliana felt even colder inside. Exhausted, she turned her head away. “I
see. I want to rest now.”
“Alright.”
Bryson smiled softly.
Maybe it was the fever, but Iliana seemed especially obedient tonight.
Her usual fair skin now carried a faint flush, though her expression was distant and cool.
Under the dim lighting, her features looked unusually delicate.
Bryson leaned in to kiss her forehead, but she tilted her head, avoiding
him.
His lips grazed her cheek. Iliana said flatly, “Be careful… You might
catch it.”
Bryson chuckled and flicked her forehead. “I’d gladly fall sick with
you.”
She gave a weak smile, concealing her sadness.
In the past, such sweet words would’ve filled her heart with joy.
But now, they only tasted bitter.
She kept replaying those affectionate images of him and Bryanna in her mind.
Her stomach churned with a sour ache.
“I’m going to sleep now.”
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Iliana dismissed Bryson.
The door closed. She stared at the ceiling in silence until sleep finally
claimed her.
When Iliana opened her eyes again, it was morning.
She picked up a pen and marked a big red X on the calendar.
There were 28 days left before her wedding.
She would marry a man who wasn’t Bryson.
Iliana felt her stomach rumbling from hunger, so she headed downstairs, only to see two people at the dining table.
She froze in place, gripping the stair rail, not sure what to do.
It was Bryanna and Bryson.
Sunlight streamed through the floor–to–ceiling window, casting a soft glow over them.
They looked like a perfect couple.
They were eating breakfast, the air between them tinged with something romantic.
Bryanna noticed Iliana and stood up with ease to greet Iliana, “I made breakfast. Iliana, do you want some?”
It was as if Iliana were the guest here.
Iliana didn’t answer, keeping her head down.
When she had just moved in, Iliana had eagerly made breakfast a few times, waiting for Bryson to wake up.
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Back then, Bryson had only gently and politely turned her down. “Sorry, Lia, I’m not in the habit of eating breakfast.”
Now, Iliana glanced at the plate in front of Bryson. Half the fried egg was already gone.
She forced a smile.
So it wasn’t that he didn’t like breakfast. He just didn’t like the person
who made it.
It was only then that Bryson saw her on the stairs. His expression flickered with discomfort.
“Iliana, don’t be upset,” he said, standing up with a frown and trying to explain gently. “Bryanna had a fight with her family and had nowhere else to go, so…”
Bryson stood between the two girls, shielding Bryanna behind him,
His guarded posture made Iliana give a bitter smile.
So that was how he saw her–spoiled, irrational, always picking fights?
It didn’t matter. From now on, she wouldn’t fight anymore.
“When did she get here?” Iliana asked.
She moved slowly to sit at the table.
“This morning,” Bryson answered.
Iliana gave a silent smile, toying with the cold jade button on her clothes.
He was still lying.
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“Iliana, if you don’t like me, I’ll leave,” Bryanna said, wiping her tears. “I didn’t mean to hurt your puppy. And those people at school… I didn’t know why they were targeting you. I was young back then…”
Bryanna was talking about a few years ago, back when they were still in school. Using the Carson family’s guilt, she’d ordered her lackeys to repeatedly bully Iliana.
The puppy that Iliana had kept for five or six years had also died because of Bryanna and her little gang.
Watching her putting on an act, Iliana felt deeply bored.
Iliana looked at Bryson. He seemed indifferent, even guarded toward her.
But there was no trace of surprise in his eyes.
That bitter ache coiled tighter around her chest.
She remembered that the puppy had been a gift from Bryson. At the time, he’d said, “When I can’t be with you, it’ll keep you company for me.”
Later, when the dog died and she told him with tears that it was no accident, Bryson had only patted her head in silence.
So he had known it was Bryanna all along.
That was why he had chosen to do nothing.
Iliana stared at them, wanting to argue. But she felt exhausted.
Eventually, she told herself to forget it.
In 28 days, they’d have nothing more to do with each other.
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Bryson had worn down whatever feelings remained between them.
She smiled faintly. “I understand. It’s all in the past. Welcome to the house.”
Then she turned and walked away.
Bryanna’s tearful expression froze.
Staring at Iliana’s retreating back, Bryson seemed a bit puzzled.
This quiet, emotionless reaction from Iliana didn’t feel right.
He frowned and wanted to chase after her, but Bryanna grabbed his hand tightly. “Bryson, stay with me… please?”
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