“······.”

“I wouldn’t even ask what you’re hiding. I’m just going to wait until you decide to tell me your secrets first. However······”

Calix paused for a moment and then raised his head. And like the clear sky after the rain, a set of blue eyes stared at me gently. I stifled by such a transparent gaze.

“You can never get away from me.”

“······.”

“Don’t leave me. Unless you want to see my soul being ripped to shreds.”

The fierce glare of his eyes was terrifying. His eyes seemed to say, ‘I won’t allow any next time.’

As I swallow, feeling extremely on edge, Calix’s hand stretched out and gently touched my face. Then he slowly lowered his head.

As soon as our lips touch and the kiss was about to deepen······.

Knock, knock!

Suddenly there was a knock outside.

“Your Grace. It’s Rumbury. A message came from Lord Canelo.”

What an impeccable timing.

“······.”

Calix crumpled his forehead irritably and rose from his seat and with me held in one arm.

As I was flustered for a while due to my vision suddenly got high, we were already outside in just a blink of an eye.

My face flushed with embarrassment and awkwardly greeted Tess Rumberry.

“Good Afternoon······.”

“······.”

She glanced at me in Calix’s arms and looked at me with a knowing expression.

“What message is it?”

Calix asked with a sour look. I pressed down on his shoulder firmly, signaling him with my eyes to drop me down.

However, Calix remained still. Rather, he hugged me even tighter. As I try to pinch his forearm in embarrassment, Tess Rombury’s voice was heard.

“Lord Canelo sent an invitation. Perhaps the divine lady informed the Lord that you’re here in this island······.”

“That woman······.”

Calix frowned as if he’s having a headache. Then his blue eyes burned with hostility toward Sia.

It felt peculiarly strange as I watch his reactions. I was still unfamiliar with the sight of the male lead Calix Rochester antagonizing the heroine Sia.

‘Still, I shouldn’t be too relieved.’

I haven’t heard anything about the oracle yet.

That’s why I always have this foreboding feeling. A feeling that a Pandora’s Box will suddenly open without any forewarnings.

‘Or it could also be just my misgivings.’

If the oracle had come down, the news would have spread all the way here. It is extremely unlikely that it would be kept confidential.

‘I have no choice but to just pray for things to flow differently from the original story.’

Looking back, the timing of Sia’s appearance was also different from the original timeline. But for what reason?

It was unforeseen that I would have a child, or that Calix’s feelings would not change, however Sia, her existence was also rather quite strange.

‘It seems that her personality is different from the original character.’

I was seriously pondering about that notion when Calix suddenly began to stride while carrying me in his arms.

“Ah······!”

“Stay still. I’m not going to kidnap you.”

“······.”

I’m not really worried about him capturing me. It’s just that Calix had this twisted way of thinking. The same as his misunderstanding between me and Will’s relationship······.

‘I feel like he’s always not in his right set of mind whenever the subject is related to me.’

He called me his world. His everything. That I’m the most important to him, but I’ve chosen to throw him away·······.

‘However, all this time, I thought I was the one who was abandoned. When I saw you with Sia then·······.’

The words that I couldn’t bring out of my mouth hurts like thorns in my throat.

‘I didn’t mean to throw you away······.’

I was afraid I’ll lose you to her.

I was afraid I’d die of jealousy because of her.

I was afraid of losing Letty······.

As sentiments swirl inside my head a dozen times, we have arrived home before I even knew it.

“I can walk myself to my room.”

I timidly said to Calix when we reached the front door.

Calix looked down at me and soon nodded. Finally letting me down.

“Phew······.”

The moment I sighed as soon as I stepped on the ground, Calix looked at me unfathomably.

And soon after, his eyes were filled with unrelenting coldness. Calix grabbed me by the shoulder and coercively said.

“If by any chance, I came back from the castle and you weren’t here······.”

“I won’t run away.”

I interjected weakly. It was obvious even without hearing the end of what he was trying to say. He’s going to arrest the Osborne father and son then he’s going to tear down their home and shop, is probably what is he going to convey.

‘How did Calix ended up hating Sia? Why did he come after me? Is it because of some lingering feelings? Why is he obsessed with me? I can’t understand a single thing······.’

With a look of exhaustion suffuse all over my face, I opened my mouth.

“I will not run away·······”

“······.”

“I will never leave your side, that’s why you don’t have to worry anymore.”

After I finished speaking, I raised my head and looked at him.

Waiting for an answer, Calix made a condescending expression then smiled wrily. I realized in that reaction.

The fact that he also doesn’t believe me.

‘Like the way I don’t trust him.’

Our relationship is already twisted to the point of ruin.

Calix asked in a cold, sarcastic voice.

“You can’t trust me, and now you’re saying you’ll stay with me?”

“······Isn’t that what you want.”

I answered, avoiding his gaze. He drew himself close to me, grabbed me by the chin, and made me face him. His blue eyes gleamed with madness from a nose-diving distance.

“Promise me, Laure.”

“Promise what······.”

“That you will never leave my side until the day we both die, and even in death, promise me we would be buried side by side.”

“That kind of thing······.”

“Then I’ll release you.”

Our lips suddenly came in contact. And the moment I opened my mouth in surprise, he bit my lips and his tongue delve inside.

His kisses this time were obscenely unkind. Even if I try to evade, he would relentlessly chase and capture my lips, making me utterly breathless.

Every now and then, whenever our lips separate for a brief moment, I gasp for breath. The strength in my legs disappears and my head went numb.

Soon I was completely leaning on him. Even if I tried to push him with both hands, my powerless grasp would only slip.

Calix held my waist tightly with one arm and held the back of my neck with the other, preventing me from moving.

It was the first time he’s ever been like this with me. Treating me so rough.

Unreservedly witnessing his obsession and madness, my heart burned and tears emerge.

The moment the tears running down my cheeks moistened his lips, Calix finally let me go.

“······.”

I shut my mouth tight so as not to burst out crying. I couldn’t lift my head. It was extremely painful seeing him. I feel like it would tormentingly break my heart.

The moment the arm that was keeping me in place barely loosened, I pushed him away and turned on my back.

“I won’t run away, so you don’t have to worry.”

I said, chewing my words as I open the door.

I went inside, closed the door, sat down in front of it, and cried for a while.

No matter how much I cried, my tears would not stop.

I could not trust him completely.

I can never have faith in him.

Our love-hate relationship, which has been twisted beyond belief. To the point where trust for each other was barely left.

Was indescribably sad and painful that it can’t be expressed in words.

🌺 🌺 🌺

When I came back to my room after getting myself together, Will was waiting for me. Then he handed me a paper bag.

“Grand Duke Rochester dropped it before he left.”

“······.”

“Letizia’s with Alice. You don’t have to worry.”

“Then······ I’m going now. You should take some rest.”

Will left the room quietly. His unquestioned consideration for not asking what had happened moved me immeasurably. I sat down on the bed, pressing my sleeves against the side of my eyes which was starting to tear up again.

Rustle. I took out what was inside the paper bag blankly. And then······.

“Gasp·····.”

Tears dripped down my cheeks once again.

Drip, drip drip. Drops of tears continuously fell on the ‘thing’.

Calix would have brought this because he wanted to show it to me. After several times of hesitation, I couldn’t help but hold it in my hand.

He must have suffered hundreds of times just to bring it this far. Would everything be okay if I give her this? Will Laure remember······. He must have had those thoughts in his mind.

—Then, if you do······ Please always stay by my side, Laure. Don’t abandon me, don’t leave me. Always.

It was evident that he had not forgotten the promise.

“heuk, heueueuk······!” *continous bawling*

I hugged it and sobbed. It’s just like my broken heart, or like his delicate fragmented heart.

What Calix tried to give me was a little blue bird brooch made of glass.

However, there was a distinct crack in the fragile bluebird, as if it had suffered an irreparable scar.

🌺 🌺🌺

Thinking back, Sean occasionally wears a shadowy expression.

Every time that happens, Sean’s gaze was always directed at Will.

According to Alice, Will’s mother, Sean’s wife died as soon as she gave birth to their child.

Sean, who was left alone with his child, raised Will with the utmost attention. Like the most precious treasure of the world.

For his precious child to be in such an accident, Sean must have just made some wrong judgments for a moment.

No matter how good a man is. There’s will always be a dark side to everyone.

‘I understand that in my head.’

However, when I looked at Sean, the words that I would forgive him wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

Sean sat across from me, unable to lift his head with his head down. Regrets and resentment could visibly be seen on his face at the same time.

Did you have to poison me? Those questions hovered at the tip of my tongue repeatedly and then disappeared.

On the other hand, I understood him. Because I’ve also made some wrong choices in my life.

I sighed and said.

“You didn’t even make any excuses.”

“······.”

Sean neatly admitted his mistakes. And didn’t even make any excuses. He simply said that he was sorry multiple times, that what he did was shameful, and that he was willing to take any punishment.

I just smiled in defeat.

Punishment?

I’ve never thought of anything like that.

Although it ended on a sad note, I’ve already accepted Sean in my life as a family. How will I be able to punish him? It’s just heartbreaking. The fact that we have to leave each other’s side, hurt and wounded.

I could only say in a low voice.

“Sean. Punishing you is not what I want.”

“······.”

“How could I do that to Sean, to Will? To those who have helped me······.”

It was a situation where we were caught in the ax of faith, but I didn’t forget that I was indebted to them.

“I will not let this matter leak outside. All I want······ is a sincere apology from Sean.”

After listening quietly for a moment, Sean finally opened his mouth.

“······Please forgive me.”

I smiled bitterly.

“You seem to be sincerely sorry, so I don’t feel sad anymore.”

Sean’s face was full of regret and guilt. That’s why I knew. That he feels terribly guilty.

“······It’s all because of my foolishness. I’m one of those persons who truly know your situation, that’s why I should’ve treated you much better·····.”

“······.”

“I don’t know if I have the right to ask for forgiveness. If you want to blame me, or criticize me, do it. I will also accept any punishment you will bestow.”

I shook my head. If I blamed him and poured out grudges, it would rather hurt my heart.

“I don’t know if I can forgive you or not.”

“······.”

“But I understand. I’ve also made some wrong choices.”

Sean raised his head and looked at me. His gray eyes, resembling Will, were full of guilt.

“So I’ll try to forgive you.”

“······.”

“Because I know that Sean isn’t really a bad person, he’s actually a righteous person.”

Sean’s eyes turned misty. He kept his mouth shut as if he were holding back his tears, then he soon dropped his head. The drops of tears that fell quietly moistened the hem of his clothes.

“I’m······ Really sorry······”

“······.”

“I’m sorry······.”

I sat motionlessly still, until Sean’s tears finally stopped.