“…So, did you hire someone to follow me?”
“I don’t trust you anymore. I was so sure and believed in you, but you left me anyway.”
“You could have just told me.”
Cedric lifted the corner of his mouth.
“That’s true. I was pretty arrogant back then.”
His thigh touched between my legs. I flinched and tried to move away, but I was already caught in his arms. Cedric stared into my eyes and spoke calmly.
“I thought you loved me as much as I loved you. But…”
“…”
“It was all a misunderstanding.”
Cedric came closer and slightly lifted his chin. His gaze never left my lips. I turned my head, but he whispered into my ear.
“Did you buy some kind of drug?”
His voice was soft near my ear. It gave me goosebumps, but I barely answered.
“I didn’t buy anything.”
“Really? Then should we ask that shop clerk?”
His calm tone carried a strange sharpness. Since he knew so much, he must have hired someone. My heart raced nonstop. Cedric might already know everything. He was pushing me this hard.
“What did you buy?”
He wasn’t smiling anymore. I felt like if I said it, I could leave this place.
Without looking at him, I said,
“Birth control pills.”
Cedric gave a bitter laugh. He looked at me with a tilted gaze.
“You don’t want to get pregnant with my child?”
His voice was low but I caught a glimpse of his anger. I barely answered.
“I told you before. I don’t want to get involved with you…”
Suddenly, our lips collided. He kissed me without giving me a chance to pull away. Our breaths mixed, and I started to choke. When I gasped and hit his chest, Cedric grabbed my hand and pulled his lips away.
“You’re making a mistake.”
His breathy voice sounded. His bright blue eyes stared at me insistently.
A mistake? I couldn’t understand. He calmly murmured.
“I was already taking birth control pills.”
“…”
“But now I’m thinking of stopping.”
Cedric smiled widely. He seemed truly happy. When I hesitated, he lifted me up at once and carried me to the bed.
When I came to, the night was dark and heavy. I felt weak, as if all my energy was gone. I lay down listlessly, when the door suddenly opened wide. I quickly closed my eyes. Whenever I thought our eyes met, he would kiss me and explore my body like he couldn’t control himself.
I heard calm footsteps, then the bed seemed to sink slightly. A firm body pressed against me. I wanted to escape but his arms held me tightly, so I couldn’t move easily.
I just waited for Cedric to fall asleep. I worried if Vincent was okay.
“He only ate a sandwich earlier.”
Then Cedric kissed my forehead and hugged me tighter. His breath touched my shoulder as he whispered softly.
“Revril.”
I shivered and opened my eyes. He spoke quietly.
“Why do you keep trying to get away from me?”
“…”
“I only have you.”
My stomach twisted. Was he really saying that sincerely? It felt like he only wanted to possess me.
I only breathed out. Cedric slowly turned his head away from me. I couldn’t bear to look at him. Suddenly, a warm hand touched my forehead, and he brushed my hair back.
“Stay by my side. Forever.”
Those were foolish words that scattered away. The more I stayed with Cedric, the more unhappy my life became, without me even realizing it. His life was probably similar. I had already made a big mistake throwing away the mining documents, and people around must have talked.
And because of someone like me, he was so worried.
I barely spoke.
“You’ll be the only one who becomes unhappy.”
Cedric held my cheek.
“My life was already unhappy.”
“…”
“Until I met you.”
Cedric spoke as if I was the only one he had. I thought of the Yurhen temple and the happy days there.
“Your curse is broken now.”
“I want you. What does a curse matter?”
“…”
“Even before the curse was broken, you never left my mind.”
I thought of the psychogenic amnesia. Because of that illness, he hadn’t come close to me easily. But I wanted him. I held back tears and closed my eyes. If things keep going wrong like this, maybe Cedric and I should never have met.
When I paid off my father’s and brother’s debts and stayed at the Yurhen temple, I was very happy. I didn’t have to worry about Cedric’s love or get tired thinking about the social circle.
Then Cedric swallowed my lips. I grabbed his shoulder for a moment but left it there. I hoped he would get tired of my body.
The next day, when I woke up, Cedric was dressed neatly and kissed my forehead. I looked at him with a slightly dazed face. He looked at me calmly.
“You won’t be able to leave the mansion for a while.”
Without thinking, I asked.
“What about Vincent?”
“He’s eating and playing right now.”
When I tried to get up, I lost strength. Cedric naturally held me and laid me back on the bed. I looked at him coldly, but Cedric kissed my cheek and covered me with a blanket.
“The servant will bring food here. Rest.”
Cedric tried to leave right away. I shouted at him.
“I said I want to see Vincent.”
Cedric slowly turned and looked at me. His gaze was so firm it felt cold.
“Revril, Vincent has to start his heir lessons soon. He has a lot to do.”
Hearing “heir lessons” made me choke inside.
“I told you, he’s not your child.”
I said barely, trying to hold it back, but Cedric gave a faint smile.
“He’s not my child, but he looks just like me?”
“…”
“And Vincent’s age matches roughly the time you left me.”
I couldn’t speak, so I stayed silent. Cedric asked.
“Are you sure he’s not mine?”
I had nothing else to say. Biting my lip, I looked at him, and Cedric said,
“Vincent will learn many things from the empire’s best tutor. Manners, music, history, and more. Things he couldn’t experience in the backward temple.”
“…”
“So don’t be stubborn. Vincent is my child too.”
His cold voice pierced my heart deeply. I was dazed, and he watched me for a moment before leaving the room.
The first thought in the empty room was one thing: I want to leave this mansion. It was the same thought I had when I decided to divorce Cedric after marrying him. I buried my face in my hands. Tears fell through my fingers.
I couldn’t see Vincent for three days. I wanted to see him, but Cedric wouldn’t let me leave the room. When I weakly ate food, Cedric pulled the cord as if he couldn’t bear it.
“Call Sahel.”
At those words, my eyes snapped open. When life returned to my eyes, he stared at me intensely. I ignored him and only looked at the door. Soon, I heard knocking and the door burst open.
“Mom!”
Vincent ran quickly to me. I hurriedly stood and hugged him. Vincent looked at me pitifully and asked,
“Mom, were you very sick?”
“Huh?”
“Dad said you were sick, so he couldn’t see you.”
I was angry that Cedric had carefully lied to Vincent. But I forced a smile and said,
“Mom is fine now.”
At that moment, Cedric sat down to meet Vincent’s eye level. When I looked at him with a hard gaze, he smiled at Vincent.
“Vincent, your dad told you, right? Mom often gets sick and needs to be alone.”
I was about to say something, but Vincent spoke first.
“Then Mom, get well soon.”
“Mom is fine now.”
I smiled, but Vincent shook his head.
“Mom, get well fast so I can show you how I can recite the emperor’s name.”
Hearing that, Sahel smiled brightly and said,
“Young master is very smart. He never forgets what he sees even once.”
Cedric stroked Vincent’s head. Vincent, already used to Cedric, didn’t avoid him and leaned on him. Cedric picked Vincent up and stood. He looked truly like a father.
He looked at me and said softly,
“I’ll be back.”
He smiled as if he was a loving husband. I silently watched, and Vincent waved his hand to me while holding Cedric. As soon as Cedric left the room, despair wrapped my whole body.
“I can’t lose Vincent too.”
