As Zanier walked down the grand, dimly lit hallway, his footsteps echoed against the marble floor, sharp and purposeful.
His cold gaze remained fixed ahead, his features unreadable, but the tension in his posture betrayed the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.
Just as he was about to turn a corner, he crossed paths with Cassia, Brag's wife.
Cassia stood frozen for a moment, her heart thudding painfully in her chest as their eyes met. His expression was as cold as ever—detached, distant, as though she didn't exist.
The warmth they once shared felt like a distant memory, yet her voice, soft and desperate, broke the silence.
"I did that to save you," she whispered, her words trembling as if she feared they might shatter in the air.
Zanier didn't stop. He walked past her without so much as a flicker of emotion, the distance between them growing both physically and emotionally.
His cold shoulder felt like a dagger to her heart, and she bit her lip, the taste of regret heavy on her tongue.
"At least hear me out, Zanier!" Cassia called out, her voice cracking with frustration, but her plea fell on deaf ears.
She turned, watching his tall figure disappear into the shadowed end of the corridor, her heart sinking further with each step he took.
Her mind spun with memories—intimate moments, whispered confessions, and the warmth of their stolen kisses.
How had things come to this? The man who had once held her so close now acted as if she were nothing but a ghost from a forgotten past.
"I'm only here to keep an eye on you, Zanier," she thought bitterly, her eyes narrowing as an obsession she had tried to suppress began to resurface.
Her once-innocent facade cracked, revealing the raw jealousy and rage lurking beneath the surface.
The very sight of him walking away from her ignited a fire within her that she could no longer extinguish.
"I won't let you marry Elise. Not on my watch," Cassia swore silently, her gaze hardening as she clenched her fists at her sides.
The elegant chandeliers above cast fractured light on her face, highlighting the intensity in her eyes.
Her jealousy was no longer something she could hide. It burned fiercely, transforming her once-soft features into a mask of determination.
"I shall make you mine as long as I live, Zanier," she vowed, her voice barely above a whisper, the promise heavy with desperation.
She couldn't—no, she wouldn't—let him go, regardless of their broken relationship. The hope of rekindling the love he once held for her surged through her veins like poison, intoxicating her.
She remembered when his heart wasn't this cold, when he was hers—before the tragedy that tore them apart.
The yearning to melt that ice, to reclaim what she believed was hers, consumed her. As she stood alone in the corridor, Cassia's thoughts spiraled, her obsession growing with every beat of her heart.
Zanier had walked away, but in her mind, she would always follow, waiting for the day he would turn back toward her once more.
As Cassia walked back through the corridor, the soft click of her heels was the only sound in the silent estate until she crossed paths with Penny.
The air between them immediately thickened, a tension almost palpable. Penny's sharp gaze lingered on Cassia for a moment as they passed each other, neither woman saying a word, though the weight of their silent conflict hung heavy in the air.
"If it weren't for what's between me and him... you're welcome to have him," Penny thought coldly, her lips pressing into a thin line as she sensed the jealousy radiating off Cassia.
She didn't have time for this; her focus was on another matter entirely. Without looking back, Penny made her way towards Bae's cottage, her footsteps brisk and determined, her mind set on settling scores.
"And as for her," Penny thought, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"I'll have Brag increase her punishment." The thought of Bae only added fuel to her fire.
Once outside, the cold night air bit at her skin, but Penny didn't flinch. She stood in front of Bae's modest cottage, the moonlight casting long shadows over the grounds.
With a swift, impatient motion, Penny banged on the door, her knuckles rapping harshly against the wood. Silence. No answer.
"So, she's not here, is she?" Penny muttered softly, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.
Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the darkened surroundings, the shadows playing tricks in the corners of her vision.
But her frustration quickly twisted into something else—a faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"Well then," she said, her voice low and dangerous, the smirk curling into something more sinister.
"Every one of those maids in charge of her is officially fired. And I'm sure Mother won't mind." Penny spoke the words with a certain venom, already planning her next move as she turned on her heel and headed back towards the estate.
She was done playing games with Bae. This time, she was dead set on dealing with her once and for all.
Meanwhile, inside the cottage, Bae lay fast asleep, unaware of the world outside. Her breathing was deep and peaceful, her body completely still as the weight of exhaustion held her in place.
In her dreams, everything was warm and sweet—images of delicious food danced before her, tantalizing smells and tastes filling her senses.
She smiled in her sleep, content, as the worries of her waking world slipped away, leaving her with nothing but the blissful comfort of her dream.
The next day, sunlight streamed through the windows of Bae's cottage, illuminating the small, cluttered space.
The aroma of burnt food wafted from the table where a maid, Cia, had carelessly tossed a plate of blackened remnants.
Bae stared at it, her stomach turning, memories of the exquisite wedding feast from the night before flooding her mind.
"This isn't edible," Bae muttered, covering her mouth in disgust.
Her gaze flicked to Cia, who met her with a glare that could freeze fire.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Bae's voice rose, frustration bubbling over as she hurled the plate across the room, shards scattering on the floor.
"I said this isn't tasty!" she shouted, anger sparking in her hazel eyes.
Cia opened her mouth to retort, but before she could unleash her fury, Lily stepped in, her tone calm but firm. "I suggest you keep your hands to yourself, Cia."
"Get out!" Bae commanded, her demeanor shifting to a dangerous seriousness that made the air thick with tension.
Cia flinched, a shiver running down her spine at the change in Bae's voice.
Anger twisted Cia's expression into a sinister grin, the air crackling between them as they locked eyes.
Just then, a loud smack echoed through the cottage, startling birds from the nearby trees.
Bae had struck Cia, her palm connecting sharply against Cia's cheek, leaving her stunned.
"I told you to get out!" Bae's voice dripped with fury, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
"Lily, push her out! Right now!" Bae ordered, her words laced with an intensity that brooked no argument.
"Yes, my lady," Lily replied, her eyes wide with shock as she moved to grab Cia, who was still reeling from the slap.
As Cia stumbled back, Lily's grip tightened. But Bae's anger lingered in the air like a storm waiting to break.
Once Cia was unceremoniously shoved out, Lily turned back, only to find Bae had vanished.
"This can't be real," Lily thought, glancing around in confusion.
The window stood open, flapping gently in the breeze, the telltale sign of Bae's escape.