Yifa 's heart quivered with aching pain. Why was her own mate gazing at another woman with such tenderness? He had never looked at Yifa that way; his demeanor toward her was always cold and harsh. Shouldn't he be looking at her with affection and warmth? Why did she seem different in his eyes?Yifa couldn't help but notice the softening of Amaya 's sharp eyes under Killian 's gaze. It hurt even more when Amaya gave in, saying, "Alright, Gray. I'll leave, but we'll meet later, won't we?"Killian let out a silent sigh before reluctantly nodding. To be honest, he didn't really want to spend time with Amaya at that moment. All he wanted was to rest after an incredibly busy day, skipping dinner and simply lying down. However, he knew that resting was never an option if Amaya was staying in the palace."Don't look so glum, son. Soon, she'll be with you all the time," King Benedict reassured Killian , observing his pouting and annoyance as Amaya left the room.Yifa couldn't ignore the glare
Killian approached his office, gently massaging his forehead in an attempt to soothe the growing headache caused by the mounting problems that seemed to be endlessly piling up. As he walked, he couldn't help but clench his hands, their warmth still reminiscent of the closeness he had shared with Yifa . Deep down, he found solace in her presence, but he refused to acknowledge this truth.Unwilling to admit that he longed for Yifa to be near, to stay close for as long as possible, Killian sighed and shook his head. He attributed these feelings to mere fatigue and dismissed them as irrational musings over insignificant matters.Finally reaching his office, Killian opened the door and involuntarily let out a deep exhale of relief. Inside, he was greeted by Amaya , seated on the couch, casually sipping on a glass of wine, and smiling warmly at him."Gray, finally, you're here!" Amaya 's excitement burst forth as she caught sight of him entering the room. She had been anxiously awaiting his
"Darling?" Yifa 's voice trembled with unmistakable hurt as she repeated the word.The news she had just heard was simply too unbelievable to comprehend. Her own mate, the one who was meant to be by her side, was planning to mate with someone else – a person who wasn't his true mate.The pain of his previous betrayal, when he mated with another woman named Ginni , still lingered fresh in her heart. And now, he was about to inflict yet another wound upon her by seeking a connection with someone else, even though Yifa was right there, standing before him.It was as if her presence didn't matter at all, and he seemed indifferent to her feelings, both in the past and the present, leaving her to believe that he never truly cared, and perhaps never would.As Yifa whispered to herself, a mix of confusion and heartache filled her words. She grappled with the question of how and why he could do this to her again. Despite knowing that her friend Amaya was a trustworthy source of information, sh
"Yifa ?" Killian inquired once more, concerned by her silence in response to his inquiry about her well-being. Yifa simply gazed at Killian , her eyes locked onto his, as if she were examining every detail of his expression. Despite his efforts to conceal his worry, Killian knew he couldn't hide it completely.Shaking her head, Yifa responded, "It's nothing, Your Highness. Lady Amaya and I were just engaged in a conversation."How could she possibly reveal to her own mate that Lady Amaya had discussed the idea of mating with him? Yifa longed for answers, desperately wanting to understand. She contemplated various scenarios and reasons behind Killian 's potential choice to mate with her, but her thoughts failed to provide a definitive answer. Did he truly love her?And what about Ginni ? Yifa couldn't forget the moment when Killian professed his love for Ginni , emphasizing that nobody could ever replace her.Had Amaya managed to replace Ginni as Killian 's partner? Was there love betw
Yifa pressed her back against the door, seeking solace in its support as she heard it shut behind her. Overwhelmed by a mix of anguish and pain, she instinctively covered her mouth with both hands, desperate to stifle her sobs. The mere thought of her own mate's touch on another woman pierced her heart deeply, and the fact that he took the other woman's side only added to her suffering. Why did she deserve such treatment? Did destiny hold some cruel vendetta against her?Despite her efforts to compose herself, uncontrollable sobs escaped her lips, betraying her emotional turmoil. She feared being seen in this vulnerable and defeated state, yearning for privacy and understanding. Suddenly, a voice pierced through her anguish, calling her name. Startled, Yifa hastily wiped away her tears, averted her gaze, and turned away from the source of the voice.Summoning strength from within, Yifa lifted her gaze, willing herself to halt the flow of tears. She cleared her throat and took a deep b
"Why is everyone gathered outside my office?" Yifa instinctively snuggled closer to Jacob 's chest, her heart sinking at the accusatory tone in Killian 's voice the moment she heard the office door open. Fear gripped her, but even more than that, she dreaded facing Killian . She knew that confronting him would unleash all the hurt and pain she had been desperately trying to bury, and this time, she feared she wouldn't be able to recover from that dark place."Well? Is anyone going to explain or offer any explanation?" Killian 's cold question sent shivers down Yifa 's spine."It's nothing, Gray. Really, it's nothing. Why don't you two just go back to what you were doing?" Derek Derek interjected, attempting to alleviate the palpable awkwardness and tension permeating the hallway.Although the hallway wasn't narrow or short, Derek Derek could sense the mounting tension from every corner, giving him an impending headache.Yifa couldn't suppress the whimper that escaped her lips in respo
"Where are we headed?" Yifa asked, her voice still raspy from the tears she had shed just a few minutes ago. The memory of breaking down in front of Derek and Jacob made her cheeks redden, imagining how confused they must be. But right now, her immediate concern was Killian , who had a firm grip on her arm and was leading her somewhere without explaining anything.They had been walking for about five minutes, and no matter how many times Yifa inquired about their destination, Killian remained silent. His refusal to respond frustrated her."Will you please tell me where we're going?" Yifa started to ask again, but before the words could escape her mouth, Killian snapped at her, commanding her to shut up. Startled, Yifa immediately closed her mouth, stifling any further questions.Despite the anxiety of not knowing their destination, Yifa couldn't ignore the warmth of Killian 's hands on her arm. This physical connection brought her a sense of safety and comfort that she desperately nee
"Hey, how are you holding up? Feeling any better now?" Killian inquired gently, taking a seat on the sofa next to Yifa .Yifa looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Better? What do you mean?" she asked, not sure where he was coming from.Killian shifted his gaze to her face, noticing lingering traces of tears. "I couldn't help but notice you were crying earlier," he said, concern evident in his eyes.Taken aback by his perceptiveness, Yifa 's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Killian to notice, let alone inquire about her emotional state. Did he genuinely care?"Well, yeah, I was... but it's nothing," Yifa responded, attempting to downplay her feelings. Revealing the true reason behind her breakdown was out of the question.She concealed the true reason behind her tears from him, not wanting to reveal her jealousy towards Amaya and the pain she felt knowing Killian was involved with another woman. She understood that Killian avoided discussions about such matters, as it made him un