The sheet on the other side of the bed was cold, as if no one had slept.I didn't know if Bradyn slept next to me last night.Maybe after he's done what husbands were supposed to do, he's in a separate room with me?I moved my limp legs and took the letter of agreement on the nightstand.He had already taken one of them, signed the other, and left it for me, using his own stamp.The lion with the sword, his family seal.He signed it. Our contract was sealed.So, two years from now, I would leave Bradyn and started a new life of freedom for myself.There was an indescribable feeling in my heart. Was I happy to look forward to it?No, I don't think so. I turned on my phone and checked my messages.[Fiona, where are you? Are you okay? Can I see you?]It was Rachel, my best friend and the maid of honor at my wedding.I quickly called her and heard her excited voice."Fiona, are you okay? I mean, what's been going on with you these last few days, with all the over-the-top news and stuff o
"My Fiona, I can't express how relieved I am to see you. You have no idea how worried I was when I couldn't reach you. I was about to call the police."Rachel embraced my arm, her eyes seeming a bit moist. "I had a plan, you know. If the police didn't help, I was ready to take a knife and confront Damon. I swear, I was prepared for the worst."I patted her hand, moved by the profound friendship she had shown me over the years. And I felt guilty for not heeding her advice, the only person who had warned me not to give my heart completely to Damon."Thank goodness you didn't do that."I said, "Taking such extreme and illegal actions because of a heartbreaker like Damon would not have been wise at all. Damon is now a complete stranger to me. Once I sort out the company's matters, I'll have no connection to him whatsoever.""So you haven't returned to the company yet?"Rachel asked.I nodded, "Of course not. I'm still on my leave of absence. As for my husband, it doesn't affect my right t
My slap had thoroughly enraged Damon. Ignoring the public setting, he attempted to use sheer force to coerce me into submission."Fiona, you must come with me today!""You filthy cur, have you gone mad?"Rachel rushed over, joining me in struggling against him.In the process, the three of us accidentally knocked over the coffee cups on the table, drawing the attention of the waiter."Sir! What are you doing? Ladies, do you need assistance?""Get lost!"Damon's eyes were bloodshot, "I'm here to find my girlfriend. Mind your own business!""I don't know him, please call the police."Standing together with Rachel, I tidied my disheveled hair and firmly told the waiter."Okay! Okay!"Seeing my resolute expression, Damon had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender."Fiona, make sure you understand this, I won't just let it go like this!"Leaving a barefaced threat, Damon stormed off in a huff."Fiona, are you okay?"Rachel asked with concern, "I can't believe it, that guy could be s
Fiona's POV:As I drove back home, the sun hadn't yet set.The sprawling estate was bathed in the evening sun's hues, and the lush greenery was adorned with the colors of dusk. My mood, marred by Damon's actions, began to lift once more.Maria asked if I wanted some tea, and I shook my head, declining."I'll head upstairs to rest for a bit and have dinner with Brenda when he returns."I changed and took a shower, then turned off my phone.I didn't want to see any more of Damon's shameless and insulting messages. He had become a joke in my eyes.Slipping into a soft robe, I reclined on the aristocratic chair at the foot of my bed and dozed off for a while.In the rare tranquility of this evening's sunset glow, I was on the verge of falling asleep.At that moment, I heard some commotion downstairs, as if something was being moved.Opening my eyes, I descended the stairs.Brenda was back, standing by the entrance of the living room, directing a few workers in moving a piano."You're back
I slept soundly throughout the night.When I woke up, feeling refreshed, I pushed open the window and gazed upon the thriving flora outside. My mood brightened along with the scene before me.I realized I was beginning to yearn for this kind of life—waking up without pressure, not worrying about becoming better to avoid disappointing looks and mocking words from my family. I didn't need to concern myself with trying harder to become the wife Damon would be proud of.But, ironically, it was in this calm that I recognized a severe reality—Avoidance wouldn't solve problems. I couldn't hide here forever, not going out, not working, not socializing.I couldn't avoid seeing my parents and the other members of the Green family forever.So, it was better to speak to them face-to-face and clear things up.I wanted to tell them I wouldn't be with Damon anymore, regardless of whether he preferred Catherine or Lysarine.I woul
"Are you playing some kind of hellish joke?!"I was furious and flipped the tea table."That old bastard who reeks of infamy is already in his sixties. His son is older than me! And you want me to marry him?""Otherwise? Do you want to marry his son instead?"Marion mocked me, her eyes sneering. "My Fiona, you're quite the confident young lady. Based on your experience of stealing Catherine's love and marrying that lowly commoner, do you think you're qualified to marry the young and promising von Geller?""Your mother is right. Despite Old Geller's age, his family holds a hereditary noble title and significant wealth. His wife passed away a few years ago, so he's in need of a young bride. You should know, marrying Old Geller would make you a legitimate Baroness."I retorted angrily, "Don't you know that Old Geller's original wife was tortured to death by him?"They exchanged glances, seemingly surprised that I had already heard about
I looked at the hypocritical man before me.Thinking back to that day when we met at the café, he had earnestly professed his love for me? He had said he wanted me to come back to him, to protect and cherish me forever.But now?The moment he saw Catherine's pitiful appearance, his soul seemed to have been ensnared by the devil.I felt like my eyes couldn't bear to witness this filthy scene any longer. I couldn't fathom whether my years of devotion to him had been corroded by the venom of a toad!I didn't want to engage with them any longer; I turned to leave."Stop right there!"Damon grabbed my wrist. "Where are you going? You have to apologize to Catherine, right now!""I'm sorry, Catherine. When I slapped you just now, I should have checked if your knight in shining armor was conveniently behind you. My apologies for reducing him to a spineless, rabid dog."My sharp retort left Damon stunned, taking him severa
Catherine's POV:I never expected that today would turn out to be the darkest and unluckiest day in my years with the Greene family."This is insane! That guy named Brenda... whatever? Branka or Brandi, that arrogant brat! Who does he think he is?"My adoptive father, Bennett, paced around the living room with his hands behind his back, infuriated, like an irritated sled dog with a full bladder.I truly couldn't understand what was the point of him pacing like that. It was just annoying to watch."He's probably just an arrogant hoodlum," my adoptive mother, Marian, fumed. "Daring to act like he's above the Greene family? I think he's just toying with us; he's after Fiona's money!""Mom," I quickly walked up to her, concerned, and said, "Doesn't that mean my sister is being deceived? What are we going to do? God, she's not still in the dark about this, right?"Marian came up to me and cradled my face in her hands.She always did