Chapter 4

They said they were worried I would offend Xenia.

A week later, the Zane residence suddenly became lively. William came to find me himself.

“Tonight is Xenia’s birthday banquet. There will be a lot of guests. Don’t wander around.

“If you need to leave the basement, remember to wear this mask.”

He handed me a mask. I was silent for a long while before I finally took it.

I no longer had the strength to argue with William. It was better to avoid making things more complicated.

When night fell, cheerful music filled the air outside. Meanwhile, I was so hungry in the basement that I felt dizzy.

Everyone in the Zane residence was busy preparing for Xenia’s birthday banquet. How could they remember that there was someone in the basement who had not eaten?

I could not hold on any longer. I put on the mask and went to the kitchen to find something to eat.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I looked up and saw Xenia on the staircase.

She was dressed beautifully. Her face was a little pale, but she still wore a bright smile.

William and Samuel stood on either side of her. Their eyes were fixed only on her.

I immediately lowered my head and continued walking, but I accidentally bumped into a servant.

“Watch where you’re going!”

The cup in her hand fell to the floor, and she pushed me into the broken glass.

The shards cut my palm.

The noise caught everyone’s attention. Whispers reached my ears from all directions.

But I did not care. I stubbornly looked at William as he walked toward me.

His brows furrowed. He grabbed my arm and dragged me back toward the basement.

“Stop embarrassing yourself.”

The blood from my palm had already soaked into my sleeve, but William did not notice at all.

“William, who is she?”

It was only after Xenia spoke that William finally stopped. He immediately stepped away from me, as if he was afraid of being misunderstood.

“She’s just a servant. I’ll have her leave right away. Xenia, don’t worry about her.”

The gentle voice he had used just moments ago was gone. When he spoke to me, all I heard was impatience.

“What are you waiting for? Get out!”

I clenched my hands. My nails dug into my wounds, but the pain was nothing compared to the bitterness in my heart.

I realized this was the real William. This was who he had always been.

“Okay.”

I answered softly and turned around, but Xenia stopped me.

“Don’t leave yet. You ruined my birthday party. Shouldn’t you show some remorse?”

She looked down at me. The cruelty in her eyes was impossible to hide.

I quickly said, “I’m very sorry.”

She still refused to let it go.

“An apology? That’s too easy. How about this? I won’t make things difficult for you if you dance for everyone and liven things up.”

Xenia stepped back a few steps. The people around her also moved aside and cleared a space.

Everyone silently urged me to do it. Their faces were filled with amusement as they waited to see what would happen.

I stood there without moving. My silence was my refusal. Then, William suddenly pushed me into the center of the room.

“Can’t you understand what she’s saying? Finish the dance and go back downstairs. This is your punishment for wandering around.”

The wound from childbirth throbbed all at once, and tears blurred my vision.

“Aren’t you the best at dancing? Just dance a little. Be good.”

I stared straight at William. I could not understand how a person could change so suddenly.

A little tenderness hidden inside a fake love was enough to make me fall for him.

I danced the way William had loved the most, but his eyes never left Xenia.

My wound tore open again. Blood flowed down my leg.

Every step felt like I was dancing on the edge of a blade.

Xenia held her wine glass and watched with interest. When I passed by her, she purposely stuck out her foot and tripped me.

“Oh, you’re so careless!”