Chapter 2

The moment I said that, the floating comments before my eyes went wild.

[Damn it! She's obviously a scheming wretch. She's trying to seduce the male lead while the female lead is away. She's so eager to be the mistress, and she even called him Sir? Just go to hell already.]

[Did you forget? There's no way the male lead would fall for such low-level tricks. He only cares about his precious niece. The male lead and the female lead's fathers were best friends. They're not blood-related. Those two are destined to marry each other!]

[Hey, don't forget that the male lead also loves cats. Haha! He's an ailurophile.]

I ignored the comments and simply widened my eyes.

Since my transformation wasn't complete, my pupils were a clear amber. Now, slightly dilated with fear, the corners tinged red, and they made me look pitiful and innocent.

The car was terrifyingly silent.

Ian lowered his gaze and looked at me without a word. His expression was still cold.

Just when I thought I was about to be thrown out of the car, he lifted his hand. His fingers absently brushed the sleeve I had grabbed.

The movement was gentle, but my heart skipped.

Was there hope?

"What did you just call me?"

His voice was rough and carried the slightest hint of hoarseness.

Recalling what the comments said about his love for cats, I steeled myself. I was ready to gather my courage and say it again.

But then, his gaze suddenly turned harsh. He yanked his sleeve from my grip.

The force was so strong that I couldn't react in time and fell backward.

Luckily, I was quick enough to grab onto the half-open car door, sparing my head from a painful collision with the pavement.

Inside the car, Ian had already returned to his usual indifference.

His gaze passed straight over me and fixed on the street corner.

A girl stood there. She was wrapped tightly in an expensive raincoat.

She stared at me with her lips bitten nearly raw. There was a white cat in her arms.

She looked as if she had suffered the greatest injustice.

When Ian looked at her, her eyes welled with tears instantly. As though making up her mind, she suddenly hurled the cat to the ground and turned to run.

Without a second of hesitation, Ian shut the car door.

"Drive."

The Porsche roared to life and sped after her.

I was left standing there, choking on exhaust, and feeling utterly humiliated.

Supporting my aching back, I stood up slowly. I felt both annoyed and faintly amused.

What a mess.

With a sigh, I walked over and picked up the trembling white cat.

Two of its legs were injured from the fall. Its mouth was cut, and thin streaks of blood were seeping out. That explained why it couldn't run even if it was terrified.

I could barely take care of myself. How could I possibly afford treatment for it?

While I held the cat tightly, my heart clenched painfully.

I returned to my shabby, leaking room.

I dug out my last small packet of dried fish snacks, crushed them carefully, mixed them with water, and fed the cat bit by bit.

All night, I didn't dare close my eyes. I sat there wide awake and guarded the tiny, fragile creature that could be on its last dying breath.

When I rubbed my eyes, my peripheral vision caught sight of a tall, distant figure under the moonlight.

He had arrived at some point without me realizing it. Now dressed in black, he looked even more composed and aloof. He was leaning casually against the opposite wall with his eyes half-opened. I had no idea how long he had been watching me.

There was a sudden crack of thunder.

Startled, I scooped up the cat and hurried toward him. "M-Mr. Hendrick."

Ian frowned. "Weren't you afraid of thunder? Why didn't you go to the Hendrick family's villa?"