Chapter 4

I had been running for a long time and was just about to call my grandmother when I realized I had left my bag at the bridal shop.

I deliberately waited at the bus stop for an hour before taking a cab back to the store, only to find Chester and Giselle still there.

He was picking out a wedding dress for her. He didn't lounge on the couch reading a newspaper like usual. Instead, he went through each dress carefully.

I had never seen Chester so focused and gentle, not even the first time we met when he had tended to my injury.

I let out a self-mocking laugh, wondering if that was what it truly felt like to love someone.

They spent another hour in the shop, and I watched from a nearby gazebo the entire time. Finally, they left together, carrying their selections. On the rain-soaked street, they kissed in the car.

I lowered my head and walked into the shop to grab my bag, just in time to hear the staff whispering.

"Oh, my God, I always thought Mr. Miller was all tough and intimidating, but he's shockingly gentle."

"Yeah, but he seemed a bit cold to his fiancee just now. At times, I almost thought Ms. Thorne was the one he really cared about."

"That makes sense. Ms. Thorne does come from a prominent family. I heard the fiancee today is just the daughter of one of the Thorne family's household staff."

"Are you serious? She's barely of any standing and still throws a fit, and Mr. Miller doesn't even bat an eye? He's way too patient."

I stood in the doorway, glaring at them. "Are you done yet?"

Their chatter died instantly. I snorted, grabbed my bag from the couch, and walked out. As I stepped outside, someone muttered under their breath, "She's so arrogant. No wonder her husband doesn't even care about her."

I swallowed the anger roaring in my chest and walked away. At that moment, I had never felt so utterly drained.

Why did my parents have to die so young, leaving me to be mistreated by everyone?

My clothes were soaked, and the cold wind cut through me painfully. I walked all the way home that night and only arrived home very late.

Along the way, Felix called me several times. Even though the caller ID still said Chester, I knew it had to be Felix.

Chester would never call that many times. He was always far colder than Felix. Just seeing the two of them now made my skin crawl.

Suddenly, a blinding white light cut through the darkness, and a familiar figure ran toward me. It was Felix. Only he would run toward me like that.

Seeing me soaked, he immediately took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

"Why are you soaking wet again? You just got out of the hospital. Do you even know how to take care of yourself?"

He looked a little angry, but I couldn't understand what right he had to be mad.

Since I didn't respond, he added gently, "What happened at the bridal shop today was my mistake, but the Thornes are a powerful family. I made the decision after weighing everything carefully."

They must have shared information ahead of time. His words sounded carefully prepared.

I let out a self-mocking laugh. To pull off this act, they really had put in a lot of effort. I had thought Felix might be sincere, but it turned out he was just better at pretending than Chester.

I got into the car with a cold expression. Felix froze for a moment, then followed quickly. I had to admit, his patience was far better than Chester's. He called me "darling" the whole way and nuzzled my neck affectionately.

I stared quietly out the window, completely unmoved.

Chester and Felix were worlds apart, yet I had never questioned it before. Maybe I had underestimated just how cruel people could be. Normal people couldn't behave like this.

I was lost in thought when the car suddenly screeched to a halt, and a loud commotion erupted outside.

"Mira! Watch out!" Felix shouted, pressing my head down.

The sounds of a chaotic fight reached my ears. I shivered, hugging my stomach tightly.

"Damn it! Could this be the rival family because of that business deal?" Felix muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, someone lurked from the side, yanked open the car door, and pulled me out.

Panic surged in Felix's eyes as he lunged toward me, only to be stopped in his tracks by a knife pressed sharply against my neck.

He froze, dropping the gun he always carried and raising both hands.

"Let her go! Do whatever you want to me…"

His eyes were bloodshot.

I froze, wondering if all of this was also part of the act.

"Felix…" I whispered his name softly.

The man guarding me grinned and gave a signal for the others to go after Felix.

In an instant, I bit down hard on the man's hand, and he let go with a sharp yelp of pain.

Felix's reflexes were lightning-fast as he grabbed his gun, but he was a moment too late. A knife plunged deep into my shoulder.

…

At the hospital, Felix stayed by my side all night. His right arm was bandaged, clearly injured as well, and he sat with his head down, lost in thought.

Footsteps echoed in the distance as Chester walked toward us.

"You're a real mess," he said with a soft chuckle.

Felix clenched his fists. "Why didn't you warn me in advance?"

"This was a show you staged yourself," Chester said. "If you had seen the script beforehand, how could you have played your part so perfectly? Look at the result. After this, she won't just forgive you—she will love you even more.

"At first, I was worried Miranda might actually want to break up. After today, I see I underestimated her. Her loyalty is relentless, and she would risk everything for me without hesitation.

"Felix, you got hurt protecting her. Are you really starting to care about her?"

"No way!" Felix said immediately, looking slightly annoyed. "How could I like a housekeeper's daughter? I saved her for you and Giselle! If she died, how would you even pull off your revenge plan?"

Chester raised his eyebrows in surprise but quickly smiled again. "Good. If you had fallen for her, it would have been a betrayal of Giselle, me, and the Millers."

Felix hummed in acknowledgment and said no more.

Just as Chester turned to leave, Felix called out to him, saying, "Chester, there's something I need to tell you…"

He frowned. "During that accident just now, Miranda seemed to call my name."

Chester froze in place and turned to look at him. "What did you say?"