Chapter 4

“As long as your money and your love belong to me alone, that’s enough.”

A few careless words from Clara were enough to rip away Landon’s mask completely.

I suddenly remembered five years ago, when he took me home to meet his alcoholic father.

That man had sneered at me for being useless, for not helping his son repay his debts, and had thrown a bowl of scalding soup at me, ordering me to get out.

Landon had shielded me without hesitation, taking the full force of it.

His back had blistered horribly, yet with reddened eyes, he swore he would marry no one but me.

Back then, I thought he loved me enough to defy his own family.

Now it seemed even that “alcoholic father” had probably been nothing more than an actor he hired to test me.

The sheer absurdity of it all sent a chill through my entire body.

I stared straight at him, my voice sharp as a blade.

“Landon, that extra you hired five years ago—the one who threw the soup at you… did you ever pay him?”

Landon’s expression shifted instantly, a flicker of panic flashing through his eyes at being exposed.

He reached for me instinctively. “Stella, it’s not what you think… I just cared about you too much. I wanted to see if you were willing to go through hardship with me.”

“Test me?” I pulled away coldly.

“You traded your injuries for eight years of my life. I’d say that deal worked out very well for you.”

“Do you have to put it like that?!”

Embarrassment turned to anger, and his voice dropped, turning cold.

“I’ve already apologized for the past. What more do you want?”

“Clara just speaks her mind. Don’t take it out on her!”

The way he rushed to defend Clara drained the last trace of warmth from my eyes.

Seeing him shield her so fiercely, the smugness in Clara’s gaze deepened.

She reached out and flipped the bowl of scalding oatmeal over.

“Ah!”

Most of the oatmeal spilled over the top of my foot, scalding it instantly, skin reddening and peeling.

Only a few drops splashed onto Clara’s shoe, yet she threw herself into Landon’s arms, trembling.

Landon shoved me aside and cupped Clara’s ankle with concern, checking her over carefully.

Once he confirmed she was fine, he turned and glared at me viciously.

“Stella, have you lost your mind?! Clara’s health is fragile. How could you lay a hand on her?”

The blisters on my foot burned with a piercing pain, but I didn’t even glance down.

Swallowing the metallic taste in my throat, I asked my final question.

“Landon, I’m dying. If I begged you to stay and save me right now, would you?”

As expected, he didn’t hesitate for even a second. His voice was cold, edged with impatience.

“Enough! Can you stop being so unreasonable? The doctor said your tumor won’t kill you anytime soon!

“You’ve always been tough. You’ve even endured coughing up blood. What’s a little pain like this?”

He spoke with absolute certainty, convinced I would endure anything, and so he trampled over me without restraint.

He picked Clara up in his arms and walked out without looking back.

“Wait for me in your room. I’ll come back later and stay with you.”

[Detected male lead’s lie: “I’ll come back later and stay with you.”]

[Five or more lies identified. Distributing reward…]

[Congratulations, host. Brain cancer fully cured. Physical condition restored to peak state.]

The moment the notification faded, strength surged through my body, every trace of illness gone.

Watching Landon’s retreating figure about to disappear, I called out to him.

“Landon.”

He paused, irritation clear in his voice. “What now?”

“We’re done.”