Chapter 4

For a moment, I thought I’d gone to the wrong place.

The home I’d lived in for two years looked much the same at first glance.

Yet everywhere I looked, it felt unfamiliar.

The estate was silent.

It was only three in the afternoon, but Muffin should have just finished eating and be tearing around the house.

Normally, the moment I came home, Muffin would run out to greet me.

Julian stood in the entryway and took off his coat.

Then, with practiced ease, he put on an apron.

He looked every inch the devoted husband.

“What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you. The auction won’t start for a while, and I’m worried your blood sugar might drop.”

I ignored him and hurried past toward the pet room.

But after only a few steps, my vision went black.

I collapsed to the floor, unable to stop myself.

My legs had no strength in them.

As the room spun around me, I saw Julian running toward me in a panic.

He carried me to the sofa.

Then he turned, grabbed a few candies from the coffee table, and put them in my mouth.

They were sour, with the orange flavor I hated most.

It was the scent that clung to Lily.

Once I’d regained a little strength, I pulled away from Julian and continued toward the pet room.

But he called me back.

He turned his face away, looking uncomfortable, and guilt crept into his voice.

“That cat never warmed up to me. It nearly scratched me yesterday, so I gave it away. Don’t worry. I only rehomed it. I found it a really good family.”

I turned around weakly, no longer caring about keeping up appearances.

I could think of nothing but my cat.

I’d had Muffin for five years. I’d known Julian for five years too.

Muffin was affectionate and well-behaved.

How could it possibly have scratched Julian?

The comments scrolled by, and my heart sank.

[The supporting female character’s cat is just as spiteful as she is. The female lead only wanted to pet it, and it freaked out and tried to scratch her.]

[At least the cat knew who its real owner was. When the male lead got rid of it, it didn’t even resist. Imagine how heartbroken he’d be if the female lead got hurt.]

I didn’t know how I made my way to the pet room.

Every step felt like slow torture.

The dizziness hadn’t passed. It was getting worse.

Even after I’d taken my heart medication, my chest still ached dully.

I picked up the little protective charm I’d bought for Muffin.

I rubbed it gently in my palm.

Tears streamed down my face.

Julian probably hadn’t expected me to be this upset. Confused, he stepped forward to steady me.

He patted my back, trying to soothe me.

“It’s just a cat. Do I really matter less to you than it does?”

My vision blurred. But when I turned to look at Julian, everything suddenly came into focus.

While he was completely off guard, I clamped a hand around his throat.

My voice came out sharp.

My nails nearly pierced his skin.

“Julian, how could you be this heartless? Muffin lived with us for years, and you just threw it away. What gave you the right?”

I pointed at the red smears and cat fur by the pet room door.

“Someone must have hurt Muffin. Otherwise, why would it scratch anyone? You knew perfectly well…”

I spat out the orange candy.

My heart hurt so badly I could barely breathe.

I struggled toward the TV cabinet, hoping to find some medicine.

But as soon as I opened it, I saw that the whole cabinet was crammed with snacks.

There were enough varieties to stock a corner store.

The lifesaving medicine I’d kept there was gone.

Julian saw my face turn purplish and stopped arguing with me.

He searched frantically for the medicine.

At last, he found it in the storage room, carelessly tossed into a box for scrap paper.

His hands trembled as he hurriedly placed the pills in my mouth, one by one.

But my eyes were vacant, and a mocking smile spread across my face.

Julian froze. He followed my gaze, but there was nothing there.