Chapter 4: Reunion

Karina hadn’t eaten properly for two weeks.

Every meal brought into her room was returned untouched soon after. Not that any of it was edible to begin with.

Ever since word spread throughout the manor that Karina had schemed her way into Devon Russell’s bed, the servants stopped bothering to hide their disdain.

Even a stray dog wouldn’t eat the food they served her.

Her room remained in complete disarray, yet no one came to clean it anymore.

“Mr. Russell still hasn’t seen the madam today,” one maid whispered outside the door.

“Madam?” another scoffed. “You mean that whore?”

“Shh. What if she hears you?”

“She can’t do anything anyway.”

The two women burst into laughter as their footsteps gradually faded down the hallway.

Karina tightened her grip around the bedsheets, her hollow eyes staring blankly ahead.

The constant crying had left them swollen and sunken.

Slowly, she turned toward the window.

“He should be leaving now…” she murmured quietly.

For the past two weeks, this had become her routine.

Every morning, she would force herself out of bed just to crack the window open and watch Devon leave the manor.

That was the only time she ever moved from the bed.

Ever since discovering the truth, Devon had refused to see her or listen to anything she had to say.

The only exception was when the doctor came to examine her.

And even then, Devon would merely stand silently by the door, his cold glare alone enough to steal every word from her throat.

Karina watched the black car disappear beyond the gates before quietly shutting the window again.

Then she slowly climbed back into bed.

Her fingers drifted toward her stomach.

“If I was pregnant… would he…”

She stopped herself immediately and shook her head frantically.

No.

Devon would have killed them both without hesitation.

Karina pulled the blanket over herself completely, allowing the darkness to swallow her once again.

Devon Russell

“Have you decided what to do with her?” Leon asked as he entered the car.

Devon didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze lifted toward the manor window.

Right on time.

Karina was standing there again.

For two weeks straight, she had watched him leave every single morning.

“The board already announced the marriage publicly,” Leon continued carefully.

Still no response.

Leon hesitated before lowering his voice slightly.

“Why don’t you just keep the marriage?”

Devon turned toward him sharply, his glare cold enough to make Leon regret speaking instantly.

“Do you want me to lock you up too?”

“No. Absolutely not.” Leon let out an awkward laugh before quickly raising both hands in surrender. “I’m just saying we’re in a difficult situation right now.”

Devon looked away coldly.

“If news gets out that you divorced your wife immediately after sleeping with—”

He cut himself off the moment Devon’s expression darkened dangerously.

“I-I mean after getting married,” Leon corrected quickly. “Your competitors will definitely use it against you. And the board won’t stay quiet either.”

He paused briefly before continuing more cautiously.

“You also can’t fully inherit your remaining shares unless you stay legally married for a while. Wasn’t that part of the reason you agreed to marry Ja—”

Leon stopped himself immediately.

Too late.

The atmosphere inside the car turned suffocating.

“If you want her so badly,” Devon said coldly, “then marry her yourself.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Leon laughed nervously as he shifted farther away from him.

At this rate, he really might stab me.

Devon’s jaw tightened.

“I won’t let this marriage continue,” he said harshly. “Even if it kills me.”

Leon swallowed slowly.

Seems like now definitely isn’t the right time to mention the investigation.

Over the past two weeks, he had already begun noticing too many inconsistencies.

But without concrete proof, saying anything now would only make things worse.

I’ll tell him once I uncover everything.

Devon suddenly caught him staring.

“What?” he snapped.

“Nothing.”

Leon immediately looked away before hurriedly pulling out his tablet and pretending to focus on work instead.

Karina Garcia

Karina woke to the sound of voices arguing downstairs.

Slowly, she forced herself out of bed and carefully opened the door. She peeked into the hallway first, making sure no one was around before quietly making her way downstairs.

The moment she reached the staircase, she froze in shock.

It was Betty and James.

And they were arguing with… Patricia.

Karina recognized her immediately as the woman who had led her to Devon’s room on the first night she arrived at the manor.

Patricia was the head maid of the Russell household, and according to the servants, she had practically raised Devon since childhood.

Karina instinctively took a step forward before stopping herself.

“I should clean up first,” she whispered under her breath.

They would only worry if they saw her like this.

Karina hurried upstairs, quickly took a bath, then rushed back downstairs as fast as she could.

By the time she returned, James was already holding Betty back, trying to stop her from lashing out again.

But the second Betty spotted Karina standing halfway down the stairs, she shoved James aside and ran toward her.

“Miss!” Betty cried as she threw her arms around her tightly.

Karina froze for a moment before slowly patting her back gently.

“What are you two doing here?” she asked softly.

But Betty was too busy sobbing to answer properly.

Patricia sighed before dismissing the surrounding guards and servants, leaving only the four of them in the room.

James stood silently nearby, his eyes glistening as he looked at Karina.

She gave him a small reassuring smile.

“Do you know these people, Karina?” Patricia asked sternly.

Karina wasn’t surprised by the woman’s tone.

Someone close to Devon would never respect her.

“Y-Yes. They took care of me back home—”

“If they wish to work here,” Patricia interrupted coldly, “they should meet with Mr. Russell properly instead of causing a scene at the entrance.”

“S-Sorry…”

Patricia scoffed before casting Karina a look filled with disdain.

Karina simply lowered her head and gently tapped Betty’s arm, signaling her to let go.

But the moment Betty pulled away and saw her face clearly, she burst into tears all over again.

“You’ve gotten thinner,” Betty cried hysterically. “Look at your face…”

“Betty, listen to me.” Karina frowned softly. “You both need to leave before he comes back. I’m fine.”

“But you don’t look fine,” Betty shot back immediately.

Karina looked toward James helplessly.

James gave a small nod before walking over and pulling Betty gently toward him.

“Let’s go for now,” he said calmly. “You’ve seen her already. We’ll come back and apply properly next time.”

“But—”

“No buts. Let’s go.”

Betty grumbled quietly while Karina wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Karina squeezed her hands gently and forced a small reassuring smile before Betty reluctantly turned to leave.

“What’s going on here?”

The deep voice boomed through the entrance hall instantly.

Karina’s body stiffened.

She slowly looked up and saw Devon standing by the doorway, a dark scowl already forming across his face.

Her heart dropped immediately.

A while earlier…

“You idiot!”

Mr. Russell slammed the documents against the table angrily before clutching his chest as he sat back down heavily.

Leon stood silently by the side, not daring to interrupt.

“You came here yesterday announcing your marriage,” his father barked, “and now you suddenly want a divorce? Is everything a joke to you?!”

“You didn’t bother attending the wedding,” Devon replied coldly as he settled into his chair. “So this shouldn’t concern you.”

“Y-You—”

“Calm down, dear,” Mrs. Leila said as she rubbed her husband’s arm gently. “You know how he is.”

Devon glanced toward his mother.

Something about her expression felt calculating.

The moment she noticed him watching, she smiled calmly instead.

“Do you realize the effects this is already having on the company?” she asked. “Rumors are spreading everywhere. Instead of silencing them, you want to create an even bigger scandal.”

“The same company you stopped caring about years ago?” Devon scoffed. “I’m the one who built that branch into what it is today, so whatever happens to it shouldn’t concern either of you.”

“Don’t forget it’s still under my corporation,” his father snapped furiously. “I can take it back whenever I want.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“You both need to stop,” Mrs. Leila interrupted sharply before the argument escalated further.

Then she turned toward Devon.

“I don’t know what suddenly changed your mind,” she said carefully, “but why not keep the marriage for now?”

Devon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“It would stabilize the rumors,” she continued calmly. “And in return, your father can finally hand over the family seal.”

“What?” Mr. Russell turned toward her in surprise.

Mrs. Leila leaned closer and whispered something into his ear before he slowly nodded in agreement.

“She’s right,” he said finally. “Remain legally married for one year, and the seal is yours. But if you divorce her before then, our agreement is void.”

He paused before scoffing lightly.

“Who knows? You might even decide to keep the marriage after the year is over.”

Devon leaned back in his chair silently, his arms crossed as he studied the two of them carefully.

He still didn’t trust whatever game they were playing.

But the deal itself…

Wasn’t bad.

With the family seal, he would finally gain access to opportunities previously blocked from him, along with complete control over the remaining shares.

After a long silence, Devon finally stood up.

“I’ll think about it.”

He draped his coat over his shoulder and walked out.

“Come ba—”

Mrs. Leila grabbed her husband’s arm before he could continue.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Mr. Russell muttered to his wife.

“Mmm.”

But her thoughts were elsewhere entirely.

That girl could become useful.

Leon hurried after Devon and quickly caught up with him outside.

“So…?” Leon probed carefully as they walked side by side toward the car.

Devon remained silent for several seconds before finally speaking.

“Prepare everything she’ll need for tonight’s party.”

A slow grin immediately spread across Leon’s face.

Then, without warning, he pulled out his phone and played a recording.

“I won’t let this marriage continue even if it kills me.”

Devon’s own voice echoed loudly through the speaker.

Devon stopped walking immediately.

Slowly, he turned toward Leon, his brows furrowing dangerously.

Leon lifted the phone with a grin.

“Kept this just in case.”

Devon walked toward him slowly, both hands tucked into his pockets, his expression dark.

“An annulment now would turn this family into a joke,” he said coldly. “And after everything she did… divorce would be too easy.”

His gaze darkened further.

“I’m not doing this because I want to. Once the year is over, she’s gone.”

Leon’s grin widened instantly.

“You’re doing a lot of explaining for someone who supposedly doesn’t want the marriage.”

Then he immediately turned and ran.

“Get back here!” Devon snapped.

“This gives me more time to investigate everything properly,” Leon muttered under his breath as he slipped into the car.

“Wipe that stupid grin off your face before I do it for you.”

“Seriously,” Leon laughed, “you should come up with something new.”

Devon merely glared at him while Leon turned toward the window, pretending not to notice.

Back to the present…

Devon’s gaze slowly moved from Karina… to Betty and James… then back to Karina again.

“Speak.”