Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

A day before Saturday, a luxurious car stopped in front of our house. At first, I thought it just parked there for some reason. And yeah, I was right. It stopped for a reason—and that was to pick me up.“Order from Lord Severo,” said the driver in a monotone voice.I was just about to head to work, but apparently, I had a different appointment. I got into the luxurious vehicle, and my eyes widened at how elegant and fragrant the interior was. Everything was black, and I could tell just by the look of it that it was worth more than what I could earn in my whole life.I looked at the driver. His gaze was fixed straight on the road. He was wearing sunglasses.“Do you know what this is about?” I asked.In the back of my mind, I had a clue.“I don’t know,” he replied simply.I rolled my eyes. He spoke so coldly—like a robot programmed just to pick me up, not to answer my questions.I cleared my throat and tried again. “Are we going to the mansion?”“Yes,” he responded.That’s it.I knew it

I wrapped the cyan silky bathrobe around my body after bathing. The scent of the bath lingered on my skin, and I noticed that my complexion looked subtly glowing. I wondered what substance they had mixed into the water to give such an effect on the skin.I walked over to the mirror to check my reflection, and from the soft flicker of my image, I immediately noticed something missing from my ear.I gasped and muttered a few quiet curses.I looked down at the floor and checked the bathtub, but I couldn’t find the rose earring. It wasn’t in my wet clothes either. It must have fallen at the ranch when I was lying on the grass… or maybe the wind blew it off during the ride.Still, I kept looking around the bathroom.I wouldn’t have stopped if I hadn’t heard someone clear their throat behind me. A man with a red mohawk, wearing a white turtleneck with sleeves rolled just above the elbows, stood in the doorway. His face was fully made up, accentuating his long lashes.“I’ve been waiting for

“For a long time now. Don’t be like me, Astra.” She held my hands and gently caressed them. “Don’t ever fall in love with Brix. They aren’t accountable for what we feel. All you can do is love them in secret. Trust me. I know we’re not supposed to feel pain this deeply, but… this is beyond our control and capabilities.”My mouth opened slightly at her words. I thought she and Oscar had mutual feelings.“Why don’t you tell him, Celeste?” I asked. This time, I was the one who took her hands. “Oscar is a good person. I felt it. The way he cares for you… you just need to speak the truth.”She shook her head. “No. If others find out, they’ll banish me, Astra. That’s the law. We’re not allowed to fall in love with our masters. We serve them—no strings attached. I’m okay with this, as long as I can be with him.”“W-what?”What kind of shitty law is that? Since when did love come with rules about who’s allowed to feel it or not? Even if I couldn’t see myself in Celeste’s place… I still felt a

“Chin up now, Astra,” Lord Severo ordered.Thank God.I looked up and got a better view of him. For a moment, I saw Brix in him—the deep, dark eyes and the way he stared. Even his posture reminded me of Brix.“Mr. Nadija?” Lord Severo called.I saw Erikson wince, but he obeyed and left, leaving us alone.Lord Severo looked at me, and I met his gaze. This is something I’ve learned—I can hold eye contact now.He cleared his throat.“What can I say? You look stunning, Astra…” He smiled kindly, a rare sight.“You kinda look like Brix, Lord Severo,” I said. That was my compliment.He chuckled.“Maybe because I’m his father?” He shook his head, still smiling. “I like how feisty you are, Astra. The way you stand there, looking at me like I’m just another stranger. Fascinating.”My mouth dropped open in surprise.“I still respect you, Lord Severo,” I replied. “I just… kind of feel off with you. I mean, pushing your son away when there’s a celebration like this?”“He doesn’t like these kinds o

My attention turned to the new arrivals. Finally, Oscar and Celeste had arrived. Oscar looked hot in a black tuxedo, a soft smile on his lips. Celeste, though bowing her head, looked elegant and radiant in a white gown with pearl embroidery.“Oh, you’re finally here, Oscar,” Lady Tessa said.“Greetings, Milady...”I smiled at how the seniors warmly welcomed Oscar. All of them were smiling at him—even Trojan. He truly earned their respect. I wondered if they treated Brix the same way?Do they show the same obedience and respect to Brix?Then I noticed something. They didn’t acknowledge Celeste’s presence at all. She stayed behind Oscar, head bowed, silently waiting for him to finish greeting everyone.“Hey, Astra.” Oscar approached me, joy lighting up his face. “You look... gorgeous. Would you mind?”He reached for my hand, but I flinched slightly, careful not to make it too obvious to the seniors.I stood up and went to Celeste.“Hey...” I called.She looked up at me. I could see the