“Young Master Keith gave me that card so I could get Jenna a congratulatory present. Since it wasn’t my money, I didn’t spend it at all! That aside, I can’t make the call so don’t even think of taking any of his money!” retorted Xavia whose chin was slightly raised. Upon hearing that, Zivon’s glare slowly softened as he replied, “…Is that so? Then in order to compensate me, I’ll have you sleep with Maison for the next few nights. His mind hasn’t been kind to him lately…” Before Xavia could even think about refusing, Zivon had already left… Still, what did he mean by that? What had happened to Maison? Was he lying again…? Even if he was, Xavia couldn’t help but feel worried. With that in mind, the second the ball ended, she immediately headed home and brought Yulia over to Zivon’s place… Upon seeing Maison, Xavia—who wanted to test whether Zivon was really lying—deliberately asked, “Is your stomach unwell again, Maison…?” Her question made Maison subtly roll his eyes. Had Dadd
After a brief silence, Zivon stepped in and asked, “Indeed. What did you mean by, ‘sister?’” The presence of the oppressive man only served to add pressure on Xavia. Not even daring to look Zivon in the eye, she eventually cleared her throat before replying, “…W-well… You see… Yulia’s my brother’s daughter, right…? And since Maison is my sister’s son… They’re considered to be nominal siblings! At least by the customs in my hometown, their marriage will be frowned upon…!” Though Xavia thought that her excuse was reasonable enough, Maison and Zivon still ended up frowning slightly. Was that really the case…? “…Huh…? What are you talking about, Mommy…? Am I not your child…?” asked Yulia, prompting the corner of Xavia’s mouth to twitch. D*mn it, she had never properly explained this complicated matter to Yulia! Unfortunately, now that she was in front of Zivon and Maison, she had no other choice but to say, “…I… was afraid that you’d be upset to hear this, so I’ve held back from te
Staring deeply at her, Zivon eventually replied, “…Your hand’s still injured, so I’ll help bring her over.” Before Xavia could refuse, Zivon had already told Maison to get a good rest before leaving the room with Yulia in his arms. Watching as Zivon walked off, all she could do was take a deep breath before following the man out into the chilly night. On their way to Keith’s place, the worried Xavia kept staring at the towering man’s back that looked particularly enticing under the moonlight. As long as she kept her cool, there was still a chance that she would arouse his suspicions… Though multiple thoughts filled Xavia’s head on their way there, Zivon kept silent the entire time till they finally arrived at the north wing. While ascending the stairs, he was prompted to ask, “Which is her room?” “The one next to Young Master Keith’s,” replied Xavia. Upon hearing that, Zivon carried the sleeping child into the room and gently placed her on the bed. After tucking her in, he
Walking up to her, he then pinned her against the wall, looking straight into her eyes—like a wolf looking at its prey—as he growled, “Then why didn’t you call me irrelevant back when you hid in my arms and even crawled on my back? You know, when you were utterly terrified of there being ghosts while you were in nothing but your slip dress?” …Xavia couldn’t refute since she knew that that had really happened that night! In fact, they had even… Just thinking about it made the anxious girl’s cheeks flush! Regardless, she eventually replied, “…You’re well aware that I’m afraid of ghosts, so that doesn’t count!” “Does it not?” asked Zivon as he lifted her chin before giving her a kiss! This immediately caused the now wide-eyed Xavia’s body to stiffen! Why the hell was he kissing her out of the blue again…?! When she desperately started trying to break free—even if it meant having to hit him on his shoulders—, Zivon simply locked her arms so that she couldn’t move an inch. Followi
He must have gone insane! Even so, she really didn’t have the strength to struggle anymore. After all, she had already bitten and even slapped him, yet nothing had worked… She was now as lifeless as a puppet… Either way, once Zivon released all his pent-up rage, he finally released her. Glaring at the poor woman for quite a while, he eventually asked, “…Tell me. Why exactly have you been so cold to me lately? And don’t you dare say it’s because of Keith.” Zivon remembered a time when she had been so cute and spirited, even while she was resisting him. Nowadays, she simply gave off the impression that he had done something unforgivable like dig up her ancestor’s grave! He absolutely despised that feeling! As for why he didn’t believe that Keith was the reason, Xavia simply hadn’t acted this way before, even when she was with Stefan. That aside, Xavia couldn’t help but find it hilarious that he’d ask her that after kissing her thrice. Rather than feeling angry, she no longer felt a
It was only when the bottle was dry when the dignified man leaned against the sofa before grumbling in an annoyed tone, “…Something’s up with Xavia.” “…Oh? What’s up? From what I’ve seen, she seems to be happily getting along with Keith unlike what you’re implying,” replied Zayne in a slightly surprised tone. Glaring at him, Zivon then growled, “What kind of relationship do you even have with Keith? Why mention him out of the blue?” Zivon’s question almost caused Zayne to gag. He was as straight as a ruler! Even if he was gay, he’d never fall for a gentleman like Keith! Regardless, understanding that Zivon couldn’t be messed with tonight, Zayne then said, “So… What exactly do you think is up with her?” “…She’s been exceedingly cold to me… She doesn’t even want to talk to me anymore… It makes me wonder if I’ve offended her…” muttered Zivon, prompting both Chace and Zayne to fall silent. ‘…Has he gone mad? Isn’t it normal for her to want to ignore him after she fell in love w
Upon hearing that, Zivon instantly went silent. Come to think of it, had he gone insane? Why had he even come asking them for help! With that in mind, Zivon picked his coat up before leaving. This time, however, Chace didn’t stop him. After all, none of them would actually be able to find out if he actually offended Xavia. Though… there was one person he could go to… Not long ago, a woman had been angry at Chace, and he had used all sorts of apology methods just to find out why she was mad at him… and in the end, he was told that it was because he had walked in front of her! Understanding women was truly as easy as looking for a needle in a haystack… Regardless, after witnessing all that, Zayne was prompted to sigh as he muttered, “I don’t think I want to get a girlfriend or get married anymore after seeing Zivon like this… I never thought that man could even lose like this! Speaking of which, you’re still trying to salvage your relationship with Sister-in-law, right…? Why don’
Even when his face was covered by that black mask, it was impossible to ignore that man’s prestigious aura. In fact, the mask only served to make him look more mysterious and dangerous… Even so, Xavia simply turned around and ignored him. Upon seeing a cab nearby, she quickly ran over and got in. Soon after, the vehicle was driven away, leaving the man glaring frostily as the cab got further and further away… Regardless, once the cab finally arrived at the Burton Group, she paid the fare and made sure to wear a mask before heading into the building. Though she had applied medicine last night—and her lips were slowly healing—, she was worried that others would notice that there was something wrong with her lips if they paid too much attention to her. Since most men were sensitive, it was better to be extra cautious around them… Either way, her train of thought was cut short when the receptionist asked, “Here to meet Young Master Keith, Miss Lockhart?” Nodding in response, Xavia
Staring in shock at the kneeling man, Yulia mustered her remaining sanity as she replied, “B-but you’re younger-” “Even if that’s the case, doesn’t that mean that I’m much more ‘capable’ than your older pursuers…?” …Why were his words so suggestive all of a sudden?! Forcing herself to calm down, she took a deep breath before saying, “…Elliot, I’m not sure what spurred this decision, but… I’m not the one for you. Please find someone your age. I’m sorry.” After saying that, she strode straight for the car… but before she could start the engine, she couldn’t help but notice how desolate he looked standing under the pouring rain… Clenching her fists, it took her a while to finally sigh and walk back to him… “…Are you really sure about this?” asked Yulia, much to Elliot’s delight. “I am! Please! Give me a chance! You won’t regret it!” …When he put it that way, all Yulia could do was help him up before finally deciding to return his kiss… Sure, things had taken a sudden, unex
She stared in horror as he removed his shirt right there and then! “W-what are you doing?!” yelped the startled woman as she quickly looked the other way. “…Huh? I mean, I’m drenched, so…” “E-even so, you shouldn’t change right in front of me!” “…Yulia, we bathed together as children… It’s not like you haven’t seen everything already…” “Y-you can’t compare that to this situation…!” “Fine, fine, I… Um… Go cook, I guess… I’ll go get a change upstairs first…” muttered Elliot as he headed upstairs. Yulia herself had to try her best to calm down! After all, Elliot had been plaguing her mind in the past few days, and… she even had dreams where he had… …No! She couldn’t be thinking about such things! She needed to cook! Maybe that would help get her mind out of the gutter! Once that was done, she’d leave and finally start devising a plan to get rid of him…! As Yulia scurried off, Elliot himself was currently staring at an old photo that showed him eating some candy in Yulia’
Just as she had arrived at her car, the president of the Halls Group suddenly walked up to her, a bouquet in hand! The Halls Group had collaborated several times with the Burtons before, and because of that, she was well acquainted with the man. Sadly, he had also proposed to her on multiple occasions… and though she kept rejecting him, he never seemed to get the hint! “There you are, Miss Burton… Since you’re off work, I was wondering if you’d join me for dinner tonight…” asked the charming man. Feeling awkward, she was just about to come up with an excuse when Elliot suddenly grabbed her by the waist and said, “Oh? Another one of your admirers, Yulia…? Sorry, but she already has a boyfriend, my man. If that doesn’t deter you enough, then you should know that she prefers her partners younger. Now please leave.” Startled to hear that, the man glanced at Yulia, his eyes begging for an explanation… Yulia herself was eager to just escape this embarrassing situation, but before s
With that tale done, it was now time to return to Yulia’s story… Ever since she was a child, she had undergone countless hardships with her mother… and even after she was able to reunite with her father, things didn’t go much easier from there. To make matters worse, Fabiola ended up getting kidnapped for the longest time, resulting in Frank ending up the way he was today… Because of all that, it only made sense that she’d mature much sooner than others her age, and unlike the naïve girl she used to be, she was an extremely competent woman today. Alas, because of how used she became with working, she soon lost the urge to find herself a romantic interest… Things continued that way until… Well, that time that Elliot… …Wait, what was she thinking?! He was younger than her, for heaven’s sake! Quickly shaking her head, she attempted to force herself to concentrate on work again… But before long, a knock was heard on the door. After being allowed in, the department manager entered t
Knowing that there was no point in keeping things a secret anymore, Rea took a deep breath before saying, “…Alright, so… The truth is, I’ve always been highly competent, but… I’ve been pretending to be useless just so that you’d eventually marry me… The trip my parents are taking… That was my suggestion too…” Feeling speechless, it took Frank a long while to reply, “…So you weren’t really drunk when you did all that last night?” Pursing her lips, Rea awkwardly muttered, “…I wasn’t… Luna suggested it, and since it sounded like a good idea to accelerate things…” …Fucking hell, to think that he had fallen straight into her trap without even putting up a fight! Watching as he glowered at her, Rea gulped before adding, “A-anyway, now that we’re married and there’s potentially a baby in my belly, you won’t divorce me, right…?” “…Oh, believe me when I say that divorce is the easy way out! From today onward, I’m making you pay for your actions for the rest of your life!” Fast forwa
Fast forward to the next morning, Rea awoke with a yawn… What a nice sleep… Wait. Why was she naked? And why was Frank…?! Her following scream immediately woke the icy man up… and upon looking at her, he was immediately reminded of what had transpired last night! Essentially, Rea ended up clinging to him, and though he initially wanted to just carry her to bed to let her rest… Damn it! Had she really been that sensual?! How had he lost control so easily?! His train of thought was cut short when he realized that Rea was bawling her eyes out… and after rubbing his temples, he was prompted to say, “…Why are you crying when you’re the one who initiated this? I’ll have you know that I never forced you-” “I-I know, but…! I’ve just…! This is my first time…!” whimpered the quivering woman, prompting Frank to purse his lips. As if he wasn’t in the same situation… “…You’re not alone there.” “It’s not the same! Men are free to sleep with whoever they want but when it comes to women, I’l
“Say, wouldn’t you agree that the food smells delicious…? Why don’t I teach you how to grill, Rea…? Oh, but make sure to take your clothes off first before we start! Wouldn’t want them to get dirty…” With how drunk Rea was, she wasn’t able to fully register his words… and just as he was about to touch her clothes, an icy voice roared, “Stop right there…!” Instantly feeling a shiver run down his spine, the man turned around… and to his horror, it was Frank! Young Master Burton’s perpetually icy son…! Why the hell was he here?! Before the frightened intern could think of how to even react, Frank walked up to him and growled, “Leave now before I chop your hands off…! Don’t make me repeat myself!” Nodding in terror, the man frantically bolted off… and once he was out of sight, Frank glared at the tipsy Rea before adding, “This is what you meant by learning how to be more responsible…?!” “Huh…? But the food really did smell super good… I want to learn…” mumbled the drunk woman.
After leaving his office, he headed off to look for Rea. She had said that she wanted to use the bathroom, but… It had already been half an hour since she disappeared. What trouble had that idiot gotten herself into this time? Thankfully, it wasn’t long before he found her laughing along with some of his interns… When the interns saw him, they were quick to bow and say, “Good morning, Mr. Burton.” Barely even glancing at them, Frank looked at Rea and said, “It’s time to head home.” “I… Won’t be following you back…” “…And why is that? Are your parents back?” “No, it’s just… These are my good friends back from school, and they’ve been staying together to learn to be more independent… With that said… I think that staying with them will be a good start for me to learn more about how the world works. Thank you for taking care of me up till this point, Frank… I won’t bother you anymore.” Raising a slight brow, Frank then looked at the interns for a while before saying, “…Are you
Regardless, after leaving her in the room, Frank returned to the shower to cool himself off… but no matter what he did, he simply remained irked. It got to the point where he couldn’t relax at all, and after wrapping a towel around his waist, he grabbed his phone to send his father a text. ‘Was there really nobody else who could’ve taken care of Rea?’ ‘What? Can’t even care for a woman properly.’ ‘I’m a busy man.’ ‘I trust in your time management skills.’ …Though he really wanted to tell Zivon that he had misplaced his trust in him, he didn’t want to disappoint his father either. With that, all he could do was clench his fists before giving Rea’s parents a call… “Hello? Frank? Why are you calling at this time of night?” “…When are you and Uncle Saltman returning, Aunt?” asked Frank who wanted them to take back their idiot already! “…Huh? What was that? Sorry, the line isn’t very good… I hope Rea isn’t giving you too hard a time! Don’t worry, we’ll be back after about a