Chapter 2
As she spoke, Kylie deftly pulled a wide robe from her arms and, before I could react, draped it over my shoulders.
I looked at Kylie, and my heart warmed a little.
Life was never easy for this little maid when she was with the real Emmalyn.
And things haven't gotten any better with me, either.
I was always heading out for drinks at night, and Kylie would stay up all night worrying about me.
If Reece Grimes, my father, ever ordered me to take my own life, she wouldn't stand a chance either.
"Miss, you don't look too happy today. Did you get into an argument with Cohen?" Kylie asked.
Her voice was careful, as if she was afraid of upsetting me even more.
I froze for a second, then let out a drunken, hazy laugh.
"It's all fake. Cohen and I... we're probably breaking up," I slurred.
"Breaking up?" Kylie's little face scrunched up in confusion.
She'd gotten used to my weird way of talking, but she could still tell this was bad news.
"Cohen couldn't stand to see you upset for long," Kylie said.
"Don't you remember last winter? Mrs. Grimes made you kneel in the chapel for three days, and your legs were so stiff you could barely move. Cohen was worried sick. He came by every night just to put medicine on your legs," she added.
"Cohen totally adores you. He never forgets the things you like or your favorite treats," Kylie went on.
"Ever since Cohen showed up, you've been smiling a lot more," she said softly.
"Everything he does for you is real, isn't it?" Kylie insisted.
Suddenly, my thoughts went fuzzy.
Yeah, how could any of that be fake?
That winter, I really thought my legs would never work again.
No one in the Grimes family bothered to get me a doctor, but Cohen went out of his way to find a military medic, had him mix up medicine, and brought it over every night to gently put it on my legs.
Back then, everyone could see the worry and tenderness written all over his face.
Who would've thought he'd ever become so cold?
I let out a bitter laugh. "Kylie, maybe we both misjudged him."
Without another word, I stumbled into the inner room, flopped onto the bed, and passed out.
When I woke up the next day, it was already almost evening.
Kylie had left lunch for me. She watched me gobble it down, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.
Once I was full, I set down my fork.
"Just say it," I told her.
Kylie's eyes grew teary.
"Miss, I was out shopping just now and ran into Cohen. He was hanging out with Caleb Dean. You know, that guy who's always flirting with girls, and they all headed off to Scarlet Petal," Kylie said, her voice trembling.
I froze.
Wait, Caleb? Scarlet Petal?
Cohen always hated guys like Caleb and places like Scarlet Petal.
Yesterday was such a blur, and there were still so many things I never got the chance to ask.
I had Kylie fetch me some men's clothes, threw them on, and slipped out of the house.
By the time I got to Scarlet Petal, the sky was already dark.
Everywhere I looked, it was all glitz and glamour, dancing, drinking, and people living it up.
I spotted Cohen right away.
No wonder Caleb loved these flashy places, and with his loud, showy style, it was impossible not to notice him.
Inside the room, Cohen was resting his head on his hand, looking totally relaxed as he let the woman beside him feed him a grape. He watched the dancers sway in front of him, his eyes glinting with playful interest.
"Places like this are full of common, tasteless women. They're nothing compared to the classy girls from Ravensburg's top families," Cohen said, swirling his drink.
Caleb paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh? So, Cohen, are you secretly seeing some rich family's daughter?"
Cohen's voice was loaded with meaning. "Honestly, after you've tried it, it's nothing special. Too stiff and dull and makes you lose interest real quick."
Caleb, already in high spirits, looked even more excited.
"Come on, Cohen, tell me. Whose girl is it? Been with too many wild girls lately. Now I'm craving someone sweet and innocent," he said, grinning.
Cohen pulled a gold embroidered pouch from his belt and flung it carelessly over to Caleb.
"Here, take a guess," he said, sounding totally nonchalant.
I was standing quietly by the door, and my eyes widened in disbelief.
That was the pouch I'd embroidered for Cohen. Even if my needlework was clumsy, I'd poured my heart into it, staying up night after night to finish it.
And now he just tossed it away to someone else, like it was nothing but trash.
"Wait, is this... a love token? Ha! Cohen, you really are something. Let me take a look... What's this, a dog?" Caleb snickered, waving the pouch around.
I gritted my teeth in silence, seething.
'Seriously? Are you blind? That's a rabbit, not a dog!' I cursed to myself.
"Hold up, there's some writing here. 'Grimes'? So, does this mean..." Caleb mused.
"Nope, the second Grimes girl is all about jasmine," Cohen replied, sounding completely indifferent.
Caleb stared, stunned. "Wait, you mean... Emmalyn Grimes?"
Cohen took a leisurely sip of his tea, which was as good as admitting it.
Caleb's gaze turned sleazy.
"Man, she's a total knockout. Her mom was the most famous beauty in all of Ravensburg back then," he said with a wicked grin.