Chapter 7

"Get out of my way," I said, my voice low, cold, and lifeless.

Anna flinched at my gaze, then quickly puffed out her chest.

"Mr. Edward Blair said if you want to apologize, you have to stand outside the courtyard gate, until Ms. Evelyn Blair cools off," she said arrogantly.

I ignored her and walked to the center of the courtyard, where the ground was paved with smooth cobblestones.

This spot was directly facing Evelyn's window.

If I stood here, the swirling snow and the bloodstained ground would surely become Evelyn's nightmare tonight.

Suddenly, my foot slipped. I fell hard, my knees hitting the icy, unforgiving stones with a sickening thud.

My knees had never been right since that winter I spent praying for a good luck charm for Leonard.

Now, the old injury screamed back to life, a sharp, stabbing pain.

The wound on my chest split open again with the movement.

Blood dripped down the hem of my wedding dress, staining the pure white snow.

[Host, your vitals are crashing fast. Your heart rate's through the roof, and your body temperature is way too low.

[I know it's for the mission, but this hurts way too much. Want me to block your pain for you?] System suggested, sounding on the verge of tears.

I chuckled faintly in my mind, "No, thanks."

I welcomed the pain.

The sharper the pain, the clearer my mind became.

And the deeper their regret would cut when they look back on this night.

I would make sure they remembered that they were the ones who drove me to my death on this snowy night.

Time dragged on, second by agonizing second.

Frost gathered on my lashes, and my body was numb all over as I stood there like a puppet.

Through the haze, I saw the courtyard gate swing open.

A tall figure strode in, trailed by a bunch of attendants holding lanterns.

It was Julian.

He must have heard about my so-called "failed suicide" and my "confrontation with Evelyn," and rushed over to support her.

He strode right up to me, towering over me, his eyes full of disgust.

"Cecilia, how long are you going to keep up this performance?" he sneered. "Haven't you played the victim enough?

"You think turning yourself into a pitiful sight will make me feel sorry for you? It only disgusts me."

I forced myself to look up, my vision blurred as I stared at Julian, the man I'd spent five years trying to win over.

How strange.

I used to think he was the most handsome man alive.

But now, no matter how I looked at him, he seemed utterly repulsive.

I opened my mouth, ready to spit out a sharp "Get lost."

Suddenly, a metallic taste surged up, and I was seized by a violent cough.

A torrent of blood gushed from my mouth, splattering across Julian's pristine boots.

He recoiled, like he'd touched something disgusting.

Then his gaze fell on the glaring pool of blood, and his eyes widened. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

"You really know how to put on a show," he sneered.

He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped the toe of his boot with a look of disgust, and tossed the cloth in my face.

"If your blood could buy back even a single tear from Evelyn, that would at least make you useful," he said coldly. "But you're not even worth that."

That handkerchief, reeking of expensive cologne, landed over my eyes.

I didn't bother to remove it. Instead, I let my head drop, exhaustion washing over me.

When was death finally going to come and take me away?

Just then, the tightly shut door creaked open.

Evelyn came out, leaning on Anna for support. She was bundled up in a heavy fur cloak, her face deathly pale.

The second she saw me in the snow, blood all over me, she clapped a hand over her mouth, gasped, and burst into tears.

"Cecilia, what are you doing out in the snow?" she exclaimed. "Come inside."

She stumbled forward as if to help me up, but as she passed Julian, she "accidentally" tripped next to him.

She let out a soft cry and tumbled right into Julian's arms.

With a sharp crack, something dropped from Julian's waist and shattered on the stone pavement.

It was an emerald pendant, flawless and deep green all over.

I spent every last point I'd earned from missions to buy this pendant from the System shop, which could nourish the heart.

I had lied to Julian, who suffered from a chronic chill, telling him I'd prayed for it at a temple for seven days and nights.

He'd promised to treasure it, to never let it leave his side.

Now, the shattered pieces lay quietly in the snow, like my broken heart.

Evelyn's face turned deathly pale. She dropped to her knees, frantically gathering the broken pieces.

"I'm sorry, Julian," she cried. "I didn't mean it.

"This was Cecilia's gift to you. It's all my fault."

She wept like a fragile flower battered by rain, as if it were her heart that had been shattered, not the emerald.