Chapter 4
"Cassia, did you have a good time on your trip?" she asked.
Seeing Katelyn safe and sound made my eyes sting. For a moment, I was too emotional to speak.
To Derek, it must have looked like hesitation. He squeezed my hand gently as a reminder.
"Mother, I missed you so much," I said.
I glanced at him, then turned and threw myself into Katelyn's arms. Catching Derek's satisfied look, I averted my eyes and focused on the warmth of her embrace.
"I shall take my leave now. I will return in a few days to marry Cassia, Mrs. Myers," Derek announced before departing.
I followed Katelyn inside—but the next moment, Emmanuel's sword was pointed straight at me.
I swiftly dodged and caught the blade bare-handed. In the next moment, Emmanuel froze, his expression shifting.
"Cassia, is that you?" he ventured.
"Emmanuel, what are you doing? She just got home." Katelyn stepped in, taking the sword from him.
Recalling the coldness in Emmanuel's eyes moments before, I began to suspect something.
"Mother, I need to talk with Emmanuel. We'll go inside." I took Emmanuel's hand and hurried to the study room.
When Katelyn was out of sight, he attacked me again, but I managed to dodge all his moves. Emmanuel's probes confirmed one thing for me.
Before I could speak, Emmanuel pulled me into a tight embrace, his voice rough with emotion. "Cassia, it's really you. Thank God you're safe. I had a dream. In it, you died."
Hearing Emmanuel's words, I understood he had also been reborn, but this was unimaginably queer.
"Emmanuel, can you introduce me to Prince Ronnie? I had the same dream you mentioned. Because of that, I managed to escape. But I won't let the Garrett family off easily," I said.
"Cassia, you too?" Emmanuel let go of me, looking shocked.
I nodded, confirming it, but still spoke up. "Walls have ears, you know."
Emmanuel's expression turned serious, and we entered the study together.
*****
Three days later, I went to meet Wallace at the Oakhorn Tavern as agreed. Shortly after entering the private room, I ended his life with a single blade stroke—under his disbelieving gaze.
An unprincipled doctor like him deserved death. And I couldn't allow anyone to ruin my plans.
As Wallace fell, a shadow flickered outside the door. I turned to look, and the shadow disappeared in an instant.
I narrowed my eyes slightly and chased after it.
Following the figure, I went up to the third floor. Seeing the door of the private room in front of me, I let out a sigh of relief and then pushed the door open.
The figure I had followed stood inside—alongside a man wearing dark robes embroidered with purple and gold. A pearl pendant hung from his waist.
"Greetings, Prince Ronnie." I stepped forward and bowed.
Ronnie chuckled softly, his voice deep and resonant. "At ease. You're quite decisive, Ms. Myers. You leave me with little to do."
"You flatter me, Your Highness. I was eliminating the problem at its root," I said.
I couldn't quite read Ronnie's expression, but since Emmanuel and Marshall supported him, I knew where my loyalty lay.
"Emmanuel has already told me the situation with the Garretts and Antonio. What happens next depends on you, Ms. Myers," he said, his expression unchanged but somehow imposing.
"I understand, Your Highness," I said, averting my gaze and listening quietly to his instructions.
That night, I was escorted back to the Myers estate by Ronnie's guards. The next day, I sneaked out to the Garrett estate.
"Hadley, why did you sneak out? It wouldn't be good if your family found out," Derek said.
Knowing I was returning, Derek rushed over, his cold expression striking me directly.
I pretended to be frightened, tears rolling down my face. "Derek, I missed you. The Myers estate is awful. And now you are mean to me."