Blue eyes, strong jaw, thick lips, and tan skin made the man's appearance before Arren so captivating. His face was extremely handsome, and his gaze emitted an indescribable passion.
"Satisfied with staring at my face?"One thing. That voice. The voice that Arren detested so much. The voice that had been hurting her heart and her dignity for some time. "BASTARD!"Arren growled and almost thrust her head forward to push him away, but unfortunately, the man was adept at tormenting her over and over. "Calm down, or I'll remove your IV!" Leon held Arren's forehead to prevent her from banging it against him.Warm.His palm contrasted sharply with Arren's cold and pale condition."Let go!"Arren shook her head, trying to distance herself from the man's touch. For a moment, she realized that many tubes were connected to her body. Her room was no longer dim; everything seemed well-maintained. When Arren looked in the mirror, everything looked different.'Is this person taking care of me?' she mumbled in her heart. Arren still couldn't believe it."You should rest a lot."The man then got up from Arren's bed and left just like that. His behavior was still the same as when he came and went from the room at his own discretion. The only difference was that he no longer violated her."Sob..."Remembering that, Arren's heart ached again. She was very afraid. Actually, what happened? Why did a stranger kidnap and assault her? Then suddenly... provide care like this?"Mother..."Only bitter cries could accompany her loneliness in this place. Arren didn't know who to ask about all the worries in her heart.***That night, a doctor suddenly came to examine her. Initially, Arren was wary, but the doctor's and nurse's friendliness broke her guard."Thank goodness, you're getting better, Miss.""Yes..."Arren felt awkward. She didn't know how to behave."Lord Leon will be very pleased. He has spent thousands of dollars to provide all your medical needs. You're truly fortunate to have a lover like him," the nurse said teasingly with a smile."Lover? Pfft!" Arren scoffed. Instead of being grateful, she was confused. What could she do? Even her presence here wasn't voluntary. Fortunate? Right!"Ellen, you talk too much," the doctor warned the nurse to be silent. He then examined Arren's condition for the last time. "I will come back to ensure your treatment is going well. For now, please try not to move too much."Arren nodded. At least, the bruises on her body were improving. In the past, Arren was often beaten by her father when he was drunk. Although she often avoided it, Arren's strength was no match for her unconscious father. Luckily, the incident only resulted in beatings, not rape or murder."Hhh..."Arren was truly unlucky. Her mother shouldn't have died so soon. Or, if she had to die, she should have taken Arren with her. What was Arren doing in such a cruel world? Without anyone caring, without a shoulder to lean on.Oh! Fate was cruel without mercy."Smile, Miss. You'll soon recover," the nurse said before leaving. She didn't even know that Arren's gloom was not because of the physical injuries she suffered but the soul wounds that had plagued her since long ago.***"Are you... healed?"The next morning, the man came again. Leon, as the doctor called him. That was his name."What do you want?"Tired of fighting, Arren finally stopped attacking Leon. Besides, the doctor advised her not to move much. At least today, she wanted to talk to her kidnapper properly."Set me free! I will repay my father's debt!""Hmm... interesting."Instead of freeing Arren, or at least considering her request, Leon smiled happily. He observed every move Arren made with a radiant face. "A cute girl."The man approached, this time... he didn't force Arren to do anything. Even the word 'slave' didn't come out of his mouth anymore. "Do you know who I am?" he asked, getting closer and sitting on the edge of the bed.Arren avoided him, scooting away so that she wouldn't at least touch the cursed kidnapper who had robbed her of her honor. "What do I care? You're just a bastard."Leon chuckled. Arren's words were indeed true. "Hearing the word 'bastard' from your small lips is truly delightful. It seems this is what it feels like to hear a curse directly.""Crazy!"The man laughed again, but a moment later, he seemed to scan Arren from head to toe. Seeing Arren's brightened face and the gradually healing bruise on her leg, Leon looked relieved."Good. You're healthy enough."Arren felt treated like livestock. "What do you mean? What do you want when I'm healthy?" she whispered while staring sharply at Leon.Arren's current appearance was like a wildcat trying to resist a tiger. Adorable. "Of course, you have to serve me again! What else?"From that moment on, Arren decided not to talk to that bastard again. What was his name again? Leon. Leon, the bastard!"Tell me! What happened last night?" Venn, Leon's concubine, urged the spy in the main house to tell everything. For several days, Leon hadn't been seen visiting her in the West Pavilion. The man was busy with the street mouse he had just picked up, Arren."The young lady is ill, Mistress. So... the master is taking care of her," the servant said, trembling. He was afraid of misspeaking.Venn's jaw hardened. This building felt so empty without the passionate nights with her beloved. "Why give me a house like this if we don't live in it, sir?" Venn mumbled.Her heart ached hearing that Leon seemed to forget everything about her. Initially, Leon belonged to her alone. Now? Venn had to accept sharing her lover with a strange girl she didn't even know."Tomorrow! Tomorrow, invite her to the tea party. You must convey it to the personal servant. Understand?""T–Tea party?" The servant was startled. Cold sweat immediately poured from his forehead."Yes! You understand, don't you, what I mean
Arren walked with a slight limp to reach the greenhouse, following Poppy's instructions. Somehow... everything in this mansion seemed so strange.Firstly, the owner of this house is a kidnapper and rapist. Arren must put him behind bars!Secondly, a jealous concubine? Arren could sense that a woman named Vennina seemed to feel threatened by her presence. "I will tell her that I am not her rival!"Hearing the word 'rival' made Arren's hair stand on end. Only a fool could love a vile man like Leon. No. Arren is not that kind of person."Welcome, Miss...."A servant seemed to welcome Arren as she entered the greenhouse.A table was beautifully decorated, surrounded by rose petals. Their fragrant aroma added elegance to the room. Arren immediately liked the feast that was being held."Hello," Arren greeted warmly.A woman in her thirties rose from her chair. Her face was beautiful, with fiery red hair. The emerald green dress that enveloped her body contrasted with her fair skin.Arren was
A startled servant witnessed one of her mistresses coughing up blood.Immediately, Venn summoned someone to assist the helpless Arren. "Call the doctor!" she yelled, feigning panic. Only one servant knew it was Venn's trick, while the others didn't dare to think in that direction.Shortly after, Leon's personal doctor rushed into the greenhouse. "What's going on?" the doctor asked quickly, examining the patient's vital signs."She suddenly vomited blood and fainted," Venn said, having previously injected a hallucinogenic substance into Arren to blur her memory of the preceding events.The doctor appeared alarmed, finding signs of poisoning in Arren's body. "Move her to the room!" the doctor ordered the guards who had accompanied him.The guards quickly carried the unconscious young lady back to her room on the third floor. The doctor immediately provided the first aid he could, but unfortunately, there was no more effective way than extracting the poison through an oral method."How is
The search process for the suspect became a heated topic in the mansion. Everyone appeared anxious and doubtful— who could have provoked their master to such an extent?"Idiots," muttered a servant passing by the master's office. After delivering two cups of tea to her mistress, the servant returned to the kitchen, where she should be. She then continued spreading gossip and rumors about the comprehensive search by the security team for the perpetrator of the poisoning of the master's new love.***"Could it be Miss Venn who did it?" asked Ford, Leon's newly joined aide, after completing a reconnaissance mission at the Napoli headquarters, Leon's business rival who had recently disturbed the peace of his club."Venn? Hmm..." Leon seemed to consider the possibility. For men, competition in the power domain might be common, but does the same apply to women?"I'll find out," said Leon seriously. Ford burst into laughter. "Oh God. What happened to this polar monster? Why do you seem so con
The guards tasked with Arren's safety asked her to come down from the tree. This situation could lead to punishment and even a reduction in their pay if their employer were to get injured."Calm down, I'm good at climbing," Arren responded confidently. She moved her feet slowly, climbing up one by one until she reached the end of the branch.At the end, there was a nest of sparrows missing one of its chicks."There, there, little bird," Arren said gently, placing the fallen bird back into its nest.Arren was about to descend the sturdy but slippery tree trunk when, unfortunately, she slipped."Aaaaaaakkkhh....."Arren slipped and nearly fell. Her leg could have been sprained, but luckily, someone caught her just in time. Arren was truly grateful. It seemed the guard assigned by Leon had a purpose after all."Who is saving whom?" Leon retorted, displeased because Arren was in danger once again. The guards exchanged worried glances, realizing they wouldn't be getting overtime pay that da
"Before that, explain first, why did you suddenly drag me into the warehouse?" Arren asked, bowing her head to hide the fear and embarrassment she felt.Leon raised an eyebrow, considering the question foolish from the girl who had captured his heart. "Are you foolish or just don't understand?" Leon retorted."What do you mean?""I already warned the guards to keep you safe. And what did I witness? You almost broke a bone!" scolded Leon while gripping Arren's frail arms."Aww...."Instantly, Leon released his grip as he knew Arren winced in pain. The girl's face looked pale and frightened."Sorry, I mean it. Don't endanger yourself! Understand?" Leon emphasized so that Arren would be more careful in the future."Okay, Master," Arren obediently replied. Somehow, Leon's behavior seemed different. He wasn't as arbitrary as before. What was this? Was Arren starting to melt toward him? Arren quickly slapped her face hard to snap out of the hallucination she created for herself."Just call m
"Your final task is to become the scapegoat. I will create a story to protect myself and blame you for the poisoning," Venn said with a threatening tone.Hillis knelt led with Venn not to trap her like that."Have mercy on me, Madam. I would never dare to lie like that." Hillis's tears flowed freely, and her body trembled irresistibly."You will take the responsibility, and I will ensure the safety of your family. It must be done!" Venn insisted without giving room for negotiation."Oh, God!" Hillis cried out in desperation.Hillis paled, feeling the weight of despair in her heart, but she knew there was no other option.Her family and her life are in Venn's hands. She could only follow her master's orders."Remember, Hillis," Venn added sharply. "If this plan succeeds, your family will have a better life. If it fails, you will face the consequences."Hillis nodded sadly, lowering her head. She felt an immense burden, but she had no choice.Venn looked at Hillis with satisfaction, know
"When will she regain consciousness?" Leon asked, his concern evident."She will regain consciousness soon, Sir. You don't need to worry. It's the same poison Miss Arren had before, and we have the antidote," the doctor reassured him."Alright, thank you for your assistance," Leon said, and he walked away. He had fulfilled his duties as the host towards his ward. Now, Leon needed to return to work.Venn was unaware that Leon's treatment of her was very different from how he had treated Arren when they were both on the brink of death. Only the doctor and the servants knew about it. If Venn had been conscious, she would have thrown a fit to gain her lover's lost affection.***"Leon, what's happening? Why is the mansion in such chaos?" Ford, who had just stepped out of the car, asked. He was carrying some newly designed alcoholic drinks for Leon's club testing.Leon's nightlife business required him to supply the best products to his clubs in the capital. He must ensure the best materia