Anya smiled wryly, appearing tense and uneasy. I sighed. “Alright, we’ll talk about it later, okay?”
She nodded, stealing occasional glances toward the man seated somewhere behind me. I shook my head. That was exactly why I hadn’t forgiven Japen easily, even though I hadn’t been hostile toward him. I wanted to teach him a lesson, to make him understand that what he did was not acceptable. So, I imposed consequences on him. But I never expected him to end up sleeping in the same bed as me. That man. I stabbed at my food with my fork and brought it to my mouth.
I needed to teach Japen a lesson. Yes. After he woke up, I planned to have him clean the entire cottage as a favor. It should be easy for him, being raised with an emphasis on cleanliness, but I couldn’t think of another way to drive home my point.
“Miss?” Anya called.
I snapped back to reality and looked up at her. “What is it?”
“Um… I asked you something earlier, Miss.”
I furrowed my brow. Maybe I hadn’t heard her because my mind was preoccupied with other thoughts. “Sorry, what was it again?”
Anya swallowed nervously. “It’s about Madam Simmy. Can I ask you about her?”
My expression went blank at the mention of Simmy. But maybe this was a chance to gain Anya’s trust, so I smiled at her. “Go ahead.”
She glanced down at her plate. “When I entered the mansion the other night, I saw you kneeling in the living room. There was a woman stopping you from standing up. Who was she, Miss?”
I blinked at her question. So she had witnessed that embarrassing moment? I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I didn’t want to dwell on that scene-it just angered me. But after a moment’s thought, I realized I might earn Anya’s trust and loyalty by sharing it.
I cleared my throat. “That’s Simmy.”
“Isn’t she just a maid in Don Alibata’s mansion? Why would she force you to kneel and mistreat you in your own home?”
I blinked at her words. I hadn’t expected Anya to see it that way. Sure, I was the young heiress, but Simmy practically ran the mansion when Dad wasn’t around.
A small smile tugged at my lips. “You know, Simmy and I have never gotten along. She always bullies me.”
“But why do you let Madam Simmy hurt you? She shouldn’t be treating you like that, especially since you’re Don Alibata’s heir.”
I sighed heavily at her words, setting my spoon and fork aside as my appetite waned with the deepening conversation.
I cleared my throat. “Simmy has been yelling at me for years. Our relationship has been like this for a long time now. Even if I tried to stop her, it wouldn’t matter. Simmy is an arrogant woman who enjoys bullying me. Even if I stood up to her that night…” I looked at Anya. “She would find a way to bully me even worse afterward.” I smiled wryly at her.
Anya sighed heavily too. “It must be difficult living in that mansion, Miss.”
I was surprised again by her insight. Where was she getting these ideas? I smiled at her again. “I’m used to it. But yes, it’s tough living in that mansion. They provide everything I need, but there’s one thing they lack that I want the most.”
Anya looked at me curiously. “What’s that, Miss?”
I took a deep breath. “Empathy.”
We fell silent for a few minutes. I encouraged Anya to eat her food, which she did with a nod and a smile. As I watched her, I saw an innocent, childlike girl who knew nothing of the plans I had in store. Those plans might ruin her present and definitely jeopardize her future. Could I go through with it? Could I bear to see Anya suffer just to satisfy my revenge on Simmy?
I sighed.
Anya was the only one who had stood by me that day and the next. But what about when we returned to the mansion? Would everything I’d done for her at the resort be enough to withstand Simmy’s cunning schemes? I knew that once Simmy found out about Anya, she would stop at nothing to win Anya’s loyalty. I feared that all my efforts to gain Anya’s trust and loyalty during those two days of vacation would vanish in an instant when confronted by Simmy. Then, all my actions would have been in vain.
Leaning back in my chair, I wondered if I truly wanted to win Anya’s loyalty for selfish reasons. If I succeeded, I might miss out on having a true friend-if Anya discovered my selfish plans for her, she would be hurt and would likely leave me.
I crooked my lips into a bitter smile. When would I find a true friend who wouldn’t betray me? When would I find a true partner with whom I could share my secrets and flaws, yet still want to be with me?
I shook my head as my vision blurred with tears. Clearing my throat, I said, “Just eat. I have something to do back at the cottage.”
Anya nodded and smiled at me, so I returned the smile. I left the restaurant and stepped outside, craving fresh air. I almost felt like lying down on the dirt road, but instead, I headed back to the cottage.
Opening the door, I went straight to the bedroom. Japen was still there, sleeping peacefully. I bit my lip and approached the bed.
Climbing in beside Japen, I called out to him, “Wake up. You enjoyed yourself in my bed that much.”
But he didn’t stir. I sighed heavily and sat up. Looking at Japen, I suddenly laid my head on his chest.
“It’s been years since we became friends, and still, you remain loyal to me,” I whispered, my vision blurring with tears. A tear escaped from my eyes. “I want to thank you for being there when I needed help. Thank you for taking care of me when no one else would.”
Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the steady beat of his heart. But then, I noticed something. His body felt hot.
Furrowing my brow, I looked at Japen, still asleep. I reached out and touched his forehead, yelping when my hand came into contact with his skin.
He was burning up!