Chapter 26
Kallion, overwhelmed by troubling thoughts, ran a hand through his hair in frustration and got up.
Hoping the cool air would clear his mind, he opened the window wide.
Just then, his eyes landed on Yuliana sitting leisurely in the garden, reading a book.
He stared at her silently for a while, then spoke coldly.
“Layla.”
Layla, who had been working at the side table, smiled warmly as if she’d been waiting.
“Yes, Lord Kallion.”
“Look into the second son of Silverstel.”
For a moment, Layla’s face stiffened — though Kallion didn’t notice, since he was still looking out the window.
“Do you mean Lloyd de Silverstel?”
“Yes.”
Layla immediately recalled how Yuliana had looked longingly at Lloyd in front of the Bas Trading Company.
Yuliana had said it was their first meeting, but there had been something deep in her gaze.
“Why… him?”
Layla asked curiously, and Kallion replied in a sharp, cold voice,
“I should know what kind of man might be my wife’s lover.”
His face twisted with dark suspicion.
Layla clenched her hands together nervously as she looked at him from the side.
***
I let out a soft sigh as I stared at the letter Kate had handed me.
It was already the third letter from Lloyd.
Once again, there was no sender written on the envelope.
But with letters coming so often, someone might eventually notice.
‘Was he always this reckless…?’
In my previous life, Lloyd had been patient, always considerate of me.
But now, he seemed more… forward.
Although he was likely just showing concern as a friend,
As I read the part where he asked to see me just once, to check if I was okay,
I quietly placed the letter in the fireplace and burned it.
After a long moment of thought, I called for Kate.
“Can you bring me some paper and a pen? And an envelope too.”
Kate replied cheerfully, “Yes, ma’am!”
Once I had the paper, I sat in silence, thinking again.
If things went on like this, Lloyd would keep sending letters under the excuse of friendship.
I had a strong feeling about it — enough to know I had to end this clearly.
After all, once I had Denian, I planned to leave this place.
I couldn’t afford the luxury of friendship — especially not with an ex-husband.
So I wrote a short letter, only a few lines.
I proposed a meeting with Lloyd.
The location: a small café on the outskirts of the city.
I needed to look him in the eye and give a clear rejection.
That seemed like the polite thing to do.
I folded the letter and handed it to Kate without writing a sender.
“Please send this to the Silverstel mansion.”
Kate answered with determination, “Leave it to me, ma’am!”
“Make sure no one else sees it. Hand it directly to the delivery man.”
“Of course!”
Kate carefully tucked the letter into her clothing and marched off.
***
At the mansion gate, Kate pretended to sweep the entrance while peeking out.
“He should be here soon…”
As she expected, a young man with freckles rode up on a bicycle.
“Hans! Long time no see!”
The boy, a little awkward, got off the bike with a red face.
“Kate? What brings you out here yourself?”
Clearly misunderstanding her reason, Hans seemed embarrassed.
Kate snorted. “Come on! Do you think I’d come out just to see the mailman?”
She acted cool, and Hans looked a little disappointed.
“O-oh, right. Here are the letters for the Valdomere estate today.”
He handed over a neatly bundled stack of mail.
Kate took it, looked around, then pulled Yuliana’s letter from her coat.
“Could you take special care of this one?”
Hans examined the envelope with a puzzled look.
“There’s no sender written…”
“That’s why I’m asking you to be careful,” Kate said, a little annoyed.
Hans didn’t question further. Letters without senders weren’t that unusual.
He put the letter into his bag.
“Thanks, Hans!”
Kate disappeared quickly after handing it over.
Hans watched her leave with a disappointed sigh.
As he climbed back on his bike, a calm but firm voice called out:
“Excuse me.”
He turned and saw a neatly dressed woman with glossy brown hair — Layla, the secretary.
“Oh… me?”
“Yes, you.”
Layla walked over, expression cool.
Hans, nervous, stepped off the bike.
Normally only lower-ranked maids handled mail, so this was his first time dealing with someone like her.
“Is there a problem…?”
She pointed to his mailbag.
“Could I see the letter that the maid just gave you?”
“Um… well…”
“I serve the master of this house,” Layla said sternly. “There’s no issue with me checking letters from here, is there?”
Hans hesitated, but Layla pressed further.
“If the maid leaked confidential information, you’d be responsible. Can you handle that?”
Terrified, Hans hurriedly handed her the letter.
Layla took it, examined the envelope.
No sender, and addressed to Lloyd de Silverstel — just as she expected.
She carefully broke only the wax seal and read the letter.
After finishing, she resealed it neatly and handed it back.
“No problem. Please make sure it reaches Silverstel safely.”
***
At the small café, I saw Lloyd already seated inside.
He had never once made me wait.
Even if it was a past life, that part of him hadn’t changed.
I sighed softly and walked in.
“You’re early,” I said.
Lloyd smiled brightly when he saw me.
“Yuliana.”
I ignored the warmth in his voice and sat across from him.
“I asked to meet today… to clear up what you said last time about our relationship.”
His smile faded.
But I had made up my mind. I looked directly at him and spoke firmly.
“I can’t be friends with you. So please stop sending letters.”
For a moment, he looked frozen. Then he forced a small, awkward smile.
“That’s why you wanted to meet?”
“I thought it was only fair to tell you in person.”
I didn’t think he’d understand otherwise.
To my surprise, he didn’t argue.
He just gave a bitter smile and said quietly,
“If that’s how you feel, I understand.
Relationships can’t be forced — whether it’s love or friendship.”
His easy acceptance made me feel strangely heavy inside.
“I’m sorry, Lloyd.”
“But, Yuliana,” he said suddenly.
His blue eyes were calm and sincere.
It made me freeze.
Had he ever looked at me like that before?
“To me, it looked like you were silently crying for help.”
“…”
“I don’t believe the connection we shared, even briefly, was fake.”
“That’s just your imagination.”
I replied quickly, trying to seem unaffected.
Lloyd simply smiled gently, as if he didn’t mind.
“If you say so, then I’ll believe you.”
Then he whispered quietly:
“But if you ever need help… come find me, Yuliana.”
His voice felt warm and comforting — like an angel’s touch.
But also… dangerous, like a devil’s temptation.
Avoiding his gaze, I stood up.
Somehow, being here felt uncomfortable — like I was with someone I didn’t know anymore.
Just then, I stumbled, my foot caught on the chair.
Before I could fall, Lloyd quickly stood and caught me.
“Careful there.”
He gently brushed my hair back, then added,
“Take care, Yuliana.”
Wait… when did he start calling me by name?
He always used to call me madam.
But now… it sounded natural coming from him.
I hadn’t even noticed until now.
I looked up, and he smiled at me like an angel.
