IOWYC Chapter 05

Chapter 05 

“My person,” he said…

Strangely, I wasn’t even angry anymore.

I had seen Kallion protect Layla like that plenty of times in my previous life.

Back then, I had been too afraid of losing his favor to even question their relationship out loud.

But now, I had no reason to care what he thought of me.

“And it’s fine for a servant from a subordinate family to block the path of the lady of the house?”

At my cold words, Layla glanced at Kallion and quickly bowed her head, cutting in first.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, Madam…”

Just a minute ago, she was standing tall and defiant. Now that Kallion was here, she was meek and submissive.

I scoffed silently.

Kallion frowned at her apology and muttered sharply.

“You be quiet, Layla.”

As if I had just attacked her.

I stared at them both, unimpressed.

Then Kallion turned to me and warned:

“Don’t throw another tantrum.”

“If you had kept your promise, none of this would have happened.”

I didn’t back down. I looked him straight in the eye.

“I told you—keep the promise, and I won’t care what you do or who you’re with. You accepted that proposal.”

There was nothing wrong with what I said. Kallion’s face tightened, then he let out a sigh.

“Ha… You really don’t quit, do you?”

He looked down at me like I was some desperate woman craving his attention.

“If you’re that desperate to sleep with someone, go get yourself a lover. I won’t stop you.”

It wasn’t me who was shocked—it was Layla.

She covered her mouth, pretending to be horrified, and looked at me with pity.

Kallion stood in front of her, completely convinced that his words wouldn’t hurt me anymore.

His cold gaze pierced me like ice.

It wasn’t the misunderstanding that bothered me.

It was the utter disrespect in front of his servant—as if I wasn’t his wife, or even a human worthy of dignity.

His words, his tone, everything was aimed to humiliate me.

My hands shook slightly. I clenched my fists tightly to hide it.

For Denian, I had to endure.

No matter how cruel he became.

If I could just have Denian, then I would leave this cursed house without looking back.

So…

“You made a promise. Keep it.”

Yes, keep your word, Valdormer.

My quiet words made his lips twitch bitterly.

“Yuliana, do you really think sleeping with me will change anything?”

His voice was sharp, meant to wound.

I held back my emotions and stared back blankly.

Then Layla finally spoke up, clearly unable to listen anymore.

“Lord Kallion, I… I’ll excuse myself now.”

It looked like she was stepping away to give us privacy.

But if that was really her intention, she wouldn’t have said it out loud.

Kallion, as if not catching the meaning behind it, simply said:

“Don’t go. Stay in the office—there’s still work to do.”

Layla looked between us as if unsure of what to do.

“But…”

Yes, I remembered that look.

The same one she always gave me in the past—standing beside him proudly, watching me with pity.

Old emotions I thought I had buried surged up again. My fists clenched even harder.

“That’s an order, Layla. Don’t leave. Wait in the office.”

Reluctantly, she obeyed.

“Yes, understood.”

I must have looked pathetic.

Standing there pale, fists clenched, trying not to show how shaken I was.

I tried to keep my expression cold, aloof.

But my trembling hands betrayed me.

I thought I didn’t feel anything for him anymore.

I thought even the hatred had faded after so many lifetimes.

And yet… here he was, reminding me of everything.

As Layla disappeared into the office, I turned to Kallion with sharp eyes.

“If you don’t want to face the consequences of breaking the agreement between Valdormer and Heister, then fulfill your duties as a husband, Kallion.”

Kallion’s brow furrowed.

I added, with biting sarcasm:

“If you’re not even capable of that, maybe it’s time to send an official apology to the Heister family.”

Then I deliberately glanced at his lower half.

His face twisted in rage.

He stared at me, breathing heavily, then let out a dry, mocking laugh.

“You think I’d ever get aroused by you, Yuliana?”

He sneered.

“That’s not my fault.”

His voice turned flat and emotionless as he delivered the final blow.

“It’s yours.”

It was a cruel thing to say to a woman.

But I didn’t flinch. I just stared back.

In truth, in our past life, when he had fulfilled this “duty,” he had been passionate and eager.

So much so, it made me believe he had feelings for me.

I pushed the memory aside and spoke calmly:

“You know what this marriage means. I won’t say more.”

That should be enough.

As the heir to a noble house, he couldn’t ignore a vow made between families.

Unless he wanted to give up everything.

Grinding his teeth, Kallion said nothing as I turned away.

Before I left, I added coldly:

“Your suggestion about getting a lover? I’ll give it some serious thought.”

Then I walked off without looking back.

I could feel his sharp gaze behind me—but I didn’t care.

***

A few days later, I received a message from him.

He didn’t come himself—he sent someone else.

Of course, it was Layla.

I sat across from her in silence.

As always, she wore her fake polite smile and delivered his message.

“Lord Kallion says he will keep the next agreed date.”

I raised my teacup to my lips and replied flatly:

“I see.”

Layla stared at me, then hesitantly added:

“Madam… I’m sorry for what happened that day.”

I glanced at her.

It was obvious her apology wasn’t sincere.

She still didn’t see me as the mistress of the house—or Kallion’s wife.

Yes, it was irritating. But I didn’t want to waste my energy on her.

I had only one goal: to have Denian.

“Lady Layla.”

She looked up at me.

I met her gaze without flinching and said clearly:

“I don’t care what kind of relationship you have with Kallion, or what you do with him. I want only one thing—that he keeps his promise to me.”

Layla’s face tensed slightly.

I smiled faintly.

“I mean our arrangement. The nights.”

My blunt words made her clench her fists on her lap.

After a long pause, she finally said bitterly:

“…Do you really have to go that far?”

I tilted my head, confused.

“He had to marry the daughter of his enemy. Even if you like him, every day must be hell for him.”

I stared at her calmly, waiting for her to continue.

She met my gaze with barely hidden hostility and went on.

“To force him into something like that… I just can’t understand. How can you force yourself on someone who doesn’t want you? Don’t you feel sorry for him?”

I didn’t even feel angry.

Honestly, it was funny.

Force him? Feel sorry for him?

That man she pitied so much…

I remembered the desperate way he had clung to me in our previous life.

How he’d wanted me so badly, again and again.

How he had drowned in lust, no matter how cold he pretended to be.

And this woman—this clueless, self-righteous woman—was sitting here preaching to me?

Something dark stirred inside me.

I wanted to laugh. Or maybe, I wanted to shatter her delusion completely.