Chapter 27
Kallion’s hand clenched tightly as he stared at the photos Layla had given him.
The photos showed none other than Yuliana and Lloyd.
Lloyd was gently embracing Yuliana, brushing her hair aside.
And Yuliana… was looking up at him with a gaze that seemed almost mesmerized.
Feeling sick to his stomach, Kallion slapped the photos down on the desk in frustration.
He was breathing heavily with unexplained anger when a knock came at the door.
“It’s me. I brought next month’s estate budget.”
Speak of the devil — it was Yuliana’s voice.
Kallion took a deep breath and shoved the photo of her into a drawer before answering stiffly.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Yuliana stepped in.
She placed the documents on his desk and turned to leave, clearly done with her task.
But then Kallion spoke, his voice low and cold.
“I won’t stop you from having a lover.”
The unexpected comment made Yuliana pause and glance back at him.
“But if you’re going to have one,” Kallion continued, “pick someone decent-looking, low-risk, and preferably someone you can pay off without drama.”
Yuliana’s face twisted in anger.
Was he seriously suggesting she hire a male escort?
Even though she had already ended things with Lloyd, Kallion’s insulting words rubbed her the wrong way.
“So, I have to choose someone that fits your taste now?”
She snapped, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Kallion’s brow furrowed.
“Don’t be rude, Yuliana.”
He had once told her not to act like a wife, and now he was acting like a possessive husband?
It was laughable — pathetic, even.
And worse, he was treating her like some cheap woman who bought men with money.
Rage burned inside her.
“What’s wrong? Are you insecure because Lloyd is the complete opposite of you?”
Her sharp words made Kallion scowl and rise to his feet.
Now standing, he towered over her by more than a head.
He stepped closer, and instinctively, Yuliana took a step back.
“You’re acting like the lady of this house, but don’t forget — you were practically sold to Valdomere.”
“And you accepted the deal. You must not hate Heister as much as you pretend to, seeing as you kept their daughter as your wife.”
She didn’t hesitate to hit where it hurt.
Ever since he implied she should get herself a male companion, her pride and patience had crumbled.
What made him think he had the right to speak that way?
He flirted with his secretary while sharing a room, yet he dared to humiliate her?
She wanted to hurt him too.
Yuliana stared directly at him, face twisted with anger.
“The souls of the dead Valdomeres must be laughing at you, Kallion.”
His expression hardened at the sudden mention of his late mother.
“So don’t pretend to be righteous now. It’s disgusting.”
BANG!
Kallion slammed his hand against the wall behind her.
With him so close, she was now trapped between his arms.
Feeling suffocated by his presence, Yuliana’s gaze wavered.
His dark eyes were filled with danger.
His hot breath, heavy with anger, brushed the corner of her lips.
Looking down at her, he growled in a broken voice.
“Go on. Say more.”
Meeting his intense gaze, Yuliana clenched her jaw and glared back.
“I told you before I didn’t like you.”
She could feel his rough breath on her forehead.
Despite the threat in his eyes, she spat out her next words.
“No. I hate you. Just like you look at me with disgust — I despise and loathe you.”
Kallion’s eyes flickered for a split second.
Was that a doubt? Or surprise? It was hard to tell.
But he quickly returned to his usual cold expression and looked down at her arrogantly.
“If that’s true, why did a woman like you agree to marry me?”
Trapped under his arm, Yuliana stared up at him with defiance.
The tension between them made the air thick and hot.
As if waiting for her answer, Kallion remained silent.
“I married you because you have something I need.”
His brows furrowed, trying to make sense of her words.
“So until I get it, just be patient. After that, we won’t have to bother each other anymore.”
“…What?”
He looked confused, unable to understand what she meant.
Seeing his stunned face, Yuliana finished it off with a final blow.
“Until then, let’s not interfere in each other’s business — just like we originally agreed.”
With that, she placed her hand firmly on his chest.
His chest was tight with tension. She could feel his muscles clench under her palm.
Caught off guard by her words, Kallion seemed momentarily lost.
Yuliana gently pushed against his chest.
Surprisingly, the man who had just been like a stone wall backed off easily.
Freed from his arms, she walked out of the room without a backward glance.
Outside, Layla stood stiffly, her face tense.
She had likely heard their argument from the hallway.
From the way Kallion was lashing out about Lloyd, Yuliana could guess what had happened.
As she passed by Layla, Yuliana said in a low voice,
“So… you’re digging into my past.”
Layla’s shoulders tensed.
Yuliana looked at her calmly and added,
“If you’re going to do it — do it right.”
Then, without hesitation, she walked down the corridor.
***
After that, no more letters came from Lloyd.
It seemed he had fully understood her message that day.
Yet the words he said during their last meeting echoed in her ears.
“To me, it looked like you were silently crying for help.”
“If you ever need help, come find me, Yuliana.”
She didn’t know why those words lingered now.
But she shook her head firmly.
This was the right thing to do.
She couldn’t keep involving Lloyd and risk causing him harm.
His life would be far happier and more peaceful without her in it.
After all, in her past life, his life had been filled with nothing but misery because of her.
She stared blankly into her teacup until Kate’s cheerful voice snapped her out of it.
“Ma’am, shall we attend the upcoming Schultz family banquet?”
Startled, Yuliana looked at her.
“Huh?”
“I heard from the head butler that there’s a banquet coming up.”
“…Ah.”
Then she remembered — the Schultz family had sent an invitation recently.
It was delivered through the butler, probably at Kallion’s request.
Since their argument, she and Kallion had been avoiding each other.
It was for the best.
There was still about a week left until the next scheduled night together.
She hoped to remain as distant from him as possible until then.
Of course, she would still have to attend the banquet with him, as the lady of the house.
Memories of the last dreadful banquet resurfaced, and she pressed her lips together.
“How about this gold dress? It matches your hair color beautifully.
And with red accessories to match your eyes, you’ll be dazzling.”
“Sure.”
She didn’t care either way.
To be honest, she didn’t want to go to the banquet at all.
But to maintain her position as the lady of Valdomere, she had no choice.
It didn’t matter.
As long as she had Denian, she would leave this cursed estate.
Once she had her child, she could walk away without a trace of regret.
All eleven of her regressions, all those deaths — they had been for this one purpose.
***
Meanwhile, Kallion sat in silence, staring at a document in his hand.
“I despise and loathe you.”
It hadn’t felt like a lie.
The way she had looked at him…
Her eyes alone had made it clear.
But why did that truth make his chest feel tight?
Had he really done something so terrible to earn such hatred?
Those eyes — they had looked at him like he was a mortal enemy.
Then again, the Valdomere and Heister families were enemies.
So maybe she really did carry some past wound involving him.
She said she was looking for something.
Whatever it was, she clearly believed marriage was the only way to get it.
Was Heister trying to use her to steal Valdomere’s secrets?
But that would be reckless.
If caught, they’d risk complete extermination.
“Just be patient until then. After that, we won’t bother each other anymore.”
That final sentence lingered in his mind.
As if once she got what she wanted, she would leave without hesitation.
Feeling uneasy, Kallion ran his hand roughly through his hair again.
