Chapter 8

‘But where can I go? I need someone who can protect me, even just for a moment, from that monster…’

While my body was taken, Florence Love Seymour became Florence Love Lindquist. Even if I tried to run, I’d be caught quickly. If only my grandmother were alive—I would’ve gone straight to her without thinking.

‘Only Linus knows that I’ve come back. No one else knows that Jang Hyunji was inside my body. Especially my family—they just think I lost my memory five years ago.’

I held my aching head. I tried to search through “my” memories, to find someone I could trust, someone who could at least help me escape.

Damn it. Linus, that cold and cunning bastard.

If only I could use someone who had once stupidly loved “me,” but Linus made sure not a single one of those people stayed close to “me.”

“So creepy… disgusting…”

I opened the wardrobe. It was full of clothes I wouldn’t have chosen. I took a scarf and covered the bruise on my neck. It wasn’t a perfect disguise, but better than nothing.

Everyone in this mansion trusted Linus completely. Even if I ran, no one would help me. I had to escape to a place he couldn’t reach right away. Sadly, I had only one such place.

The Seymour house—my family, who hated me, lived there.

“Helen!”

“Yes, Miss Florence.”

I opened the bedroom door and called Helen. She had been waiting nearby and came to me with worried eyes.

How lucky you are, Jang Hyunji.

Your husband begged for you, choking me, and your maid already knows you’re not the same, even if she can’t explain it.

No one ever noticed when I was here.

I forced a smile, copying Jang Hyunji’s face in the mirror. She was someone who knew how to smile brightly and without wrinkles. Helen’s stiff face relaxed.

“Can you help me pack?”

“Pack…? You just woke up. Where are you going in that condition…?”

“…I want to see my father.”

“But the master…”

“He already agreed. He said he couldn’t do anything while I was unconscious because he stayed by my side. He’s strong, one of the strongest men in the kingdom, so I’m not worried. But if I stay here, he’ll just keep worrying and won’t get any rest. Don’t you think so?”

Speaking kindly and gently, Helen seemed to relax completely. She nodded.

“That may be true, but…”

“My father knows I collapsed, right?”

“Yes. Three days ago, the whole Seymour family came to visit you. They were very worried, but the Marquis is busy, so he couldn’t stay long…”

“Of course.”

If it had been me—not “me”—they wouldn’t have even bothered visiting.

“Are you upset because of that?”

“No, of course not. I’m not a child.”

I pouted a little, and Helen smiled sweetly, like calming a child.

My chest ached. While I was suffering in pain, you got to enjoy all this kindness in my body. I swallowed the pain you were supposed to feel…

“How long will you stay?”

“About a week.”

“Then you’ll need to pack a lot. The mornings and evenings are still cold…”

“I don’t need much. I left things at the Seymour house. If I need anything else, I’ll ask for it.”

“That may be true, but you’re now the lady of the Baldwin mansion. You need to act like it.”

Helen spoke with a stern tone, too bold for a servant. But she looked like she felt responsible, almost like an older sister. I nodded and smiled.

“Of course…”

“If the master gets upset again, you’ll be the one who suffers.”

“…”

“You said he even gets upset over small things. I’ve never seen him like that, but…”

I just smiled lightly.

The word “upset” didn’t fit Linus Shane Lindquist at all. Only Jang Hyunji could see him as cute.

Only she could be happy about that terrifying obsession.

Jang Hyunji was strange. She welcomed pity and enjoyed Linus’s obsession. The more he tied her down, the safer she seemed to feel.

If she had hated it, maybe Linus would’ve drawn a line like he did with Lila Green. But Hyunji was happy with his obsession, so for five years, Linus didn’t even try to stop himself.

“When are you leaving? It’s already getting dark. Don’t tell me… Did the master really allow this? I can’t believe it…”

“He agreed and then fell asleep. He hadn’t slept for days. Poor man. Let him rest.”

“But…”

“If I stay next to him, he won’t be able to sleep. …You know that.”

I feel sick.

I forced a smile, holding down the disgust rising inside me. Only then did Helen nod.

“I guess you’re right…”

It looked like Linus really hadn’t eaten or slept while I was unconscious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have passed out like that from just emotional shock.

It would be great if he had completely lost his mind.

“Then please help me. Prepare a carriage too.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“Make it fast. I want to see my father as soon as possible. I don’t care if it’s night.”

“Okay!”

Helen brought a large bag and started packing. Honestly, I didn’t need anything in that bag. I just needed to leave the Baldwin mansion naturally—so no one would suspect anything.

The most important thing was to get away from that man.

“Did you miss your father that much?”

“Yes… When people are sick, they want to see their parents.”

“Miss Florence…”

Helen’s eyes filled with sympathy.

The old me would never let someone look at me like that. I held back the sarcasm on my tongue.

“He’s all I have, so I really wanted to see him.”

“We’ll leave at dawn. I’ll get everything ready. I won’t let anything go wrong.”

“…Thank you, Helen. I mean it.”

I looked at Helen. She smiled warmly. I froze for a moment, then gave a small smile in return. I hoped she’d think it was just because I was weak after waking up.

‘Why do I have to act like that woman?’

This body is mine. I am me… She should’ve copied me, not the other way around.

She used the excuse of memory loss and did whatever she wanted. So why… why do I have to do this?

I used to dream of sweet conversations like this before bed. I still dreamed about them every day.

She’s the thief. So why does it feel like I’m stealing what belongs to her?

My head dropped in sadness. When I yelled at Linus, when I hated him with all I had—it felt good. Even if it was foolish, it felt great, like I was getting revenge.

“Are you feeling unwell, Miss Florence?”

“…No… I’m fine…”

I quickly looked away. Even though I knew she was looking at “me,” not really me, seeing her warm smile made my heart ache with false hope.

The hope that maybe—just maybe—she would smile at me too.

I’d rather be choked again. I had to get away from Helen too.

As I listened to her moving around, I buried my face in my hands. My neck hurt, my head was dizzy. The joy I felt when I returned—was already gone. All that remained was the familiar pain.

I finally came back. After everything I went through…

Grandmother…
I miss you.

It felt like I was drowning in a deep, heavy sadness.