Chapter 3

3.

It wasn't until dawn that Bastian walked out of Odette's room.

Seeing me still kneeling at the door, he frowned as if he had stepped on dog shit and turned to leave.

I was burning with a high fever. The overnight cold dew severely damaged my already weak body, and I was about to pass out.

Before I could even speak, I collapsed onto the ground.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Bastian's anxious face. He strode over and was about to pick me up.

"Bastian."

Odette's voice suddenly rang out. "Why did Cassia faint? It's all my fault. I was just worried about my own nightmares. Why did you actually make her kneel all night for me?"

"I just wonder if she's doing this on purpose. If people see you carrying her, there will be rumors, and she might force you to marry her..."

"Besides, she only knelt for one night. Who is she trying to show this delicate act to?"

Bastian's body stiffened. He angrily kicked me. "If Odette hadn't reminded me, I would have fallen for your trick again! Cassia, I watched you grow up. When exactly did you become like this!"

"You are truly disgusting!"

I moved my dry lips, but I still couldn't say a single word.

In the past, Bastian would panic even if my face turned slightly pale, and he would rush to wrap a coat around me. Now, he just stood there emotionlessly, coldly watching me twitch on the ground.

He looked down on me, his voice floating lightly.

"Cassia, did I spoil you too much in the past? I raised you into such a disgusting piece of trash."

Odette smiled and took his arm. "Like mother, like daughter. Her mother did those shameful things, so it's not surprising she gave birth to a daughter like this."

In my dazed state, I forced my eyes open and gritted my teeth. "Don't talk about my mother!"

Bastian let out a sigh. "You are right, Odette."

"With a mother like that, no wonder she is so cheap. Unlike you. You have a pure and noble background. You are fundamentally different from Cassia."

The hand I reached out fell heavily to the ground. His single sentence drained all the strength from my body.

Even the blood flowing in my veins seemed to turn ice-cold in an instant.

Bastian and Odette laughed and walked away side by side. The maid found me an eyesore and casually dragged me to the side, leaving me there to rot.

It wasn't until dusk that Faye finally found me dying.

"Miss!"

She panicked, frantically helping me up as her tears fell. "In the past, even if you suffered a tiny grievance, the Lord would get justice for you. But now... now..."

Now, all my grievances were given by him.

I didn't know how much time had passed. I opened my eyes and saw Faye lying by the bed, crying her heart out.

I struggled to raise my hand. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes were filled with tears. "Miss! Everyone in this Ivory Estate is a snob. When the Lord favored you, they all kissed your ass. Now that you are in trouble, I can't even get a single healing potion for you!"

I smiled faintly and reached out to pat her head. "The Ivory Estate is not my home, after all. They are Bastian's people. Since I harmed Bastian like this, it's only natural for them to blame me."

At the end of the day, the Ivory Estate was Bastian's home.

The way he treated me dictated how others treated me.

I never cared about the misunderstanding and mockery from others. The only thing that could break my heart was his coldness and contempt.

In the past, Bastian held my hand and told me this was my home. He promised I would never be bullied again, and I believed him.

But it was also him who personally took away my place in this home.

Faye tried to hold it back, but she threw herself into my arms. "But what exactly did you do wrong?"

I shook my head and calmly looked at the swaying tassels on the bed curtain. "Right or wrong doesn't matter anymore. Anyway, I am leaving soon."

How many more times could this heart of mine ache?