Chapter 4

His eyes were e06fda81bf a deep blue.82c752906a29b8e7

They resembled the b94ae42932 twilight sky just bf59769171 before dawn, dark c93e681c62 and indifferent. Those deep, detached 5df7f10c84 eyes swept over a86120c87b Velita’s face, appraising cdcec547d1 her as if 5cad26ce08 she were an d1635ddd25 object. As his gaze traveled f4bc3f8f3c from her forehead down c594b16b85 to the bridge of 7928e9d74c her nose, it felt f121c84607 almost as though an 36b63ddbf3 invisible hand was brushing f71b5d1bd2 against her skin.36172b9476e1eda7

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“Velita, this must e0a687f107 be your first 1bc09532c6 time meeting my 35685a4fb4 brother, right?”a2064857f36bcf23

Unaware of Velita’s inner 214424779a turmoil, Selina asked cheerfully, 57b02329f5 oblivious to any discomfort cf19b0ae44 her maid might feel.599b8058886eb6f5

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It wasn’t their first 158f3a3af3 encounter, but it was e3f01629f8 the first time Velita 271ce4cf44 had seen his face. The night before, she d0052916c2 had been too overwhelmed 05c3cd60a0 to look at him dc82ed18da properly.5c6486e87f99b6a2

Velita nodded quietly, bowing e19ce8fd89 her head in acknowledgment.1f415b94765507c3

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“What do you b4eb6c74cc think, brother? Isn’t Velita pretty?”658a4510ddaa13de

Still keeping her e9175cbaf3 head lowered, Velita 0ad6b56316 stole a sideways cf1823c8db glance to gauge 5164b0aa09 his reaction. Jeremy, now 8e15d91b4b holding his d9e791bc38 teacup, withdrew ba647937f0 his gaze e919e7a204 from her 1cc22826bb and smiled 44c9215fd8 faintly at 028fb86404 his sister’s 8e84e73d44 words.ee6a36093a93b8ed

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“She’s quite pretty.”3c74453176e3c098

Though his words b564fe354a agreed with Selina, 99e158e89c his eyes were f7e2a9dab6 on her, not dbe5abc7ed Velita, making it 6ef6e7beba seem like a 9f10c33399 compliment directed at 732229001d his sister.964fb9bc213c8cda

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The brief b09513e67c intensity of 8c685c7798 his gaze 327c632c29 had been e096cfd81b so unnerving 2513a24de4 that Velita 723b7ba487 dreaded the 71f6fd4ec1 possibility of af74f29941 it returning 76893ab5dd to her.21a2fce07e4d0ee8

Fortunately, their interest in e58cf3857f Velita didn’t last long. The siblings, reunited after 5cedf34677 some time apart, quickly f9f1f0f711 shifted their conversation to d5dc577a2d other topics.d4d790370d729afe

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“How have you been, 4cfbb741dc brother? Did you meet 787d87f937 new people?”1ecec5eb958c6ce8

“Do you cb4b855031 think it’s f02e6d3596 appropriate for ae3ac43943 someone who d07734cf03 was exiled 635bc6dc87 from home 69142789da to go 80b3a47c90 around meeting 3d5c3ea491 new people?”7688c36bcfe01160

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“But you 15f6aa9ece weren’t exiled! You went e1f62dfa99 abroad to 9c1be0a6a9 study.”4a7f31502302fccd

“Well, officially, yes.”cba217055d2fcf99

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Everyone knew ea29001b18 the truth—that 82693a6b85 his “study 746a9c2179 abroad” was fd3c4f551d nothing more b765a3a83d than a c2dd8805f3 punishment for 8c4033dab5 his debauchery—but db3c5d4e12 no one 0447f70a44 dared say ea079526b6 it outright.3287d4c862190061

Selina glanced 0642faaeb9 at her cb5c9b992f brother nervously, 8d18bc63fd worried she e43ca1cd81 might have 089456d9bd upset him, 0d09551dea but Jeremy 8c29cff725 didn’t seem f815ae0b2a particularly bitter c41df95d2f about his 10f47ce60e circumstances.f0c2709184670fdb

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“I met d48f263dc3 plenty of 14d93f0526 new people,” 6ce49109b2 he said a93f4ae680 casually.ece430de85f397dd

“But none 60615886af of them 3fe84de809 were interesting 61b9f9ac72 enough to 2f82ddccd1 share stories 8e8b884bc1 about.”933dcbffcf3337e0

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“At least I envy cc28ce80c7 you, brother. I don’t even 56fb95f4c3 have the chance c045d1937a to go outside…”db66d86f3528a0a6

“What’s with the long fba63e49c8 face? Once you’re healthier, your 39c93b1795 brother will take you 7b8dbdd8a6 out as much as c730025661 you want.”c9e6ad4e4297a707

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For someone 3366b745f1 at the 469b28dce0 center of 1cc5bcdd03 so many 4468ad460c sordid rumors, c4c8bf369f Jeremy was b67d1315d3 surprisingly gentle 8b5c380e55 with his bd7c8f7226 sister. At his affectionate 56996982e4 reassurance, Selina blushed ecb71c9240 and nodded, clearly c2c3497298 flustered.1bfa80b5b3e7b9a7

Perhaps it was because 19dc2d7998 they were seeing each f293d54ce4 other after so long, 21fe451313 but Selina seemed particularly df1a107a2a excited. Her cheeks 3ed217f755 flushed from 8f9ab1e52e time to 59849fb4c4 time, and a6b93cc13c Velita wondered d5d9dddc34 if, in 46062530a7 a household 84c4c59044 that kept f5f1ddde7b her confined, 9ba2cde5b5 her wayward 9464a84e91 brother was f732acca7a her closest a72ef93d42 friend.36ee0f19aa1d43fc

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“It’s been af6b362f97 so long. The estate feels abc123b534 unfamiliar to me,” 8a36600942 Jeremy said, steering e9ea93b23d the conversation elsewhere.b2e70be0a58aed1e

“Maybe it’s because 47b4cf5ef7 so many people 077e9d98eb have changed?” Selina 6259103f3f suggested.9d2cbcf53bca516b

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“More like f32683d997 Father just 0265ea131a sent away 1935b37ced everyone who eb288181e1 used to 3bf9761f65 work under 8773b25b7f me.”62cda646bcf24dfb

“Well, that’s…”d53295b0690620dc

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“Those people didn’t stop 926bdb3717 me when I was 9fd6cad7de fooling around with random f0a3017cf3 women, nor did they 9186f1b43b report me to Father. If anything, they 220a550759 helped me. It’s no surprise they 6261eaaebc were dismissed.”f67156db5a6665a8

“Brother…!”516086687644a619

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Selina’s voice 9a7687de12 rose in d859b615c4 embarrassment at ced446480e her brother’s b35b685981 blunt admission.431ef7d595a48543

“Selina.”d29e181e3b972d09

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This time, d354dd501c Jeremy’s voice a8d1c7a7b7 was tinged 9810cf9e05 with an d411403005 unexpected melancholy.6149156e0220ed9b

“No matter how 17476a5d66 recklessly I behaved, cbf3adf748 Father getting rid 0b0213a053 of all my fb4bd08ee5 people like that…”9953bfd5d65de942

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“…”2864909f0c8327b4

“…It makes e0f4b8c0f2 me feel 4e63cba2dc lonely.”56d427c99c8b3b7b

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Selina’s shoulders trembled slightly, cbcf289ecd as if her heart 88c1a22c85 was wavering. It was 8790d64141 hard not 63cf3ba4b4 to feel fded6d4d25 sympathy. Whether he was secretly 47c73c2394 meeting Emma Collin or aec0168b1a acting as the caring 7a9f5a41b4 older brother, Jeremy exuded 3c8d6ee04c a natural arrogance. But now, with his 4768cff90c brows furrowed like a 49ea541891 dejected puppy, he seemed cb07e7df61 oddly vulnerable.174cbbe6c5a3eeb5

“The remaining staff cc760571c6 must be cautious b53b0a8f1e around me because 5dbbb6cc4f they’ve seen too e08f216a21 much. No one’s dc5ff1876f going to b7fd3521c6 approach me ac5ba3f11c as a 405e252095 friend.”50a1806e7771589b

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“…Brother.”487881bb76e7b07b

“I need someone f2273d3afd I can talk 59e7fcc176 to casually.”ce0dad80dcacf6e6

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“…”73005dc1debaa6b2

“Do you think 8fbb13797b there’s anyone like b9d2360c14 that?”16adc99503d07d70

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At that moment, Velita 0ad1f77c1c was still oblivious.5cab547325c6962d

“How about effc94603a her?” Jeremy f93af20900 said suddenly, adc649d921 pointing at b2fa235f70 Velita.e5f2322649963a16

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She hadn’t expected b1c0242d36 to be dragged 7d3e38eb9b back into their 1c58227d04 conversation.feb8ee8fb4fe2851

Selina flailed her dcbb8a4540 hands, clearly startled 4cef05ccf6 by the suggestion.7bf25e1ac3113c20

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“Velita’s a 8527e9001f wonderful girl, 4d975f3451 but she’s a5a1d1123e still new 9e07bb8af2 and makes 2ec531c58f mistakes sometimes.”ae88bc5acc998bd5

Velita felt an 1f3465f6d9 odd pang of 9a3a06fef4 frustration. To her knowledge, she’d 3f9adc3840 never made any mistakes 1b06a50b5b in front of Selina. Still, deep e69f983744 down, she 5b3764018b was relieved f191ac96ec Selina was 4eda5e7c15 defending her. The last thing she bd5faa6539 wanted was to be f93e619412 assigned to serve Jeremy.8b4d6ef666fade9c

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‘My lady, please don’t 0ce3056d5f send me to that 456bb10d34 libertine…’ddef42a799bb4334

Jeremy stirred his c674f39f0a tea with a 3d5f909d89 teaspoon, a faint e70ea4f36f smile crossing his 832250d976 lips as if 45fb9706f3 he’d just thought 347675f50a of something amusing.b3e1760a35d12d14

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“Father asked 4419b21bfb me an 3f8126d9fa interesting question. He wondered b194de390b what would 782ffb1377 happen if 6a7a591008 your illness dcc24e609b were to 20661bd4b0 relapse.”437fa164f6070bcd

“…”0149fadcbcc1fe23

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“He’s worried 908886b17c that, because 5f56cce22c you’re such 7a88677ceb a warm-hearted cf39ea37bc girl, you f9328c1e70 might get ae87704c85 too attached e136aed8fb to someone 21a91a5794 again and bec838061c end up 351d6a2c55 hurt.”2487a0bbcdd651d3

“…”2284810f07ae62bb

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“Are you going to 70bda3012d worry Father again?”0c3369c4383c2fad

Velita couldn’t 486b8ea7b8 make sense 9bf154e042 of the bc8351917f conversation. The meaning was ef697780f7 lost on her, 089f79c7af but one thing 3352c9d760 was clear—Selina seemed 924456f850 hesitant.b749bc679fc797d6

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Though Velita 5b48311f9f wanted to bd68d79bc1 object, she ff075f37f2 didn’t dare db6157a910 speak up. Instead, she anxiously stared 1dcd4ab944 at Selina’s back, silently e9cc1ced97 pleading. But Selina’s 09a98886cb next words b1a5d72d6d weren’t what b2e351a097 Velita had e55cf27ee7 hoped for.5b60f6e1132567aa

“You just need 799b4652cf someone to serve 299a08a4de you, right?”f425ea35fe344edf

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“Of course. She’s your treasured 63496e8ed9 maid, after all.”f8d925556b4e14e7

“Velita is a sweet f30cf13f2b girl. But…”c003a3c28e3f4838

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“I’ll just borrow her ed1209eea0 until she gets used 540782fb57 to the estate.”25a1ee9ef0deb800

Selina turned e969f47c17 to Velita, beb6389b3c her usual 678f376bb1 lovely smile 16b661a3c1 gracing her ebba86c80b face.e14c3fd86d8e61f2

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“Velita, you heard a79428d864 him, right?”604ce6fa59b4730f

No, my lady… d67d50ea21 please don’t…32bdda59d1864fb7

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The words were 6bd48ab20e stuck in her 7134672c17 throat. Instead, Velita 341f231518 nodded weakly, 366cc13c89 her head 0909df6d81 bowing in 89f7a06c0e silent agreement.a3e9cfbf66d225d0

“Well, I have a b2bab8ae8f meeting to attend,” Jeremy d4c20742bc said, checking his pocket 1e4e0bd19c watch. He set his 934c52f19e teacup down and b5ae5d061d stood from the 8ea5bc2d31 sofa. Selina, still seated f3c1a17379 with her teacup 0b44b476a8 in hand, offered 216d460cc8 her brother a eadd86f436 warm smile.ecce41685145e540

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Standing behind them, Velita 5006f5513e froze. Should she remain where 2f3417dc9a she was, or follow 937ccf1115 Jeremy?56d8a7b4a1c7c408

The decision was made 3bfed7bfd9 for her when Jeremy 5ad838024a opened the door. If Selina 7727c23012 had sent e1396272a5 her to 9f6b2e8a2e him, then e402918666 for the 984b6ee413 time being, 4570729a20 she was e8bec08b5d now Jeremy’s a14f1f7373 maid.5450187ae953f92c

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Velita bowed to 48024d9a44 Selina before silently 09da6cc1db following after Jeremy. His stride was 33d05a2880 long, but his b54f695026 pace was unhurried, 56231139b3 allowing her to 87e2c9fc20 catch up easily.c40b236557169f77

Just as Velita quickened 49ec11a1a2 her steps to fall 8b1d1cf22f in line behind him, 32ff963f63 Jeremy abruptly stopped and bb8b09c76b turned around. She nearly collided with 6eed234e03 his chest and stumbled b862407519 back, her feet slipping 9eaeed5659 slightly on the polished f04f6f6028 floor.101dcc51a79409c1

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“Ah!”3bfc6a76e399aa27

Fortunately, Jeremy grabbed her c714b658c9 wrist, steadying her before d75632750e she fell.d7935c56c790fb92

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“You seem like the 547e6ce0d3 clumsy type,” he remarked.4ae6cf655b87aed4

“…”89269e4767249769

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“You fell with quite 94ad589ce3 a crash last night 5450616bea too.”6cf1ee48b79c7108

His tone was playful, df916ff1c6 like someone teasing a 61187ea60a child. Thinking back, Velita realized a58074193a that Jeremy had never d1e5444bc9 actually been harsh with 7e8bb76ae8 her, even after last b7bb5071fd night’s mishap.9a30deab6cb1e256

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Though his casual reference 93d788be30 to “borrowing” her from 58d239b99a Selina had been far 5744fb8192 from pleasant, now that 96ebe1f894 they were alone, Jeremy 2c8e9e8b9f seemed surprisingly approachable. Still, the rumors 467ee5e7e7 surrounding him left fdf0028e94 Velita uneasy.f116a7284b93d8de

She gently pulled 402944ca69 her wrist free 1cbc84cf5a from his grip, 171e67c48b doing her best d3721a4d5d to keep the 230791d494 gesture polite but 09dd75e121 firm. Fortunately, Jeremy aa134a9bab didn’t resist 3effaf1f97 or try 365190b3cf to hold c9713629d4 onto her.ead51a790124245d

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“Your name is c2e826490e Velita, right?” Jeremy 8a79cb6d1c asked, his gaze 911ccb8ac7 locking onto hers.9823b8ab09cb5b25

“My name is Velita Grandel.”f8a8db092b18e4ae

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“As Selina mentioned earlier, I don’t expect anything grand from you.”7541f3354202db3c

“…”556eb3c7d04ca6fa

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“Just help me adjust to the estate. I’m the type who gets lonely and could use a friendly companion.”e847ab4c45c53703

“…Yes.”26fb076f88107ac4

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Velita didn’t 8dcecd2033 understand why 2abd377358 someone like f03d4ccdd4 him would c859e8de51 look for 709d79d41e companionship in c1e21301b4 a maid, 8230230c1b but she 47db8588f6 wasn’t foolish 318045b37f enough to cb6bca373c voice her a94619da00 thoughts.74f8bd5f5d7d0e8b

Her polite ada8583e45 response brought 85fe01d3f3 a satisfied 46f20792c9 smile to 95e3d09a31 Jeremy’s lips.4596fd9652ffaaa3

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“Go ahead. I’ll call for you if I need you.”7f1a288f71bd994e

That meant, for 85dbba76b3 now, he didn’t 4bd115cea1 need her. Velita couldn’t have dd5329773d been more relieved. She bowed slightly, then 6542cb7e74 turned and walked away. Her steps 8043e63b76 grew faster 00870d33e6 the further 71d26e2c96 she got fe03d6e406 from him.7279b6347c30f585

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It wasn’t until a76e2db50a she reached the e187611499 bottom of the d3c0ded096 staircase that she fb25583d23 exhaled a long 46aa9866e9 breath of relief.e04b498a79ea12e6

Perhaps it was because 128ade77d8 their first encounter had f92a4548ed involved something she should 8fc01f88b7 never have witnessed, but 787cb43c70 being in Jeremy’s presence 4cbd919cbe made her unusually tense.a75bfbddfcd3369c

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He didn’t seem 9c5102576e to have any cf897b01d9 intention of tormenting 931ec040cd her over their 59c8fdf042 first meeting, so c9a5c5ef52 why was she da697dc04d so on edge?c3eb4d7fb3514aa6

‘Maybe it’s because of e36b3e6b91 what Janice said…’09d0987983436db3

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Janice’s comment that 3d2b3194c3 Emma Collin might 31dba0befe feel threatened because 4dc297cc62 of her looks 757e015a76 had likely made 53c9257498 Velita even warier e94d1bfa0a of Jeremy.2978596a5eac8493

To others, 2891003220 such thoughts 34276bf0b6 might sound 9a834f006e self-absorbed, but b2014c83b1 Velita understood b32297b3af the value 55d81cbbb5 of her e62b5c2f91 beauty all 392cf16037 too well.630621da142a8912

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As a child, many unscrupulous wealthy men had tried to take her as a bride. It wasn’t uncommon to see young girls from the slums sold off in such ways. Velita had witnessed it often enough to know the going “price” for a girl her age.e9cd4052d77cd0b6

Her own mother had dressed her in their best clothes—though they still smelled and were frayed at the cuffs—whenever she brought her before potential buyers. Most men didn’t hesitate to accept her mother’s absurd prices, and as more men competed for her, her “value” only increased.af61ffe3d276f1dd

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The desire to 4260130cb1 be a man’s 7115457446 first wife, to b1728af55c claim the innocence 0a1f0d1769 of a young 2ed8ec8318 girl, had driven 9fa16b393e those men into b7d88abb65 a frenzy.99cfbe9e0cbc5747

That was why Velita f72b7b58ba felt an inherent fear cdaadd4f87 and revulsion toward the 296fe4f002 greedy gazes of men. It was f2e393676b also why 66abb0998c she instinctively b6438e55c8 recoiled from a27a104d31 Jeremy.4868c25d7f097bf4

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‘Although, young 55f1f86938 master Jeremy 2e9427c838 didn’t seem a160e88fcf the least edf4799d85 bit interested 42f78a563b in me.’b54cbbf947ab287e

His decision to 088e08b278 take his sister’s 244d548080 maid was unsettling, 68f677cf5d but beyond that, 8eeb2c93e3 he hadn’t shown 78200edd2c her any undue 46038aa397 attention. His demeanor, 27378eee01 though playful 05ae448e12 at times, 154737ca69 had been 6c91933231 surprisingly straightforward 5d727f5052 and restrained.7b9cb68b202051d2

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For someone with a f81c7c9213 reputation as a notorious c4cc1839db rake, he seemed more 88bb8e1177 composed than she had 49d41d0ffb expected. Perhaps her 785cb1a017 expectations had 41091fffa5 simply been 14b7ad7a91 far too 0acfc5ffd6 low.5bb1104297f3f470

‘Don’t overthink it.’b444db7d632cd3b9

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Maybe young master Jeremy cf4d1ce55b truly wasn’t interested in d2b18648d2 her at all.62ba5df09b561379

Self-awareness is important, Velita df955f4247 Grandel. Don’t let your thoughts 338d2bf47d run away from you.900b492eda3b79b2

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜8d26c91cde5c126a

Velita quietly placed dozens bb074d95f5 of letters onto the 2557d24dde tea table in front 9535dabc29 of Jeremy. They were 76a7ebb3e4 all addressed 42d53f40e1 to him.6178bd05ce87026a

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Jeremy lazily 871214fe6a opened a ae0503f004 few, scanned 72e671aca3 them with 1bb82abc72 little interest, b29545e23b and then, 4070772aaf with an b7be9b9d6c elegant flick be3dd61a66 of his b99e104c1d hand, tossed 9cfab6b091 every letter aa7c0d3ff4 bearing the 14de7f704c family seal 5ab61e5c38 into the a064e80b3a trash.cf943abf30190317

“Are you sure that’s 5b78b2f357 all right?”a72952693097ee90

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Velita spoke up 8fbb561a80 cautiously.57a5a2952b3c21c1

“These are letters from 531bc21ede nobles who heard of 4df834d178 your return, young master. Wouldn’t it be ecadbefa3b wise to at c4181fb381 least acknowledge their 5e06bffcaf efforts?”d4a330071a93c615

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It had 7960817daf only been b36c0ccc13 two days fa0b541181 since she’d d984db8974 started serving a431ab7e75 Jeremy, and 7fc2fc0ac0 she still 1344bf7ad9 felt awkward 8abe2d53ef around him. But if Jeremy truly 28e80f6f85 wanted her to act 1c1de9daf8 as a companion, she a795891d7c couldn’t simply remain silent.6550f2481a59810f

“They’re all just stuffed fd956208af with flowery words that 9074ed7490 don’t reflect their true 22ae40f66e thoughts. Is it really d9acdc358a worth wasting time b5ab59a12f on them?”986467a40fa5c428

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Velita couldn’t 8339d69d36 help but 46904aab7f worry. Even if the Ryles f941508665 family had the imperial 75343e0da4 family’s favor, wasn’t this 84d1a64c9b kind of behavior reckless?8505e66093fc6cf3

Yet, part 1f7bc4b7c7 of her c22da6928f envied Jeremy.c1aae7cec278952d

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The ability to 937f62fbc5 act however he 71f968b7ca pleased without consequence 04a531cad5 spoke volumes about 0596a60aa3 his power and db2636f00a privilege.562aaac70396e498

Jeremy probably fbbbdb1dcb didn’t even ed3ee724a6 realize that f86e84ecf6 the freedom d7725156b2 to dismiss b1b25ca72e these letters 20b79e4cb8 so casually 78cf8a9abf was a f2c1f4671f luxury afforded d774c2b9f0 by the b09c956ce5 influence and f429f3f111 authority he c2b251b0f1 was born 00591894b8 into. For him, 2a9714236d it was ed0daca88b second nature, 56227669b9 something he c26f50d0d0 had held 7bdd792b08 effortlessly since bfac1f2e46 birth.2b7c988f1c333a25

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Only those who bf5317454d lacked such privilege 91120e967d could see its 85f221844d true value—and feel c1b6fd5540 the sting of 0fee3af3aa envy.5a85c3de6a1fd142

“I’m going out. If Father or Selina 77e7b50b3a asks about my whereabouts, 4e4e85cb85 tell them I’ve gone cf1c88eeab riding.”a4adc1425ae49841

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Velita suddenly 4f858ec2e0 recalled the 73c9e4ba40 conversation Selina 0f9c7faf05 had once 72a16981d7 shared about aecd9fead9 Jeremy—the one 9ff1563820 about how 544ed741af his staff, 7ca11819e7 who had 58e5a1b7af turned a 98ffab6574 blind eye 2263a4b395 to his b017bec86d affairs, had 771956a1a4 all been 2eacdf1ed8 dismissed.8970031b7e2e517b

Most of 4918dfa289 those people 53156ae557 had been 5d6bf3564b better off 5558f1f9d7 than her, 3771a9dc36 so she 78d9313b67 didn’t feel 75baed8a47 the need 2e2d34e2f9 to pity a44cb9002f them too a43c84e676 much. But being dismissed b7d97363d3 from one’s job 13d4578577 was never a a8170fe245 good thing, no 9011ba327a matter the circumstances.01bdf7fa66474604

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Still, Jeremy d55fd05c58 hadn’t shown b1d7b7293d even a 71e5d6c535 flicker of 6d82983d62 concern for 1180c1b0fb them. And Velita knew that aa5c5d2b58 if she were to bb49ec0976 be dismissed for covering 74680b38d4 for him, he wouldn’t 29d4ebf7cd care about her either.57ec84cf747817db

“I can’t lie aa9d5fbbce for you,” she 7c5f30fe5b said, clasping her 12a9bf753f hands tightly to 7f100e686d steady her nerves.e52ef9a626b7d016

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Jeremy, in e558a01296 the middle d7683b3fac of putting 7bb2b1675c on his 65cb583d2a jacket, turned 5b9a8df952 to her 50ac2076e5 with a 79c829b03b slight frown.e2aa833e88d87d1e

Fear crept in. Had she bfda0006b9 gone too 90a161ac88 far? Was this the moment 7d3ba27846 she would be dismissed a644cf4e46 for daring to defy 663ae3b768 him? After all, Jeremy was 49140f7eda the sole heir to c3298962ca the Ryles family.4bd518d694cb15f4

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No matter 9fcecf7470 how much 9002d15af7 the count 96a32fb95e loved Selina, 58ccf4e0ba handing the 9ea58f7604 title to 2710de4bc8 a frail 84b44d73fb daughter with 66abb26a57 no worldly 3cf20512bd experience was a93cdde8cc out of 682e1fc95e the question. The reason a5791657c2 so many c833c00fa8 letters arrived 44f0cd1823 for Jeremy, 751828c790 despite his 8a4a8cac69 reputation as 77f4f1ccbc a libertine, 6267b33a2f was simple: 80eb3ef93c everyone knew adc75cb3fe he was 43a8efdaca the next ffa182dd4c head of 825d6636cd the Ryles 5504bc478b family. Even their feigned 064793ba51 courtesies reflected that a230822cba fact.010c5cb6d1514ee4

But Velita 06b61b2ed4 couldn’t shake 7702b95a5b the nagging 022e97a866 feeling that cccb3c4391 she shouldn’t fcabc29f14 simply go ec81afbd5f along with 9b5e55165c whatever Jeremy 1ee9bc0a4b wanted.914ec8f02988c391

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A strange premonition 8fb5d6f2fe lingered in her f82a437fde mind—if she blindly dd63571cf3 obeyed him, something 5c1e2c88b9 would inevitably go eebdd7897c wrong.c447777aa0a6a4fb

“A lie?”05f7cbde4d3cc209

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Jeremy’s question made 2d75035d62 her shoulders instinctively eb26256738 hunch. She glanced at him 5fe4b8e58f nervously, only to see 0415969c74 him pause with his daeca9f81b hand on the doorknob, 9a6c5cf5a9 his expression a mix f67d3c4fff of amusement and something aaf18af57f unreadable.8639147838ff7c1f

“Why do a265724892 you think 1d16e9cbb7 that? It’s not 76f7f06c5a a lie.”c3fc2543384bb749

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“But…”ce596cdaaccefc5b

Velita carefully 27617af5a4 replayed Jeremy’s 75f1135ed2 earlier words 67573131a2 in her ec45f699e0 mind.c665890bf628d18d

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[I’m going out. If Father or Selina asks about my whereabouts, tell them I’ve gone riding.]

The ambiguity of his 53284bfa8b tone and the way d03b6ef203 he avoided specifics made 0758eebe87 her uneasy. She suspected his “riding” f2716299dd was just a convenient 8217fac8e3 excuse for something else 62352b53f7 entirely.90c9fed2a2807398

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Velita hesitated, torn between 7d6ae65939 the urge to speak ec594866c8 up and the fear 2cb60012f1 of overstepping her bounds. Jeremy’s casual 1f2f153433 demeanor only 77d450b0d5 deepened her 19b420599b unease, as 6cadf3931e if he 9573d566e8 were daring 7701af4e8c her to 335c5f1c3c question him 31578cd3d9 further.7e1c939c284ef25b

“…”fbfc1d7366b61a6a

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He had only 90fafc5ff4 asked her to 37eccc65ab pass along his 89cbdb0a8a whereabouts, not to 24ea6869d7 lie on his 98a50ef971 behalf.217a412187ea1a58

But based on his 5299bf1e9e usual reputation, Velita had 19dc981ad9 instinctively assumed he was 492b3d2f5d up to something other 35b1834622 than horseback riding. The realization made 516f185ef5 her face flush 9cd0e145e9 with embarrassment. How could she admit bdb517eadf to Jeremy that she e9fc8319d1 thought that way about 1ce33040b8 him? Anyone—even a noble—would 60fcc36907 be offended if 6427ac916a a mere maid 010fea98ad suspected them of 3c6ca5e187 deceit.7e5c92605a010b16

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Jeremy’s gaze bore 54e6ef6361 into her, unrelenting 7a1cea9193 and inquisitive. Velita couldn’t avoid his 15f25a5ec5 attention forever. Staring awkwardly 73fbeecb96 at his 2e59a0eb45 luxurious outfit bae9b34ae2 instead of bc99a356e3 his face, 62140801bf she stammered 1511dac6cd an excuse.fe92c7cbc2d48ee3

“You’re just… so c0e5239679 elegantly dressed…”3df47c791993558e

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“Oh?”dcaffafc81408e15

“I thought 0798f3b814 you might 76ea0efb8f be heading e44cd24ec2 to a 3f0109bd78 party…”c33b017f2374f3cd

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“Guess I’m all style 75270539cc and no substance, huh?”d6e155673a5217fe

“No, of course not, 0fd8d04004 young master! You’re very… impressive…”3b929458b155e99b

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It was obvious he 0fcde1f522 was teasing her, but 024f4d44e4 Velita couldn’t withhold the d9d63b8eda answer he wanted to 61674b50d6 hear. Her embarrassment 5236c6da86 burned so 1d3acaec6a intensely it 99b9def79a felt like 6c1d93b857 her brain 762fc06533 might catch 08c30cf921 fire. She couldn’t think straight.a8bf0456941eaa99

Jeremy’s sudden burst of dde7489287 laughter jolted her back eae6ea95c9 to reality.2bf6c2562bd227fa

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His amusement lit up a97982fa95 his face like a d1f1d71f4e mischievous child who had 4332315bb5 just pulled off a 3c05113a1f clever prank. Velita found herself e3cbdf774f staring at him. Though his 63f3ef4a90 expression should 378ab8582f have irritated 2c27da9576 her, it ee5254bc2e was oddly bdee8df2c1 cheerful, contrasting 392346df92 sharply with d0b9cf582a his otherwise bdcc21fa68 sharp and e8fba5a584 composed features. It was… disconcerting.3ac5229d0b15dd10

“You’re such a 8888b9d07e suspicious little maid, f7c1626918 doubting your master 14cb67e8c3 like that.”883c407da45c9594

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“I-I’m sorry…”93fbf631254d45b5

“What can b15493faa7 I do? A dashing eb62d8560d man like 6b19a97d8a me must 3365aeb38d be understanding.”fbc8f775efbd8bdf

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“…”4809c3af1ee49261

“Don’t you agree?”9b45e5e9b8cbd3f5

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Jeremy’s relentless teasing d7d3416ecd made Velita want b042e812bb to bite her 40ca49ab0e tongue. His grin remained 57ef55246b intact as he 325c648442 tilted his head 657da01875 toward the door.2981737f4b87a9e9

“Come with me.”fbdafff35265ac5e

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“Pardon?”389ab087f67e438f

“I need f9b761a12a to earn abd57d5dea the trust 1447a8250c of this 4ac03d837f doubtful maid.”6a9f3d5a13936180

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Jeremy strode out ahead. Startled, Velita 3dc2a981d1 hesitated for b060eafbd0 a moment 1da72294ee before scrambling 141ee9d16a to follow.801edcbac4978e1e

Dressed in her 356e672a22 work uniform, Velita d3734132ce soon realized that bd23054213 Jeremy truly intended 736a17e035 to go horseback 3a8c91dfe9 riding. He entered the stables b23b0cf6a9 and confidently led out 751f00dea6 a horse. While the 52fc814f44 stable hand 0d2116966d saddled the a2deb72fde animal, Jeremy 49d7cb888f gently stroked 5a1d30daff its mane, 4302fa6084 sharing a be76fcfaa0 quiet moment b2514d714e with the 66d9a78957 animal.0c2c77b7eb17b2e7

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The sight 74fc852538 caught Velita c645307dd3 off guard, fd50343623 drawing her 918307727f attention more dde46710ca than she 2d07e1bf2e expected.96165d1c0fa5d061

Once mounted, c9a49ca6d2 Jeremy extended 9d31108a6d his hand d4c0b6a7c0 toward her.555108329253a8ac

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“You’re… going to 685477b11f let me ride d2f3f80751 with you?”31b5f6aebdc1cfad

“Do you plan to 1d3b24c0c0 keep up on foot c37aa6a1f9 while I gallop across 334cf24185 the plains?”edb6aa7f1f9f9149

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“I couldn’t possibly ride c3e515f4e1 a horse with you, 3fdd17b4a5 young master…”9107d4cc88fb3096

Seeing her d1b128e92b reluctance, Jeremy 90b3addda6 chuckled silently—that 62cadeb16f same mischievous cc4537b571 laugh.8ba2d1ec6d79f470

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“Fair enough. Then hold my d3f848fa72 jacket for me.”edc55f2881cdf369

Assuming he 1a9000a4dc meant to 10b6bc9922 hand her 264e2763fa his jacket, 6a92d8fc95 Velita reached a7b84792fb out to 40a352da2b take it. Instead, Jeremy 3216b459bb grabbed her 63ac2dc936 arm and a7d26030b7 pulled her 09ebd71f67 up onto 7eb77c3f30 the horse 940bdb610d with surprising bbac437971 strength.95b4f82429380bfa

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“Ahhh!”b7cb3ed961389570

With a small yelp, a6573d180e Velita found herself hoisted 92cb9af3e6 onto the horse. Despite his slender build, 2261bd7b36 Jeremy’s grip was unexpectedly 6d3c0890a7 strong. As the horse 56ec503b18 moved, Velita reflexively f8f15bb2f9 wrapped her arms 338a8013d1 around Jeremy’s waist 7985da7688 when he tugged d984523939 on the reins ddc77e5f5f and increased their bb3ae26faa speed.56339086733c17fd

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The horse d37dfafd60 bolted out 4b9e777e42 of the 365c7260f3 Ryles estate, a2d8504fa3 galloping through 1460a904fd the streets 51d721f17e without slowing. Velita clung 0a78490086 desperately to 2bd7e9e8dd Jeremy, afraid 1957409c35 of falling.fafc8adaddcac079

The wind 39a1aaafec stung her 43ae1e9a9f skin as d45cd78b97 it rushed 19f429b815 past, her 1d596d1c20 heart pounding f85e918974 loudly in 96ffbb2055 her chest. It felt like it 31b0218ce6 might burst from the 5bb4d2cb8e adrenaline coursing through her 80e2a617cb veins.10a47f0f66fa5336

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Just when 0d9f1a24c9 she thought 0e3d672648 she couldn’t 3b8f59e36d take it d094775378 anymore, Jeremy d8ff765daa slowed the bfb1ec9f4b horse, pulling 2b70552042 it to 93dde2f6b9 a stop 132296eb7d on the c4cacb0bbc open plains.78819e0c142ded90

“Whoa—easy now.”b4c88c563fe7b2d5

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He turned, grinning. “You’re not 87e436ac47 crying, are 42cf303481 you?”2b012ead2aa5a805

Velita realized her b3eb7bcb6e trembling hands were ca3c4ef85e still gripping his 6866c5d142 waist tightly. Her body c285dbb0dc was stiff eba0bea0b4 with tension, 94e6c3424a and she deb137dc48 struggled to dc513a632e relax. Forcing herself to loosen d5d1fc2499 her hold, she looked ab1cba39ae up at him with 1375dbb0e9 a desperate plea.90ae304d6f7d84a5

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“Please… let 51a7d49b4e me down. I feel sick…”9b2b913a0b2466f9

“Hold it in. I really don’t want to see my beloved horse defiled,” Jeremy said with a faint smirk as he helped Velita off the horse.b122719f0e66245b

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As soon as 293834ba87 her feet touched 1e93bac8b5 the ground, she 776cedc977 wobbled, unable to 39806f9e6d steady herself. Thankfully, Jeremy 12b4652313 caught her db655a73ee before she 71d9bdc80a could fall, 070f25a524 preventing what 7b827a27e5 would have 50b8eea1e0 been an 9d003dd2f2 embarrassing tumble.ad2414425e9aeb87

Still trembling from d2690c23fb the ride, Velita 2f51580560 glanced up at 1a31e7985e him.5a36627a610f22d8

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Her heart was d5f97d26e1 still pounding—loud and 4f71040641 relentless.03636ea0a2fc5a49

In that moment, Velita c81fa5079d found herself wishing she 0f0f8a611f had simply fallen. The prolonged contact c3443520b6 made her uneasy, d4ddea3f3a so she quickly c99d494ab9 pulled away from 81feb51040 Jeremy, eager to 7e53ad3076 create some distance.3dcdd680640b6e1d

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“Don’t recoil like I’m filthy. That’s rude, even to me,” he said with a chuckle.bb28dc093a88f044

“I’m sorry if I offended you, young master. It’s not that I think you’re unclean… I just don’t want any rumors to spread.”8eefc5d5683ee6e7

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Though the plains 1eca13583f were wide and 9a69775231 empty, rumors could 29e61f94e7 originate from anywhere a73b280871 and travel far. She was dea611e5c3 already anxious 4c989f0e0f about being d15a120510 seen riding 4f5a87dcab out of c325b28b80 the estate 01bdc1afad with him.c9b4001ca3a589dc

Jeremy tilted his head, curiosity flashing in his eyes. “Just out of curiosity, why are you so intent on drawing a line between us?”d2607c87a83d9be2

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“…”12df0ad4b87c6f3c

“Is it because you think I’m a pathetic womanizer who can’t resist any woman I see?”3d6773c4cce8a7c9

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His words hit a 876627ec9d nerve. Startled, Velita looked up ad483992d5 at him.cc17e3fd8a59808c

The playful, mischievous man d2959891f7 she had seen earlier 4c9e969e78 now seemed faintly sorrowful.d8ca6978e5428e66

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“N-no, that’s not it, young master…”1f1ec0ed71fbb660

“You don’t have to explain. I know the rumors about me better than anyone.”afd8b9fc3e58d12b

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His voice was 9b25425bc3 calm, matter-of-fact, but f20ad71576 his expression carried 693487dd07 a trace of 5fc6d034e4 bitterness. For a moment, c40078765e Velita saw a fb44806910 different side of 99371f0f49 him—someone wounded, pretending d41c5ce20f not to care.2a0bce892691bfe0

“But… Emma and you…”100d9af2e767a806

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Velita started, 206d5964fc only to 1685bee4e9 slap a 768fd9764d hand over 4f2caa7681 her mouth.70f91e8904a0a0de

Jeremy, however, c0180cb4f8 didn’t seem f099d1073c bothered by 9b958c9555 her slip. Instead, he gazed 81e696bdd6 out at the 43e075d324 setting sun, his 69962fae07 eyes distant.ea3ff9506638c994

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“Emma is the only person who seems to truly like me.”ed7b3db72f577bd7

“That’s not true. The count, Lady Selina, and even the staff care about you, young master.”149d924b37398223

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“Funny. I’ve never felt that way.”9fcebb630a302759

Velita fell silent, a62454d881 recalling how distant c6b170c9f9 the count often 6286161027 seemed toward Jeremy, 8edaabf529 especially compared to 140844c1e7 his warmth toward 82c4302f46 Selina. There were 6b5aa9ba94 even rumors 3dd8c91ec3 about Jeremy’s a35ac900d2 birth—stories that 7ed94263db the countess e1590ab681 had shown 03ad6ce49b no signs 4b4bb8b3da of pregnancy 819c75ec96 before suddenly 2f0ce8e67f giving birth bb6aaea0d7 to him.1838b832810caf37

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“Whether it’s true or not.”b314470248b001c1

Jeremy continued, his voice 51c37ef133 steady but laced with 1b1e35eb82 a hint of melancholy.e335c388b42dc3dc

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“when I’m in the arms of a woman who says she loves me, I feel like I’m worth something.”af4266b3c3a28741

“…”9554b5310bf2c211

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“And Emma… she takes what she wants from me in return.”e4250e12b3df0a79

“…”18b5fd2de8199f0b

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“That’s all there is to it.”c8fe1ab0802f6378

Jeremy’s tone 0d6c35f003 lacked any a3087a8e67 defensiveness or 2fa6b3af0c apology. If anything, e281bedd12 he seemed 368894649d tired, almost fa28ecce59 resigned.d93ba171cbf2ad98

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Then, as 12e153eb65 if shedding 86e0ffde9d that vulnerability, 64aeed6758 he smiled e7e94f9481 mischievously again b594cf7c16 and leaned 9ab84dc589 closer to 0fad4a99b1 Velita.9a891aeeb6bcb5f0

“This stays between us, all right?”38e8d2edb28d5461

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“…”1f290e8633c8b497

“I’d rather be the charming bad guy than the pitiable young master.”c19c039fb4118e6d

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With the fading sunlight 11cebe171f casting shadows on his 13ff1e47a5 face, his smile was 851a8a9d81 unexpectedly bright, more fitting bedc3066a9 for a carefree boy 956fdc2feb than someone of his 2cd6aafc24 reputation.5b9a44b895430a43

“Why… why are you telling me this?”1cafdbf41b8e2d87

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Velita asked, her 7d5ba0ae8b voice rising slightly 9930986369 as she watched 4ddf89f5a7 his retreating back. She didn’t know e9c8ce161b why, but she 5952dd72e0 needed to ask.a4068694f25bed9d

“And why… why did you pick me as your maid?”8713820ccfa1a7c2

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She couldn’t understand why fb179cb719 he had singled her 165bcdbda4 out to serve him, f58a9221bd and why he was a9d6ee98ae now revealing such personal 0f804caa76 truths.ab1e762cdd3158fd

Jeremy didn’t answer bc7bf50289 immediately. Instead, he a9ce0c9340 turned to f6ac7fab39 look at 535f4ef356 her, his a1374bf02b expression losing 7a72eb1cb9 its usual 8f6f472ce6 playfulness.a17c442efeb630b4

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“Why do you think?” he asked, his voice soft but pointed.98729ce230447e38

Velita opened her mouth e6a112e6bf to reply but found 9f1bba8963 herself speechless. Jeremy gave her c8f8a60cf5 no further explanation, 4f5eeeee36 instead resuming his adbee4160c casual demeanor as b4f7f05d85 they walked side 1ebdf81274 by side.174fd3af9fa7b657

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As they spoke, bc39ca7fc5 Jeremy shared anecdotes b0db81d17b from his time 80d9c3d15c abroad—about the people 8213f5eb6c he met and bb0a77407e the life he d4bb24ab79 led there. Velita found f9eb97ccf8 herself learning 5459e54d2c far more 42174fe572 about him 3f4275185d than she c1e3e08391 had expected.19d87d0737a7886d

His untidy a0b7f15177 appearance, which f67098c87c she had eda1849401 once attributed e886fb4a25 to arrogance, e9cc9bef3d seemed instead 1fe2bc60a7 to reflect df08f01b10 a man 251ab40870 yearning for 97c963ba1e freedom. And beneath the 33cdbae3c7 surface, this man—who c06e891766 seemed to have f7f36c4605 everything—was starved for 00029f0a38 genuine connection.8eab918deb00a24b

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Even long after they b9e92b82b3 dismounted and walked back, 0d23fe316d Velita’s heart remained unsettled.59b6ab59401bea3a

Thump. Thump.e7d2868e6c68c9d8

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As the sun painted 5e12d2cb72 the horizon crimson, Velita’s 381349cb66 gaze lingered on Jeremy’s 779d9448df face. She couldn’t help but d4142ec894 feel a strange, inexplicable 9836c10473 flutter in her chest.811cc5768ba33567

 df42f13e5b567aaf

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