Chapter 8
Layla looked at Kallion with pity as he sat with his eyes closed and his brow furrowed.
‘I need to take even better care of him.’
So that he could at least rest comfortably when he was with me. So that I could become a refuge for him, a man who looked strong but carried so many wounds.
He must have been quite exhausted, because Kallion had already fallen deeply asleep. Layla was gazing endlessly at him when she heard a knock at the office door.
Startled, Layla carefully headed toward the door, worried that Kallion might wake.
Juliana stood outside with an indifferent expression.
“Madam? What brings you here…”
As Layla spoke, she carefully stepped outside and closed the door behind her, wary of waking Kallion. Juliana quietly observed her actions before speaking evenly.
“Is Kallion inside?”
At Juliana’s question, Layla’s eyes darted awkwardly before she composed herself and bowed her head.
“Lord Kallion is currently busy with work.”
Juliana stared intently at Layla upon hearing her composed reply.
“Today is the day he has an appointment with me. Just tell him that.”
“…I’ll let him know.”
Layla said that and hurriedly tried to turn around, but Juliana drove the point home.
“I’ll wait here until you deliver the message.”
Layla’s shoulders stiffened as she turned her back.
“……”
Juliana looked indifferently at her back before continuing calmly.
“You weren’t planning to tell him, were you?”
Juliana already knew Layla inside and out from the way she had treated her in the past.
Layla froze, then turned stiffly to face Juliana.
“The truth is, Lord Kallion was exhausted from work and fell asleep.”
Juliana answered her businesslike report dryly.
“Then wake him and convey my message.”
A trace of bewilderment crossed Layla’s face.
“Madam, that would…”
“If you can’t do it, I’ll wake him myself.”
Just as Juliana spoke and moved to pass her indifferently, Layla quickly stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
“I’ll tell him when he wakes up.”
Her actions seemed to draw a line, as though saying Juliana could go no farther.
It was somewhat ridiculous that a secretary, rather than Kallion himself, was the one drawing that line, but
“Move.”
Juliana warned her.
Layla’s stubborn response was steadily worsening her mood.
Juliana had made the agreement reluctantly as well, but she hadn’t expected him to break it so blatantly.
And by putting his secretary between them, no less.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot move, Madam.”
At Layla’s firm words, Juliana’s expression turned cold.
Memories of the past came back to her, when she had never been treated as the lady of the house and had only been foolishly pushed around. Just as he had treated her coldly, Layla and the servants had looked down on her as well.
After eleven regressions, she had realized with painful clarity just how pathetically she had allowed herself to be treated.
And that a person’s worth was something they determined for themselves.
“I am the lady of this estate.”
Even at Juliana’s cold warning, Layla firmly held her ground.
“I only follow Lord Kallion’s orders.”
Her voice sounded almost like a sneer, telling her not to overstep her place by pretending to be the lady of the house.
In this life, at least for as long as she stayed in this estate, she would no longer tolerate anyone’s disrespect.
Because the naive and foolish Juliana no longer existed.
Smack—!
Juliana’s hand struck Layla across the cheek.
Layla’s head snapped to the side, and she slowly brought a hand to her cheek with a dazed expression. Then she turned back toward Juliana as though she couldn’t believe what had happened.
“M-Madam…!”
Juliana looked down indifferently at Layla’s expression, which was beyond aggrieved and bordering on incredulous.
As though reminding Layla that no matter how much Kallion protected her, their positions within this estate had already been decided.
Click—
Just then, the tightly shut door behind Layla opened.
Kallion appeared through the doorway and looked back and forth between Layla, who was clutching her cheek, and Juliana, who stood rigidly before her.
His gaze landed on one side of Layla’s face, flushed bright red. At the sight, Kallion’s brows furrowed deeply, and he glared viciously at Juliana.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Kallion’s contemptuous gaze fell upon her.
He even looked quite dependable as he stepped in front of Layla and shielded her behind his back while she clutched her cheek.
Behind him, Layla trembled delicately like a frightened deer.
Juliana regarded the sight without emotion. Misinterpreting her indifferent gaze, Kallion spoke in a growl.
“Why did you lay hands on one of my people?”
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