~Chapter 77~
Aisha’s room was quiet.
“……”
Curled up on the bed, she hadn’t moved for a long time, only staring blankly into the air.
Hilda is coming…
She already knew this part of the story, yet she was shocked at how shaken she felt.
Why?
Why was she so disturbed?
Lowering her head, Aisha rubbed her pale face with her hands. And soon, she found the answer.
“Because I was happy…”
Living like this with Killian, someone she swore she’d never get tangled with.
“Because it was more fun than I thought…”
Spending ordinary days with him.
It had been so enjoyable, so unexpectedly fun, that she had forgotten everything else.
No—perhaps, she just hadn’t wanted to remember.
But those days were over now.
Because Hilda Everett was coming.
Because the real heroine was about to appear.
And Killian would fall in love with Hilda. Just like in the original story.
Then…
Would he also become unhappy, just like before?
Would he suffer forever, unable to win Hilda’s heart?
And in the end, meet a tragic death at Belmore’s hands?
When Seungyeon had read the original novel back in reality—
She hadn’t felt sad at all, even seeing Killian’s miserable end.
When Killian, driven mad by love for Hilda, rebelled and failed, and finally had his head cut off…
Seungyeon had thought, Serves him right.
Because Killian Winters had been selfish, violent, and only cared about himself.
Because she had hated him so much.
…But was that really true?
“This was the place I ran to every time I was beaten like a dog.”
Suddenly, conversations she had shared with Killian ran through her mind.
“The year I came of age, I killed my family. With my own hands. Now I shamelessly act as the head, but the Winters family… was a nightmare for me. I couldn’t understand. Why did they torment me so much? Why did they never love me? Why were they always so cruel?”
Killian—hiding his scars behind cruelty.
“I wondered over and over if it was my fault. Maybe others would think differently, but my conclusion was always the same. To survive, I had no choice. That was only natural.”
Killian—who had suffered alone for so long.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust anyone. Because no one trusts me. No one is on my side. So, I won’t be on anyone’s side either.”
Yet when she told him to try, just once, to make an effort—he had said he would.
Killian—who secretly prepared a place for the children to stay and made sure they finished their education safely.
Killian—who laughed quietly at his own nonsense.
Killian—who didn’t know how to react when thanked or praised, turning his eyes elsewhere like a scolded child.
The Killian Aisha knew was nothing like the Killian Winters of the novel.
Yes. That must be why…
Without realizing it, she had started to enjoy being with him.
Yes, that had to be it.
Looking back, Tiel had asked her many times: was she really doing all this just for the magazine? Or… was it for Killian?
She hadn’t given an answer then, but now she understood.
I wanted to protect Killian.
Because now she knew—he wasn’t truly a bad person.
To be honest… if she spoke more truthfully…
“Aisha Ashton. Do you already have someone in your heart?”
When Killian had asked that—
Aisha had clearly heard the sound of her heart drop with a thud.
The reason was…
“Because… I like Killian…?”
Muttering to herself, she instantly slapped her hand over her mouth. There was no one to hear, but it still felt like she had said something forbidden.
Impossible.
It was absolutely impossible.
Killian?
Of all people?
Of all things?
Aisha lifted her head again in a daze, staring at the flowerbeds now in full bloom.
Spring had arrived quietly, without her noticing.
Just like her feelings for Killian.
“This can’t… happen.”
But Aisha wasn’t pure or foolish enough to risk everything for such innocent emotions.
Even if her feelings for Killian were real, the result would be the same.
It was time to end this engagement and return to being the publisher and reporter of Sunday’s Exposé.
Sure, unlike in the original, her relationship with Killian hadn’t completely collapsed. She could probably still stay in Draxion if she wanted.
No. I don’t want to. I don’t want to see Killian suffering because of Hilda.
She didn’t want to face Killian loving someone else.
Her pink lips pressed tightly together.
But… I also don’t want him to die miserably, like in the original…
But could she really stop someone from falling in love?
If that were possible, she wouldn’t be this confused right now.
And who was she, to interfere with Killian’s emotions?
It was laughable.
To Killian, I’m just a convenient shield from society’s eyes.
Yes, she had always known. That was the only reason Killian kept her close.
And she didn’t resent it. After all, she was the one who had created this situation.
Even bringing up the engagement again had only been a continuation of that arrangement. For Killian, a fake relationship had no downside. And Sunday’s Exposé was still helping him.
Surely, Killian really didn’t have any other feelings for her.
But then—why was she even thinking about this?
“Damn it…”
Aisha cursed under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut with a heavy sigh.
And then—she didn’t move for a long, long time.
As evening passed, night fell. And then dawn came again.
And the very next day—
Someone arrived at the mansion.
Someone who would solve Aisha’s troubles.
Completely unexpectedly.
