The scent of saltwater and sun-kissed sand filled the air as Darwin and I stepped onto the private resort’s dock. The sea stretched endlessly before us, a serene contrast to the storm of emotions brewing within me.
This vacation was supposed to be a chance to clear my mind—to let go of the doubts that had taken root in my heart. Yet, despite Darwin’s attempts to make things right, the memory of that night—the almost-kiss between him and Lillia—still haunted me.
Lillia had insisted on bringing a friend, someone she claimed to be an old classmate. I hadn't objected. In fact, I welcomed it. If she had someone else to keep her company, then Darwin and I could focus on each other.
And that’s exactly what he did.
For the past three days, Darwin had been nothing but attentive. He planned private dinners, sunset walks, and whispered sweet reassurances in my ear. He even went as far as apologizing over and over, making it clear that what had happened with Lillia was nothing more than an accident.
"Iris," he murmured one evening as we lay beneath the stars. "I love you so much. I can't live without you."
I smiled and let him kiss me. His lips pressed against mine, slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies were flush, heat radiating between us. My breath hitched as his fingers traced a path up my spine, sending a shiver through me. I clung to him, my hands sliding beneath his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin. He exhaled softly against my lips as I lifted the fabric over his head and let it fall to the floor.
He met my gaze, something unspoken passing between us before his lips found my neck, pressing soft, lingering kisses down to my shoulder. My own hands explored the contours of his body, feeling every dip, every muscle beneath my fingertips. Clothes slipped away, piece by piece, until there was nothing left between us but the quiet hum of anticipation. The world outside faded, time slowing as we sank into each other, lost in the heat, in the moment, in us.
When we returned home, I almost felt normal again. Almost.
Darwin had barely unpacked before he was already preparing for an international business trip. I should’ve been used to it by now—he traveled often—but this time, his absence left me uneasy. We had only just made up, and now we were about to be apart again.
---
Left alone in the house with only Lillia and the staff, I made the decision to keep my distance. Lillia was polite, almost too polite, and I wasn’t sure if it was an act or genuine. Either way, I didn’t want to deal with her.
I let the staff accommodate her. If she needed anything, they would handle it. I had no reason to interact with her more than necessary.
I thought this would keep things peaceful.
I was wrong.
The first sign was subtle—so subtle I almost missed it.
One evening, as I passed by the main hall, I heard hushed voices. The maids were whispering among themselves, their expressions grave.
"She barely speaks to her…"
"I heard she hasn’t even had a meal with Miss Lillia since Sir Darwin left."
"It must be difficult for her. Being in a house with someone who doesn’t want her."
I clenched my jaw but kept walking. It was just idle gossip. Nothing more.
But it didn’t stop there.
Another day, I found Lillia sitting alone in the garden, gazing down at a fading bruise on her wrist. A passing housekeeper noticed and gasped.
"Miss Lillia, what happened?!"
Lillia looked up, startled, then shook her head quickly. "It’s nothing! I just—" She paused as if debating whether to continue. "Iris was in a bad mood yesterday. I think I upset her…"
My blood ran cold.
She was lying. I hadn’t even spoken to her the day before.
The housekeeper’s face darkened. She whispered something to another staff member. I turned on my heel and left before I could say something I would regret.
The incidents continued.
Small things. Things I couldn’t directly confront her about.
She would flinch when I walked by—just enough for people to notice. She would glance at my hands as if expecting me to hit her. She would sit at the farthest end of the dining table, picking at her food like a mistreated child.
It was all so carefully orchestrated, and I realized too late that she had set the stage for something bigger.
The breaking point came a week later.
I was in the kitchen, stirring a pot of noodles, when Lillia strolled in. She took a seat at the counter, watching me with an almost amusing expression.
"You must be happy now that Darwin has been ignoring me," she said suddenly.
I didn’t bother looking at her. "It’s ‘Father’ for you."
She laughed, a slow, taunting sound. "I’ll call him whatever I want. Because soon, he’ll abandon you for me."
I finally turned to her, my grip on the ladle tightening. "So, you really are a wolf in sheep’s clothing," I said with a smirk. "I had a feeling, but I didn’t expect you to be this bold."
She tilted her head, studying me. "I’ve liked Darwin since we were kids, you know," she mused. "Although he only thinks of me as a little sister or daughter right now. I’ll make sure that changes."
I chuckled darkly. "You're going to be out of this country before you even have a chance to do something."
Lillia’s expression twisted. "No, I won’t let you separate me from Darwin!"
In an instant, she grabbed the pot of boiling noodles and lifted it. My body reacted before my mind did—I raised my hand to stop her. But just as I moved, she suddenly let go, redirecting the steaming hot broth toward herself.
She screamed. Loudly.
A housekeeper burst into the kitchen, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of Lillia clutching her arm, red skin peeking through.
Lillia looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I’m sorry, Iris… I didn’t mean to upset you!" she wailed, her voice cracking.
The housekeeper's gaze snapped at me, judgment clear in her expression.
I opened my mouth to explain, but stopped myself.
What was the point?
"Treat her burn," I said coldly before turning to leave.
I didn’t know that this was only the beginning.
---
For the next few days, I noticed how the staff started to act differently around me. They were more distant, their greetings colder.
Then I heard it.
"Miss Lillia has been suffering… bruises, small cuts… She’s always running to us, trembling. I think she’s scared."
I gritted my teeth. It was working. She had successfully turned them against me.
The final blow came on the day Darwin was set to return.
I was passing through the hall when Lillia suddenly appeared. Her face streaked with fake tears. She stepped close, just enough so only I could hear.
"I know you hate me," she whispered, voice trembling. "But stop hurting me… or I’ll have no choice but to sue you."
I clenched my fists. "You’re delusional."
She leaned closer, a sinister smile curling her lips. "Tonight, Darwin will choose. Watch how he fucks me in this very house."
I slapped her before I could stop myself.
The moment my hand met her cheek, the staff rushed in, shouting. The house erupted into chaos.
And then—Darwin arrived.
His eyes flickered to the red mark on Lillia’s face, then to the wounds on her arms.
I exhaled slowly.
Shit. I had walked straight into her trap.
