I struggled to lift the heavy luggage, my body aching with the effort. Julius’s words echoed in my mind, sinking my heart once again. He only remembered Liz’s preferences, forgetting that after my kidnapping, I had developed a stress reaction to the pink room. And Liz’s room, of course, was pink.
Julius didn’t seem to notice my feelings at all, his focus solely on one person. When I remained silent for a long time, he frowned, growing impatient.
“Myra Floyd, it’s just a room. Liz became like this because of you.”
His tone lost all patience, his usual cold mask slipping to reveal disgust. I stood there, a bitter taste rising in my chest. For eight years, Julius had always called me "Miss Holland." But now, hearing him refer to Liz so intimately, I was reminded of how I once tried to get him to call me by my name. He refused, and I eventually realized why.
Liz was special to him. I was not. Even now, he only spoke my name in frustration, when it concerned her.
Ignoring him, I walked to the guest room. Julius stood there, momentarily stunned. I lay down on the bed, staring at the white ceiling as my tears flowed freely.
Liz had come into the Floyd family when I was eight. She was cute, lively, and everyone adored her. They kept telling me to treat her like a sister, though she was a year older than me. After losing my mother, I had become even more isolated. Then, Julius appeared. He seemed to be my protector, always standing in front of me, shielding me from danger.
For a while, I believed that, after years of having nothing in the Floyd family, I finally had something that belonged to me. But now, I realized the truth—nothing was really mine.
I woke up to find it was already late. The warm, yellow light flickered in the room that used to be mine. Julius sat by Liz’s bed, reading her a bedtime story in a soft, tender tone.
I watched him, stunned, as his love for her shone clearly in his eyes. I recognized that look—I'd seen it in his eyes, directed at me, for eight years. Had it been so obvious all along? Why had Julius never noticed my feelings?
I took a sip of red wine, a hollow, self-deprecating gesture.
“You…”
I wasn’t sure when Julius had come up behind me, but his presence startled me. He glanced at the half-empty bottle beside me, his brow furrowing slightly. I thought he might do, as he always did—take the bottle from me and drink it himself. But instead, he just looked away.
“Where did you buy the peace sachet you gave me before?” He asked, his voice casual.
The light in my eyes faded completely. I hadn’t bought that sachet—it came from the Stonehaven Sanctuary. I had knelt and recited Buddhist scriptures for an entire day and night, and the abbot, moved by my sincerity, had given it to me.
I turned away, speaking coldly.
“Stonehaven Sanctuary.”
Julius nodded, as if processing the information.
“Miss Holland, go to bed early.”
He turned to leave, but something made me call out.
“Julius, the contract expires in a few days.”
“Will you continue to be my bodyguard?”
His back stiffened, and he paused. He didn’t respond, but the way his gaze lingered on Liz’s door said everything.
