Chapter 8: Everything I Do Is for You, My Dear
Before leaving, Shia stood at the doorway, one hand on the doorknob.
"Ella," he called.
Ella instinctively turned her head to look.
Shia's face carried a smile, his expression tinged with curiosity.
"Was that your first kiss just now?"
In that instant, Shia saw Ella's expression change.
The flush on her face faded rapidly, leaving her pale as a sheet.
Shia's smile grew even brighter, but he didn’t press for an answer. Instead, he closed the door behind him and disappeared into the villa.
He didn’t even force a response. Truly, what a kind-hearted person I am.
But those words were like a dagger to the heart.
The house fell silent, not a sound to be heard.
Ella slumped onto the sofa. Her usually poised and elegant posture softened.
Her stunningly beautiful face was now filled with dazed sorrow.
The thin dress she wore clung closely to her body. At this mont, the front of her outfit was slightly disheveled, and her expression, a mix of panic and helplessness, evoked both pity and allure.
She looked just like a wife being coerced by a thug.
Ella bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
Her body felt weak and powerless, her heart filled with uncertainty.
She didn’t want things to be like this, but what else could she do?
Her greatest secret had been uncovered by Shia. To keep it from being exposed, she had no choice but to endure and retreat.
Dragging her exhausted legs, Ella walked to the shrine in the corner of the room. She looked at the photo on the morial tablet of her late husband, reaching out to touch his face.
Her fingers t only the cold surface of the fra.
Ella’s expression grew even sadder, and the sense of humiliation she felt overflowed, trickling down her cheeks as tears.
"Everything I do is for you, my dear."
Ella’s lips moved as if to speak, but no sound ca out. All she could do was silently repeat the words in her heart.
Whether it was her actions as a spy or the humiliation she now endured, it was all for the greater goal.
For the chance to resurrect her late husband!
Right now, she couldn’t afford to reveal anything. So, for the ti being, she had no choice but to let this young thief have the upper hand.
Her fingers pressed harder against the fra, her fingertips turning pale.
Her face, white and sorrowful, shimred with tears.
Over and over again, she tried to comfort herself, as well as her husband.
Just endure it—it will pass. Persistence is victory.
The plan was already halfway complete. There could be no turning back now.
---
The next day.
Shia glanced at the notification on his phone and chuckled.
[Shia, congratulations on being successfully admitted to our academy. Please report to the freshman departnt within three days.
— Admissions Office, Seven Shields Academy.]
Elsewhere.
Lilith was ticulously grooming herself.
After calling her ntor yesterday, she had been eagerly anticipating the mont.
Anticipating the sight of Shia looking like a pitiful stray dog.
When Shia ca to her for help later, she planned to present herself in peak form, staging a grand "queen’s return."
While carefully tending to her golden hair to make it shine, her phone suddenly rang.
[Incoming call: Shia.]
"Hello?"
Lilith put the call on speakerphone, still curling her hair in front of the mirror.
"Lilith, I've been successfully admitted."
On the other end of the line ca the bright, sunny voice of a young man.
Then ca a loud crash and clatter.
Shia waited patiently for the noise on the other end to subside. Finally, Lilith’s awkward, forced laugh ca through.
"Really? That’s wonderful!"
"You’re happy for , aren’t you?"
"Of course I am. How about this? Let’s et at the lake in Seven Shields Park in two hours, okay?"
"Sure thing."
Lilith ended the call, her stiff smile imdiately vanishing as her face darkened visibly.
Impossible!
Hadn’t her ntor promised yesterday not to let him enroll so easily?
The disruption in her plans left Lilith feeling humiliated.
Her first instinct was to call her ntor for clarification.
But no one answered her calls.
Unsure of what had happened, Lilith, though anxious and embarrassed, had no choice but to suppress her feelings and head to the agreed eting place.
She tried calling Ella several tis, but none of her calls were answered.
Even her text ssages went unanswered.
By the ti Lilith arrived at the park at the designated ti, the long-legged blonde beauty stood under the shade of a tree, a stunning sight that caught the attention of passersby.
But there was no one to appreciate this view.
Lilith scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of Shia.
It was unlike him. He had never made her wait before—he would always arrive early and wait for her instead.
When the clock hands passed the agreed ti by two and a half rotations, Lilith finally accepted the reality that she had been stood up.
She had never imagined that one day she, of all people, would be stood up.
Especially by the sa lapdog who always fawned over her.
But after waiting two and a half hours, no matter how unwilling she was to believe it, she had to face the truth.
She had been stood up!?
Incredulous.
Lilith was furious and imdiately called Shia.
No answer.
She kept calling!
After a relentless barrage of calls, Shia finally picked up with an air of indifference.
She wanted answers. How dare he stand her up?
On her sixteenth call, her phone pinged with a ssage from Shia.
[My dear Lilith, I’m truly busy today. For you, I need to take care of many enrollnt-related matters.
I’m so eager to see you again that I don’t even have ti to answer your calls. Please understand.
—Shia.]
Lilith read the explanation and felt appeased.
He was doing it all for .
To be by her side, he had worked hard to enroll in Seven Shields Academy.
To see her sooner, he was so busy he couldn’t even take her calls.
Indeed, he was still the loyal lapdog who revolved around her.
Lilith felt gratified.
Though she couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing seed off.
Completely oblivious to being manipulated, Lilith, moved by her own thoughts, resolved to maintain her image in her lapdog’s eyes.
He’s done so much for . What’s wrong with waiting for him?
Of course, I’ll show how generous I am!
Back on his balcony, lounging on a yoga mat under the sun, Shia smirked as he read her reply.
Setting his phone aside, he took a sip of juice.
A bold idea crossed his mind.
If I can train a phoenix protagonist into a loyal dog, wouldn’t that be amazing?
But unexpected changes often arise suddenly.
Shia heard a knock at his door. Opening it, he saw a familiar figure.
Tia stood there, her face cold. Her long silver hair added a frosty layer to her already icy deanor.
She stepped into the room, her gaze fixed on Shia, coldness radiating from her eyes without restraint.
This wasn’t a friendly visit.
Tia had co to settle the score.
Last ti, being overpowered by Shia had been an unbearable humiliation for her.
Tia turned, her face full of disdain, her scorn unhidden.
"Today, I’ll teach you a lesson, you worthless scum!"
Her aloof voice echoed, and the oppressive atmosphere instantly filled the room.
Click.
The door locked.
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