Lucian Appeared Like an Answer to a Prayer

The refusal was so blunt that Pearl didn’t immediately understand it.

When she recovered, she still had the nerve to try again.

“Your Grace—”

This time, the attendant didn’t need to intervene.

Julian pulled his sister away first.

“That’s enough, Pearl.”

“Julian—”

“Shut up. Get out.”

His face was cold.

The anger frightened her. Realizing he meant it, she didn’t dare continue.

She left, seething.

He was a bastard, but he wasn’t stupid.

He was much cleverer than his sister.

He had seen the duchess’s dislike of Pearl and the affection for me she still couldn’t quite abandon.

Getting her signature mattered more than anything else.

“Let the past stay in the past.”

Julian placed the talisman beside the pillow.

He looked lovingly at the bandaged face.

“Whatever happened, Stella, we’re married. You’re my wife. I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.”

He even kissed her forehead through the gauze.

I felt sick on the girl’s behalf.

Then my gaze caught on the talisman.

I paused and moved closer.

It wasn’t mine.

It looked similar, but the markings were completely different.

Anna had brought a fake to fool him.

He hadn’t even noticed.

A mocking smile pulled at my mouth.

To obtain the real one, I had circled the island on my knees.

One step. Kneel.

Again and again, to prove my sincerity.

Then, on the journey back, I nearly lost my life in the shipwreck.

The treasure I almost died for had been casually handed to someone else.

Perhaps it had already been thrown away like rubbish.

Trampled and discarded.

Just like my heart.

“Your Grace, I’ve signed the contract and affixed the company seal. It only needs your signature and seal now.”

Julian presented it respectfully with both hands.

I had sent the electronic version to the duchess long ago.

Her legal team had reviewed it. Everything was in order.

In fact, the main reason for her visit was to see me.

Signing the contract was something she could do while she was here.

Neither of us could have expected this.

Looking tired, she accepted the pen from her attendant and removed the cap.

She lowered it toward the contract.

“No!”

I grabbed for it.

My hand passed uselessly through the pen.

The nib touched the paper.

I still couldn’t stop anything.

The pain was unbearable.

Had I done something monstrous in a previous life?

Was that why even death couldn’t end my punishment?

The people who cared suffered.

The people who hurt me got everything they wanted.

And I could do nothing.

I would rather disappear completely.

At least then I wouldn’t have to watch.

She finished signing.

All that remained was the seal. Then the agreement would be formally complete.

The attendant had already taken it out and offered it to her.

The corners of Julian’s mouth lifted slightly.

He was usually so good at hiding his feelings.

If even he couldn’t suppress that smile, I could imagine how pleased he must be.

I turned away.

I couldn’t bear another second of his smug face.

Just as the duchess took the seal, the door opened from outside.

A familiar, compelling voice followed.

“Your Grace. Before you sign and seal something this important, you might want to reconsider.”

That voice.

I turned sharply.

Lucian stood in the doorway like an answer to a prayer.

“Lucian…”

His name escaped me in a small, wounded voice, thick with tears.

Even I was startled by it.

I froze.

I knew he couldn’t hear me.

I still felt a rush of embarrassment.

Had I really just sounded as though I wanted him to comfort me?

Lucian?

I shook my head hard.

Julian was so completely rotten that he was making Lucian look appealing.

That had to be it.