Chapter 2

Diana's expression stiffened as she stared at me in disbelief.

I didn't understand why she reacted that way, so I turned to look at Elise. She used to be the estate's doctor, so she had the power to make decisions too.

"I was good, and I also ate the steak that you cut for me. I just want some painkillers now… Is that alright? Please don't sell me to someone else."

The color drained from Elise's face, but she simply ignored me.

Beverly forced herself to stay composed and asked, "What are you talking about, Connor? You just have to focus on getting better if you're sick. It's not like—"

I shook my head and said firmly, "You must have forgotten. A sick person is a useless piece of trash. Either you power through the pain, or you'll get sold off.

"This is the fourth time that my illness has acted up. If the doctor doesn't prescribe some medicine to me, I'll be sold off."

Diana's expression darkened. She dropped her knife and fork before grabbing a fistful of Elise's collar and dragging her away.

"Come with me," she hissed as she slammed the door of the study open and dragged Elise inside.

The manor had excellent soundproofing, which was why we could only hear muffled noises coming from the study.

It sounded like Diana and Elise were arguing.

I felt incredibly uneasy. I looked at Beverly in confusion. Pursing my lips, I said, "I think I did something wrong. Will the steward punish me?"

Beverly's fingers trembled as she gripped her fork. Her chest felt tight as she studied my cautious demeanor. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

She rose to her feet and wheeled me away, saying comfortingly, "No one will ever hurt you again, Connor. You've been very well-behaved, but I prefer how you were in the past.

"You knew how to laugh and get angry. You would call me by my full name when you were exasperated with me. You would even twist my ears sometimes. So… Stop being like this, okay?"

I lowered my head and mumbled weakly, "I would be overstepping if I did those things. I'll get punished. I was wrong. I won't ask for painkillers again."

Beverly frowned but didn't respond. She simply wheeled me away, leaving Andrew alone at the dining table.

Andrew had planned to torment me to his heart's content since it had been three years since we last met. He hadn't expected the situation to turn out like that. He never imagined that Diana, Elise, and Beverly would grow softhearted upon realizing the pitiful state I was in.

He angrily threw his knife and fork onto the table and barked his orders at the maid who was standing behind him.

"Bring Finn back home now. I can't let that useless piece of trash continue his weak and vulnerable act."

Meanwhile, Beverly wheeled me toward a guest room on the first floor.

I felt a little uneasy when I realized how spacious the room was. It looked too comfortable.

I brushed my fingers across the soft blankets before looking up at Beverly, asking, "Is the storage room occupied? I can stay there instead. This room is too nice. I don't deserve to stay here. Besides, there's no clock in this room. I need to get up early to greet all of you and prepare breakfast."

I seemed to have said the wrong thing again because Beverly's eyes suddenly reddened. She crouched in front of me and said gently, "Stop it, Connor. Don't say another word… You'll never have to live in a storage room ever again. We're family. I'll treat you well from now on."

I didn't believe her.

During the last three years, when Beverly was still pretending to be the housekeeper of the estate, she had said something similar to me. However, the steward had barged into my room that same night and whipped me within an inch of my life.

But I didn't dare argue with her. I simply nodded numbly in response.

Beverly smiled, assuming that I had accepted her words. She assigned two maids to clean me up and prepare me for bed.

Fortunately, although there wasn't a clock in the room, I was still able to tell the passage of time because of the strange number.

"35:48:21.

"35:48:20."

Time seemed to move at an agonizingly slow pace as the seconds ticked by.

I wanted to die as soon as possible.

…

The door to the study finally creaked open at 3:00 am.

There were bruises on both Diana's and Elise's faces. It was obvious that they had fought.

Diana glanced at Elise from the corner of her eye and said, "I believe you. You're not cruel enough to torment Connor like that. I'll investigate everyone in the estate while you investigate the source of the painkillers and how they were exchanged."

Elise nodded upon hearing her words.

Diana noticed that the lights were still switched on when she walked past the kitchen, illuminating a shadowy figure.

It looked like me from where she was standing.

I was in the kitchen. My eyes were calm as I lifted a knife and drove it toward myself.

The fine hairs on Diana's skin immediately stood on end. "No!" she shrieked, lunging at me and grabbing my hand that was holding the knife.

Elise, who was nearby, rushed toward the kitchen when she heard the commotion. She then swiftly knocked the knife out of my hand.

Diana stared at me in shock.

"Have you lost your mind, Connor?" she demanded. "Why did you try to take your own life?"