Chapter 89

He touched her face softly, trying to rouse her, but she remained unresponsive. Even though he hadn’t completed what he started, he refrained from continuing and instead carried her to the bathroom.

Unaware of her deep slumber, Violet didn’t realize that Lucius, while cleaning her up, was gentle throughout, his eyes filled with her reflection…

Later, around noon, Violet woke to a knock on the door.

Struggling to rise, she saw bruises covering her body, a grim reminder of the recurring events if she stayed.

With a shiver, she dressed and opened the door.

There, a nurse was wheeling Regina in a wheelchair.

“Grandma, what brings you here?” Violet asked, surprised.

Regina looked around the room, and said, “You hadn’t visited me all day, so I decided to come and see you.”

In the past, Violet would sometimes go days without visiting Regina.

Violet stepped aside to allow Regina to enter.

Regina dismissed the caregiver with an excuse, and then held Violet’s hand, asking. “Vivi, tell me. Do you dislike Lucius?”

The question caught Violet by surprise. She had never really pondered it.

Did she not like him? Logically, she should have responded immediately, but why couldn’t she just agree?

Lucius should have made her loathe him because of his harshness, hubris, and the agony he caused her. But why did she sometimes find a sense of defeat in his harshness, a hint of helplessness in his dominance, and a trace of tenderness in the hurt he inflicted?

*So, you do have feelings for him, don’t you?” Regina asked, suddenly hopeful.

“I…I don’t know,” she replied quickly, comforting herself that she only said this to avoid hurting Regina.

“That’s reassuring.” Regina responded with a pleased nod.

Violet felt perplexed, unsure of Regina’s intentions.

“I was impulsive, and I didn’t take your emotions into account. Now that I think about it, love and marriage should be there before having a child. You haven’t experienced these stages yet, but we expected you to have a child.

“It’s natural for you to be hesitant. Vivi, I won’t pressure you anymore. Just seeing you and Lucius happy together is enough for me.” Regina explained.

Was Grandma finally freeing her from this pressure? Violet was almost in disbelief at hearing this.

Gratefully, she held Regina’s hand and uttered. “Thank you, Grandma. Thank you.”

+15 BONOS She felt a wave of relief, freed from the burden of possibly abandoning a child and ensuring her child wouldn’t endure a loveless upbringing like hers.

Violet hugged Regina and whispered. “Thank you.”

As she was leaving. Regina stressed that Lucius was already aware of this situation, sparing Violet the need to explain it to him.

She felt immense lehet, as it the cloud above her head was finally dissipating.

Unexpectedly, Lucius entered her room that evening.

“Hasn’t Grandma… informed you?”

She assumed he wouldn’t return, especially since “Agatha” had left such a negative impression on him, one he would never forget in his life.

Lucius responded with a noncommittal hum, neither confirming nor denying anything. He then briskly walked over to the bed and sat down.

Violet recoiled, trying to maintain distance.

He frowned in displeasure, and demanded. “Come here!”

She resisted, and in response, he yanked her toward him.

Her resistance led to scratches on his hand, visibly angering him, but he refrained from being harsh, instead forcibly pulling her into an embrace.

Violet persisted in her struggle.

He issued a dark, hoarse warning. “If you keep struggling, don’t blame me for what comes next.”

Feeling the tension in his arms, Violet stopped moving, remaining still.

He held her for about ten minutes, trying to calm himself. His heartbeat was intense, and right next to her ear, his body heat was nearly overwhelming.

Violet’s face grew warm under his intense embrace.

Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he released her, having calmed himself.

“Lie down,” he instructed.

Violet remained motionless, still processing.

He questioned her inaction, revealing a small tube of ointment. “How am I supposed to apply this if you don’t lie down?*

“Ointment?” Confused, Violet quickly sat up. “I’ll do it myself!”

Her hair caressed his nose, reawakening his buried need. Knowing that applying ointment could cause him more pain, he threw the ointment on the bed and retreated a good distance.

+15 BONOS Surprised by his abrupt compromise, Violet hesitated before taking the ointment.

“You… Get out of my room.”

How could she apply ointment in his presence?

Albeit dissatisfied, Lucius said, “Call me when you’re done.”

What did he mean?

Violet couldn’t figure it out, and instead concentrated on healing her wounds. By the time she finished and lay down on the bed, she had forgotten about Lucius completely.

Outside, Lucius waited impatiently for ten minutes. Yet, heard nothing from Violet. He entered the room to find her lying down, stretching out comfortably.

“Are you deaf?” he asked irritably, his eyes dark and gloomy.