Those close to the family murmured that he was waiting for her, that he had not given up hope that one day, Charlotte would return.
But when my marriage to Sylus was announced, the past seemed to be forgotten by everyone. The media’s focus shifted to us.
It was as though Charlotte had never existed, and I, naive and blinded by the life I thought we were building, remained blissfully unaware of their history.
My changed attitude was noticed by him, of course, but he never asked why. Maybe he knew, but chose to not care.
I also did not expect that someday, Charlotte would completely come back to Sylus’ side and made an uproar by the day she returned to the country.
Her arrival was nothing short of dramatic. The media captured Sylus personally picking her up from the airport, the pictures flooding every news outlet.
Headlines screamed, "Your Crush Is Back, Who Would You Choose?"
The internet exploded with speculation, and my heart sank as I realized the inevitable. Everyone knew the answer.
The public’s infatuation with Charlotte had never died, and neither had Sylus's feelings, it seemed.
Deep down, I knew what I had to do.
Once my wounds healed, I would leave the manor, leave Sylus, and leave behind the life I had mistakenly believed was mine.
That night, fever burned through me like fire, the ache in my body spreading until it became unbearable.
My vision blurred, and in my dazed state, I instinctively reached for my phone and dialed Sylus.
After all, I had been his wife for three years, how could I suddenly stop depending on him? Surely, he would care, wouldn't he?
When the call connected, I expected concern, but instead, his voice came through, sharp and impatient. "Stop calling me all the time. You are an adult. Can't you solve your own problems?"
His words struck me like a punch to the gut, my breath catching as though I were drowning. I tried to speak, each word feeling like a struggle. "Sylus, I... I feel really uncomfortable. Can you…."
Before I could finish, a soft voice interrupted from the background.
"Lily, do not bother him anymore," the woman’s voice, unmistakably Charlotte's, chimed in. "He has been taking care of me all day, and he is already tired. As his current wife, you should understand him, okay?"