Ethan looked down, unable to say a word. It was as though guilt was piercing through him like a sharp blade. "I was sincere when I loved you, but you shattered my hopes, Ethan. There's no going back to the way things were. So, leave me. Just live your life with Dia," Taylah said as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her words pierced his heart repeatedly, leaving him to regret his decision even more. Without a word, he left the room.
It wasn't easy for her either. Tears welled up in her silvery eyes as she leaned back against the pillow. She couldn't help but think of how naive she had been to love someone who never truly cherished her. Her heart ached, as if it was being crushed under an unbearable weight.
Suddenly, the doorknob turned. Someone entered the room. Taylah quickly wiped her tears away, thinking it might be Arjan. If it was him, he would probably scold her for crying. But she was wrong—it wasn't Arjan. Instead, it was Mrs. Davier, who entered with a warm smile.
Mrs. Davier sat beside her, gently taking Taylah's hand in hers. "Are you alright, Taylah?" she asked, her concern evident.
"I'm totally fine, Mom. It's just a fever, that's all," Taylah replied with a soft smile.
Mrs. Davier cupped Taylah's cheek with a motherly touch. "I'm sorry for what Arjan did to you. He's been gentle since childhood, and I never thought he'd hurt you."
"No, Mom, it's not like that," Taylah said quickly, shaking her head. "He didn't do anything to me. We're living happily. He treats me so well. You know, whenever I get sick, he always stays by my side while I sleep." A faint, forced smile spread across her rosy lips, hiding the storm of emotions within.
"Don't lie, Taylah. I'm a woman too, and I can see right through your feelings," Mrs. Davier said, her voice gentle but firm, as though she had uncovered the truth hidden behind Taylah's facade.
"The purple marks on your neck and body tell the real story. Even if he tortures you, why do you keep defending him? These marks aren't from love—they're from lust or pain, something far from affection. I know he's only with you because of us. His heart belongs to Dia," she added, her tone filled with pity.
Taylah clenched her hands together, hesitating before speaking. "Mom... I want to ask you something," she murmured, avoiding eye contact.
Mrs. Davier nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"Arjan loved Dia, and she's also part of the Edwards family. Then why didn't you favor her? Why are you so soft toward me instead?" Taylah finally looked up, her voice filled with confusion.
Mrs. Davier sighed, removing the pendant from around her neck. She handed it to Taylah, whose eyes widened in shock upon seeing it.
The pendant was crafted flawlessly—a rare jade with a unique hue, shaped into an elegant swan.
"It... it looks exactly like my mother's pendant," Taylah stammered, her voice faltering.
"You're right," Mrs. Davier said with a small smile. "This was a gift from my mother. Your mom and I were childhood friends. My mother gave it to us as a symbol of our strong bond. But after your mom went abroad for her higher studies, we lost contact," she began, her mind went back the past.
"After so many years, your mother called me and asked me to take care of you. That was the last time we spoke. Shortly after, she passed away," Mrs. Davier said, her voice heavy with emotion.
"I've never liked the Edwards family, but I had no choice but to arrange the engagement to protect you. That's the only reason we moved forward with it. I never liked Dia. After all, she is neither your mother's blood nor your father's. But I didn't expect Arjan to fall in love with her. We had no choice but to accept their relationship and arrange the marriage."
She gently placed the pendant around Taylah's neck, the rare jade glinting faintly in the light.
Continuing, she said, "When I heard you were pregnant with Arjan's child, I was overjoyed. I used that moment to ensure he married you. But I never expected him to be so cruel—to destroy his own flesh and blood." Her voice trembled with anger and sorrow.
"My second son's life has also been ruined because of her. Dia's recklessness has cost us so much—she doesn't care about reputation, only about her indulgent lifestyle with her friends. To me, you are the only one I see as my daughter-in-law, not her. If it were up to me, I would make sure she divorces Ethan. But I know Arjan would retaliate and hurt you, and that's why I've stayed silent." Mrs. Davier's tone softened as she gazed at Taylah, her words laden with pain and regret.
She wondered because she knew everything about them. She glanced at the pendant resting on her neck—it was so beautiful, adding an air of elegance to her.
A tear slipped down and landed on the pendant. "I… I thought… I had no one in this world who cared about me," she whispered through her tears. Mrs. Davier pulled her into a comforting hug, one that felt as warm and safe as a mother's embrace.
"Don't worry, Taylah. You have me. I'll be your mom from now on," she said gently, patting Taylah's back. Overwhelmed, Taylah hugged her tightly and began to cry uncontrollably.
Mrs. Davier continued to soothe her, softly patting her back. For the first time in years, Taylah felt safe and secure, as though she was enveloped in a mother's love.
Eventually, she cried herself to sleep in Mrs. Davier's arms. Carefully, Mrs. Davier laid her head on the pillow and covered her with a blanket. She tenderly brushed Taylah's hair back before silently leaving the room.
However, Mrs. Davier was deeply worried about Taylah. She understood her son well—he was a gentle soul by nature, but his pride, when wounded, could make him ruthless.
She could feel the depth of Taylah's pain from losing her child, a pain she could empathize with as a mother. And then there was Dia—something about her didn't sit right. Mrs. Davier sensed Dia was up to no good. Why was she pushing Arjan to become this monster? Worse, she had him following her commands like a puppet on a string.
Taylah finally slept soundly after so many sleepless nights. For days, her rest had been plagued by Arjan's cruelty—his constant humiliation through words and actions. But now, even in her sleep, her peace was fleeting. Her breathing grew irregular, beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her eyes squeezed shut. Suddenly, she jolted awake, sitting upright on the bed as if escaping a nightmare.
She was gasping for air, her nails digging into the bedsheet as her heart raced. Before she could gather herself, a cold voice echoed from the corner of the room.
"Looks like you slept well today without my torture," Arjan said. Startled, she turned her gaze toward the source of the voice, only to freeze in fear. Her body trembled, and she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. He sat on the couch with an air of authority, legs crossed, holding a book as if her presence didn't matter.
He spoke casually while continuing to read, but then he stood and adjusted his clothes, the motion making her shiver even more. As he approached her, the fear in her eyes deepened. "I see my mother has taken quite a liking to you. Perhaps that's why you're sleeping so peacefully," he said, leaning closer to her. "But don't think you can do whatever you please just because of her."
Taylah flinched as he grabbed her chin, his grip harsh and painful. She let out a quiet hiss of pain but didn't dare move or resist.
His eyes fell on the pendant, and his expression darkened with shock. "How did you get that pendant?" he demanded, tightening his grip on her chin. Taylah struggled to speak, her voice trembling under his painful hold. "M-Mom gave it to me," she stammered.
His fury grew as he tried to snatch the pendant from her neck, but she held onto it desperately. "Please… don't take it off! It's really important to me… please, I beg you," she pleaded, her voice breaking.
"Why should you have it when Dia doesn't?" he growled, grabbing a fistful of her hair. She let out a cry of pain, her silvery eyes welling with tears that spilled down her cheeks. She looked up at him, her gaze filled with helplessness and despair. Something about her tearful expression struck a chord in him, and for a fleeting moment, his grip loosened.
He released her abruptly but not without leaving a final wound. "Don't think so highly of yourself," he sneered. "You're nothing but a whore. Consider that pendant payment for your services at night. You're not worthy of something so precious."
Pulling out a tissue, he wiped his hands as though touching her had sullied him. Disgust written across his face, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. Left behind, Taylah clutched the pendant tightly, her gaze fixed downward, tears streaming silently.