Chapter 3
Asteria turned slowly, her heart pounding
in her chest.
The instant their eyes locked, Primo‘ s face flushed with a mix of surprise and guilt. He quickly dropped Yesha‘ s hand, stammering to explain himself.
“Y–You know, Yesha drank too much. It’s
late, and it’s not safe for a girl to be out alone at night, so I just… brought her back here.”
“She’s your sister, after all. It’s only natural for me to look out for her. And, well, she’s a considerate girl. She left early, worried you might think the wrong things when you came home.”
Primo, usually a man of few words,
suddenly became an open book whenever it came to Yesha.
Each sentence was a shield in her defense, a testament to his unwavering loyalty.
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Asteria stared at him, the man she had known for over two decades, and in that moment, he felt like a stranger, someone unfamiliar, someone lost.
They were supposed to be childhood sweethearts, bound together through years of shared memories and promises. She was the fiancée who had stood by his side, weathering every storm and supporting him as he built his empire.
Yet, here she was, nothing more than a placeholder, a mere stand–in for the woman he had truly loved.
Asteria pressed her palms to her temples, the pain in her head overwhelming. The situation was too much to comprehend, and she couldn’t bear to think about it any longer. Her gaze fixed on Yesha, contempt boiling in her chest.
“She’s not my sister,” Asteria hissed, venom dripping from every word. “She‘ s the product of a mistress and now a
mistress herself.”
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Yesha fell quiet, but Primo’s anger ignited.
He moved swiftly, placing himself between Asteria and Yesha, his voice rising in a roar. “Asteria! What madness are you speaking? Apologize to Yesha, now!”
“No wonder your parents abandoned you. With that sharp tongue and poisonous attitude, it’s clear no one could ever love. you. You deserve to spend your life alone!”
In the ten years they had shared, Primo had never once raised his voice at Asteria. Yet, in a single day, he had scolded her twice, both times for Yesha.
Asteria could hardly believe what she was hearing. These cruel words, so sharp and biting, came from the man she had trusted with her heart.
Each word felt like a dagger aimed straight at her deepest, most vulnerable spots. It pierced through her, leaving scars that
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wouldn’t fade.
She stared at Primo in disbelief, her tears falling freely as the weight of his words crushed her.
Her mind wandered back to years ago when they were just children.
Every time Asteria was scolded or hurt by Yesha’s parents, Primo was there rushing to her side, his small body shielding hers.
When her tears fell, it was Primo who would whisper, “Asteria, you‘ re the best person in the world. If they don’t want you, I do. No matter what happens, I‘ 11 always stand by you and protect you.”
But years later, that once–vibrant promise had withered into nothing more than an empty jest.
Now, the one Primo wanted to protect wasn‘ t Asteria, but Yesha–the very one who had caused her so much pain.
The blade that tore through Asteria‘ s
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heart was one she had handed over herself.
Seeing the sorrow in Asteria’s eyes, Primo realized, too late, that he might have pushed her too far.
A wave of guilt swept over him, and he
quickly averted his gaze, his eyes falling to her bloodied feet.
“You‘ re hurt?”
Despite the years that had passed, Primo. still couldn’t fully harden his heart against Asteria.
He sighed, his voice heavy with frustration. “Forget it. Let’s just pretend everything you said tonight was because you were drunk. From now on…”
“There’s no ‘from now on.
Asteria
interrupted, her voice soft but resolute.
“What?”
A hint of unease crept into Primo’s voice. as he sensed something was off with
Asteria
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stone.
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But the weight of the day had drained him, and his thoughts were consumed with. Yesha, leaving him little room for Asteria.
Just as he was about to push further, he heard the unmistakable sound of Yesha crying.
Turning swiftly, he saw her running toward the middle of the road, tears streaming down her face.
