I was utterly drained, with no strength left to continue this pointless argument.

Seeing the color drain from my face, Bruce finally backed off. He barked some instructions at the doctor about my care and stalked out.


I remained in the hospital for a week, with only Adam's occasional visits to break the monotony.

On the day of my discharge, Adam appeared at my door.

"Madam, Mr. Castillo has instructed me to bring you home."


My eyes automatically searched the space behind him.

Adam shifted uncomfortably under my gaze. "The... the master had urgent business and couldn't come personally."


"It's that ball today, isn't it?"

Adam nodded reluctantly. "Yes, madam."

I fell silent, my hand unconsciously moving to my stomach, trying to connect with the tiny life growing inside me.

Adam moved closer, his voice gentle. "Madam, perhaps you might consider giving the master another chance."

I didn't even have the energy to be angry anymore. "It's too late, Adam. It was all a fantasy from the start, and now I'm finally seeing reality."

"The master... wasn't always as you see him now. When he was born, he was weak and sickly. His parents abandoned him, considering him unworthy of the Castillo name."

My heart clenched painfully. In all our time together, Bruce had never shared anything about his past.

"To prove himself worthy," Adam continued, "he left home at six years old, wandering and surviving on his own. At twelve, believing he had finally become strong enough to earn his family's respect, he returned home. They took him in, but only to torment him. When he was sixteen and about to come of age, they feared he would challenge his brother for the inheritance and tried to murder him in his sleep."

I couldn't help but clench my fists.

"He killed them all in self-defense—his parents, his brother, everyone who had betrayed him. At sixteen, he became the last Castillo standing. That's when Katherine entered his life."

The blood drained from my face.

"Katherine helped Bruce rebuild the Castillo empire from the ashes. She gave him purpose when he had none. But after helping him become powerful, Katherine vanished without a trace. The master has been searching for her ever since."

I turned away, unable to process these revelations. "Why are you telling me this now?"

Adam smiled sadly. "Katherine and the master share a complicated history, yes. But I believe he chose you, madam, for reasons beyond mere physical desire."

My body tensed, unwilling to hope again.

"I've served Master Bruce since he was sixteen. In all these years, I've come to believe that he desperately craves love but has no concept of what love actually is. So I beg you, madam—give him one more chance."

I stared at Adam, searching his face for deception. "What makes you think that?"

"His childhood taught him that blood ties—the relationships we're born into—are the most dangerous of all. Parents, siblings—those who should have loved him unconditionally were the ones who tried to destroy him. That's why your effect on him is so terrifying to him. The more he feels drawn to you, the more he hates himself for that weakness. It's not you he despises, madam—it's his own vulnerability."

I opened my mouth to respond but found no words. Adam's revelations had thrown my certainty into chaos.

Adam said: "If you two are destined mates, why not try a little harder?"

I remained silent.

Adam tried once more: "Since you haven't secured new accommodations yet, why not return home temporarily? You can always leave once you've found somewhere suitable."

"No," I said firmly. "Adam, I can't keep setting myself on fire to keep Bruce warm. I'm done hoping."

Adam fell silent, probably not knowing how to persuade me further.

"Would you help me book a hotel room?" I asked softly. "I can't stand this antiseptic smell another minute."

Adam nodded, resignation in his eyes. "Of course, madam."

Later, as Adam drove me to the hotel, I couldn't stop thinking about his revelations. Memories of my time with Bruce played through my mind like a bittersweet film.

I realized that learning about Bruce's past had awakened my sympathy. We were both abandoned children in our own ways. For a moment, I actually considered trying again.

But why should I? Why was it my responsibility to teach a grown man how to love? Why should I endure more pain just because he was damaged? And what if, after all my sacrifice, he realized he actually loved Katherine? Wouldn't that make me an even bigger fool?