He stepped closer, his tone lowering but more dangerous. "Listen well. As long as you have Shin Keir in the palm of your hand, it doesn't matter if he has a fiancée or even a wife. What matters is that his heart belongs to you."
Calin stared at him, stunned. "Dad… are you saying I should be content with being his mistress?"
Master Ricci's patience snapped. "Are you dumb like your mother? Do you plan to sit here crying until he's married? What good will that do? If you want something, go and get it! Don't sit around waiting for pity!" His voice rose, echoing through the hallway.
Madam Ricci, who had been listening from the doorway, froze. The insult hit her like a slap, but seeing her husband's temper flare, she didn't dare speak. Her fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the doorframe, her face pale with humiliation.
Calin was left stunned by her father's words but in her heart, she couldn't deny she agreed.
Why did she feel it was all over just because Shin Keir had a fiancée?
She refused to believe he was the type of man bound by moral obligations.
Even if he married, what assurance was there that he wouldn't stray?
Men always wanted what they couldn't have, the thrill of the forbidden, the chase of what should be off-limits.
And her father was right. In their social circle, most women either tolerated their husbands' mistresses or were themselves someone's kept woman. Calin had always looked down on such people. But now, if she truly wanted Shin Keir, she might have to become one of them.
No matter what means it took.
"What nonsense are you teaching her?!" Madam Ricci finally exploded, unable to bear it any longer. "You want our daughter to become that bastard's mistress?"
If such talk spread, it would not only destroy their family's reputation, it would ruin her. Society would think she had raised an immoral daughter.
Master Ricci's eyes darkened. He lifted his hand as though to strike her but restrained himself, pointing instead.
"If you hadn't offended the Keirs, would we even be in this situation? If you have nothing useful to say, stop acting righteous. Besides, Shin Keir is only engaged, not married. I don't believe someone like him whose mother was a mistress wouldn't cheat. Allister did, and so will he. It runs in his blood."
After their bitter argument, Master Ricci quickly obtained the location of the engagement meeting.
Calin, trembling with a mix of anger and determination, hastily got ready.
Seeing her husband preparing to leave again, Madam Ricci ran after him.
"What you said earlier...you meant other men, right? Not yourself?"
Master Ricci halted, glancing at her in irritation.
"So what if I do? Even if I go around with other women, aren't you still Mrs. Ricci? Living comfortably, without worrying about money, respected by your friends?"
Madam Ricci froze. His words hit her like a slap.
What was he implying?
Was her perfect marriage, her carefully cultivated image of a happy family nothing but a fragile illusion?
Impossible. That couldn't be true. Her husband wasn't like those faithless men who couldn't control themselves… right?
"What do you mean? You have to explain yourself!" she cried, grabbing his arm.
Master Ricci yanked it away with disgust.
"Think whatever you want. I've got business to attend to, not time to listen to your nonsense. If you have nothing better to do, help your daughter or hang yourself and spare me your drama."
Madam Ricci stood frozen. No matter how much she screamed or sobbed, her husband didn't look back.
She couldn't understand. Why did their family suddenly feel so distant, so hollow? Why were they crumbling over Shin Keir's engagement?
It was as if they couldn't exist without that man.
Having no one else to blame, Madam Ricci's hatred toward Shin Keir deepened, poison blooming quietly in her heart.
---
Once again, Zahn Neri stared at the divorce papers, this time, a hard copy delivered by courier.
Since Lianna left the Neri household, they hadn't spoken. He'd heard she was staying at a hotel, yet she hadn't touched the credit card he'd given her.
Did she have another source of money? She'd never worked a day in her life.
Meanwhile, his mother who used to contact him rarely now messaged constantly, complaining about incompetent maids, her back pain, her headaches, how she always had to repeat orders because the servants "forgot."
His son, Sean, had also become quiet and irritable, often refusing to eat.
With everything piling up, Zahn's concentration at work wavered. He nearly made a surgical mistake, terrifying the nurses and his paperwork was left to gather dust. Once a sharp, methodical surgeon, he now felt like his own mind was turning against him.
After some thought, Zahn decided this couldn't continue.
He drove home again but this time, his mother was out, and Sean was still at school.
"Where's my mother?" he asked flatly.
The two maids lounging on the sofa jolted up, clearly not expecting him.
"T-The Madam went to her usual spa and massage salon," one stammered.
Zahn's gaze chilled. "And what does Lianna normally do at this hour?"
They exchanged panicked glances.
"Don't forget who pays your salary and whose house this is," Zahn reminded, voice low and dangerous.
"G-gardening! She likes tending the garden!" one blurted out.
"Right! The miss loves planting!" the other quickly added.
"The miss?" Zahn repeated, frowning. "She's my wife and your young madam. Who said you could call her that?"
Both bowed deeply, too frightened to answer.
From where he stood, Zahn could see the back garden. It was tidy but bare, no flowers, no vibrant life.
He remembered Lianna's love for flowers, though the name of her favorite escaped him.
"What else?" he asked. "What else does she do all day, when Sean's at school or when my mother's here?"
The maids looked helpless, eyes darting as if he'd asked a riddle too difficult to solve.
Then the butler entered, startled to see him.
"Young Master, forgive me. I didn't know you were home. I was outside giving instructions to the workers."
"Workers?" Zahn frowned.
"Yes, Madam ordered the construction of a guesthouse in the back."
Zahn's expression hardened. That house was his marital home with Lianna, not the Neri family's main estate.
Why would his mother make such a decision without him?
He asked the butler the same questions he'd asked the maids.
The butler hesitated. "The young madam often stays in her room or with the little master, tidying his things or cooking healthy meals for him."
Zahn studied him in silence. The answer sounded vague, lifeless.
Did Lianna really spend her days like that? No hobbies? No trace of the lively woman he'd known?
This wasn't the Lianna he remembered. She had always been full of passion, a prodigy with instruments, a woman who could make a piano sing.
He still remembered her dream: to become a renowned composer. But her parents had disapproved, pushing her into finance instead.
Zahn felt a tight pull in his chest. Looking around, he realized there was nothing in this house that reflected her, no personal touch, no warmth. Even the piano in the corner looked untouched, as if mourning in silence.
"Did Lianna often play the piano?" Zahn asked quietly, almost to himself.
"The madam sometimes taught the little master," the butler said after a pause. "But I can't recall seeing the young madam play."
"Never?" Zahn's tone sharpened. "She used to play every day."
"I'm sorry, sir. I don't recall," the butler replied nervously.
Zahn stood still for a long moment. He had come home hoping to see evidence of harmony, proof that his wife and mother had learned to coexist. Lianna had always told him everything was fine.
But was it?
The more he thought about it, the more uncertain he became. Had he been blind all this time?
The thought filled him with dread.
Shin's words echoed in his mind: If you want to know, put your money to work.
Why was Lianna so adamant about this divorce, so ready to give up even Sean's custody?
Was she truly that desperate to leave him?
Was he really that unbearable as a husband?
Was she truly that unhappy… or was there something he didn't know?
Instead of answers, his thoughts only spiraled deeper.
Before leaving, Zahn instructed the butler to halt the guesthouse construction immediately.
Sitting in his car, he rubbed his face wearily before finally making two calls: first to a private investigator, then to his lawyer.
"Make sure no one in this city accepts my wife's divorce case," he ordered.
"Understood, young master. I'll also need a copy of the papers she filed, so we can prepare in advance."
"I'll send them within the day." Zahn exhaled heavily, though the relief that came was hollow.
---
That afternoon, someone arrived to pick Yeri up. Shin hadn't returned yet.
It took her ages to decide what to wear; she'd even called her mother for advice.
In the end, she chose a pale pink pencil skirt and a white blouse, left her wavy hair down, and added a touch of makeup. Her accessories, simple but elegant, were the ones Shin had gifted her.
When the man in a formal suit came to escort her, she blinked in surprise.
"Have we met before?" Yeri asked.
Rig smiled awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Yes, briefly behind your school. The boss wanted to talk to you then, but… you ran away."
Yeri: "…"
Oh. That time.
The memory made her want to melt into the floor. Better not to say anything more awkward.
The sleek black car soon rolled through the city streets. Another man sat in the passenger seat, tattooed with a tiger's half-face. He gave a polite nod but remained silent.
For the first time, Yeri was being escorted like some VIP. It felt both surreal and uncomfortable.
If word of Shin Keir's engagement got out, it would become impossible for her to move freely, unless Shin did her a favor and kept her identity secret a little longer.
Still, she told herself again, this was better than dealing with that hooligan, Leo Nafplion.
After a while, the car stopped before a luxurious building.
Yeri had never been there, but the designer-clad guests and gleaming cars made it obvious, it was an exclusive, members-only establishment.