"Your actions are the questionable ones... Mother... I don't think I overreacted, but instead, you overthought about everything..."
Her mother's lips pressed into a thin line. "Very well. But in the future, you will be more… restrained in your reactions. For the family's sake."
"Of course, Mother," Yueshuang said, her tone dripping with false obedience.
Lady Yuwen moved toward the door, then paused, her hand on the handle. "Yueshuang… do you truly feel nothing for him? For Lian?"
The question hung in the air like a blade poised to strike at any moment if she gave out a wrong answer.
Yueshuang's heart clenched, but her face remained impassive. "He is a tool, Mother. Nothing more. I feel nothing for tools."
The lie burned like acid in her throat.
Lady Yuwen studied her for another moment before she nodded in satisfaction. "Good. That's… good." She stood for a minute longer, then glanced back one last time. "Rest, Yueshuang. You've had a difficult night."
Alone
