Chapter 9

Ryder took my phone and instructed the butler and maids that I couldn't leave the Deer Park Estate or contact anyone.

Other than that, I was free.

I stood on the mountain top of Sterling Deer Park Estate, overlooking the entire manor.

Ryder had built this especially for me.

In my junior year of college, I'd suddenly become obsessed with deer.

I loved their graceful legs, their clean eyes, the soft touch of their fur when they gently nudged their heads against me.

I frequently dragged Ryder to the zoo to feed the fawns.

Until one time, Ryder's uncle caught us.

Ryder shielded me the whole time, not letting his uncle see my face.

He handled the situation flawlessly, seeing his uncle off.

After that, Ryder didn't come to school for about a week.

I was understanding back then.

If Ryder didn't come, I remembered what he'd told me: never contact him first, especially when he was back at the Sterling family home.

The next time I saw Ryder was during final exams week at Veridian City University.

It snowed heavily that day. Ryder's face was paler than the snow, but he embraced me and said he had a gift for me.

That gift was Sterling Deer Park Estate.

That day, Ryder said that whenever I wanted to see deer again, I could come to *their* Deer Park Estate, for peace and quiet.

I quietly sat down on the hillside, instinctively wrapping my arms around a fawn named Little Sun, holding it affectionately in my lap.

This fawn was only four months old. The night it was born, Ryder and I were staying at Sterling Deer Park Estate.

That night, the estate manager said a doe was having a difficult birth.

Worried, I rushed to see, and later, Ryder and I even helped the doe deliver.

The fawn, Little Sun, had been tainted with human scent at birth, and its mother refused to nurse it. Ryder and I held it and bottle-fed it ourselves.

That fawn was Little Sun.

Afterward, this fawn always liked to follow me.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

I thought it was Ryder.

Only when someone sat beside me did I realize it was Valerie.

This was the first time I'd seen an outsider at Sterling Deer Park Estate.

The thought surfaced, and I paused, then realized that *I* was now the outsider.

I didn't want to talk to Valerie, nor did I care why she was here. I simply stood up and walked towards a more distant spot.

Little Sun, only a few months old, was very clingy and followed me.

Valerie seemed somewhat jealous. She followed behind me, asking,

"This fawn listens to you so well. How did you train it?"

I ignored her, pulling carrot sticks from my pocket to feed Little Sun.

Valerie mimicked me, pulling a handful of grass to feed it.

The fawn only wanted the carrots in my hand and only allowed me to pet it.

After I finished feeding it, Little Sun nudged my pocket, clearly wanting more.

I smiled, gently pushing the fawn away. "None left for today."

Valerie impatiently shoved the wild grass in her hand towards the fawn's mouth.

I couldn't be bothered to watch Valerie anymore and headed towards the small bamboo house behind the Deer Park Estate.

I needed to rest.

I hadn't walked far when Valerie's scream pierced the air!

Followed by the mournful cry of the fawn!

I spun around abruptly!

I saw Little Sun nipping at Valerie's sleeve, a familiar way it interacted with humans.

But Valerie was clearly terrified. She kicked the fawn, again and again!

Ryder had rushed back from out of town where he was handling matters.

He gave me a cold glance, then went straight to Valerie's room.

The door wasn't closed.

Just a wall separating us, I heard everything from next door, clearly.

After they had enough time together, Ryder returned to my bedroom, standing before me.

"Valerie twisted her ankle, she needs to recuperate."

I looked up, pointing meaningfully at Ryder.

"Didn't you just help her 'recuperate'?"

Ryder let out an exasperated chuckle.

"Stella, I'm not kidding. Which deer hurt Valerie this afternoon? Tell me. Valerie needs to recuperate."

I froze for a few seconds before grasping the full meaning of Ryder's words!

"Ryder, you're inhuman! You said this was *my* Deer Park! Which one of these deer didn't we watch grow up? How could you bring yourself to do it?"

Something flickered in Ryder's eyes.

His throat worked, a hint of endurance and appeasement in his voice.

"Stella, it's just a fawn. Valerie wants to try something fresh."

"Try something fresh?"

I was shaking with rage.

"Ryder, are you even human?!"

As the words burst out, I slapped Ryder across the face!