Chapter 3

　　As soon as we returned home, Celeste eagerly rushed into Julian’s arms.

　　She whimpered, crying.

　　“Julian, I just had the maid stew the chicken Anya brought back.”

　　“But the maid told me the chicken wasn’t fresh anymore, it couldn’t be eaten.”

　　Julian immediately turned to me, glaring furiously.

　　“It’s all your fault for faking illness! Now Celeste couldn’t even have fresh chicken!”

　　“Go apologize to her right now.”

　　Looking at the two of them, I found it somewhat amusing. My gaze fell on their intertwined hands.

　　“Anyone would think *you two* were the married couple.”

　　Hearing my words, Julian instinctively loosened his grip.

　　“Anya, what do you mean by that?”

　　“I tolerate your usual nonsense, but now you dare to casually slander Celeste?”

　　Julian’s words thoroughly ignited the fury in my heart.

　　“Julian, look at the distance between you and Celeste! Do you two look like normal brother-in-law and sister-in-law?!”

　　“If you wanted to extend your responsibilities to both families, you could have just told me!”

　　*Slap!* Julian delivered a stinging slap across my face.

　　“Anya, I think you’ve truly gone mad from pretending to be sick! How dare you spread rumors about me and Celeste?”

　　“It seems the previous punishment didn’t make you sober up. If that’s the case, then go reflect properly in the confinement room.”

　　The family’s confinement room was right next to the family cemetery, specifically for punishing disobedient family members. It was constantly dark, infested with rats and cockroaches. For me, who suffered from claustrophobia, this punishment was pure torture.

　　I trembled, wanting to beg Julian to let me go. But he didn’t even glance at me. He turned to softly comfort Celeste.

　　I was dragged into the confinement room by the bodyguards.

　　The enclosed environment plunged me into anxiety.

　　I started tearing at my hair and clothes, trying to calm myself down in the confined space.

　　But it was all in vain. Rats constantly nibbled at my body.

　　I had to stay conscious at all times, until a phone call came.

　　When Leo arrived, I was huddled in a corner, trembling uncontrollably.

　　The moment he saw me, Leo’s eyes instantly reddened.

　　“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, I’m here to save you.”