Chapter 36

The next day, Chris came to visit Aneta. It seemed she had been waiting for a day off to come to the estate, pouring out words of concern before leaving.

During her visit, Aneta learned that the tasks Carlos should have handled were once again falling onto Vernon. She didn’t say much about it, just assuming that Vernon must have been given something in return. After all, Vernon wouldn’t have voluntarily taken on extra work twice without reason.

The second visitor was Serce. As soon as the news of a letter from Viscount Raphaeli arrived, Carlos’s expression darkened dramatically compared to when he heard Chris’s visit request.

“Can’t you refuse?”

Recently, Serce had been trying to create more opportunities to interact with Aneta. His attempts to show interest and approach her were obvious, and Carlos couldn’t help but be wary of him.

“Why?”

“I don’t want anyone else seeing you in such a vulnerable state.”

“No matter how vulnerable I am, it can’t be worse than when you’re drunk.”

Aneta glanced down at her nightgown, recalling past memories. She still vividly remembered the sight of him tearing open his shirt with his own hands.

‘I was worried about leaving him alone.’

Aneta let out a dry laugh, recalling her thoughts from that time. A drunken Carlos was the very definition of vulnerability.

“Besides, I can’t refuse someone who is genuinely concerned about me.”

Aneta playfully echoed Carlos’s own words, referring to Serce. Her tone carried a hint of teasing.

“Although we weren’t that close, Serce is still my childhood friend.”

In conclusion, she decided to allow Serce’s visit.

Carlos wanted to prevent their meeting, but he couldn’t openly oppose it. He, too, had been maintaining a superficial relationship.

Moreover, this was Aneta’s estate, not his. As a guest staying with her permission, he had no right to refuse her visitors. Even if she thought he was overstepping, he had no valid argument.

Accepting this sad reality, Carlos acknowledged his mistake and his face showed a hint of defeat. Aneta spoke to him after she called a maid to convey her permission.

“Don’t make that face. Serce won’t stay here longer than you.”

Carlos gave her a questioning look, but Aneta chose not to elaborate.

Serce arrived shortly after.

As he entered with Isabel’s guidance, Aneta was reminded of how close Raphaeli’s estate was.

“…It seems I received the news too late.”

Serce broke the silence after a brief pause.

His gaze landed on Carlos, who was sitting next to Aneta.

The casual way Carlos was dressed, as if he were at home, confirmed the rumors.

Carlos didn’t avoid Serce’s gaze. They both instinctively recognized each other as rivals, stemming from their desire for Aneta.

Serce greeted first. Carlos, reluctantly, returned the greeting just as reluctantly.

Their eyes met in midair, silently blazing. The fuel for this fire was the same for both: desire.

“You’re here?”

Their tension was momentarily broken by Aneta’s voice slicing through the air between them.Aneta sensed the peculiar atmosphere between them but didn’t show it.

Given it was their first meeting since the kissing incident, it was only natural for them to feel uncomfortable. Aneta stood up, filled with assumptions different from reality.

Carlos instinctively moved to assist her, a sight that did not sit well with Serce, who stood watching silently.

Seeing Carlos care for her so naturally irritated him.

“Shall we go to the sitting room?” Aneta suggested.

“No, that’s not necessary. We’re not formal enough to require that.”

Serce replied, shaking his head lightly. His tied-up red hair brushed against his neck, subtly emphasizing his closeness to her.

“Then take a seat here,” Aneta indicated the single-seater sofas placed in her bedroom. The three of them each took a separate seat.

“How are you feeling?” Serce broke the silence first, just as the maids finished serving tea and left.

“I’m fully recovered. I’d like to go back to work immediately, but as you can see, I have a guard here” Aneta said with a hint of a smile.

“Am I the guard?” Carlos asked, somewhat defensively.

“Of course, who else would it be but you, Carlos?” Aneta’s brief smile shifted her gaze back to Serce.

“Anyway, I’m surprised you came for a visit. I heard you’ve been secluded, working on a new design. Did you manage to finish everything?”

“I completed the work this morning. I thought I’d finally have a decent meal and stepped out of the studio, only to have my butler inform me of your situation. I sent the letter immediately after.”

Seeing that he chose to visit her instead of resting, Aneta noticed the weariness on Serce’s face.

“Thank you for coming.”

“No need to mention it. Oh, here’s a gift for your recovery.”

Serce handed her a bouquet of flowers. As Aneta took the bundle that filled her arms, she recognized the red blooms that reminded her of his hair.

“This is…,” Aneta began.

“Milaya. The same flowers you sent me for my last birthday.”

Milaya, with its bright red petals, symbolized passionate love.

Serce knew Aneta wasn’t one to consider flower meanings. However, he mentioned the flower’s name deliberately to provoke Carlos.

Carlos, sensing the intention behind Serce’s words, took it as a challenge. Serce was genuinely wary of him. He was now certain that Serce viewed Aneta as more than just a friend.

Their silent confrontation continued until Carlos, dismissing Serce’s presence as unworthy of his time, turned his attention to Aneta, caring for her with quick efficiency.

Not to be outdone, Serce stepped in, pouring tea and offering finger foods with equal fervor. Aneta watched with a complicated expression.

However, she didn’t stop them. Having her guests take care of everything made things easier for her as the host.

“You like this, don’t you?” Carlos offered.

“Try this one too. I’ve cut it into bite-sized pieces… oops.”

Serce, while exchanging glances and continuing their subtle competition, Serce intentionally spilled something on his clothes. Normally, he would never make such a mistake, but it achieved the desired reaction from Aneta.

“Are you okay? Let me find something to wipe it…”

“Here, use this.”

Carlos quickly offered his handkerchief to prevent Aneta from moving to help Serce.

When Serce unwillingly accepted the handkerchief Carlos handed him, his expression turned sour.

“You two make quite the pair,” Aneta remarked suddenly, catching both men off guard..

“What?” Serce responded, bewildered.

“Just kidding. It’s rare for Carlos to voluntarily lend anything to anyone. I just thought I’d say it once.” she explained with a playful smile.

When Aneta joked, both men felt a wave of relief. It was a comment they hoped never to hear again, no matter how light-heartedly it was intended.

“Seeing your reactions makes me want to tease you more,” Aneta said, her tone playful.

“Please spare us, Aneta,” Carlos responded, and for that brief moment, both men were united in their plea.

As the final day of the break dawned, Carlos stayed even more diligently by Aneta’s side. Watching her take a peaceful nap, he picked up the bouquet Serce had brought.

The flowers he had brought the first day had wilted, making this a necessary choice.

Despite his urge to crush the delicate stems in his grip, he reminded himself that the flowers were innocent. Nevertheless, he soon found himself snipping off perfectly healthy blooms.

After discarding the severed pieces discreetly, Carlos rearranged the bouquet, removing the wilted parts. Once placed back in the vase, the flowers looked presentable again.As he tidied up the area, he fell into thought.

Currently, Viscount Folter was being transported from his estate to the capital, and Erez had stepped into the trap. Yet Aneta remained unaware of these developments.

He knew he should inform her as soon as possible, but he hesitated. The moment she heard the news, she would undoubtedly insist on seeing the situation herself.

This was why Carlos had kept the news from her thus far. Even if she might resent him later, he wanted her to rest peacefully, at least for now.

He decided to brief her about the situation the next morning, when they returned together. Since she wouldn’t need to take any action herself, this was feasible.

Aneta woke up in the late afternoon. Carlos, sitting in front of the bed and reading a book, dispelled the remnants of sleep from her in his usual manner.

“This is the last time we’ll be like this,” Aneta murmured in a low, husky voice. Hearing her whisper, Carlos asked,

“Have I been helpful to you?”

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

Her straightforward affirmation brought a joyous smile to his face. When she thanked him, he responded by saying he was the grateful one.

‘What am I going to do with this man,’ Aneta thought, feeling a mix of affection and exasperation.

His slow-blinking eyelashes seemed to stir a warm spring breeze as he gazed at her. Aneta looked into his gently curved eyes.

Her fingertips tingled suddenly.

It wasn’t a thrill of excitement but a tremor filled with unease.

As she looked at his bright smile, the lingering essence of her recent dream seemed to hover thickly. In the vivid scenes of a splendid spring day, he was smiling just as he was now.

And beside him…

“Carlos,” she said suddenly.

“Yes?”

“I don’t think I’m in your future.”

His hand flinched at her impulsive words. The joy in his eyes was quickly overshadowed by a rising tide of anguish.

“Why would you say something like that all of a sudden?”

“I just… have a feeling.”

In truth, she felt miserable saying it. It was as if something heavy was pressing down on her chest. Yet, she felt she needed to tell him this.

It was an inexplicable, vague certainty. Her instinct had overruled her reason.

“Aneta.”

The slight tremble in his voice as he spoke her name showed that her unease had affected him too.

Aneta wanted to close her eyes against the guilt flooding her, but she couldn’t look away from his pleading golden eyes.

“Please, don’t say that.”

Aneta hoped he would deny her words. And, as if it were the most natural thing, he gave her the response she longed for.

“Even if this life ends, I want to stay by your side.”