Chapter 8

The maid said that and then disappeared from sight.  

She mentioned that Resti was having a conversation with Grace. Yulia moved closer to the door where the voices were coming from.  

“Is the wedding preparation going well?”  

The voice of the woman who had stormed in like a whirlwind yesterday reached her ears. For a moment, her entire body froze.  

‘Are they really preparing for a wedding?’  

Yulia had thought the maids were lying. No, she wanted to believe they were lying. The idea of a wedding taking place now, without her even having received a proposal, could only mean one thing: the bride was Grace.  

“I told you I’d handle the preparations myself.”  

“I looked around briefly, but I don’t like it.”  

“Stay out of it.”  

Yulia clenched her teeth. 

Why was Grace checking on the wedding preparations? Why was she saying she didn’t like them? 

There could only be one conclusion.  

‘The bride of this wedding… is it really Grace?’  

Her stomach churned. She covered her mouth and held her breath. She desperately denied it, but a seed of anxiety sprouted in the corner of her heart.  

“How many years has it been since we got engaged?”  

“It’s been 15 years since the official engagement.”  

“You were such an annoying brat back then.”  

“And you were such an unbearable kid.”  

“Who could have predicted this would happen?”  

Yulia listened carefully to their conversation. She hoped to hear something about breaking off the engagement or that Grace wasn’t actually the bride. She waited desperately for such words. But nothing of the sort came from their mouths.  

It was as if Yulia’s existence had been completely forgotten.  

‘It can’t be. A wedding?’  

Her mind swirled. There was no way Resti would abandon her like this. No, he wouldn’t reduce her to the status of a mistress. She wanted to believe he wasn’t that kind of man.  

“Her name is Yulia, right?”  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

At the sudden mention of her name, Yulia sharply inhaled. Grace’s soft chuckle followed.  

“Are you really planning to take her with you?”  

“Yes.”  

“Have you told her?”  

“No.”  

“When do you plan to tell her the truth?”  

The truth? What truth? Was it the truth that I would become his mistress? Or was it the truth that I was actually the bride of this wedding?

Her heart pounded.  

“You showing up out of nowhere ruined everything.”  

“You could’ve paid a bit more attention to your fiancée.”  

“I was paying attention.”  

Resti responded irritably.  

“You do remember we’re still engaged, right?”  

“I know. I don’t need you to remind me. And that will change soon.”  

“Right. It’ll end on the wedding day.”  

Yulia shut her eyes tightly. 

He had said he would break off the engagement. What did it mean to say it would end on the wedding day? 

Yulia clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.  

‘For it to end on the wedding day…’  

Did it mean the engagement would end, and they would get married? 

She wanted to believe in Resti, but the sense of betrayal made her entire body tremble.  

“That’s enough. Yulia should be awake by now.”  

“Comfort her well.”  

Comfort me? 

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. 

Did that mean they expected me to accept being a mistress graciously? 

She knew she was thinking bitterly, but she couldn’t stop herself. Yulia quietly stepped away from the door.  

How far had she gone, silently suppressing the sound of her footsteps. The door opened, and Resti came out.  

“Yulia.”  

He approached her with a bright smile and long strides. 

“Did you sleep well? How was the bed?”  

As he came closer, he leaned down and inhaled deeply.  

“You smell nice. But I still prefer your natural scent.”  

“……”  

“How about the clothes? Do they fit well?”  

“Resti.”  

Yulia held his hand tightly. She could feel Grace’s gaze fixed on them from behind. Her lips felt dry.  

“Are you preparing for a wedding?”  

She forced herself to cling to the remaining scraps of hope. At her question, Resti’s eyes widened in surprise. 

Did he really think I wouldn’t know? 

She almost laughed at the absurdity. Everyone in this mansion was talking about the wedding.  

“How… did you find out?”  

She was speechless. The rumors were true. He was indeed preparing for a wedding—without telling her. Yulia forced a smile.  

“Was it supposed to be a secret?”  

“Well, uh…”  

Why was he so flustered? Was he planning to marry quietly and even hide the fact that I was his mistress? Did he intend to marry Grace as if nothing had happened and keep me hidden in some rural corner?  

Yulia shut her eyes tightly and then opened them.  

“It’s okay.”  

The words were as much for him as they were for herself.  

It’s okay. 

She had no intention of becoming his mistress. She wouldn’t let the child in her womb be labeled an illegitimate child.  

“It’s okay.”  

She had made up her mind. When Yulia smiled brightly, Resti looked relieved and smiled back. She gripped his hand tightly.  

***

She had to leave.  

Yulia shut her eyes tightly and then opened them again. She had spent the entire day agonizing over what to do, thinking and rethinking her options.  

‘This is the only way.’  

Resti had never directly told her, ‘Become my mistress.’ However, it was undeniable that the remaining outcome led to that conclusion.  

How could I escape? 

As an orphan with no parents to turn to, the thought felt overwhelming.  

She couldn’t go back home. That would be the first place they’d search. Yulia frowned.  

There was a knock at the door. She didn’t respond, but a familiar voice called out.  

“Are you asleep?”  

“Resti?”  

The door opened, and the man entered with a bright smile. He looked a little tired.  

‘It must be because of the wedding preparations.’  

Her stomach churned slightly, but she didn’t let it show. This was no longer her concern.  

Resti approached her with long strides, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.  

“You weren’t asleep.”  

“Yeah.”  

“If you were, I was just going to look at your face and leave.”  

Resti sat on the edge of the bed. Up close, the exhaustion etched on his face was impossible to miss.  

Yulia forced herself to smile.  

“Just wait a little longer.”  

What did he mean by that? 

She wanted to ask, but she kept her mouth shut.  

He probably didn’t even realize there was a child growing inside her. A faint, bitter smile crossed her lips.  

“Grace messed everything up.”  

Grace. The way he called another woman’s name so familiarly didn’t sit well with her.  

Resti moved closer, gently brushing her hair aside before leaning in.  

Their lips met softly. He licked her lips lightly with his tongue and moved closer.  

Their noses brushed slightly. His warm breath clung to her skin.  

She wanted to lose herself in the moment, entwining her tongue with his and pressing her body against him, just like always.  

But instead, she closed her eyes and focused on the sensation of his lips.  

“Mm…”  

It was their last kiss. She wouldn’t see him again after this.  

When Yulia wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, Resti let out a low chuckle.  

As he sucked on her lips and bit down gently, his breath grew heavier.  

Their tongues intertwined, the sensation rippling through her body.  

Her stomach quivered, and heat spread through her.  

His hand carefully caressed her knee, moving slowly toward her inner thigh.  

Yulia gasped for breath and shook her head.  

“Stop.”  

“Yulia.”  

His voice, husky with desire, sent shivers through her.  

But she fixed her expression and shook her head firmly.  

She already knew how relentless he could be when it came to physical intimacy—how he wouldn’t stop until she was completely spent.  

If they went that far again, she wouldn’t wake up until tomorrow afternoon.  

“I’m tired today, Resti.”  

“…Alright.”  

He smiled faintly, a hint of disappointment in his expression, but didn’t argue.  

“Holding you while I sleep is okay, right?”  

“Yeah.”  

At her response, Resti pulled her into a tight embrace and buried his face in her neck.  

She felt him inhale deeply and then exhale.  

As she stroked his dark hair, Yulia rested her cheek on the top of his head.