Cruelly, Theodoro just threw out those words and then turned his back to walk away as if she were someone he would never see again.

 

“Huh?”

 

It was the first time in Judith’s life she had seen someone’s retreating back like that. 

 

Before that… no, even after that, no one had ever turned their back and walked away from her first.

 

“…Wait!”

 

Despite her desperate cry, he never once looked back at her.

 

“Hey…!”

 

Yes, she still remembers the humiliation, the anger, and the fluttering heart from that day.

 

And was it only that day? 

 

For years after that, once or twice a year, she would often see him at parties. That man, with his emotionally barren face, would just pass her by.

 

Each time, her pride was wounded. 

 

Just the fact that he was in the same space made her self-conscious of her every action, and if their cold eyes happened to meet, her heart would invariably lurch.

 

The truth was, Theodoro didn’t even remember who she was. 

 

Even if she told him her name each time like stamping a seal, by the next time they met, those few syllables would have vanished from his mind without a trace.

 

Treatment she had never received from anyone else. 

 

A profound indifference that felt worse than if he had despised or loathed her.

 

At some point, she seemed to stop grinding her teeth over it and let go of her feelings.

 

It wasn’t like he was consistently cold only to her. He was like that with all other women, too.

 

Yes, he was a man that no one could have anyway. Thinking that actually made her feel more at ease.

 

But then why?

 

Why was he openly bringing a girlfriend and giving to that girlfriend what she thought no one would ever receive from him? 

 

And doing it right in front of Judith, who was watching with her own two eyes.

 

“Theodoro.”

 

Judith soon stood before the two of them and called his name. 

 

Theodoro, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, slowly turned his head with a subtle smile she had never seen before. 

 

And that smile vanished like a mirage the moment he spotted Judith.

 

An indifferent gaze that bore down on her as if she were an object, not a person. 

 

Just making eye contact was enough for an inexplicable sense of defeat to sweep through her entire body.

Judith viciously snatched the cigarette resting between his lips and put it into her own mouth. 

 

As she felt the slick trace of his saliva on the paper filter, it felt as if a layer of her resentment was finally being peeled away.

 

“Long time no see?”

 

“…”

 

“If you’ve come to a place like this yourself, I assume your objective is clear.”

 

Theodoro only smoothly raised an eyebrow once, offering no comment about the abruptly stolen cigarette. He pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against and muttered.

 

“If you know that much, there was no need for you to come to me. Shouldn’t you just call Andrew Whitmore?”

A crimson flame surged violently within Judith’s pupils.

 

And that flame began to burn even more wildly when she saw the slender hand placed on Theodoro’s arm, as if restraining him.

 

‘These crazy bastards…’

 

She desperately pulled up the corners of her mouth and met Theodoro’s gaze.

 

“Do you know what kind of party is happening here right now?”

 

“Even if I didn’t know, if I had eyes, I would have guessed it was a birthday party.”

 

What he indicated with his chin was the extravagant three-tiered cake placed right in the center of the table.

 

Where did he learn such manners, to point it out specifically yet not offer a single word of birthday congratulations?

 

“…A little courtesy wouldn’t kill you.”

 

“Congratulations.”

 

She scoffed at his offhand remark, and her legs suddenly felt weak.

 

Does Theodoro know? Does he know that even his casual, low chuckle makes her heart sink?

 

It felt like a spasm was about to twitch at the corners of her mouth, which were maintaining a precarious smile.

 

“You didn’t come empty-handed, did you?”

 

In response to her question, Theodoro shrugged his shoulders and then jerked his chin towards a room near the entrance.

 

She immediately understood he meant he had put it in the room where gifts are collected. That left her with even less to say.

It was then that a third party intruded into the brief silence.

 

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like… so I prepared a bracelet. I hope you like it.”

 

Even though she had tried to avoid dealing with him, she offered neither a greeting nor a glance. 

 

Judith bit her lip lightly and shot a glare at the pretty woman next to Theodoro.

 

“Ha…”

 

A scornful laugh mixed with irritation forced its way through her lips. She should have just kept her mouth shut. 

 

The condescending words crushed her pride, smashing it to the ground.

 

‘Really… I want to kill her.’

 

The thought that she couldn’t back down like a loser, even if it was irrational, seized her mind.

 

After all, she always ended up acting irrationally in front of Theodoro. 

 

What difference would one more time make?

 

“I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s something else I want.”

 

Judith looked directly at Theodoro again and took a step closer to him.

 

“You. Now that you’ve come all this way, you want something, don’t you?”

 

“…”

 

“You know my father is at my every beck and call, right?”

 

She couldn’t tell if his slight nod meant he knew or not. Judith’s aggressive hand snatched his tie and pulled him closer.

“I’ll give you what you want. But in return, you have to pay the price.”

 

“What… money?”

 

“I don’t need it. I have more money than I know what to do with now.”

 

She released Theodoro with a slight push and turned her body sharply.

 

“Follow me.”

 

She didn’t forget to fire a sharp remark at the woman, who was looking around with a flustered expression.

 

“I’m borrowing your man for a bit. He has something coming to him.”

 

💫

 

The place Judith led him to was a lonely reception room on the third floor, unlike the first floor, where the party was being held.

 

While the faint sounds of music and people’s chatter could be heard from outside the door, only silence flowed within.

 

In the center of the room was a red velvet sofa. 

 

Theodoro, sitting languidly on it and drinking champagne, silently watched the woman seated across from him.

 

What did she mean he had something coming to him, even going so far as to prepare a place for just the two of them? 

 

The only thing he could give was money.

 

To him, this situation was nothing but a nuisance. He was neither generous enough to placate a girl throwing a pointless tantrum, nor did he have time to spare.

 

Moreover, who knew if some bastards would swarm Lilliana like a hive of bees the moment he left his seat…

 

If only he hadn’t bought and let her wear that new pink dress from the atelier. 

 

It was for her birthday party, and he had suggested she wear something more cheerful than her usual clothes, but now Theodoro deeply regretted that choice.

 

Once he had her put it on, didn’t she look just like a spring flower beginning to plumply bud in April?

 

“…Hey.”

 

“…”

 

“Theodoro!”

 

Theodoro snapped back to his senses at the fierce voice calling him. 

 

The soft, white silhouette floating hazily in his mind disappeared, and the woman glaring at him with narrowed eyes came into view.

 

“Ah.”

 

“What are you thinking about with someone right in front of you?”

 

“Then state your business, so I don’t think of other things.”

 

“…Hah.”

 

With a cold sneer, Judith roughly swept her hair back.

 

“Let me ask this first. I heard Luciano met with my dad not long ago, so what’s the reason you’re here all of a sudden?”

 

“That’s none of your—”

 

“You should cooperate. As I said, Mr. Andrew Whitmore cherishes his only daughter very much.”

 

A bitter smile briefly crossed Theodoro’s lips. He turned his head away and let out a sigh that was barely audible.

 

“My brother is my brother, and I am me.”

 

“…Is what I’m thinking correct?”

 

“Well, how would I know what’s in your head?”

 

Judith seemed to gain certainty from his ambiguous answer instead. 

 

A deep smile, like that of a victor, appeared on her red lips.

 

“Well… It’s not like we’ll interfere in a fraternal power struggle. I suppose there’s nothing we can’t help with.”

 

“So, what do you want?”

 

“You.”

 

The bold demand came back without hesitation. 

 

Theodoro was momentarily speechless and could say nothing. He just looked at the woman, who was holding her chin up towards him, with an astonished expression.

 

Soon, he let out a hollow laugh and shook his head repeatedly.

 

“This is ridiculous.”

 

“Do you think I’m joking?”

 

Judith stood up from her seat and, without hesitation, lowered the shoulder strap of her dress.

 

The black silk dress slid down her skin as if slipping, revealing her sheer lace underwear and sensual, feminine form before Theodoro.

 

With every step she took, her ample breasts swayed like waves. 

 

In response, Theodoro’s brow furrowed more and more with each passing moment.

 

Thud—

 

Finally, the dress fell helplessly at Judith’s feet as she stood before him.

 

“Just close your eyes and do it. Then I’ll also ‘close my eyes’ and tell my father to help you.”

 

“…”

 

“You have nothing to worry about. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you, absolutely.”

 

Theodoro let out a deep sigh and wearily rubbed his eyes.

 

“…Stop right there. I’m warning you.”

 

“That’s amusing. The one who should be in a hurry isn’t me, but you.”

 

As if she hadn’t even heard his cold warning, Judith climbed onto his lap and continued speaking.

 

“So that’s why you came to my birthday party, a place you’ve never shown your face before… and even brought a gift. Isn’t that right?”

 

“…”

 

“If you’re here, you should get something out of it, Theodoro.”

 

“I told you clearly. Let’s end this cleanly with money. If you don’t want to see things get ugly.”

 

A cold trace of arsenic flickered beneath her cat-like eyes. 

 

Ignoring him, Judith grabbed the hook of her bra and undid it. Her confined breasts spilled out and swayed.

 

“What’s wrong? Are you worried about your lover outside?”

 

“…Judith Whitmore.”

 

Theodoro let out a bleak voice, not even glancing at the jiggling flesh.

 

As if competing with his tone, Judith pressed the breasts that had seduced dozens of men against his body and whispered.

 

“Do you think your so-called lover won’t mix with other men?”

 

“…!”

 

In that moment, Theodoro’s eyes froze solid.

 

Gently stroking his nape, Judith bloomed a secretive smile.

 

“What’s so bad about this? It’s not like we’re just rolling around like animals…. We have a ‘purpose‘. A ‘purpose‘.”