[Volume 1] Chapter 8- Leaving without meeting.

"Kiera, what does this mean?" Rihana, who was trying to help her mother up, looked at Kiera with a shocked expression. This was the first time she had seen Kiera like this.

Hearing her words, Kiera looked at her with indifference and walked up to her. She raised her hand and soon touched Anna's face.

"If you dare to call me a servant or maid again, I will make sure that you regret that," she said firmly, tapping Anna's cheeks lightly. She then stood up, her demeanor commanding attention.

Everyone who saw her like this was shocked, realizing there was more to Kiera than they had previously thought.

As Kiera turned around, her gaze fell upon her in-laws, the people who loved her dearly after her mother and uncle. With a mixture of pain and happiness in her expression, she took a few steps forward, but her movement halted as she noticed the expression on their faces.

"Ah, yes, it's that time," she thought to herself, a blend of emotions crossing her features as she looked at them.

The Abernathy family, unlike many others, lived together under one roof, fostering a unique bond that was both comforting and challenging at times.

Kiera looked around, her eyes landing on the calendar hanging on the wall. Today's date stared back at her, a stark reminder of a significant event.

Frowning slightly, Kiera tried to recall the memories associated with this time. "Ah, yes," she whispered to herself, a hint of irony in her voice.

It was around this time that her marriage with Edward had been exposed.

She remembered vividly how Edward had confessed his love for her during this period, and how his family had initially embraced her as a beloved member.

But everything changed when her true identity as their daughter-in-law was revealed.

Kiera couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and bitterness at the irony of it all. Before the truth came out, she was cherished as a cherished part of their family.

Yet, the moment her marriage was exposed, she was suddenly viewed as a fraud, a stranger in their midst.

Rihana stood beside Kiera, not just as Edward's wife in the public eye but also as one of the youngest professors, known for her role as the protector of justice.

Her lineage added to her prestige, being the daughter of Anna Valhale, the esteemed milliner, and Alfred Valhale, the renowned genius painter.

During the tumultuous time when Kiera and Edward's marriage was revealed, Rihana was a pillar of support.

She bravely fought against the odds, standing by their side and defending their love against anyone who questioned it.

Rihana's unwavering loyalty and determination didn't stop there.

She went on to persuade Alfred Valhale, her own father, to accept Kiera as their daughter, bridging the gap that had emerged due to societal expectations and misunderstandings.

Kiera stood there, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, finding bitter irony in the turn of events. The one who had once fiercely defended her, calling her sister and fighting for her happiness, was now unwittingly at the center of her life's unraveling.

Her expression shifted from disbelief to cold resolve as she turned to leave, her hand reaching for the bag that symbolized her readiness to move forward. But before she could grasp it, another hand, weathered with age yet surprisingly strong, beat her to it.

Startled, Kiera looked up and met the gaze of an elderly man in his fifties. He was dressed impeccably in a grey suit that spoke of years spent in refined society. His glasses perched on his nose added an air of wisdom to his gentle expression.

Kiera's expression turned even colder as she realized the identity of the man standing before her.

It was none other than Alfred Valhale, the person who had made her and her mother's life a living hell in the past.

The memories of their turbulent history flooded back, stirring a mix of anger and resentment within her.

Alfred Valhale's presence felt like a cruel twist of fate, a reminder of the struggles they had endured because of him.

Alfred Valhale extended his hand towards Kiera's bag, his movements tentative yet filled with a sense of courtesy.

"Let me help you take it," he offered, his tone polite and gentle, his eyes reflecting a glimmer of warmth despite the underlying tension between them.

Kiera's gaze hardened as she felt his hand approach her belongings. Without hesitation, she tightened her grip on the bag, pulling it closer to herself and effectively snatching it away from him.

The air around them seemed to chill as she responded, her voice dripping with indifference and coldness. "It's okay, I can do it myself."

As Kiera picked up her bags and headed towards the door, Edward, who had been taken aback by her earlier behavior, snapped back to reality.

With a sense of urgency, he rushed towards her and grabbed hold of her bag, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.

Kiera, who had been walking without looking back, suddenly felt a pull on her bag. Without needing to turn around, she already knew who it was.

Lowering her head, she glanced at the hand that had grabbed her bag. It was a large hand, one that clearly hadn't done any laborious work.

The faint scent of ink wafted in the air, a subtle fragrance that only she could recognize. For six years, that smell had brought her the most peace and comfort.

It was a scent that reminded her of someone from her past, someone who had a knack for avoiding physical tasks and spent most of their time immersed in ink and paper.

The familiarity of that scent stirred memories of quieter, simpler times, adding a bittersweet layer to the current situation.

"Are you going without even meeting me?",The hoarse voice cut through the air, filled with a blend of concern and underlying pain that was palpable even in its hoarseness.

It was evident from the tone that the speaker was deeply affected by Kiera's departure, his emotions raw and unguarded.Kiera, caught off guard by the unexpected voice, stood rooted to her spot.

The world around her seemed to fade into the background as she focused on the voice that held so much sadness.

With a slight tremor in her hands, she closed her eyes briefly, a mix of emotions washing over her.