Chapter24

She couldn't sleep after what had happened. He left the room, just like every other time, leaving her alone with her sorrows and pain. Despite her despair, she still hadn't lost hope. When morning came, she met with the women to hear their opinions and final decisions, only to be shocked that no one agreed with what she had told them.

"Trying to win your husband's heart is impossible, and he's on my list from now on," 

Taya heard that threat from Lady Lulwan, who left in anger.

Evel told her the details of what had happened the previous night. Taya clenched her fists and took a deep breath. Everything was going against what she had expected and planned. She immediately headed to a room with the finest wines.

Even the makeup she had applied couldn't hide the mark of the slap on her cheek. She added many ice cubes to her glass. She didn't care if she lost consciousness after this drink; what she wanted was to clear her mind.

"Hold on, Taya. If you drink now, you'll get drunk and ruin your plans. They'll find a hundred reasons to destroy your life, so you need to do something else to release your anger," 

She placed the glass on the table and left the room.

She hurried to the training grounds, where there was a rarely used facility. In the past, Taya used it to train and become strong. After hearing that Orig had started teaching Meral archery, it made her jealous and determined to become better to get his attention.

But all her hard work and effort went to waste. Orig never acknowledged her abilities. She wasn't paying attention when she bumped into a woman with blonde hair. "Ah, sorry, I didn't see you," 

Taya's eyes widened. She had completely forgotten about Orig's sister, who was even more miserable than her. Her story, from start to finish, was a field of pain and suffering.

"It's alright. You're Taya, right? I haven't had the chance to introduce myself," 

Orig's sister said softly. Her eyes were pale. "How about having tea with me in the garden?" 

Taya said, grabbing Luyan's hands firmly as she stared into her eyes.

"S-sure," 

Luyan said as they walked toward the garden, where the maid served them some cake and tea.

"I truly know who you are, and I want us to be friends," 

Taya said after Luyan introduced herself. Luyan felt that there was something wrong with Taya. Who would want to befriend a woman who abandoned her family and husband and ran away?

No one had spoken to her since she returned to her father's home over three years ago. "I really mean it," 

Luyan smiled for the first time, and that smile didn't go unnoticed by Orig, who had been watching Taya since she woke up.

"I thought she would leave me and run away after that slap," 

He whispered, clenching his hand into a fist. He wasn't usually one to hit women or treat them harshly, but that redhead provoked him. "Everything will be fine as long as she stays away from my family," 

He said as he returned to his room, reassured that she wouldn't leave.

"You know my brother has been watching you since we entered the garden," 

Luyan said after Orig left. Her tone was cold and harsh.

"I know my marriage to your brother isn't normal, and it's none of my business, but I really need your help in finding my husband. Everyone thinks I left him and came back here. No one knows that he disappeared under mysterious circumstances," 

Luyan said, her face showing the look of someone who had lost hope. Taya's smile vanished. She knew what had happened to Luyan's husband, but the truth she knew was too painful, and she couldn't tell Luyan what had become of him.

"Sorry, but I can't help you with that," 

Taya said, standing up to leave. Suddenly, memories she shouldn't have recalled flooded her mind. "He's in the palace prison. He was imprisoned in the cell opposite mine," 

She whispered, trying to keep herself together, but the weight of those memories overwhelmed her, and she fainted on the ground.

---

"Are you alright?" 

His voice was soft. She didn't want to answer him. It was still too early, or so she thought. "You've been unconscious for three days," 

Orig's words shocked Taya. She had a sharp headache, her memories were blurred, and even her vision was unsteady.

"Leave me alone," 

Her hands were trembling. She couldn't bear for Orig to touch her, remembering how he had raised his hand against her. "I can't leave. You had a nervous breakdown, and the healer advised you not to worry. I mean, what could possibly be bothering you? You have everything—servants, jewelry, you live in the finest palaces. You have everything others could only dream of," 

Orig said, his tone baffled by her condition.

"I want your heart, Orig. I don't want anything else. I'm really desperate to fall in love with you. You don't know how it feels when you're in front of me, but I can't embrace you… because you… Ah, please, I don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone," 

Taya shouted, unable to believe Orig had said that. What's the point of luxury and wealth when there's no happiness?

Orig felt a lump in his throat, unable to speak. He hated himself for involving her with him. No one could handle his nature; no one ever understood him. "But you know what? I feel sorry because I'll be living with the same sadness again،"

She hissed grabbing his shirt helplessly.

"If you really want to betray me, do it out of my sight. I can't bear seeing you with her," 

Taya said, seeming to struggle with her breathing.

'What the hell is she talking about? I haven't even gotten close to any girl except her. I haven't even held Meral in my arms,' 

thought Orig, who assumed his wife must be under the influence of something to say such things.