Chapter 9- Ignoring them but her heart pains

Silver paused, her fingers curling slightly around the handle of her suitcase.

Why was she even packing?

Why should she be the one to leave?

Running away would only mean they had won. It would mean they had succeeded in pushing her out of her own home. Her home.

A slow, determined smile crept onto her lips.

No.

She wasn't going anywhere.

With newfound resolve, she unzipped her suitcase and began unpacking, carefully placing her clothes back into the closet. She folded each piece neatly, taking her time as if she hadn't just been on the verge of storming out moments ago.

After finishing, she stretched her arms and let out a long sigh before heading to the bathroom. The warm steam welcomed her as she stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the exhaustion of the day.

She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling as water droplets ran down her smooth, porcelain skin. Her long, silvery-white hair stuck to her back, cascading over her shoulders like strands of pure moonlight. With her naturally delicate features, dewy pink lips, and big, expressive eyes, she looked like a beautiful doll—the kind people couldn't help but stare at.

When she stepped out of the shower, the soft glow of the bedroom light reflected against her flushed cheeks, making her look even more irresistibly cute. She wrapped herself in a thick towel and walked to the mirror, drying her damp hair with slow, gentle movements.

Her stomach growled loudly.

Silver frowned.

She had completely forgotten to eat dinner.

She let out a small sigh and changed into her favorite pink silk pajamas, the soft fabric hugging her figure just right. Her long, wavy hair was still slightly damp as it fell over her shoulders, giving her an even softer, more innocent appearance.

She had just finished brushing through her hair when her stomach rumbled again, this time even louder than before.

Right. Food.

She vaguely recalled Hunter and Daniel bringing her dinner earlier, but she had waved them off, too caught up in her own thoughts.

Now, she regretted it.

Sighing, she pushed herself off the bed and padded barefoot down the stairs.

But just as she stepped into the living room, her steps faltered.

Ryder was sitting on the couch.

Massaging Cici's feet.

Silver stood frozen for a second, her heart slowing down for just a fraction of a moment.

Then it started pounding.

Not with pain.

But with realization.

Years ago, she had overworked herself so much that her legs had been aching terribly. She had done it for him—for his company, for a contract that he had been on the verge of losing.

And yet, when she had gathered enough courage to ask him for a massage, he had dismissed her without even sparing her a glance.

"I'm not good at that kind of thing."

Those were his exact words.

But now?

Here he was, massaging Cici's feet like he had done it a thousand times before.

So it wasn't that he couldn't do it.

It was that he didn't want to do it for her.

Something inside Silver snapped.

She wasn't sure what, but it felt like something heavy finally fell away from her heart—something she had unknowingly been carrying for too long.

She wasn't hurt.

She wasn't sad.

She was just... done.

Almost midnight.

Her stomach growled again, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She ignored them.

She wasn't about to waste her energy on people who didn't deserve it.

Instead, she walked past them, heading toward the kitchen.

But before she could get far, Cici suddenly gasped dramatically.

"Oh, Silver! You're back!" she called out in a sickeningly sweet voice.

Silver didn't stop walking.

Cici, however, wasn't done.

She let out a soft sigh, her voice dripping with fake innocence.

"You must be wondering why Ryder is massaging my feet," she said, loud enough for Silver to hear.

Silver almost rolled her eyes.

As if she cared.

Before she could even respond, Lilly and Vicky suddenly emerged from their rooms.

Silver immediately knew why.

Cici's fake cries.

Even Ryder had fallen for them.

Lilly rushed over to her first. "Sister-in-law! Are you okay?"

Vicky followed closely behind, looking slightly guilty.

Silver stopped.

She turned to face them, crossing her arms.

"Oh?" she mused, her voice soft but sharp. "Since when did you two start caring about me?"

Lilly's expression stiffened. "I—I've always cared—"

Silver cut her off with a slow smile.

She turned to Vicky instead.

"And you," she said, pointing a finger at him. "Do you remember what you used to say about me?"

Vicky swallowed. "Silver, I—"

Silver tilted her head, her gaze cold.

"Four years ago, when I confessed to Ryder in public, he only accepted me because he was afraid it would affect his reputation," she said, her voice calm but unyielding.

Lilly flinched.

Silver smiled humorlessly. "And you? You were the first person to call me a gold digger."

Vicky's face turned pale.

Silver took a step forward.

"You made Lilly hate me," she whispered, her voice like poisoned honey. "You made her believe I was just using Ryder for money. And now that you know who I really am... now that you know I'm Queen SM... suddenly, you both care?"

The silence was deafening.

Even Ryder had stopped massaging Cici's feet.

Silver laughed softly.

It was a cold, heartless laugh.

"You all make me sick," she said, shaking her head.

Then, without another word, she turned on her heels and walked away.

She didn't even bother grabbing dinner anymore.

She had completely lost her appetite.

By the time she reached her room, her head was pounding, her temples throbbing from the stress.

Her heart, though?

That was what hurt the most.

She climbed into bed, pulling the blankets up to her chest, but sleep never came.

Because no matter how much she told herself that she didn't care anymore...

A part of her still ached.