They are not real lives in this world.
But villainous characters who have come to life from a book.
Their destinies have long been written among the pages, with clear and brutal endings.
She herself had considered it.
During those nights, she thought countless times, perhaps...
Perhaps they could be different.
Perhaps she could let her guard down, bond with them sincerely, in exchange for a truly stable relationship.
But Kaelan Hawthorne's actions completely woke her up.
The Kaelan who once trusted her, treated her as family, ultimately betrayed her due to the book's fate.
She couldn't naively believe that a few days of tenderness would dissolve the hatred buried deep in their bones.
That resentment, accumulated from years of being bound, controlled, and belittled.
Couldn't be easily smoothed over with a few soft words or an act of protection.
Perhaps his kindness towards her was merely a rational influence.
