CHAPTER 107: UNEXPECTED FAMILY VISIT

Violet hated to admit it, but breakfast with Cain was unexpectedly pleasant. They talked about random, mundane things—topics she never would have imagined Cain caring about. It was disarming, this ordinary moment with someone who could be so terrifying.

When Frank, the head of the guards, finally entered to inform Cain that it was time for him to leave, Violet found herself surprised by the faint pang of reluctance she felt as he prepared to go. Still, she continued eating at her usual steady pace. There was no sense in wasting food, and her appetite had yet to wane.

Her focus was shattered when she saw Cain pause by the door and suddenly turn back in her direction. Her heart skipped a beat as he walked toward her, his steps purposeful. Without warning, he bent down and kissed her full on the lips, his smile soft and warm.

"I’ll see you when I return," he murmured, his voice low and intimate.

Violet could only nod, too stunned to speak, as her cheeks flushed a deep red. Her gaze dropped to the table, unwilling to meet the eyes of Frank, who still stood by the doorway, gaze politely averted but clearly aware of what had just happened. Cain lingered for only a moment longer, gathering a few additional items before leaving the room entirely.

Even after he was gone, Violet found it difficult to concentrate on the meal in front of her. Her fingers brushed against her lips, her thoughts spiraling. The memory of the kiss lingered, vivid and undeniable. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she had enjoyed it. Worse, she wanted more.

Is it wrong that I want to touch him? she thought, tilting her head back to stare at the ceiling, the weight of her feelings pressing down on her. How had she ended up in this situation? How had she become someone who could entertain such thoughts about her boss—a man who had shown her cruelty and kindness in equal measure?

Maybe it’s just my body, she reasoned weakly, but even that explanation rang hollow. For a brief, shameful moment, the idea of finding someone else to ease her restlessness crossed her mind. She banished the thought immediately, well aware of how Cain would react if he even suspected such a thing. The consequences would be disastrous.

Her appetite now thoroughly ruined, Violet pushed the food aside and stood. She decided to find a servant and order some snacks to occupy herself for the rest of the day. After all, her new role as Cain’s lover came with little responsibility beyond following his orders.

Right now, all I have to do is exactly what he tells me. Nothing else matters, she told herself firmly. But as she opened the door, she was startled to find a servant already standing there, as if waiting for her.

The servant bowed deeply, an unfamiliar gesture that caught her off guard.

"Good morning, Worker Viole," the servant said respectfully. "The guards at the gate sent me to find you. It seems there are a few people claiming to be your family who have come to see you."

Violet froze, her expression shifting to one of confusion.

"My family?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," the servant confirmed, bowing even lower. His deference wasn’t surprising—Violet’s status as Cain’s lover elevated her above most in the household, even the vice. The servant’s careful tone made it clear he was determined not to offend her.

"Fine," Violet said after a moment, stepping out of the room. She started down the stairs, the servant trailing dutifully behind her. Her thoughts churned as she walked.

Why would her family suddenly show up here? Yes, she had missed Sunday dinner after being chained up by Cain, but that hardly seemed reason enough for them to seek her out. More importantly, how had they even learned where she worked? She had been meticulous about keeping that information hidden.

The timing felt suspicious, and she couldn’t ignore the guilt that bubbled to the surface at the thought of them. Cain’s cruelty had already touched them—he had sliced off their fingers to send a message, a punishment for her. How was she supposed to face them now, knowing the pain they’d endured because of her?

And then there was the matter of the secrets they’d kept from her. The last time she visited home, she had struggled to act normal after discovering she wasn’t related to them by blood. The realization had tainted every memory, every interaction. Was her father’s willingness to sell her rooted in that truth? And her mother, who had protected her siblings while offering Violet up as bait—what had that really meant?

The questions weighed heavily on her as she approached the gate. It took her about fifteen minutes to get there, and even before she arrived, the grim sight of bodies hanging from the same building she’d passed when she first arrived greeted her. The corpses were fresher this time, the bloodstains stark against the stone walls.

Violet felt a chill run down her spine. It was a reminder that Cain wasn’t the only killer here. Ravon, too, was capable of such brutality. The thought occurred to her that Ravon might be responsible for the terrible rumors about Cain, painting him as an unloved monster in the eyes of the district.

"Worker Viole," one of the guards greeted her with a bow, pulling her from her thoughts. His respect caught her off guard—guards were ranked far higher than workers, most of them werewolves with strength and authority that dwarfed her own. She nodded in acknowledgment, watching as they opened the smaller gate and allowed four people to step inside.

Her family.

They entered cautiously, their eyes scanning the mansion with a mix of awe and apprehension. None of them rushed to embrace her or ask how she was doing. Instead, her mother, June, gasped audibly.

"Damn! This place is huge!" she exclaimed, while Violet’s siblings wasted no time complaining.

"Why did it take so long for you to come out?" one grumbled.

"Your rank should be high, right? We had to wait forever in the sun," Oliver added irritably.

Violet opened her mouth, anger bubbling to the surface, but her retort died as her eyes drifted downward. She froze, the air leaving her lungs in a painful rush. Their hands. All of them had fingers wrapped in bandages, confirming what she had feared. Cain had done this to them.

Any anger she felt dissolved instantly, replaced by a hollow ache. She couldn’t bring herself to lash out at them.

"We should find somewhere private to talk," she said instead, her voice subdued. She gestured for them to follow her, leading them toward a building near the side of the mansion. It was the same building where the bodies hung—a grim display meant to unsettle outsiders.

Her family trembled as they walked the path, their fear palpable. Violet, however, felt only numbness. She led them to a secluded table inside and ordered food and drinks to be brought.

"Why are you here?" she asked once they were seated. Her tone was laced with annoyance, though it was more from anxiety than anger. "You could have waited for me to visit instead of coming here."

It was hard to keep the edge from her voice. They had come to the one place she never wanted them to be—the one place she was trying to protect them from.