The Next Morning

Andrian Velor woke up with a pounding head and a weakened body. The illness that had struck him the night before had left him dizzy, but he forced himself to get up.

There was no room for weakness in his life.

Using thest of his strength, Andrian walked to the bathroom, sshed his face with cold water, and stared at his reflection in the mirror. His pale face was impossible to hide, but he knew he had no choice–there was too much work to be done.

After putting on a crisp suit, Andrian prepared to leave for the office. His eyes briefly nced toward Bianca, who was still asleep on the sofa near his bed. She had stayed up all night taking care of him. And Andrian chose not to wake her.

He knew that if she were awake, Bianca would fuss over him–something he never weed. Andrian never wanted to appear weak in front of anyone, not even Bianca, who already knew some of his deepest secrets.

Just as he was about to leave the mansion, someone was already waiting for him. Aliana stood at the threshold, dressed in casual clothes yet still elegant. Her gaze was sharp as ever, piercing right through him.

Andrian halted and stared at Aliana with a cold expression.

“What are you doing here this early?”

His voice was t, though inwardly, he was a little surprised.

Before Aliana could answer, her eyes narrowed as she scanned Andrian from head to toe, noticing the paleness of his skin and the stiffness in his posture.

“Are you sick?” she asked bluntly.

Andrian was caught off guard.

How could she tell? Did the woman have a sixth sense?

But quickly regaining control of his expression, he shook his head.

“I’m fine. Don’t be ridiculous.b” /b

Aliana wasn’t so easily fooled. She stepped closer, scrutinizing him like a specialist assessing a patient.

“Yourplexion is pale, your steps are unsteady, and your breathing is slightlybored. Those aren’t the signs of a healthy man,” she stated, sounding more like a doctor giving a clinical diagnosis than a concerned wife.

Andrian was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Aliana to notice such details.

What Andrian didn’t know was that, aside from her reputation in the underworld as the “Goddess of Death,” Aliana had a very different life. She secretly worked as a medical specialist, solvingplex bcases /bunder a concealed identity. In the medical world, she was known as “Cold Hands” for her unmatched skill in saving lives.

But Aliana rarely unted her expertise, which is why Andrian had no idea about this other side of his wife.

“Don’t act like byou /bknow everything,” Andrian replied coldly, trying to steer the conversation away.

“What do you want?”

Before Aliana could answer, footsteps echoed behind them. Bianca appeared from the living room, d in a silk nightgown that hugged her figure perfectly. Her face was impably made up, giving the illusion she hadn’t just woken up.

“Oh, a guest this early?” bBianca /bsaid mockingly, shing a sly smile.

“Don’t you have anywhere else to be besides this house?”

bAliana /breturned the look with cold indifference

I’m Andrian’s legal wife. This is my home. The breal /bquestion isb, /bwho’s the one who doesn’t belong here?”

3:45 PM P

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Bianca’s face flushed with anger, but she quicklyposed herself.

“Wife? You’re just a pawn for the Zavier family. No one loves you–not even Andrian!”

Aliana stepped forward, her smile cold and razor–sharp.

“At least I have a title. You? Just a woman clinging to someone who won’t acknowledge you.”

Bianca stepped in, raising her voice.

“How dare you talk to me like that? You think Andrian cares about you?”

“Maybe.” Aliana said, ncing at her husband.

“Let’s ask him and find out.”

Bianca quickly clung to Andrian’s arm.

“Tell her, Andrian. Tell her who matters more to you!”

Andrian Andrian rubbed his temples, a headache forming from the noise.

“Enough,” he said firmly, his gaze sharp as it swept over both women.

“I don’t have time for your squabbles.”

Both women fell silent, though their eyes still locked with mutual loathing.

Andrian turned his gaze ito /iAliana, colder now.

“If you have nothing important to say, then leave.”

But Aliana stood her ground. Instead of walking away asmanded, she sauntered casually toward the dining room.

“I’ll leave after breakfast,” she said without looking back.

“After all, I belong here.”

Bianca looked stunned.

“Did you not hear what Andrian just said? He told you to leave!” she shouted, chasing after Aliana.

Aliana ignored her. She took a seat at the dining table, picked up a ss of water the servants had prepared earlier, and sipped it calmly.

Andrian, seeing all of this unfold, felt his headache worsen. With an exhausted sigh, he followed the two women into the dining room.

“Listen,” Andrian said firmly, locking eyes with Aliana.

“I don’t care what you want to do, but don’t cause a scene here.”

“A scene?” Aliana replied coolly, meeting his stare.

“I just want to have breakfast in my husband’s house. Is that a problem?”

Bianca, unable to hold back, cut in.

“Shameless! He asked you to leave, but you’re still here. Who do you think you are?”

Aliana turned her head slowly, smiling thinly and sharply.

Tm Andrian Velor’s legal wife. Shaft I show you our marriage certificate to prove it?”

Bianca opened her mouth to retort, but before she could say a word, Andrian rubbed his temples bagain/b.

“That’s enough, he muttered heavily

“If you want to eat here, then eat. But I don’t want to hear another word from you*

3.45 PM

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。

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Andrian moved to the head of the table and sat down.

He pulled Bianca to sit beside him–in the seat that was meant for Aliana.

“Sit here,” Andrian said softly to Bianca, lightly cing his hand on her shoulder.

Hearing that, Bianca’s face lit up instantly. She sat down beside Andrian with a coy smile, as if to show Aliana that she was the one who truly belonged at his side.

Aliana simply watched them with a nk expression. Calmly, she picked up a slice of bread from her te and began eating it. Every motion of her knife spreading jam echoed in the awkward silence–an ordinary action that felt like a challenge. She ate slowly, but her eyes never truly left the couple across the table.

Amid the tense air, Bianca kept doting on Andrian, speaking in a soft voice and asionally brushing his arm.

Aliana remained silent. Unbothered.

But after a few moments, she carefully set down her knife and fork, then looked directly at Bianca with a chilling stare.

“Disgusting.” Aliana said softly but clearly, before rising from her seat and leaving the dining room without looking back.

Bianca froze, her bface /bflushing red with anger–but Andrian merely stared at his te, his expression hollow.

Deep down, Andrian knew that Aliana was not a woman easily dealt with. And with each passing day, her presence disturbed him more than bhe /bcared to admit.