Mated to the Mad Lord

Chapter 348: How dare you!

"Lady Harriet!" Lady June pointed out, signing a bow as she continued to speak. "...supports Lord Eldric!" she said, almost like there was nothing else about her that was remotely interesting or worth mentioning.

Even so, Violet could clearly see that Lady June didn’t like her. It was subtle, but unmistakable. A sentiment that Lady Harriet seemed to share, judging by the glare she sent Lady June as she walked right past them without slowing.

At that point, the only two people yet to arrive were Lord Eldric and Lord Cain.

Violet felt her palms grow even sweatier than usual as she watched a car drive into the parking lot. Her heart pounded hard in her chest as the vehicle came to a stop and the door opened, revealing Lord Eldric stepping out.

She released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

But she had barely finished doing that when another car—very similar and brand new—drove in right behind it, accompanied by its own entourage.

Her heart immediately began scrambling wildly in her chest.

Pounding.

Racing.

Twice as hard.

There was only one person left to arrive.

Cain.

Her eyes glazed over at the thought alone. She straightened unconsciously, all of her focus snapping to the car as a bodyguard stepped forward and pulled the door open.

She watched Cain step out.

He didn’t so much as mind Lord Eldric, who lingered near his own car in a way that made it obvious he wanted to speak to him.

The first real look Violet got of Cain made her heart skip a beat.

Maybe it was because of how long it had been since she last saw him—months with nothing but memory to rely on. No pictures. No messages. Nothing tangible to hold on to. She couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Cain was just as handsome as she remembered.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

His blond hair caught the sunlight, shining in that unruly way that only made him look cooler than usual. He looked like he had been eating well. Stronger. Healthier. Good.

At first glance, he looked really good.

Even if his face was a little too pale.

But he had barely stepped out when Violet saw him turn around and offer a hand to someone still inside the car.

Her brows furrowed in confusion.

Then shock.

A woman stepped out.

She wore a short red dress that hugged her figure. She was beautiful, with long curly black hair and red lips. There was something innocent about her smile as she beamed up at Cain.

And Cain smiled back.

Violet was taken aback.

She watched them interact, aware of the kind of person Cain was, and knowing that he wouldn’t just behave like that with just anyone.

Astonishment came first.

Then confusion.

Then, slowly but surely, anger began to wiggle its way in as she continued to watch.

Cain offered his arm.

The woman instantly accepted it.

Violet found it hard to breathe.

Her hands balled tightly at her sides as she did her best to rein in the anger burning in her chest while she watched them step closer to the entrance of the new building where the meeting was to take place.

The old one had been blown to bits.

Eldric, with a big smile on his face, somehow managed to intercept Cain right at the door. He spoke to him easily, like nothing was wrong.

"Lord Cain! We seem to both have great timing!" he said, alluding to the fact that they had arrived at the same time.

"Your partner looks very good!" he continued, outright blocking their path in a way that prevented them from moving past him.

Something Violet almost appreciated.

She fixed her gaze on the woman at Cain’s arm. She looked magnificent. Her skin even shone faintly, in a way that made Violet want to peel it off her.

The feeling only worsened when she realized Cain didn’t show any expression at all.

He didn’t glance at Violet more than once.

Instead, his attention flicked briefly to Lady Aira standing beside him.

Even standing this close to him, all Violet could feel from Cain was icy coldness.

Almost like he felt nothing.

No warmth.

No anger.

No pain.

Nothing.

It worried her deeply. Enough that she wanted to speak to him, even though she knew she wasn’t supposed to.

But she didn’t.

She kept her mouth shut and lowered her gaze—until she heard him speak.

She couldn’t help herself.

Her eyes snapped back to him.

"I guess!" Cain responded.

Nothing more.

The brevity clearly annoyed Lord Eldric.

Still, Eldric pushed forward, introducing the woman beside Cain in the most horrid way he could.

"You remember Lady Aira!" he said, clearly trying to provoke him by alluding to the fact that she had killed his parents.

All of them were stunned when Cain simply nodded toward her.

No shift in his expression.

No flicker of emotion.

Lord Eldric pressed further.

"...and your ex lover Violet!"

Violet was ready to snap. Consequences be damned.

But she froze when Cain finally fixed his gaze on her.

He looked at her steadily.

Calmly.

Then nodded once.

There was no emotion in his eyes as he responded with a single word.

"Oh."

He shifted his gaze away.

But not before Violet noticed the color of his eyes.

She went completely still.

They were no longer gold.

They were edging back toward red.

Both of them.

"Are we heading in or what?" Cain asked Eldric, whose shock was visible as his gaze flicked briefly to Lady June.

Lady June was the only one who looked completely unbothered.

Eldric nodded in a huff and turned, heading inside. Cain followed closely behind him without another word, the woman on his arm holding tightly to him, smiling as if nothing was wrong.

Lady June moved to follow immediately.

She couldn’t.

Violet grabbed her hand firmly, pulling her back.

She leaned close and hissed, her voice low but shaking with fury.

"HOW! HOW DARE YOU!"

There were too many guards around for her to raise her voice any higher. One wrong move and she would be removed.

"How... how could you!" she continued, aghast. "...you lied to my face!"

Violet was reeling.

"You didn’t cure him!" she went on, her chest tight as the truth crashed down on her.

She had seen Cain’s eyes.

They were supposed to be gold.

But they weren’t.

They were red.

And unlike before—when it had only been one—it was clear that both were changing.

Which meant he wasn’t better.

He was worse.

Much worse than before.