Laila followed Matthew's lead and emerged into the parlor. Biting her lip in uncertainty, she watched as he gestured politely towards a chair.

"Please, have a seat. I will have some warm tea brought in," he conveyed with graciousness.

"Thank you," she replied.

Laila looked up at Matthew, forcing a smile. She didn't want to betray the turmoil Rose's words had stirred within her, yet she didn't wish to display any signs of alarm either.

Matthew contrived a formal laugh before exiting the parlor.

Perhaps it was just her mood.

His words and demeanor were courteous, but they lacked warmth. Neither favor or disfavor—just absolute indifference. Still, as the wife of the master and the mistress of this house, it was disconcerting to receive such a palpable non-response.

Sitting in the chair, she felt as if her legs were floating. There was no immediate threat, yet her heart raced as if it were about to burst.

"I hope you suffer," Rose's voice struck her like a venomous whip, despite her attempts to push the thought away.

Why would she say such things to me? Why is she trapped in that room, in such a state? The words spoken to me must be unfounded. Perhaps, as Cain suggested, she is in pain and acted out of confusion.

Laila tried hard to convince herself that she wasn't uneasy. Yet, from the moment she set foot in this new life she had yearned for, everything felt askew. The atmosphere of the mansion, Rose's condition—they differed greatly from her expectations. She would need to observe further, but even the attitudes of the staff seemed peculiar.

Laila impatiently awaited Cain's arrival.

Shortly after, Cain entered the parlor. At the sight of his dependable figure, Laila finally felt some relief.

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"Are you alright?" he inquired.

"Yes, I'm alright," she responded, mustering a smile. Her astonishment hadn't entirely subsided, but she was faring better than before.

"What did Mother say?"

"Well... She uttered some unpleasant words."

Laila could not bring herself to utter the words she had heard. They were too shocking, too disturbing to be spoken aloud once again. Even on the first day of her arrival at her childhood home, she hesitated to curse her son, Cain, with derogatory remarks about his mother.

"Instead, let me apologize. I'm truly sorry. I had no idea your mother could be so cruel."

"Oh no, really, I'm fine."

It was Laila who found herself at a loss for words in the face of Cain's repeated apologies. The pain in Cain's voice eased the ache in Rose's heart. Rose's disdain for Laila was not solely Cain's fault, and since Rose was unaware of Laila's own circumstances, it would be unfair to hold her accountable. Upon deeper reflection, the least blameworthy individual in this situation was Cain himself.

"And what about you? Are you okay?"

Laila asked, worried about her well-being. She doubted she would receive such comforting words in return. Rose's intimidation had undoubtedly taken an emotional toll on her. Same situation, same feelings. She felt an increasing sense of unity with him.

"I'm fine. I've gotten used to it."

"Used to it?" she asked.

"Why? Does it bother you that I'm that kind of person?"

Laila sensed a bitter undertone in his voice, as if an invisible barrier separated them. She felt as though there was an unseen wall between them. In another time, she might have been taken aback, but Laila perceived this atmosphere as a shadow of his underlying wounds, a defense mechanism that instinctively emerged. And so, she crossed that barrier without feeling offended.

"No, that's not it. I just thought you might have been going through a hard time."

"..."

"That's why I was a little upset."

Even with just one hearing, if she trembled like this, how difficult must it have been to hear such words for a long time? Familiarity does not mean becoming numb.

Moreover, even though she was just a stepmother, it seemed that Cain's heart was not light when it came to Rose. The playful remark he had made about filial piety before didn't seem to be completely unfounded. If there was still affection for his mother in his heart, the wounds he received would have been even greater.

Cain had said that he hadn't been able to come here for a long time. Perhaps the reason for his return was also because of the lingering pain he experienced upon hearing of his mother's passing.