I Was Never Yours

Daryl’s calm gaze remained unfazed, his tone cold as he spoke. “Class is about to start. You just dealt with that person not long ago and caused enough trouble for yourself. Do you really want your father to come after you again?”

Hearing his words, Daphne gritted her teeth in frustration and flung her hand to the side.

Her undisguised, hateful glare landed on Angelique as she spat out a vicious warning, “Consider yourself lucky today. But if I ever catch you trying to seduce Raymond again, I’ll make sure you have nowhere to bury your corpse!”

Angelique, drenched from head to toe, had no choice but to skip class and head to the locker room to change.

Once she confirmed no one else was around, she could no longer hold back her laughter.

She looked into the mirror, her eyes still red from crying, the slap mark burning against her pale skin—each and every wound now became perfect, irrefutable evidence she could use.

A knock on the door.

“Ms. Monroe, are you alright?” It was Daryl’s voice.

Composing herself, Angelique stepped out.

In his hands, he held a fresh set of school uniforms and a towel. The cold indifference in his eyes from earlier had vanished, replaced by a gentle smile on his clean, handsome face.

“Change into this so you don’t catch a cold. Afterward, I’ll take you to get your face treated.”

Angelique lowered her gaze, her long lashes quivering like dark feathers. The next moment, tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Thank you Mr. Thompson...”

Daryl affectionately brushed his hand against her forehead. “Alright now, go in and change before you really get sick.”

“...Okay.” Angelique nodded. However, the moment she turned around, the warmth in both their eyes vanished at the same time.

A knight standing up for the weak—this fairytale-like act could make any girl fall. Just like her sister did back then.

But from the moment she stepped into the room, Angelique had been watching Daryl carefully.

That expression of his—one of mere amusement—had shifted the moment he heard Raymond’s name. First, a hint of intrigue. Then, when he realized she hadn’t been targeted by Raymond, his hidden smirk completely disappeared.

The person he mentioned to Daphne was her sister.

Anyone who had ties to Raymond was nothing more than a tool for him to exploit.

Did Daryl really think he could use the same trick on her again?

This time, she would make him pay in blood.

—

After changing into the clean uniform, Angelique followed Daryl toward the infirmary.

“How do you know Raymond?” His tone was light, as if he were casually asking what she had for lunch.

“There were too many people on the main path today, so I decided to take a shortcut through the garden to the teaching building. I accidentally stumbled into a greenhouse and met him there.”

Angelique tilted her fair face, blinking innocently. “Is there something wrong? Why do you ask?”

“No reason. Just... he seems to treat you differently.” Daryl’s voice trailed off, almost as if he were talking to himself.

Before she could respond, the infirmary door swung open.

Inside, Raymond was lying on the bed, eyes closed in feigned sleep.

His brows furrowed instinctively at the sound of intruders, irritation flashing across his sharp features. But the moment he realized it was Angelique, the cold malice in his eyes was replaced by a flicker of surprise.

“...What are you doing here?”

Angelique’s expression was a mix of shock and delight, completely unguarded.

For a moment, she was surprised that the most unruly young master had actually listened to her and came to the infirmary to get his wound treated. However, she recalled that Daryl was standing right behind her.

If this led to Raymond’s displeasure, things could turn ugly.

Before she could even answer, he spoke again—

“Who hit you?”