Chapter 34

At that moment, Laila looked around and whispered something to Julius. Then, Laila stood up and went somewhere with him, but Carolina saw her take a handkerchief out of a small bag she was holding. She was probably going to the restroom.

"Joachim, I'm going to the restroom."

"Hmm? Okay. Should I come with you halfway?"

"No, it's fine. You have greetings to make, so don't worry about me. Go ahead and talk."

Playing the part of a good wife, Carolina said, and Joachim nodded cheerfully.

Really, he was so easy to handle.

Carolina quickly left the venue and followed Laila. As expected, Laila seemed to have gone to the restroom at the end of the corridor, but Carolina's goal was not there.

Thinking that he was probably nearby, she looked around and found the person she was looking for leaning against the wall at the end of the corridor. There was no one else around. It was a perfect hit.

"Who are you?"

Seemingly sensing Carolina's presence, Julius raised his face with his arms still crossed.

Carolina stepped out of the darkness and smiled sweetly.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Julius Bartsek. I am Carolina Cantara, a classmate of Laila Kilka."

"Cantara..."

Julius lowered his gaze as if trying to recall something.

At that moment, Carolina didn't notice, but a deep frown of displeasure was etched on Julius's forehead.

"Yes, I am the wife of the second son of the Cantara baron. I heard you are Laila's fiancé and wanted to greet you."

"Is that so? But I know about you."

"Really! Did Laila say something about me?"

Carolina inwardly smiled, thinking that Laila had done something good for once, but Julius delivered a cold, expressionless blow.

"No, she didn't say anything about you. ...Three months ago, at a party hosted by my aunt, you did something unnecessary. You humiliated Laila in public and made her sad, didn't you?"

"What?!"

Caught off guard by the unexpected words, Carolina was startled. Julius stood up from the wall and looked at her with a cold gaze.

"My aunt was appalled. Although she couldn't forgive the act of hurting Laila in such a place... Joachim, was it? Thanks to that man letting Laila go, I was able to meet a woman I want to spend my life with. For that, I thank you."

Saying this, Julius bowed, but there was no warmth in his gesture.

Carolina, who had chased after him hoping to catch Julius's attention, nervously rubbed her stomach and retreated.

"Um, well... I apologize for my husband Joachim's thoughtlessness."

"Do you think you are not to blame? I was there that night and saw what happened. Laila was hurt not only by Joachim but also by your cruel words."

Hit by his polite but merciless words, Carolina was speechless.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She had thought that if she mentioned Laila and acted a bit coquettish, the great magician would take notice of her.

Julius sighed and started to walk away.

"Wait, please..."

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of being friendly with you or your husband. Laila doesn't care about you... in fact, she seems to be forgetting your existence. However, I will not forgive anyone who disgraces my bride."

Julius's words were icy cold.

The freezing gaze he directed at Carolina was the complete opposite of the warm look he had given his fiancée in the venue.

"Besides, you are married and pregnant. It would be better for you to return to your husband rather than being in such a place. I will go and fetch Laila soon."

Rejected, Carolina's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

But soon, a flame of anger ignited in her chest.

This man is blinded by Laila, but in the end, Laila is just a plain and unremarkable woman.

If Carolina were to make a move, his affection would soon cool—

"Oh, right."

Julius, who was about to pass by Carolina, stopped.

He leaned down slightly and brought his lips close to Carolina's ear, making her cheeks flush.

"What?"

The words Julius whispered destroyed Carolina's confidence, vanity, and future prospects.

"How... did you...?"

"I am a fairly strong magician. I had a feeling, but it seems I hit the mark, didn't I?"

"..."

"I don't have a habit of threatening women, but if you are planning to harm Laila, you should stop. If you want to keep your secrets hidden... you know."

Those words were the final verdict.

Without a second glance at the despairing Carolina, Julius walked away. Soon, the sound of Laila calling Julius and his sweet, melting response could be heard from the other end of the corridor.

Carolina, holding her abdomen, collapsed on the spot and shivered uncontrollably. She knew it was bad to be cold, but she couldn't stand up.

If Carolina were to harm Laila, she would incur Julius's wrath.

And he would expose "that."

Against the son of a noble family and the wife of a baron's second son, Carolina had no chance of winning in a fair fight.

"Laila, Laila...!"

She hated her.

She hated Laila.

If only Laila had lived a quiet, unremarkable life.

If only she had stayed in her shell after being dumped by Joachim, if only she had rejected the proposal of the "Ghost Magician," if only she hadn't brought the "Ghost Magician" back to life, this wouldn't have happened.

She wasn't in the wrong.

She just wanted to be happy.

The one in the wrong was Laila.

A "best friend" who always meddles in unnecessary things.

"As long as it's not clear that I did it, it will be fine. Just a little shake, just enough to not cause a big problem, and it won't be noticed. I'm not in the wrong..."

Carolina muttered to herself.

The stars that had faintly illuminated the corridor when Julius was there were now hidden by clouds, enveloping Carolina in darkness.