Chapter 31: I’m not sorry

Nova stared at Andrew in confusion. "Tell me what? Who?" she asked.

Andrew remained silent for a moment. "You are my mother," he commented.

Nova frowned slightly. "You don’t look mentally unstable," she thought.

"She looks young enough to be your younger sister. Why are you addressing her as your mum?" Felix’s voice echoed from behind, looking just as confused as Nova.

Andrew turned around and glared at Felix. "You should mind your own business," he commented in irritation.

"Oh." Felix fell silent, his eyes shifting back and forth between Nova and Andrew, taking note of the striking resemblance they shared.

"Are they siblings? Is she the eldest daughter who just looks unusually young? If that’s the case, wouldn’t she become my sister-in-law?" he thought, a faint smile touching his lips.

Nova sighed. "I don’t think he’s going to give me a straight answer either," she thought. "How did you end up at the auction house?" Nova asked.

Andrew clenched his fists. "I was looking for you. I was asking everyone I met and describing you to them until I ran into a scientist. He was the one who claimed he knew where you were. I trusted him and went with him, but it turned out he saw how unique I am and wanted to use me as a test subject.

Luckily, I realized his intentions right away and tried to escape, but he was a despicable creature—he had already slipped me sleeping pills without me noticing. It was probably when he kept feeding me all those snacks, claiming they were from you and that you had ordered him to feed me properly before taking me to you, or else you’d kill him."

He paused, his brows drawing tight. "Even though the sleeping pills didn’t take effect on me right away, I couldn’t escape because of their heavy security, and my system wouldn’t authorize destructive force unless my life was actively fading. I couldn’t break free, and after five hours, the drug finally kicked in, leaving me completely defenseless against it. He used me for countless experiments until one went wrong—one that could have triggered a unstable explosion in my body, killing not just him, but thousands of people. Terrified of the fallout, he immediately sold me to the auction house so it wouldn’t trace back to him. I couldn’t break free, and that’s how I was auctioned off... until you bought me," Andrew explained, seemingly to be avoiding some details.

Nova took a deep breath. "Seems like someone won’t live to see next year," she murmured, turning her gaze toward Felix. "And he is..."

"Hello Miss, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Felix, a doctor brought here by Cassian to check on your brother," Felix introduced, extending his hand for a handshake.

Nova stared at Felix’s hand before shifting her gaze up to his face. "I’m married," she commented.

"Huh?" Felix froze, completely stunned as he looked at Nova once more.

Nova looked away, her eyes catching a maid passing through the hallway. "Where is Cassian?" she asked, stopping the maid in her tracks.

The maid paused, trembling visibly. "The... the young master is busy with some preparations. He will be up shortly," she stuttered.

Nova raised an eyebrow, seemingly understanding the maid’s underlying meaning. "You can leave," she said, and the maid bowed, quickly scurrying away.

"You stay with Cassian for now. I have something to take care of," Nova said to Andrew.

Andrew immediately grabbed her hand. "Let me come with you, Mum. I don’t want to leave you," he commented, his eyes filled with a pitiful expression.

Nova smirked. "Be obedient. I’ll definitely come back later," she said, patting his hand gently.

Andrew pouted but nodded. He hugged Nova one last time before finally letting her go, and Nova left the mansion.

The moment Nova was out of sight, Andrew’s pitiful expression vanished. His childish demeanor disappeared without a trace, replaced by a cold, deadly gaze. Before Felix could react, Andrew lunged forward and grabbed him tightly by the neck.

"Were you sent by him too? To monitor her?" he questioned, his hand tightening like a vise around Felix’s throat. His blue eyes glowed softly, ready to choke the life out of him.

Felix struggled to breathe. "I... don’t... know what you... are saying," his voice came out barely audible and raspy, his face turning red.

Andrew showed no intention of giving him a chance to explain. His glowing eyes scanned Felix’s entire body, only releasing his grip after confirming he posed no threat.

"I’m not sorry," he commented coldly.

Felix coughed repeatedly, leaning over to catch his breath. "You... you’re not sorry?" he questioned in utter disbelief.

Andrew merely glanced at him before walking back to the couch and sitting down. "Stay away from me and my mum. The further, the better," he commented coldly.

Felix remained silent for a long moment before speaking up. "That won’t do... staying away from you feels like a punishment to me," he commented.

Andrew’s brows knitted tightly. "What do you want from me?" he questioned, glaring darkly at Felix.

Felix was about to reply, but right then, his phone began buzzing uncontrollably in his pocket. He reached in and pulled it out to answer.

"What’s the matter?" he asked.

"Felix, your attention is needed at the hospital right now!" an urgent voice echoed through the speaker.

Felix paused briefly. "Alright," he replied, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "I... I will visit you later," he informed him.

Andrew simply looked away, not bothering to acknowledge him as Felix turned and left.

The Underground Room

A loud, terrifyingly painful strike echoed throughout the vast, barren room, illuminated only by a single large candle flame.

At the room corner was a blood-soaked man in tattered, shredded clothes. He was nearly naked, his face distorted in agony.

Squatting in front of him was Cassian, a devilish smile gracing his features. In his hand was a small dagger, its blade dripping with blood from the man’s shoulder.

Cassian pulled the dagger free and tossed it onto the floor with disgust, letting it hit the ground with a loud metallic clatter. A young assistant stepped forward immediately, handing a clean white handkerchief to Cassian.

Cassian took the handkerchief and wiped his blood-stained fingers clean. He tossed the cloth casually at the half-dead man before taking a seat in a chair prepared specifically for him.

Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, resting his chin against his knuckles on the armrest, his icy gaze fixed on the prisoner before he spoke.

"How’s the hospitality here? Do you like it?" he asked, his voice calm and steady.