Dead!!

"Do you not want to ask anything else of me? Like why do I want to marry you?" he raised a brow, suddenly impressed by her determination.

Abi gazes at the man. She had done that all her life. To stare at different men and observe them to keep herself safe. She knew when a man was sincere or when he was just teasing a woman. And this man... He would not tell her the truth even if she asked. He was only enjoying her predicament. The way his lips twist in a mocking smile and the way his eyes glow with mischief.

"It does not matter." she looked back at her mother when a flash of surprise passed his eyes and something more. An ounce of disappointment perhaps, that she did not take the bait. "I can sell myself for my mother. If you would have asked for my life to save my mother. I would have given that too." 

What benefit did her life hold anyway? She would only be chased by her boss and her father. Would it not be better to leave the world with her mother? Perhaps it would be a safer land where they would go. 

Something flickered in his eyes. A pang of guilt maybe. When he looked at her eyes. A woman so devoted to selling herself to save her dead mother. Could he ever find a woman like that in nobles? Did he feel touched? Or… amused? She was foolish to the core. But why did her foolishness worry him? He looked away from her face.

Even if her mother had saved this time, she would not have lived a long life with her condition. Giving her life to a stranger without asking another question to save someone like that. It was nothing but plain foolishness. 

And he was only saving her from the hyenas he was going to face in that black alley of Grothim town. He was giving her a better life. He had saved her. He did deserve some compensation for that. With that, he felt better. But everything he looked at her praying while holding cold hands of her mother's corpse. He felt heat rising to his skin.

When the carriage finally stopped, he did not wait for the footmen to open the door. He opened it and walked out hurriedly, sucking in a deep breath. Abi only took his action as mockery toward her. The man could not breathe in her presence yet... He wanted to marry her. Ha!

But her attention was taken by the two servants who held her mother and carried her to the small building. She followed with hurried steps. 

Three women were mixing potions inside and an elderly man with a large beard was monitoring their work. A young man in his mid-thirties was making notes for the process. There were only vials and herbs all around the room. Their smell was thick in the air. 

When they noticed the commotion at the door, they frowned. The elder was the first to walk toward the door to see what happened.

"I am here for the treatment of my mother." Abi bowed her head low. She knew that these physicians were too haughty. The man had offered money but what if money could not convince the physician to look at her mother? She had to beg him. "Please be kind enough to treat her. She is in a very critical condition." her voice quivered but the man only frowned looking at her sinful clothes.

And her makeup and her hair. Though they were disheveled. He knew what kind of women wear this kind of clothes and make-up. His eyes narrowed as rage built in. 

"Ha! A woman like you? And how did you enter? This place is private. We do not treat just anyone. So leave." he scolded Abi looking at her with disgust as her thighs could be seen when she walked. Her arms were bare in the sleeveless dress and a good amount of her cleavage was for show. 

The woman standing behind the elder man flushed and looked away making the elder man fume further.

"Did you not hear me? Leave the premises at once or I am going to call for the knights. This is reputed... My lord?" he stopped abruptly when he noticed Dion following the woman.

He had a lazy smile on his face and walked unhurriedly. 

"Braydon, how have you been?" his eyes moved from the red man's face to Abi. and noticed tears falling in her eyes again. He had only stopped to take a breather but the girl was in a hurry to enter.

But why was she crying again? And her dress. The carriage was dark so he forgot but now they were standing in a well-lit room, and she looked seductive. With a frown, he took off his coat and covered her shoulders and arms. She looked at him surprised as he did not look like a generous person.

"Treat the woman, Braydon. Stop staring at her daughter. You have crossed that age." the physician's eyes widened at the remark and he coughed blood. 

"Pardon. What did you say?" he could not believe that an arrogant bastard like Dion would ask him to treat a commoner. Even when he had slept with the woman's daughter.

"You heard me right. Every second you waste is crucial for her. If something happened to her, I would close this building and sell it to Riley. He has been offering me a good price for a long time." Perhaps the threat did the trick because the man quivered at once and then he ran to hold the woman. 

The servants placed the woman on the bed sideways. Braydon grimaced as the woman was wearing filthy cloaks but when he remembered the threat, he bit back his anger and held her pulse. But his eyes widened again. He fidgeted with his hands as he remembered the threat he had just received. 

"My lord... The woman is already dead."