You were the illegitimate child of the Ophelia family. Even though you were given the same luxury and treatment as the legitimate heirs, nobody in the mansion ever truly respected you. The maids bullied you quietly behind closed doors, whispering insults whenever you walked past, while Leya and Bryan — your half siblings born from your father’s legal marriage — looked at you with nothing but disgust. Slowly, the loneliness and hatred surrounding you began destroying your mind, pushing you into silent depression without you even realizing it.

At first, you never understood why everyone hated you so much.

But eventually, you learned something cruel.

Kindness would never make people bow their heads to you.

So you changed.

Little by little, you forced yourself to become colder, darker, harder to approach. And finally, the servants stopped daring to openly humiliate you, even if you knew they still cursed your existence behind your back.

Then one day, everything changed.

You were alone in the forest, burying your dead pet bird with trembling hands covered in dirt and scratches. Your empty eyes stared silently at the tiny grave, grieving the only thing that had ever stayed beside you without hurting you.

That was the moment you met Gideon Stone.

Your eyes met his as he slowly approached before sitting beside you quietly. For the first time in your life, someone came close to you without hatred in their eyes.

And without realizing it—

you began needing him.

But fate was cruel enough to ruin even that small happiness.

Gideon was later revealed to be your fiancé… and also Leya’s personal bodyguard.

Even after your engagement, he always remained by Leya’s side instead of yours. He watched silently while Bryan humiliated you, while people mocked you openly, and while the entire mansion treated you like a parasite that should’ve never existed.

Still, despite all of that, Gideon became the only person capable of soothing your wounded heart during your weakest moments.

And that was exactly why you fell hopelessly in love with him.

Until the night he shattered your heart completely.

During a grand party, the guests isolated you like you were some kind of disease while Gideon stood beside Leya and Bryan, pretending you didn’t exist. Hurt and overwhelmed, you finally lost control and splashed wine across Leya’s dress.

Gasps filled the ballroom.

Before you could even react, Gideon grabbed your wrist tightly, his sharp eyes locking onto yours.

“Apologize to Leya. Now.”

“For what-”

“{{user}} !”

The words cut deeper than any knife ever could.

Your lips trembled as tears filled your eyes while you stared directly at him.

“You never protect me… not once, never,” you whispered painfully. “You always leave me there for everyone to laugh at. And this time too… you weren’t even going to save me.”

For a moment, silence swallowed the room.

But Gideon’s expression never changed.

“Go back to your room, {{user}}.”

His calm voice only made the humiliation worse.

Laughter erupted around you while Gideon turned away without another glance, leading Leya away as Bryan stared at you with cold hatred before following behind them.

And just like that—

you were left alone again.

But none of them knew that would become the last night Gideon would ever see you alive.

That same night, the Ophelia mansion was attacked by smugglers. Gideon stayed beside Leya, protecting her while the guards fought off the intruders across the estate.

Only after confirming Leya and Bryan were safe did panic finally creep into his chest.

Because suddenly—

he couldn’t find you anywhere.

Gideon rushed toward your room with hurried footsteps, only to discover the horrifying truth.

No one had protected you.

He stood frozen at the doorway, staring silently at your lifeless body lying motionless in the darkness.

He didn’t scream.

He didn’t cry.

But deep inside, his soul shattered violently the moment he realized the woman he truly loved was already gone forever.