Ivy took a deep breath. She told herself not to fight with Silas right there at the dinner table.
If she argued now, it would only make things worse.
Instead, she decided to save her anger and teach him a lesson when they were alone.
When the dinner finally ended, the servants guided them back to their room.
The mont the door shut, Ivy crossed her arms and spoke boldly.
"Kneel," she ordered.
Silas blinked, confused. Still, without asking questions, he knelt down right away.
But his eyes held a strange look, almost like he was asking why she was punishing him.
"Why are you looking at like that?" Ivy narrowed her eyes.
"Why were you staring at those won with so much amusent? You even looked interested. Tell , Silas. Were you planning sothing? Sothing like Austin does? Taking in more wives or concubines?"
The ntion of Austin made Silas’s eyes widen. He quickly shook his head and raised his hand.
"No! I swear, I wasn’t thinking like that," he said quickly. "Ivy, I am innocent. If you compare to Austin, it is like cursing ."
Ivy pressed her lips into a thin line. Her aura was cold, while the action of her folding her arms and creating distance stated her displeasure.
"Then why were you looking at them like that?"
Silas hesitated, then sighed.
"Because those won weren’t Austin’s real wives or concubines. I was gathering intel today and stumbled upon sothing intriguing. They are either the wives of his fallen comrades or even the wives of his brother."
Ivy froze. "What?"
Her body trembled due to the coldness she felt.
Silas nodded firmly.
"Think about it. The way they exaggerated every move, the way they pretended to be affectionate. It did not look natural. It looked like an act. And if it is an act, then the question is... for whom are they acting? And why?"
Ivy’s gaze softened as she rembered the scene.
’He’s right. Their actions were too much. I thought they were just desperate for Austin’s attention, but now it does not feel that simple.’
She looked at Silas again. "Do you have a theory?"
Silas leaned closer, his voice low.
"From what I saw, those won are acting out of fear. But it is not normal fear. It felt forced, like soone is controlling them or threatening them. There is sothing strange in this base. And honestly, instead of wasting ti trying to get information from Austin, we should leave and find Helena and Victor ourselves."
Ivy stayed quiet for a mont. Her fists tightened at her side.
’He is right. Sothing is very wrong here. But I cannot waste ti. My parents co first.’
She nodded slowly. "We should leave."
Silas agreed, though he let out a small sigh. "Then... can I stop kneeling now?"
Ivy raised one eyebrow.
"Not until you answer honestly. Did you have any dirty thoughts about those won?"
Silas shook his head at once.
"Never. I swear, if I ever had such thoughts, then may lightning strike and kill right away."
Ivy’s eyes widened.
She rushed forward and covered his mouth with her hand. "Don’t ever say such things. Do you want to bring bad luck?"
Silas smiled gently, his eyes filled with tenderness as if his entire world was just Ivy and no one else.
"To prove my innocence, I would even jump from the highest mountain if I had to."
Ivy shook her head in disbelief...
’I really am stupid sotis. How could I doubt him? He gave his life in the past. How can I not trust him now?’
Before she could say anything more, a knock echoed at the door.
Ivy and Silas exchanged a look. Silas stood up and opened the door calmly.
Outside stood a woman with black hair, pale skin, and sapphire blue eyes. Ivy recognized her right away. Miley. One of the ’wives’ who tried to vie for Austin’s attention.
Miley smiled lightly, yet on a closer look, she seed tired.
"The leader wants to see you," she said. "He wants a eting."
Both Ivy and Silas raised their brows at the sa ti. Before Ivy could speak, Miley added,
"Only Silas is asked to go. Ivy does not need to."
Ivy’s lips pressed into a thin line, but before she could protest, Silas’s voice turned cold. "If Ivy does not go, then I won’t either."
Miley’s expression stiffened. She looked at Silas with a pleading face. "Please. If you refuse, I will be punished."
Ivy and Silas were surprised.
’Was that a slip of the tongue, or was she hinting at sothing?’
Ivy gave a small blink, signaling him to go. Silas sighed and nodded reluctantly.
Just as he was about to leave, Miley suddenly turned to Ivy. "There is sothing stuck in your hair," she said softly.
Ivy reached up to touch her hair. "Where?" she asked.
Before she could react, Miley stepped closer and plucked a single strand of her hair.
Ivy froze, then quickly caught Miley’s hand with a cold smile.
"Even if there was sothing stuck, why would you take my hair strand with you?"
Miley laughed nervously.
"I only removed the dirt along with the strand. I didn’t think you’d be so possessive about a single hair."
Ivy’s smile widened, but it only looked terrifying and bone-chilling for Miley.
"You don’t understand. I love my hair too much. I cannot bear to give even one strand away."
She plucked the hair back from Miley’s fingers. "Now you can go."
Miley forced a smile and stepped away. Silas followed her out, though he threw one last look at Ivy, his eyes asking, Are you alright?
Ivy gave a small nod. "I’m fine."
When the room was quiet again, Ivy slowly opened her hand. In her palm lay the strand of hair... and a small piece of paper hidden inside.
She unfolded it. Her eyes narrowed as she read the words written on it.
Help .
Ivy’s heart sank, while her blood ran cold.
She clenched the note in her hand, her eyes darkening.
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