To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 42

“Go.”

“Oh my. You’re really going? Well, I guess…”

As Helen expected, Ian moved without hesitation. As they approached Aisha and Jared, they could see people around them holding their breath. Jared saw Ian coming and quickly tried to lead Aisha away. But Ian was faster. A thrilling confrontation. Everyone’s eyes sparkled.

Now, avoiding gossip was impossible. Thankfully, the four of them were in a corner of the ballroom. And since they were aware of others watching, they kept their voices low and tried to keep calm. Anyone who didn’t know their relationships might just think they were acquaintances talking.

“How rude of you to block my path. Marquess, do you have something to say?”

Jared glanced at Aisha as he spoke. The situation was too much for her her face had gone pale.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. I know this is rude, but I have something to say to my fiancée. May I speak with her alone for a moment?”

Ian bowed to Jared and directly stated his reason. The way he emphasized “fiancée” wasn’t a mistake. At Ian’s words, Aisha gasped.

“Your fiancée? But you haven’t even had the engagement ceremony yet. Strange to call her that already.”

Unlike the tense Aisha, Jared remained relaxed as he pulled her behind him. He replied mockingly. Ian, ignoring him, looked straight at Aisha and reached out his hand.

“Aisha, I want to talk to you. Just us.”

Jared coldly blocked Ian’s hand. His mocking tone was gone, replaced with a stiff expression.

“Stop it, Marquess. How dare you order someone else’s partner around?”

“Your Highness, you’re hurting my fiancée’s honor. This situation isn’t good for her. People will start talking.”

Ian didn’t back down. He claimed that coming with Jared could damage Aisha’s reputation, especially since their engagement was already public. Jared scoffed.

“Mocking? Who, me? That’s rich coming from you. And if you take her away now, won’t that cause even more gossip?”

For the first time, Jared looked at Helen. The meaning in his gaze was clear, and Ian had to pause. After all, he had left his own fiancée to come with another woman too.

But Ian thought the situations were different. Aisha was a woman and more vulnerable to gossip. And what if there were rumors? She was his fiancée it was his job to protect her.

Justifying himself, Ian kept signaling to Aisha with his eyes. Jared noticed and frowned. At that moment, Helen stepped in, almost as if she’d been waiting.

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

She had been waiting for her half-brother to pay her any attention. And she didn’t miss the moment Jared finally looked at her.

“You might already know, but I’m the prince’s half-sister”

“The Marquess has really lowered his standards. Lloyd House choosing a Fitz as a partner?”

The name Fitz was a curse. It was a name given only to the emperor’s illegitimate children. It held no title, no land, and nothing to pass on just a temporary noble title. Unless the emperor granted a special title and estate, their children wouldn’t even be nobles. Because of this, the royal family used “Fitz” to insult.

“I don’t talk to anyone with the name Fitz. So, Marquess, control your partner. Who does she think she is, talking to me first?”

The hostility in her brother’s voice shocked Helen. As she stiffened, Jared waved Ian away.

“Just go. I’m not in the mood anymore.”

“Your Highness. I said I have something to say to my fiancée.”

“Marquess! Are you disobeying a royal order?”

Jared raised his voice at last. People who had been glancing over now turned their heads openly. In the distance, the host, Marquess Litman, and his son Damian looked troubled. Understandable the spotlight had shifted.

Jared, realizing this, turned to Aisha.

“Lady Aisha. Let’s go where your brothers are.”

Aisha quickly nodded, shoulders trembling. She didn’t want things to escalate. If she left now, things would settle. So she let Jared lead her away but just as she turned, she met Ian’s eyes. In that instant, his hand reached out.

“Aisha.”

“Huh?”

A familiar voice, and then she was pulled forward. Before she knew what was happening, she was in Ian’s arms. He didn’t hesitate he turned and walked away quickly with her.

The scene happened so fast that even Jared and Helen froze. Jared came to his senses and tried to follow, but before he could take a step, a pale hand grabbed his sleeve.

“Let it go. If you chase after them, it really will look like a love scandal. Would that help that young lady?”

It was Helen, holding Jared back. She looked him straight in the eye as she calmly explained.

“Letting them go is better. Anyone can see he’s acting jealous Thanks to that, Miss Aisha? She won’t look like someone abandoned by her fiancé. The engagement is next month no need to ruin it.”

Jared agreed somewhat. But he still couldn’t just let them be. He snapped at Helen.

“You think I’ll listen to you? Someone like you”

“I gave you a chance.”

Helen cut him off with a twisted smile. There was something sharp in her expression that made Jared uneasy.

“Don’t go, brother. Or I’ll reveal your secret.”

The word “secret” felt ominous. That baby girl he once held her mother had smiled just like that. Her red smile now overlapped with Helen’s.

“I don’t care what you say. Let go. Last warning. Or I’ll cast you out.”

Jared barely held back his anxiety. But Helen narrowed her eyes and smiled even more deeply. She lifted a finger to her lips and whispered a name.

“It’s about Princess Catherine.”

“Aisha! Aisha! Where are you? Ian, you bastard! Come out right now!”

Peeking through the stair railing, Ian saw Daniel running around angrily. He held Aisha close, his hand over her mouth, watching Daniel.

Only when Daniel’s footsteps faded did Ian finally let Aisha go and lead her back up the stairs. Aisha strangely didn’t resist—neither when he covered her mouth, nor when they walked. Ian, relieved by her silence, smirked slightly. So she does know she did something wrong.

He avoided her eyes and roughly pulled her along.

They arrived at a small resting area tucked at the end of the second-floor hallway. Far from the ballroom, not even servants passed by—perfect for privacy. Ian forced Aisha to sit on the couch and stood before her.

“You.”

Trying to calm his rising anger, he sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. His neatly parted hair fell out of place.

Aisha turned her head slightly, eyes down. Her silence annoyed Ian. He instinctively grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

“Aren’t you going to explain? What were you thinking?”

Even at his demand, Aisha stayed quiet. Just a moment ago, with Jared, she had looked so flustered had that guilt already vanished?

Ian tightened his grip and repeated,

“Aisha, answer me.”

She frowned from the pain, and only then did Ian let go. Aisha shook her head and asked quietly,

“Why are you so angry?”

Ian stared at her in disbelief. He couldn’t hide his irritation.

“What? Are you seriously asking that?”

“You’re just as bad.”

That shut Ian up. He glared at her, and Aisha flinched under his intense gaze. But then she took a deep breath and met his eyes again.

“You came with another woman. So why act like I’m the only one who did something wrong?”

“You think this is the same?”

His voice rose. The large man’s anger overwhelmed her, and she instinctively stayed quiet. Ian pressed on.

“I came because of work. But you what, you grabbed another man’s hand just to have fun?”

“I originally planned to attend the banquet with you. But you never replied to my letters. That’s why I brought her. But it looks like you planned to come with that man. Am I wrong?”

His voice harsh, Aisha turned her head away. Ian reached for her chin again but stopped himself. He realized he was too worked up and took a breath.

Damn it.

Something was off. Since when did Aisha stop doing what he wanted? She used to be easy to handle. Their dynamic had changed and Ian clenched his teeth, trying to keep his temper in check.

Aisha glanced at him and mumbled,

“You didn’t reply either”

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