Chapter 6

Dylan went home with his drawing tools with a puzzled feeling. As soon as he got out of the cab, the servants from the villa greeted him happily and eagerly as if they'd just found their savior. A few of them even burst out crying. "Mr. Cloud! Mr. Cloud, you're finally back! The villa has been in a huge mess during the days you never returned! Ms. Violet has been picking at everything we did as if she was thoroughly dissatisfied with us. She's been furious for days now!" Hearing this, Dylan understood at once. Violet just wasn't used to him not caring for her. However, she would have to get used to it very soon. He was going to leave her for good anyway. From then onward, she would have to live the rest of her life without him. Dylan comforted the servants before entering the villa. He noticed that none of the lights were even turned on. Violet was sitting alone on the couch. The moonlight streaming through the windows illuminated just one side of her face. When she heard footsteps, she finally lifted her head and stared at Dylan for a long time. She sounded unhappy as she asked him sternly, "Where have you been for the past few days?" Dylan took off his coat and answered calmly, "I went painting in the hills." Violet frowned. "So suddenly? Since when have you ever been interested in painting?" It wasn't a sudden interest. Dylan had been an art major all along. If he hadn't agreed to help Mandy with her favor as a gesture of gratitude, he would have already left the country long ago to be a successful artist. However, Dylan told Violet none of these. He just poured himself a glass of water and casually answered, "I just felt like it." Upon seeing his response, Violet massaged her temples and said, "I didn't purposely abandon you during the pizzeria incident. It's just that Archer has always had sensitive skin and could bleed to death even if he got a cut on his finger. "I grew up with him and got used to caring for him. That's the only reason why I brought him to the hospital first. "Also, you never protested back then. So why did you have to run away from home? Archer's house has already been renovated, and he's moved back out. You're not allowed to kick up a fuss over small issues like this anymore, understand?" In the end, Violet still pinned the blame on Dylan. Dylan didn't know if Violet was blaming Archer's departure on him for running away from home or for being petty, but either way, he didn't care anymore. Dylan just hummed in response, set down his glass, and headed upstairs. "Dylan Cloud!" Dylan turned around and saw that Violet had stood up from the couch. "I'm hungry. Make me dinner." Dylan just held up his thickly bandaged left arm and said, "Have you perhaps forgotten that my arm is also badly hurt?" Violet seemed stunned. However, Dylan didn't bother waiting to see her reaction before turning back and heading upstairs once more. … The next day, Dylan had just come out from his room when a set of expensive jewelry was thrust right under his nose. He looked up at Violet in confusion. Violet coughed slightly and said, "About the pizza incident… I had been busy caring for Archer and didn't have time for you. This is compensation for that." Dylan stared at the emerald ring in the box, his eyes filled with dilemma. It had been five whole years, and this was the first time Violet had ever gifted him anything. Yet, this gift was some form of compensation—an apology to him for taking care of her first love and forgetting about him. Dylan suddenly thought of the pile of gifts in the study he'd prepared for Violet and felt a rush of self-ridicule rising in him. However, he quickly suppressed the thoughts. He'd never received a gift from Violet, but now, he didn't need them anymore. Seeing that Dylan still hadn't taken the ring from her, Violet thought that he simply didn't like it. "I'd been busy with Archer lately, so I got my assistant to buy the most expensive thing from the auction. If you don't like it, then—" Before Violet was done speaking, Valerie's voice suddenly floated in from outside the door. "I've told you many times before, Archer, that my sister really likes you! You should never have moved back out! But since you've moved out, you should still come over often!" While speaking, Valerie pulled Archer into the villa. She then caught sight of the ring box Violet was holding and let out a loud squeal. "Oh, my God! Vi! Archer was just telling me that he really liked this emerald ring. I can't believe you actually bought it for him!" Then, she turned to look at Archer with envy and adoration in her eyes. Archer turned red and lowered his head when he heard what Valerie said. Seeing the hesitation in Violet's eyes, Dylan didn't even think twice before taking the ring box from Violet and handing it over to Archer. "Since she bought it for you, please take it." In saying so, he decided for Violet, helping her solve her inner dilemma. This was the first time Violet wasn't looking at Archer but at Dylan instead. She just couldn't help it. For some reason, seeing Dylan acting so generously today made Violet feel uncomfortable for the first time. She felt as if he wasn't the old Dylan she used to know anymore. However, she just couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed about him.