CHAPTER 135: IN HER SHOES

After that, their conversation drifted to lighter topics like Yeri’s school life and Lianna’s high school days.

Occasionally, Zahn Neri’s name slipped into the talk, but every time it did, Lianna startled as though his name was a forbidden word.

Gradually, without realizing, Lianna drifted into sleep. She was supposed to stay in the guest room, but Yeri didn’t wake her and simply let her rest there.

Tonight, Yeri was going to attempt it.

She wasn’t going to deny she was nervous. Doing it in a human body carried obvious risks, but she doesn’t want to kept circling back to ’what ifs’

Making sure there would be no disturbance, she locked the windows and the balcony door. Even Carpet couldn’t stay as she lured him out with treats and shut the door.

At the stroke of midnight, Yeri took a cutter and pricked her finger. A droplet of blood welled up, and she used it to draw a seal on Lianna’s right palm.

Then, she lay down beside the sleeping woman, gently holding her hand.

Muttering an enchantment under her breath, Yeri slowly closed her eyes.

At first, nothing happened. The only sound inside the room was Lianna’s steady breathing and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.

Yeri’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier as the enchantment settled. Her chest tightened, nerves crawling under her skin, but she forced herself to remain calm.

Her consciousness began to waver, as if she were floating in a half-dream. The warmth of Lianna’s hand grounded her, an anchor in the midst of the dark tide pulling her elsewhere.

A faint red light spread from the seal on Lianna’s palm, glowing softly like moonlight on water. Yeri caught her breath. It worked.

The scene around her blurred, and when it cleared, she found herself standing in a dim hallway.

Cold, hollow, suffocating.

Doors lined the endless passage, some half-open, others locked tight. The air was heavy, filled with the faint echo of someone crying far away.

A soft shuffle behind her made her turn. Lianna stood barefoot in a thin nightgown, her face pale and distant. She looked younger somehow, like a woman stripped of the weight she carried every day. Her eyes were blank, as if she didn’t even notice Yeri standing there.

Yeri just stood there patiently.

Then Lianna blinked, turning her head slightly, she walked down the corridor, her figure wavering like a shadow.

Yeri hurried to follow, her heartbeat quickening. She didn’t know how much time she had nor what she would find behind these doors.

The first one creaked open on its own as they passed. Inside was a scene of Lianna sitting at a dinner table, beautifully dressed, smiling politely at Zahn across from her. But no matter how much she spoke, he didn’t look up from reading his files.

The next door opened, Lianna knelt on the floor, playing with her son, her eyes sparkling with warmth. But the moment Zahn Neri entered the room, the boy ran straight to him, pushing Lianna away. Lianna froze, behind Zahn Neri was his mother, looking at Lianna with a mocking grin.

The hallway stretched further, darker.

Lianna continued walking, her steps dragging.

Yeri wanted to reach out, wandering deeper into this cold abyss wasn’t easy, her feet felt heavy.

With each step, the air grew colder, the lights dimmer, until she could no longer see her own hands. A faint draft brushed past her, carrying an unsettling chill. Then came the sharp cracking sound of a door opening.

Blinding light spilled through, engulfing her.

When Yeri opened her eyes again, she blinked in confusion. She was no longer in the hallway. Instead, she stood in the middle of a glittering banquet hall. Chandeliers hung high above, bathing everything in golden light. Elegant guests strolled about in tailored suits and gowns, crystal glasses clinked, and laughter from children echoed near the dessert tables.

A group of women whispered nearby.

"Is that her? Why haven’t I seen her before?" one asked.

The woman beside her chuckled softly. "Don’t you know? Madam Neri was too ashamed to introduce her to the circle. If she could be hidden forever, she would never appear and bring shame to the family."

"She certainly has guts, coming here like this," another sneered. "Perhaps she’s proud her scheming worked. She has a son that will someday inherit the Neri’s vast fortune."

"That poor child," the first sighed mockingly, "to carry the shame of his mother."

Yeri’s stomach tightened as she realized the scornful gazes were directed at her.

She glanced at the mirrored glass wall and understood.

The reflection wasn’t hers.

It was Lianna Neri.

Her heart thudded. Right, this was the purpose of coming here- to see through Lianna’s eyes, to hear what she had endured, and to feel what she had felt.

Currently, she is Lianna. Like she had transmigrated to Lianna’s body.

Yet what startled Yeri most was Lianna’s calmness. Despite all the venom whispered around her, Lianna’s emotions didn’t stir. She stood still, her expression unreadable, her focus fixed only on her son playing happily among the children.

She must have been so used to this cruelty that she had grown numb to it.

At the center of the banquet stood a towering cake with candles, surrounded by decorations wishing Happy Birthday.

Yeri suddenly remembered something Saeki had said, the Neri couple’s son had just celebrated his birthday. And hadn’t she found Lianna later wearing a torn gown? That meant this very scene was the birthday party.

Two women, both around Lianna’s age, sauntered toward her. Their faces were heavy with makeup, their skin stretched unnaturally tight.

"Happy birthday to your son, Young Madam Neri," one said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

The other nudged her. "Don’t call her that. Do you want to anger Madam Neri?"

"Oh?" The first woman covered her mouth dramatically. "Then should I say Mrs. Neri? Or... maybe just Lianna?"

The two laughed, exchanging smug looks. To their annoyance, Lianna didn’t even glance their way. Her gaze remained fixed on her son, soft and protective.

"So it’s true," one of them muttered, "she’s really rude. Won’t even look at us."

The other scoffed. "What’s there to be proud of? She married Dr. Neri only on paper, pathetic."

With no reaction from Lianna, they soon grew bored and left.

Yeri bit her lip. She wanted to snap at them, to defend Lianna, but she couldn’t move her lips. She could only follow Lianna’s choices, silent as a shadow.

More guests came and went. Some sneered, others greeted politely. Lianna only nodded faintly or murmured brief words of courtesy.

Then the atmosphere shifted. The crowd parted slightly, voices rising. Madam Neri had arrived.

Yeri instantly recognized her, it was the same woman who had scolded Lianna at the café Zhillion.

Graceful and regal, Madam Neri greeted the guests with elegance. Yet when her eyes fell on Lianna, her gaze hardened with contempt. She didn’t bother to acknowledge her daughter-in-law, instead turning smoothly to other guests as though Lianna were invisible.

This time, Yeri felt something stir within Lianna...an ache, an old wound. Annoyance, pain, but also resignation.

Suddenly, a sharp grip seized her arm.

"Follow me," Madam Neri said coldly.

Yeri stumbled after her into a deserted hallway. Once hidden from view, Madam Neri’s smile disappeared.

"What are you doing here? Making a fool of yourself and embarrassing our family?" her voice was sharp, dripping with disdain.

Lianna’s voice, soft yet steady, answered, "It’s my son’s birthday. Why can’t I be here?"

Madam Neri’s eyes narrowed. "Do you think Sean wants people to know you’re his mother?"

Lianna’s gaze didn’t waver. "If I’m not his mother, then who is?"

The older woman faltered, lips tightening. Rage trembled on her tongue, but she restrained herself, wary of being overheard.

"What did I expect from a shameless vixen like you?" she hissed. "We accepted Sean because he’s innocent. But it wasn’t enough that you schemed your way into this family, and now you’re using your son to climb higher."

"I don’t understand," Lianna murmured, brows furrowing.

"Don’t understand?" Madam Neri sneered. "Sean will inherit this family one day. And here you are, parading yourself, desperate to tie yourself to the families of his little friends."

Lianna shook her head. "That’s not why I came. I just wanted to celebrate his birthday."

But Madam Neri’s mocking smile said it all, no explanation would ever be enough.

When she left, Yeri felt a crushing pain in her chest. Yet Lianna carried only despair and sorrow. No hatred.

How many times had Lianna endured this kind of treatment?

If it had been her, Yeri thought bitterly, she might have done everything Madam Neri accused her of, just to make them choke on their arrogance.

As Lianna’s feet carried her back to the hall, the sound of voices swelled. The crowd sang Happy Birthday. Her pace quickened, eyes drawn to the stage and was taken aback.

Sean stood proudly before the cake, surrounded by children. Beside him was his father, Dr. Zahn Neri, his face stone-cold. On the other side... was another woman.

Shouldn’t it be the mother, her, Lianna?

When the song ended, Sean blew out his candles, clapping along with the others. "Thank you, Dad. And thank you, Aunt Vanessa."

Yeri’s eyes narrowed. That woman...she had seen her before.

Before she could place her, Zahn caught sight of her and approached, his expression unreadable.

"What are you doing here? I was told you were unwell and wouldn’t attend," he said evenly, nodding to her.

"I’m not unwell," Lianna murmured.

His brows drew together. "Lianna, don’t force yourself. You’re not a child. You should know your own condition."

Lianna’s hand curled slightly. "I said I’m not unwell. Or is it that you don’t want me here... because your date might feel uncomfortable?"

His gaze turned icy. "She’s the daughter of a business partner. And also a doctor. That’s all."

Before Yeri could process his words, the woman herself approached with graceful steps. Her beauty was delicate, her smile warm, her voice gentle.

"Mrs. Neri, Sean is so adorable," she said kindly, as though greeting an old friend.