The man was always like this-constantly pulling strings behind the scenes, grinding the gears of others.

    It was no wonder no one liked him.

    ...

    While things were tense on one side, Grace had already walked about half a mile along the narrow path.

    The farther she went, the stronger the scent of magnolia blossoms became.

    The snow was falling heavier by the minute, and she regretted not bringing an umbre. After walking another thousand feet or so, she finally reached a t clearing.

    There, she saw the magnolia blossoms. They were even more beautiful than the ones she had seen beside the ruins.

    She quickened her pace, nning to snap a few branches and leave. She had decided to bring some ancient calligraphy and paintings tomorrow morning to offer for the trade.

    But just as her hand touched a branch, she heard the sound of footsteps- someone walking on snow.

    The path lights dimmed. When she saw the familiar figure approaching, she was a little surprised.

    "Ed?"

    The man walked up and broke off several tall branches taller than she was-and ced them in front of her.

    Grace felt like the snow had blurred her vision. She raised her hand to brush the kes from hershes.

    "Why are you here?" she asked.

    "I followed you. You passed by my house and didn''t even stop to see me. Who are you picking flowers for?"

    She was screwed.

    Grace felt a chill run down her back. He was jealous—and when he got like this, she knew she''d have to work hard to coax him out of it.

    Why, of all ces, did she have to run into him here?

    "I''m picking them for myself. I remember you like them too. Let''s pick some together."

    As she tried to brush it off, she quickly took the branches he had picked and pointed toward some higher ones.

    "Can you help with those?" she asked.

    Ed raised his hand and brushed the top of her head, his lips curving into a small smile.

    "Liar."

    Even so, he picked arge bunch and asked, "Is that enough?"

    Grace didn''t want to take too many. She was worried the manor''s owner might be angry, so she nodded quickly.

    "That''s more than enough. Let''s hurry back."

    Now holding onto a dozen or so branches, she started walking down, not

    forgetting to reach back and pull him along.

    But they had only gone a few steps when he suddenly fell.

    Grace panicked and crouched beside him.

    "Are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

    He didn''t respond, which only made her more anxious. She quickly

    the

    fight but he grabbed h reached for her phone to turnel.ne

    wrist.

    His palm was burning hot. He cupped her face and kissed her.

    Afraid that the branches in her arms might scratch him, Grace hurriedly threw all the flowers aside.

    The kisssted several minutes. When she turned her head away, her voice was low and heavy.

    "Why do I taste blood? Are you hurt?" she asked worriedly.

    He didn''t answer. Instead, he kept trying to kiss her.

    Frustrated, she pushed him away. That was when she noticed the wet feeling in her palm. She quickly touched his hand, and sure enough, it was covered in blood.

    He had used an injured hand to break off the branches!

    Her chest trembled with fury. She stood up, grabbed a few random magnolia branches, and stormed off.

    After taking a few steps, she heard his voice behind her. "Go on. I''ll just stay here. It''s not like I''m freezing here."

    She stopped in her tracks, clutching the magnolia branches tightly in her fist.

    She was so angry, and yet... somehow helpless.

    Frozen in ce for several seconds, she finally managed to spin around, stormed

    back to his side, and pped him hard across the face.

    His head tilted slightly from the blow, but he said nothing.

    After she hit him, she felt a tightness in her chest as a strange sense of sorrow overcame her.

    As she stood there in turmoil, he

    lowered his gaze and saidet

    nover

    "Don''t be mad. I identally

    crushed a ss earlier over something small. That''s all

    He slowly gathered the magnolia branches scattered around them, holding them

    in his arms.

    "I''m really fine," he insisted.

    Grace realized that this man had a unique ability to make her feel guilty and soft- hearted all at once.

    She had never experienced this kind of emotion with anyone else.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!