Chapter 05

Click.

Catherine shuddered as she stepped out of Rachel’s room.

“Ugh. Scary, so scary.”

Rachel was her mother, but sometimes, behind that beautiful face, she showed a chilling side that Catherine could never get used to.

Could she change Rachel for the better?

“Maybe Alex could, but Mother…? Nope. No way.”

She had memories from her past life, and she knew exactly what the future held. 

She couldn’t just focus on saving herself and abandon her family. 

If she did nothing, they would all die at Eleanor’s hands, just as fate intended.

Her goal, her wish, was to reform Alex and Rachel as much as possible—so she could survive in this family.

“I’m struggling to survive, and now I have to protect my family too?!”

She sighed heavily.

“Ugh, what a life.”

News spread throughout the mansion—Duke Hereis Valentine was returning after a long absence, having been away on imperial orders.

Excitement filled the estate. The servants hurried to prepare for his arrival. To them, the Duke was a symbol of pride and admiration.

A long line of servants gathered at the entrance of the estate, standing neatly on both sides.

At the center stood the Valentine family, except for Eleanor.

Catherine stood at the very end of the line, keeping a low profile.

Soon, the Duke finally appeared.

“Welcome home, my lord.”

“Hmm. Nothing happened while I was away?”

“No, sir. Everything was fine.”

“Good work.”

Catherine glanced at the Duke.

Dark navy-blue hair, cold, piercing violet-blue eyes. His gaze was sharp, with slightly upturned eyes and deep double eyelids. His skin was pale, almost like snow.

Despite having multiple children, he looked untouched by time—still young and strikingly handsome.

As Catherine discreetly observed him, Killian and David approached the Duke.

“Welcome back, Father.”

“You returned earlier than expected.”

“Killian. David.”

Even though Catherine and her older brother, Alex, were also standing there, the Duke acted as if they didn’t exist.

Catherine turned her head toward Rachel.

As expected, Rachel’s expression had hardened.

“Here is, Alex has been waiting a long time for you. Alex, go ahead. Greet your father.”

Rachel pushed Alex forward.

Only then did the Duke briefly glance at him. Very briefly.

“Ahem… Welcome back, Duke—I mean, Father.”

Alex looked awkward, unable to meet the Duke’s gaze. Whether it was because he felt embarrassed or intimidated, Catherine didn’t know.

She bit the inside of her cheek.

“Idiot.”

Unlike Alex, she didn’t bother greeting the Duke.

After all, he wouldn’t care either way.

No matter how much Rachel tried to get him to acknowledge Alex and Catherine, the Duke only saw three people as his true children—Killian, David, and… Eleanor.

The Valentine family was never truly theirs.

In the past, Catherine had desperately tried to be part of this family.

But now, she knew better.

To the Duke, she was nothing more than a decoration in the family portrait—nothing more, nothing less.

As the Duke scanned the area, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Then, he asked, “Killian, where is Eleanor?”

“She’s not feeling well. She’s resting in her room.”

The Duke simply nodded and turned toward his office on the second floor.

Catherine stared at his back.

A typical “cold father in a tragic family story” type, she thought.

His daughter was sick, yet he barely reacted.

But she knew better.

The Duke was secretly very concerned about Eleanor.

“Tsk. Why not just openly care for her? Everyone will call you a doting father later anyway. Families need communication! Communication!”

As she grumbled internally, the Duke suddenly turned back.

And looked straight at her.

“….!”

Catherine stiffened at the unexpected eye contact.

“What… What was that?!”

But just as suddenly, he turned away and continued up the stairs.

Rachel and the butler quickly followed him.

Catherine clutched her chest, trying to calm her pounding heart.

“He’s not mad that I didn’t greet him… right?”

Back in her room, Catherine collapsed onto her bed as tension left her body.

She let out a deep sigh, recalling the first time she had arrived at this mansion.

The Duke had looked at her and said,

“Don’t expect me to act like a father to you.”

“…”

“But since you’re here, you can do whatever you want. After all, you are now part of the Valentine family.”

At that time, Catherine was only eleven, and Alex was twelve.

She had been excited about having a father, only for her hopes to be crushed immediately.

She was deeply hurt.

Growing up, Catherine had always been adored for her cuteness.

She was used to receiving attention from adults.

But for the first time, she was completely ignored.

It was a shock.

“Wow. I was full of myself back then.”

Because of that, she had stubbornly clung to the Duke.

She was confident in acting like a “lovely daughter.”

Every morning, she would find him and greet him with the brightest smile she could manage.

“Good morning, Duke! No, I mean, Father!”

“Catherine. What do you need this early?”

“Call me Cathy or Cat! That’s my nickname!”

But no matter how much she tried, he always called her Catherine and kept his distance.

Still, she didn’t give up.

She kept trying to win his affection.

But over time, she grew exhausted.

She came to a realization.

The Duke wasn’t someone who lacked family affection.

It was the opposite.

She convinced herself that it was fine, that at least she was treated better than Eleanor.

That was, until one day.

She had gone to visit his office, as usual.

He had fallen asleep in his chair, looking peaceful.

Curious, she approached him.

Then, he mumbled something in his sleep.

“…Ellie.”

His expression was gentle.

“Eleanor.”

That was the first time Catherine saw that the Duke could speak with warmth.

She froze on the spot.

After a moment, she turned her gaze to his desk.

There, she saw a small picture frame.

Inside was a perfect-looking family.

“The Valentine family.”

They all looked so happy.

As if telling her, There’s no place for you here.

It was then that she finally understood.

When the Duke told her not to expect anything from him—he meant it.

From the very beginning, he had never intended to be her father.

To him, she and Alex were nothing but burdens.

Only then did she truly see it.

The way he looked at Eleanor.

How his indifferent gaze was filled with guilt.

It was painfully obvious, now that she noticed.

All his care and affection belonged to Eleanor.

Back then. Now. And always.

From that day on, Catherine never visited his office again.