Addicted to you

Within minutes, an elegant porcelain flask was carefully packed. The fragrant steam of the rose petals, delicate and soothing, escaped just enough to perfume the air.

Shin accepted it without another word and left, the early morning light chasing after his car as it cut through the quiet city streets.

---

Just as Shin arrived at the hospital, Yeri finally stirred awake.

Although he had already used his ability to ease her pain, her body still ached all over, throbbing with every breath.

Seeing her mother wearing a forced smile, Yeri instantly knew she had made her worry again.

"Good morning," Shin greeted Madam Zhi politely before turning to Yeri. "How are you feeling?"

Yeri blinked at him as if he had suddenly grown horns. "Why are you here?"

"Why not?" Shin arched a brow and touched her forehead, suspecting she might be delirious.

Fortunately, her fever had gone down slightly.

Soon, Dr. Zahn Neri entered after Madam Zhi called for him. He checked her condition, his brows furrowing.

Just yesterday, her muscles and blood vessels had been in an alarming state, yet today they looked slightly better.

How could her condition improve so fast?

Zahn couldn’t help but think Yeri Zhi was unusual. If Shin Keir wasn’t protecting her, he might have been tempted to treat her like a rare case study.

"Well, you’re not as bad as yesterday," Zahn finally said. "The other tests also came out normal. Did you eat or do anything different these past few days?"

Yeri shook her head quickly. "No... I just suddenly felt cold and my body hurt."

After giving a few precautions and advice, Zahn left.

Madam Zhi also excused herself to buy food, leaving only Shin and Yeri in the quiet room. He studied her closely, his gaze sharp.

"Are you sure you haven’t done anything unusual? You left my villa only a day ago, and now you’re suddenly ill."

Yeri didn’t flinch. She knew no one could find out what she had done, not even this renowned hospital.

"What do you mean by unusual? Don’t you already know I’m a VIP customer here?" she joked, forcing a smile. "If you regret wanting to get engaged with me, it’s still not too late to back out."

Shin’s eyes narrowed in displeasure. "I’m simply asking. Don’t make excuses to push me away. It just feels odd because that friend of yours suddenly changed."

Her heart skipped. Did he mean Sister Lianna?

"There was something strange about Zahn’s wife... and it happened right when your condition worsened," Shin muttered, suspicion lacing his voice.

Yeri’s fingers tightened against the blanket. His probing made her uneasy, even if she knew he wouldn’t uncover the truth.

"What’s strange about Sister Lianna?" she asked carefully.

Shin shrugged. "Hard to explain. More like... someone brought her back to life overnight."

Yeri froze. How could he have noticed that? He was never close to Lianna Neri, he even warned her once to stay away from her.

"You’re talking nonsense," she said quickly. "Maybe she just had an epiphany and decided to change."

Shin didn’t argue further. Instead, he mentioned the rose tea he had brought, knowing she liked it.

When he handed her the cup, Yeri’s hand brushed against his and in an instant, the pain in her body eased.

She stiffened. Like a bolt of lightning, it struck her: how could she have forgotten?

As a succubus, she could steal a man’s energy.

But when their hands parted, the pain returned at once.

So that was it.

If she wanted to heal immediately, she would have to take more...be intimate with him. But with her pale, ghostly state, seducing Shin Keir was out of the question.

"What’s wrong? Is the tea too hot?" Shin asked, noticing her dazed look.

Yeri shook her head and sipped the tea. Almost without thinking, her other hand reached for his wrist.

Shin looked down at her thin, trembling hand and quietly held it.

Realizing what she had done, Yeri felt a flicker of embarrassment but didn’t pull away. She wasn’t a masochist, if a skinship with Shin Keir could ease her pain, why torture herself?

The door opened. Madam Zhi entered, her eyes immediately catching the two of them holding hands.

Madam Zhi: "..."

"I bought your favorite chicken porridge and boiled egg," she said, setting down the bag. "It may not taste like the nanny’s cooking, but she’ll bring you food at lunch."

"No need to trouble her, Mom. The food here is fine," Yeri replied quickly.

Madam Zhi smiled faintly, her gaze flicking again to their hands.

Just then, Shin’s phone rang. Yeri reluctantly let go, her expression tightening as the pain crept back.

Madam Zhi misread it as unwillingness to part with him.

"You used to cling to me and your father all the time as a child," Madam Zhi said with a hint of jealousy. "Now you don’t even look at your mother."

Yeri: "..."

It was true she was reluctant to let go but not for the reason her mother imagined.

Outside, Shin answered the call, his tone instantly turning cold. "Saeki Jie, aren’t you calling the wrong person whenever you’re bored?"

Saeki’s urgent voice came through the line. "Big bro, this isn’t trivial! Have you seen what’s going viral online today? It’s about you. Don’t worry, I already contacted people to counter it. I’ve got your back."

"Oh? What is it?" Shin asked, sounding completely unfazed.

"It’s an allegation that you’re an illegitimate child and it even comes with evidence. The source is credible. I suspect someone from our circle did it since only a few families know the truth." Saeki’s voice was both stressed and indignant.

But Shin only smiled mockingly. "Don’t bother. Such a trivial matter, the old hag will take care of it. Besides, it’s not a lie."

"...Eh?" Saeki was stunned. Trivial? Old hag?

"You mean Grandma Keir? But you two don’t even get along!"

Shin smirked. There was a reason he tolerated that old relic for so long.

---

Sure enough, at the Keir estate, Elder Madam Keir had just been discharged from the hospital.

She was enjoying the morning sun in her garden when she was suddenly bombarded with calls.

One of her close friends anxiously told her the news over the phone, the voice both worried and gossipy.

Panicked, the old lady demanded her maid read the post aloud since she refused to strain her eyes on tiny text.

The moment she heard that Shin Keir was exposed as the illegitimate son of the Keir, her whole body went cold.

Overwhelmed, her eyes rolled back and she fainted on the spot.

The maids screamed and rushed to call an ambulance, immediate family members and the estate doctor.

Truthfully, Shin had long understood Elder Madam Keir’s obsession with reputation.

It was like her holy grail, the very blood running through her veins. Any stigma or dishonor against it was no different from an attempt on her life.

Perhaps Elder Madam Keir herself did not realize it, but to her, the Keirs had to be flawless in the public eye.

To the world, there should be no blemish, no speck of dust, nothing that could dull the family’s shine.

That was why, despite her constant grievances and deep dissatisfaction with Shin, she could only voice them behind closed doors.

Even when she discovered years ago that Eleanor’s son wasn’t Allister’s, she forced the scandal into silence. It was also her idea to declare Shin as Allister and Eleanor’s biological child, while sending Eleanor’s real son abroad.

To the old matriarch, there was no such thing as divorce in the Keir clan else it would ruin their name, explaining why she endured Eleanor’s madness and Shin’s defiance, keeping everything behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the internet exploded with opinions. Nothing entertained netizens more than the scandal of the rich and powerful.

"My husband is an illegitimate child? So what? All rich families have hidden scandals! Illegitimate children aren’t exactly rare. You all are just jealous! He’s hot and a genius."

"Illegitimate from which side? Keir or his mother? I smell a deeper family drama."

"I knew it! He got his position through nepotism. Who knows if his business achievements and previous credentials are even real? With the Keir, anyone can be king."

"Who did Shin Keir offend? For this to come out now, someone powerful must be behind it."

"You people watch too much drama. Being illegitimate isn’t a crime. At least he’s upright and successful and not a menace to society."

Public opinion was divided, but many, especially women stood firmly on Shin Keir’s side, still idolizing him.

---

Out of all the people reading the scandal, Calin was among the most stunned. She had just stepped out of the shower, towel still wrapped around her damp hair, when the news flashed across her screen.

Who in their right mind would dare trample on Shin’s reputation?!

Her hands tightened around her phone. This wasn’t just about him, once she was officially engaged to Shin Keir, his reputation would become hers as well. Any stain on him would ripple onto her.

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Her anger boiled, but before she could calm herself, her mother entered the room. Madam Ricci’s expression was smug, her eyes glinting with satisfaction.

"My dear daughter, have you seen it? Mommy took revenge for you," she announced proudly, almost gloating.

Calin blinked, caught off guard. Then realization began to dawn, dread creeping up her spine. Her eyes widened, panic mixing with disbelief.

"What do you mean...?" Her voice shook as she clutched her towel tighter. "Don’t tell me... you did this?!"