Addicted to you

Madam Ricci’s smug smile only widened, as though she had just secured a grand victory.

"Of course I did," she said smoothly, folding her arms across her chest. "Did you really think I would sit by and let that bastard boy humiliate you? He parades around as if he’s untouchable. If the Keirs hadn’t accepted him, if Allister had a legitimate child with Eleanor, would he even be where he is now? He needs to be reminded of what he truly is, nothing more than a stain on the Keir family name. This way, the world knows who he really is. And when you marry him, you’ll stand above him, not the other way around."

Calin’s face drained of color. Her chest tightened, her heart hammering as though the air itself was caught in her throat.

"Mother, are you insane?!" she burst out, her voice shrill with panic. "Do you even realize what you’ve done? This isn’t just an attack on Brother Shin, it’s a strike at the entire Keir family. Don’t you know how much Elder Madam Keir values their reputation?"

"So what?" Madam Ricci snapped back, her chin lifting in arrogance. "He should be grateful I even allow this engagement to still stand. Without us, without you, he is nothing but a bastard child with cursed blood. I’ve done you a favor, Calin. You should be thanking me. Why should you lower yourself, suffering alone, when in fact he should be honored that a highly educated, refined woman of your class even took notice of him?"

Calin’s hands trembled. Anger surged hot through her veins, but it tangled with a heavier, icier fear.

She thought of Shin, the cold ruthlessness in how he dealt with those who crossed him. And what about the old matriarch? If they discovered her mother was behind this scandal, it would be no different from tearing down the very bridge that tied the Riccis to the Keirs.

"You don’t understand!" Calin cried, her voice cracking. "Do you want to drag me down with you?!"

Madam Ricci only smiled coldly, unmoved by her daughter’s panic. "Nonsense. He won’t dare touch me. I am Madam Ricci. If he wants to keep his position, what other woman could match him the way you do? In the end, he’ll have no choice but to cling to us."

Calin was so furious she could barely speak. If it were truly that easy to make Shin Keir bow, wouldn’t she have used this method long ago? Blackmail him about his past?

Before she could explode further, footsteps sounded from the doorway. Master Ricci entered, his expression hard.

"Have you two already heard about Shin Keir?" His eyes flicked between them. "This is our chance to use the situation to our advantage." Gesturing at Calin, he ordered, "Go to him. Comfort him, show your concern, whatever it takes. Let the Keirs see that we stand firmly with them. You are a public figure, if we announce the engagement now, both families will benefit, and this matter will be swept under the rug. No one will bother if he’s someone illegitimate or not."

Calin’s stomach dropped, her face twisting.

Yes, that plan might have worked. If only the source of the scandal wasn’t sitting in the same room.

For the first time, Madam Ricci’s confidence faltered. "Husband, there’s no need for us to rush. Who else would Shin Keir marry, if not our Calin? Let him beg us this time. I won’t allow our family to look desperate for this alliance."

Master Ricci’s glare turned sharp. "Shut up, woman. What do you know? Business has not been well. No matter the method, this engagement must happen. Once Calin marries Shin Keir, it’s settled. She can handle him afterward."

Madam Ricci’s face stiffened with indignation. "You dare scold me? Do you have any idea how many times that bastard humiliated our daughter? Of course you don’t, you’re never even here to see it."

"Enough!" Calin shouted, trembling with fury. "Dad, the source of this scandal...it was Mom! She did it. And with Brother Shin’s resources, he will definitely find out!"

"That wasn’t my intention!" Madam Ricci shot back, her voice shrill. "I only wanted to teach him a lesson, to remind him we’re not people he can simply dismiss!"

Master Ricci froze, confusion flickering across his face before the truth sank in. Then rage took over.

Before he could even form words, his hand lashed out, striking his wife across the face.

"You stupid woman! Do you realize what you’ve done?!"

Madam Ricci stared at him in horror, clutching her cheek.

"Teach him a lesson? Humiliate Calin?" Master Ricci’s chest heaved as his voice roared. "You foolish woman, you’ve destroyed our leverage! With the Keirs apologizing to us, we could have used that as a stepping stone, but you had to ruin it! Do you not remember that Allister came here himself yesterday to apologize and we decided to let this matter go, ensuring we held no grudges against them! What does that make me now, if my own wife goes and attacks his son right after?"

Madam Ricci’s tears spilled over, her voice breaking. She couldn’t understand why they were blaming her.

Was it wrong to defend her daughter? Was it wrong to uphold their dignity?

In her whole life, Madam Ricci had never involved herself in business matters. She lived as the pampered, elegant wife of a prestigious family, indulging in luxuries and ignoring her husband’s repeated warnings about their company’s declining state. If anything, she had never wronged herself by reducing her spending habits and spent even more in the past months.

Calin was much like her mother, but working in the entertainment industry, she had at least have some savings. And with her desire to marry Shin Keir, she would never do something so reckless as to harm his reputation.

"I did it for Calin! For our family’s honor!" Madam Ricci cried, refusing to yield. "It’s not as if I wanted Shin Keir’s life. A mere allegation won’t ruin him. If he can use public opinion to torment my daughter, why can’t I do the same?"

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However, Madam Ricci overlooked one simple truth: every trouble Calin had faced with Shin Keir had been the result of her own actions.

Master Ricci pointed at her with a trembling hand, his face twisted with fury. It was hopeless to reason with a thoughtless woman who knew nothing of business and refused to learn.

Their family’s survival depended on the Keirs. Even if Calin failed to marry Shin Keir, their alliance alone had brought them wealth, prestige, and access to financial backing that would have otherwise been impossible.

To offend them now meant risking not only Elder Madam Keir’s investment but also their standing with the other two noble families: Jie and Neri, both of whom maintained close ties with the Keirs.

As the argument raged, Sergei Ricci approached, searching for his father. But when he overheard the chaos inside, his footsteps halted.

With a weary sigh, he turned away. In this household, his mother and sister were the most unreasonable people alive. If he had a chance to avoid them, he always would.

---

Later, when Shin returned after speaking to Saeki on the phone, Yeri was quick to extend her hand, eager to hold his again.

Madam Zhi, feeling like an awkward third wheel, quickly excused herself, muttering something about seeing the doctor.

Shin chuckled softly and reached for Yeri’s hand. He had no idea why she was suddenly so clingy, but he wasn’t the type to refuse.

"Why are you suddenly acting clingy? Did you finally realize how good I am to you?" he teased.

Yeri: "..."

"Pass the fever to you," she replied flatly.

Shin wasn’t the least annoyed. "Unfortunately, that won’t work. Besides, I’m the opposite of your constitution. I almost never get sick."

"Then kiss me," Yeri dared him, her tone dead serious. "See if you can still brag after that."

Shin only rustled her hair. "You’re still delirious. Won’t you be embarrassed later when you remember what you just said?"

Yeri glared at him weakly, but with her pale face she looked anything but threatening. "I thought you liked me. Why won’t you kiss me? Do you think I’m disgusting? If I told you I’d feel better if you kissed me, would you do it then?"

Shin almost laughed. "You’re not disgusting at all. I just don’t want to take advantage of a sick person. Once you’re better, you’ll see..." His gaze lingered on her, dark and intense.

Yeri pouted. By then, she wouldn’t need it anymore.

Just then, Zahn Neri walked in, catching sight of their flirting. He ignored the scene, focusing on Shin instead. "You’re still here? Haven’t you seen the news?"

Shin shrugged casually. "What about it?"

Zahn blinked, realizing Shin already knew. He had come thinking he’d deliver the information, but clearly it wasn’t necessary. If the man involved didn’t care, then why should he?

Without another word, he turned and left.

Curious, Yeri asked softly, "Did something happen?"

Shin studied her for a moment. She deserved to know. He wasn’t hiding it anyway.

"I haven’t told you about my past, have I? I’m my father’s illegitimate son. Back then, he had a son with his legal wife, but it turned out he wasn’t of Keir blood. So they came up with something ridiculous and made me the legitimate son. Someone exposed that today. As for my mother... she’s long gone."

Yeri’s eyes widened, shocked. She had never imagined Shin’s childhood had been so turbulent, so dramatic.