With what they all had done to me, I lost my voice.

Only tears streamed down from the corners of my eyes. After they left, I wrapped my clothes tightly around me and thought I would face my death anytime soon. Since then, I never looked at him the same way I looked at him before. The moment I realized it, the time I started never referring to him as my older stepbrother nor mentioning Callum ever again.

That was one of the reasons why every time I started hearing his name, I felt a bit bizarre, as I forgot I knew him.

In the blink of an eye, when I came back to my senses, I happened to see Henry walking past while eating some pancakes. Soon after he noticed me halted from working, he grabbed the whip, ready to strike me once more.

Before Henry could do such cruelty, he caught a glimpse of the servants from the Holden Family mansion; he didn't proceed as he was astounded.

Once Henry understood the reason behind their visit, he had no choice but to greet them respectfully.

"Everyone, look, Vera is somewhat dirty and a bit messy. Wait for me to let the maid clean her up and then return with you," said Henry.

With that, Henry pulled me back to the military camp and instructed someone to prepare hot water for me to bathe.

As his gaze moved from my face, I sensed a hint of desire in his eyes. He approached me to undress, but I tried to avoid his hands from touching me. However, I was terrified seeing his cold gaze at me, which made me pause. With no other option, I allowed him to undress me.

"Come on, you're just a washerwoman, yet you're still going to pretend noble and chaste?! Are you just kidding me?!" Henry mocked and smirked at me. "Since you're going back, then serve me one last time!"

I felt like a puppet, stuck in the military camp, letting them boss me around and do what they wanted, even if I didn't like it. I was furious and embarrassed, but I had no choice but to do what Henry asked.

When the servants from the Holden Mansion lifted me onto the carriage, I had already changed into a clean outfit. Still, it was barely enough to hide the scars on my body.

Before I and the servants left, Henry grabbed my arm. He coldly reminded me, "Vera, you know what should and shouldn't be said. If General Smith finds out what we have done to you, wait to see what we can do. This is your warning."

I had no choice but to nod.

When we arrived at the Holden Mansion, I hesitated to leave the carriage without the servant's reminders.

As soon as Hazel Brown, a maid, saw me respect the servants of the Holden Mansion, I couldn't help but sob. She handed me the mirror so I could see my face.

"My lady, you must have endured so much in the past three years. How did you become like this?” The servant was worried while staring at the reflection of the mirror.

I looked completely lifeless. My face had become so thin I almost lost its flesh.

Still, I tried to force a smile. No matter how joyfully I tried, my expression remained somewhat bitter.

"General Smith is here!" Someone announced it as loud as they could, signaling Callum's approaching steps.

I started feeling nervous, as if my heart almost skipped a beat.

It had been three years since we last met. Every time I dream back at midnight, Callum's face scared me.

At that moment, my worries were exposed to the public. Well, someone had bribed the maid beside me and created the whole drama.

Everyone knew the admiration I had with my brother.

At that moment, Callum already had a cold face. He frowned and looked at me with a distant and disgusted expression.

It felt like my admiration for him was filthy, something I couldn't bear to see. After that, he wouldn't even spare me a glance.

He said, "Vera, as the legitimate daughter of the Holden Family, you're too shameless. It's truly disgusting."

Even after three years, those words still felt like a guilty verdict, filling me with shame whenever I thought of them.

As soon as Callum approached me, my complexion turned pale.

Three years ago, when I felt too clean, he saw me as dirty and disgusting as hell.

"General Smith, this servant has realized my mistake. I have reflected on my mistakes in the army for three years. I have learned the rules for three years and know all the duties. I will never think of Xander again. Please forgive me, General," I said.

Hazel sighed, exclaiming in surprise, "Miss Vera."

She wanted to help me up, so Hazel added, "Why are you calling yourself a slave and calling your stepbrother the general? You are the legitimate daughter of the Holden Family. Please remember that."

With that, Hazel suddenly stopped and started crying.

I kept my head lowered, unable to bring myself to stand up.

However, Callum remained silent for a while. Then, afterward, someone chuckled from above me.

"It seems they have a good job enforcing the rules," he remarked.

"I am indeed much more obedient," I mumbled.

With that, Callum bent down and raised his finger to lift my chin. As soon as we met each other's stares, his eyes widened in astonishment.

"Vera, why have you lost so much weight?!" he exclaimed.

Callum had mixed feelings. He was shocked as if he had a headache and some that had pity.

However, I only opened my eyes, oblivious to what torture would bring me. Still, I remained silent. I didn't want to speak.

As expected, Callum didn't force me to retort back at him.

Right afterward, Callum chuckled and let go of my chin.

"The conditions in the army are tough. You must be selective about what you eat, so it's natural to lose weight," he remarked.

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat. Hazel helped me up only after Callum gave his permission.

Callum brought me back to the Holden Mansion this time because his mother pleaded with him and also because tomorrow was her birthday.

However, according to the servants in the mansion, there was another reason. That was that Callum would be married soon to someone.

As for who he would be married to, Callum had a childhood sweetheart named Fiona Gordon.

Even though Callum didn't know, three years ago, I was designed to make a fool of myself at a banquet.

It was the conspiracy of Fiona and my younger sister, Celeste.

I heard that during my three years away, Callum and Fiona became very close and they were about to get married.

"Miss, once the general gets married, he definitely won't drive you away again," Hazel said.

Upon listening to Hazel, I couldn't help but smile full of bitterness.

Did he think I would still have feelings for Callum and make me watch him get married? These three years, I've wished for death every day. I've been afraid for so long.

Callum sent two more female servants to me, asking them to serve attentively.

They waited for me to take a bath and tried to help me undress, but I pulled back like someone had poked me with a needle. During my three years in the army, I often dreamed that someone forcibly undressed me.

What scared me a lot was that after I woke up, I would be slapped by the realization that it wasn't a dream at all, but it happened for real.

With a sigh, I asked them all to leave. I did not have an illness that prevented me from moving freely.

"I'll do it myself," I insisted.

I asked Hazel to step back, worried that she might see the ugly scars winding across my body.