Free Web NovelChapter 782: The More The Merrier
Joy really tried to ignore it. She tried to forget the intense stare burning into the side of her face.
She kept her eyes fixed on the donkey, on its stupid hairless body, on its absurdly jiggly backside.
But eventually, she couldn’t take it anymore.
She let out a sharp sigh and turned to face him.
Cassius was staring at her with a gaze that could only be described as passionate.
Not hungry—not the way he looked at Aisha when she was sucking his cock, or the way he looked at Julie when she was spreading her legs for him.
This was different. Softer. Almost...tender.
It made her skin crawl.
And also, annoyingly, made her stomach flutter.
"Can you please stop looking at me like that?"
She said, her voice flat with annoyance.
"I know you’re being quiet right now, but the way you’re looking at me speaks a thousand words about what’s going on in that perverted head of yours."
Cassius blinked, then chuckled. He waved his hand dismissively.
"Oh, you’re misunderstanding, Joy. It’s nothing dirty like you’re thinking."
He reached out and to her surprise, gently touched her hair as he said,
"I was just thinking that you have really pretty hair."
Joy went still, as he ran his fingers through the pink strands, tussling them playfully.
"Not only is it so silky and in a color you don’t normally see, but there’s also the fact that..." He lifted a lock toward the setting sun "...it practically glows when the light hits it. Especially this light. The sunset makes it look almost fiery. It’s magical."
It was true. The sunlight was bouncing off her hair, making it shimmer and shift between shades of dark pink and bright magenta.
She looked beautiful. Ethereal. Like something out of a painting.
But Joy rolled her eyes.
"There’s no need to use those cheap compliments on me, Cassius. They’re completely useless. Nothing you say will register in my mind."
She glanced at him sidelong.
"I’m completely immune to playboys like you."
Cassius raised an eyebrow.
"And the reason I have this hair color is because of my mother."
Joy continued with a hint of warmth before giving him a sharp gaze.
"So, if you want to compliment someone, compliment her. She deserves all the praise in the world."
Cassius didn’t hesitate.
"Oh, I do that every single day. You don’t even have to tell me." He put a hand over his chest. "Whether it’s morning or night, I keep reminding her how beautiful she is. Not because it’s my duty..."
His voice softened
"...but because it’s impossible not to say it whenever I look at her."
Joy knew he was telling the truth.
Maria had told her. Over and over, every single day, her mother gushed about how Cassius treated her.
How much love he showed her.
How he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
Maria had never been so happy.
She had turned into a young girl experiencing love for the first time, and she couldn’t stop talking about it.
It hurt Joy, a little, to see her mother stolen away by a man like Cassius.
But more than that, she was happy for her.
Her mother had suffered enough. She deserved this. She deserved happiness.
And if Cassius was the one who could give her that...then Joy would support it.
Even if it meant giving her mother to the enemy.
Cassius leaned back against the fence, this time pressing his shoulder more firmly against hers.
He was taking a mile when she had only given an inch, but Joy didn’t react. She just stayed still, letting him close the distance.
Cassius grew excited by her tolerance.
"So." He said. "What are you doing here, anyway?"
He gestured behind them, toward the distant sounds of the festival.
"The celebration has already started. Everyone’s having fun over there. Including your sisters."
He chuckled. "They’re playing games, stuffing themselves with food. You can hardly recognize them as sisters of the church at all."
He turned to look at her.
"So why are you here? The festival started two days ago, and according to Maria, you haven’t gone once. Not even for a moment."
His eyes narrowed.
"No matter how much you hate fun, you could at least go for your sisters’ sake, right? Spend time with them?"
Joy glanced at him dryly.
"I didn’t go because it’s not fun." She shook her head. "I just don’t like festivals."
She gave him a meaningful look.
"You’ve read my report. You know about my past...so you should understand why."
Cassius’s expression grew a bit somber.
He did understand.
To most people, festivals were joyful. Children running around, everyone laughing, having a good time.
But to Joy, festivals were something else entirely.
All she could think about was the blood.
The poisoning. The massacre. The heads rolling. The screams.
She remembered killing her own family at such a young age.
Even though it had been necessary and it had saved her mother—it had still been a massacre.
And she had been the one holding the axe.
Festivals reminded her of that night.
Cassius looked at her with pity.
She should have been a bright, vibrant child. She was Maria’s daughter, after all.
But because of what happened, she had become this cold, ruthless killer standing before him.
Joy felt his gaze and grew uncomfortable.
"Instead of asking me questions." She said, changing the subject. "I should be asking you."
She glanced at him.
"Why are you here? Your whole family is at the festival. Why aren’t you with them?"
Cassius scratched his head, a helpless smile on his face.
"Well, I was at the festival and I was having fun with everyone."
His expression brightened at the memory.
"Isabelle was going around to all the food stalls, making sure everything was running properly. I had to drag her away to actually have fun."
He chuckled.
"Portia was playing this little fishing game—you know, the one with the magnetic poles? She kept losing over and over, but she refused to give up."
He smiled adoringly. "It was so cute."
Joy noted the affection in his voice. The genuine care.
"Nala was giving the children rides on her tail. They were shrieking with laughter. Even the mothers joined in."
He continued, ticking off his family members.
"Your mother and my sister are fighting over who can win the most prizes."
"Diana is running a first aid station with some nurses from the hospital. Nothing serious, just scrapes and bruises."
"But she wanted to be there just in case. She still finds time to spend with everyone, though."
He waved toward the mansion. freeweɓnøvel.com
"The maids are having the time of their lives. The Holy Guard too. Skadi even brought her family and I do have to say that she has a ’big’ family."
Joy’s eyes lit up at the mention of Skadi, but she quickly suppressed it.
"Everyone’s having a great time."
Cassius said. Then his expression fell.
"But unfortunately, Vivi forgot her medicine."
He sighed.
"I came back to get it. That’s when Lucius found me and told me you were here."
Joy’s eyes narrowed.
"...Lucius told you?"
Cassius smirked.
"He said you were completely alone and isolated. The perfect moment to strike."
He spread his hands. "He encouraged me to weasel my way into your heart. Even gave me a thumbs-up and pushed me toward you."
Joy’s face darkened.
"...That damn butler."
Every single one of her sisters thought Lucius was adorable. Cute. Harmless. They cooed over him whenever he walked by.
But Joy had always known the truth.
He was a rat. A sneaky, conniving little rat. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"I’m going to wring his neck." She muttered.
Then she looked at Cassius, a taunting smirk on her face.
"But I have to say, Cassius—you really are quite the playboy."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Here you are, trying to seduce another woman, while your wife is waiting for her medicine."
She shook her head with exaggerated disdain.
"Truly, a husband among husbands."
But Cassius wasn’t bothered.
He just patted her shoulder and cheerfully said,
"Don’t worry about that. Lucius already went to give Vivi her medicine."
He gave her knowing gaze as he said,
"And honestly? Vivi would be happier if another member joined the family. She would actually encourag me to seduce you."
Joy’s frown deepened.
"So you could say." Cassius added. "I’m just doing my part as the man of the household pretty damn well."
Joy stared at him in dismay before letting out a sigh.
"The craziest part is...that you’re probably not even lying right now."
She said in exasperation as she knew it was true.
While she had been spending time with Cassius’s wives and maids, they had all sung his praises. They had told her how amazing he was, how well he took care of them, how happy they were.
It was like they were trying to recruit her.
In any other household, the wives would be jealous.
They would hate the idea of another woman joining, afraid of losing their status, their importance, their share of attention.
But in this household, it was the opposite. They wanted more people. They took the phrase "the more, the merrier" a little too seriously.
"...Crazy family." She muttered under her breath
Cassius suprisingly didn’t take offense and instead nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, they’re definitely a crazy family. Everyone has their own quirks, their own weird preferences."
His expression softened.
"But they’re still my family. The same family that’ll never give up on each other, no matter what."
There was such conviction in his voice. Such love.
For a moment, Joy felt something stir in her chest.
Something that made her want to join that family. To feel that same affection.
Then she snapped out of it.
"Just because I’m letting you speak to me like this doesn’t mean I’m going to join your family." She said sharply. "Don’t get any ideas, Cassius."
Cassius waved a hand airily. "Of course, of course. The great Joy would never do such a thing."
His sarcasm was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
Joy ignored him.
"Leaving the family aside." Cassius said, his tone shifting to genuine curiosity. "Could you tell me more about your love for animals?"
Joy looked at him with a peculiar gaze.
"I already saw your adorable act." He continued. "How much you wanted to pet them. To the point where you were willing to get on your knees and beg."
Joy gritted her teeth, but he pressed on.
"So just tell me. Why do you love them so much? Your mother told me it’s because their souls are pure and you feel comfortable around them, but...it’s more than that, right?"
Joy felt a flash of annoyance at her mother for giving away her secrets so easily.
But she looked away.
"There’s nothing much to it. I just like animals. That’s all."
Cassius leaned closer.
"Come on, Joy. I know there’s more. Just tell me already." His eyes gleamed. "If you don’t, I’ll tell your mother that you’re bullying me. Calling me all sorts of things. Chasing me around."
Joy gave him an exasperated look.
"She’ll definitely scold you for that." Cassius said triumphantly. "So unless you want to get spanked by your own mother, I suggest you open up right now."
Joy knew the threat was empty. Her mother wouldn’t scold her.
But for some reason—whether it was the atmosphere, or the crack in her heart that had opened just a little—she didn’t mind speaking.
She settled into a more comfortable position on the fence and looked at the donkey, which had come a little closer.
"Before I became...Saintess everyone knows." She said quietly. "I was living with that bastard of a man and his horrible wife."
Cassius immediately became interested. He shut his mouth and listened.
