After I Vanished, He Finally Realized What He Lost

Chapter 4

Linus's voice dripped with disdain as he sneered, "I've made it this far on my own talent." He continued, "She's only clinging to my fame, and now that she's getting older, she barely holds any value anymore."

I turned my gaze back to the stage, where Themis stood beside him, radiating pure joy. The spotlight hit them just right, painting a picture of the perfect pair.

In that fleeting moment, my phone buzzed, notifying me that my visa had been approved.

I was halfway through packing at home when Linus walked in. He tossed a half-empty bottle of brown medicine toward me.

"This is for you."

I picked it up, recognizing the iodine tincture. I'd seen it in Themis's social media posts, where Linus had used it to treat her wounds. But I knew I couldn't use it, I was allergic to iodine tincture.

When Linus debuted at eighteen, his extraordinary talent had taken the world by storm, drawing attention like a beacon. A powerful figure in the industry, threatened by his rise, had conspired to ruin his hands.

Back then, I had impulsively stepped in front of Linus to protect him from harm. I only ended up with minor injuries, but a colleague in the orchestra had treated my wounds with iodine tincture. The allergic reaction hit me like a tidal wave, sending me into shock. I was rushed to the hospital and spent nearly an entire day in surgery to save me.

Rumors swirled that while my condition had been critical, Linus had stayed outside the operating room, tears streaming down his face as long as I remained in danger. But when he finally returned, fury burned in his eyes. He tossed every bottle of iodine tincture in the orchestra into the trash, swearing it would never be used again.

I never imagined he'd break that rule.

I lowered my gaze and tossed the iodine tincture into the trash can. Linus noticed and let out a cold, dismissive snort.

"Use it if you want; don't if you don't."

Just then, a WhatsApp notification chimed, and Linus glanced at his phone. His expression softened as he read the message.

"Little one, make sure your wound stays dry. You need to avoid certain foods for a while. Once you're feeling better, I'll take you out for something delicious."

Maybe taken aback by my unusual silence, Linus stole several glances at me. Finally, he spoke again, his tone more measured.

"What happened today? It was just to set an example. You know the orchestra's full of dirt."

"The way I punished you was to send a warning to the others."

"Now that I'm taking care of Themis, it's also to protect you from gossip."

I nodded, choosing silence over any argument. "I understand."

Linus looked surprised, a warmth spreading across his face. He seemed ready to say more, but I had already stepped into the bathroom to gather my things.

In the harsh light of the sink, I spotted a pair of pink lace underwear, clearly not mine, laying conspicuously on the counter. A silent, unwelcome reminder of hidden truths.

Just outside the door, Linus's phone chimed again. He quickly picked it up, and I heard Themis's voice through the speaker.

"Linus, I forgot to take back the little underwear I changed out of in your bathroom this morning. Could you bring it to me? Oh, and I absolutely love the scent of your shower gel; could you send me a bottle, too?"

Suddenly, everything clicked. Linus had been wearing a shirt this morning that wasn't his usual choice, and the fragrant shower gel clinging to him was from a brand he typically reserved for special occasions. He had been listening to her every word.

As Linus absorbed the message, his expression faltered, and he hurried toward me.

When he entered the room, he saw me holding the pink underwear, lying just beside me on the counter.