Read Atonement, For Your Cruelty English Novel Translation

[AFYC] Chapter 88

original: Han Boyeon, translation: Ru

Romance, Drama, Mystery, Fantasy, Mature, Smut

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Her wide brown eyes seemed to glisten with moisture as she bowed her head. Then, as if waiting for permission, she hurriedly moved past him.

A small breeze stirred as she passed by.

The wind carried a scent that was hard to define, neither perfume nor soap. It was a subtle scent akin to fresh greenery or a lush forest.

Oscar’s gaze followed the trail of that scent. The faint fragrance ebbed away as soon as the woman turned the corner and disappeared.

“…”

It was strange.

The scent, which should have faded, lingered, even though it wasn’t overpowering like perfume or the pungent smell of cigarette smoke. It was barely noticeable, almost intangible, yet it kept coming back to him.

The elusive, moonlit scent brought to mind the pale face of the woman who had hidden in the shadows, watching him. And then… her white nightgown, so sheer it seemed almost translucent, and her equally pale, delicate feet.

Her rounded shoulders contrasted sharply with the slender lines of her collarbones, which in turn complemented the soft contours below. The hem of her dress gathered like a distant shoreline, revealing her thin legs. Her slender ankles, which looked fragile, and the slightly flushed skin around her protruding ankle bones.

A shape without substance, yet real as moonlight. If you could sculpt that light into a person…

His thoughts abruptly halted.

A sharp crack appeared on Oscar’s shadowed face as he silently mocked himself.

He ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

Why was he wasting time wondering about something so trivial? He should have drowned this bothersome night in alcohol and forgotten about it instead of dwelling on some fleeting memory.

Am I that frustrated?

Is that it?

Even a self-directed insult seemed pointless.

He shook his head slowly as he turned away, his blue eyes sinking deeper than the underground tunnels.

The urge for a harsh, choking cigarette hit him hard.

Oscar, the Marquess of Reinhardt, stalked back to his room, a long, dark shadow trailing in his wake.

Seo Ah rushed back to her room, slamming the door behind her. Like prey hiding from a predator, she stood frozen, barely breathing.

Nothing her eyes saw registered meaningfully. All her senses were trained on the shadow she felt behind her.

Even after the heavy presence beyond the door had faded, she couldn’t move. It took a long time before she could slowly make her way to her bed. Barbara had kindly brought her food, but the thought of eating made her feel sick.

Out of habit, she lay flat on her back, pulling the blanket up to her chest. It wasn’t enough, so she pulled it up to her neck. But the blanket felt too light, making her heart pound even harder. She rolled onto her side, curling up like a shrimp over a hot flame. It was a little better, but only for a moment—something still felt off.

She rubbed her hand over her chest and pressed down hard, which brought a small sense of relief. But the pressure wasn’t enough, so she turned onto her stomach, pulling the blanket over her head until only her eyes peeked out.

She wished she could fall asleep instantly, to escape into unconsciousness. But cruelly, the low, cool laugh continued to echo in her ears.

“First time seeing that outfit?”

The memory of that low voice and the laughter made her curl up even tighter.

She had waited for his return and had felt relieved when he arrived, but she didn’t want to face him.

He was someone she wanted to keep at the same distance she had on the train, hidden behind the window.

Someday, she would have to confess her sins to him, and just the thought of that day made it hard to breathe.

Seo Ah squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in the pillow.

If only she could turn back the entire day.

Or, if there was a god who could turn back time, she would beg him to take her back to before she was born. She would offer up her worthless body and soul, down to the smallest piece, to make that possible.

How could one step forward be so difficult?

Her life had never been easy, not for a single moment, but living in this strange world felt like even breathing was a struggle.

And so, the night stretched on, turning pale with the dawn.

For someone who found every waking moment a challenge, the peace of sleep was desperately needed. But sleep remained distant, and even with her eyes closed, all she saw was a blinding white. No matter how tightly she pressed her hands over them, the low, cool laughter echoed in her ears. It wasn’t a sound from outside—it was coming from within.