Winter didn't think what he said would make her feel guilty. So he couldn't understand why Violet had such a puzzled expression.
"Did I say something I couldn't do? Why are you so freaked out?"
Winter frowned again. The person who spoke like an angel was calm, but Violet looked as if she had suddenly heard a loud noise.
"Now... Why do you say that?"
"Now that I think about it. what should I do about that?"
Winter said casually and searched for memories.
That moment was so powerful that it became a memory that followed him for the next three years.
Even just before the carriage arrived, Winter had been thinking that it was nothing, but was trembling because he didn't know how he would look in his wife's angelic eyes.
If only he had known that his wife did not see him as a money-obsessed lunatic or an illegitimate stranger, but as her first love. If so, would she have been different?
Winter was skeptical.
Even if that were the case, he wouldn't have believed what his wife said.
Winter spoke leisurely as if nothing had happened.
"Then, let's go and read a book here."
Is it so.
Violet, relieved when Winter changed the topic, fanned her hands and sighed heavily.
***
There was a suffocating tension in Kanik Villa.
The Kanik staff had not yet arrived, so only the eight members of the Heston family were still inside the villa.
Even though they arrived here after reaching an agreement with the Heston family, the noise still continued.
"Winter Blooming is a vicious one. You have to show your strength!"
"I agree."
Giannis was again impressed by the turned atmosphere of the meeting.
Kanik employees would soon appear, but the three Heston family elders who were settled in the villa were still opposing Giannis's opinion.
Since the three elders had not made a decision, the territory managers were also unable to find a way to respond. Giannis, who had the greatest say and would later inherit the Heston family after his father, let them talk as they pleased.
Anyone who had signed a contract with Winter Blooming knew that he would not offer up Hail Lake.
Despite the unfavorable situation, the family members had no intention of being polite to that lowly stranger and illegitimate child. In the end, what they decided to do just before the Kanik employees arrived was an exercise in power.
"You cannot be armed."
The Heston family, a knightly family, had a sword handed down in their family. To them, the sword meant more than armament.
The elders looked as if they had been hit by the decision of one of them.
"W-what? Giannis, what do you mean!"
"And I am completely opposed to trying to suppress it with power. Of course, no bloodshed."
Giannis stood up, took out the sword, the pride of his family, and entrusted it to his subordinate
"Of course, it is true that our family is strong and has a close connection with the royal family. But not now."
“Giannis!”
"Your father may be responsible for the family's present, but you are responsible for its future! What we need now is not the exercise of power or bloodshed, but an agreement that causes as little damage as possible. Do you understand?"
"Do you want to be ripped off by that businessman more than this?"
"So, aren't we talking about trying to get ripped off as little as possible?"
Giannis shouted.
"It is not Ash Lawrence, who wants his sister to marry my father, that we must join hands with, but his sister, Lady Violet. She is the merchant's wife with whom we have to compromise, she is the only opponent the merchant can't move against, and she is more righteous than any of us can compare to. Nothing is bound to fade over time, but isn't it too shameful for even the spirit of a family to fade?"
The remaining seven people became quiet at his words.
And among them was the new head of the family, Karzan Heston.
He was glaring at his son with a scary expression. He could not easily accept the strong wave of change, a situation where he had to bow my head to a stranger whom he had lived under and whom he even hated. He found It hard to believe that his son was even saying such things.
"Yes. It's actually my shame now."
"Are you putting down your sword?"
Giannis calmly responded to Karzan's words.
"Father. We have made an irreparable mistake not only to the resident but also to Lady Violet. Giving up our pride is the only way to undo that mistake."
At Giannis's request, Karzan, who had always been like a rock, sighed as if he were broken.
30 minutes later, Anjali arrived at the villa entrance. Fight employees wearing dark suits and carrying armfuls of documents were with her.
The employees faced members of the Heston family wearing dark blue livery jackets. Anjali said with a smile.
"I didn't know you would come out to meet me."
All eight members of the Heston family were unarmed, which was surprising. Karzan went back in with a displeased expression, and Giannis greeted her instead.
"Then let's begin."
"Yes."
Everyone participating in the meeting entered the building. Anjali also handed the gun she had brought to her secretary.
"Put it back in the carriage."
"Yes, Vice President."
To be honest, Anjali is a noble herself, but after working under Winter, she came to think that taking money from other nobles was like taking candy out of a child's hand.
But she had a feeling that it wouldn't be easy this time.
***
The Heston family has made more preparations than you might think. The Heston family said they have terms for a deal, so I'd like to hear them.
Winter clicked her tongue at Anjali's contact.
While Winter was thinking about the terms of the deal, Hayel entered Winter's office and spoke.
"CEO, a telegram has also arrived from Blooming mansion."
"I'm sick of it."
Winter said and took the telegram. The contents were what he expected. We wouldn't come to you in person because we were afraid you would be too angry, please know how much we love you, please forgive our mistakes, and things like that.
Winter clicked his tongue. They apologize profusely for threatening to kick him out of the family and threaten his wife.
Ever since Winter joined the Blooming family, he had easily fallen for things like this. That's because the only people he could consider family were the Blooming family. These are the people who suddenly improved their quality of life after working in a restaurant and getting beat up because they had no parents. He began to hate his parents after giving his wife a bad drug, but he still could not be completely cruel to them.
He looked at Hayel.
"Get Jen. Without Violet's knowledge."
"Yes. CEO."
Hayel answered and went out, soon returning with Jen. He said with a trembling voice as soon as Jen entered her office.
"I finally decided to buy a camera."
"That requires some sort of determination."
"I've already bought everything that's out there, so I'll get it as soon as production is finished."
"Thank you!"
Jen brightened up and thanked him. Winter got to the point.
"Soon my parents will be here. And we will talk about the title issue."
"Ugh, I see."
"When my parents arrive in the capital, you can take Violet on a trip to a nearby place. Because I don't want my wife to have any more encounters with my parents."
"Ah yes! I'll start planning in advance now."
Jen nodded loudly. And she left the office with Hayel. Only after the door closed did she say what Jen had been worrying about the whole time.
"Secretary, the CEO is weak towards his parents."
"That's right"
Because Jen was completely unaware of the context, she was worried that Winter would fall for his parents' sweet words again.
"I guess the CEO isn't going to listen to his parents and be mean to my little lady again, right?"
"Oh, that won't happen anymore. He completely pretended."
"That's right. Why is that? He followed his parents like that. Does it have something to do with Little Madam leaving?"
"It's a secret."
"Tell me something!"
"Sorry."
Hayel flatly refused. And he said with an embarrassed face.
"Anyway, the CEO has changed a lot. Now he won't just blindly side with his parents."
Hayel spoke soothingly, but Jen didn't look at ease at all.
"First of all, since they won't divorce, there's nothing we can do. I think they should have gotten a divorce."
"Me too. I still can't trust the CEO. When I found out my Little Lady was pregnant... That was the worst time. He can't help but insist that it's an affair, and he won't even come home to someone who says she's pregnant!"
"There was a misunderstanding. I was next to the Little Lady at that time. I still remember it. The day my little lady found out that she wasn't pregnant."
"...Oh. Jen was with me that day."
Hayel, who had been coldly keeping Winter's secret, finally showed a bitter expression. Jen said nodding her head.
"I will never forget that day. The little lady was looking at the room where the baby would stay when he was born. The little lady said she wanted to give her favorite room to the baby, that day. Oh, if she hadn't received the baby's shoes that morning, she wouldn't have been so worried about the baby's room when she was only two months pregnant."
"Baby shoes? What do you mean?"
Hayel stopped and asked, and Jen said, making the size of a baby shoe with her thumb and index finger.
"They were really cute shoes."
"No. Who did you get the baby shoes from?"
"I mean. Does it matter? I got it from the Madam."
"Madam... Did she send baby shoes to Little Madam?"
"Yes. She took care of the little madame because she was pregnant. Anyway, while I was living in that house, I saw the big lady taking care of the little lady, so that was one thing that I remember."
Hayel was shocked and speechless and looked back at the office door. The Duke and Duchess of Blooming were still insisting that they had no idea that the medicine they had given Violet was such a medicine.
"Jen, I'm sorry, but please keep that a secret for now. Especially to the CWO!"
"Why?"
Winter's psychological state was never completely stable. The fact that he canceled the divorce simply meant that he had passed a critical juncture.
Hayel sighed and said.
"Just like that. I think it's best to keep it a secret for now,"
"Is this for the CEO?"
"What? If you look at the results, right."
Even Hayel couldn't predict how Winter would react if he found out that Violet had been given such medicine and even sent baby shoes.
Winter didn't seem to care much about how long it would take for the Blooming family to destroy itself and take over the title. From Hayel's perspective, there was no doubt that he had made the decision that would cause the least harm, both emotionally and financially.
But Winter's anger was close to critical, and if something more emotional got involved, things might have changed.
Hayel has seen for a long time that Winter is only focused on making a fortune. But it wasn't like now. To him, his wife was something completely different from property.
Hayel had a duty to at least prevent his boss from committing a crime.
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