Lauren was thrilled by the gifts Josh had lined up.
These days, whenever Josh comes home, he gives Lauren some jewelry, like a ruby ring, a silver brooch decorated with small diamonds, and a pearl necklace.
At first, she believed what he said because things were going well.
She thought things were going well with Isaac, so he could now afford to take care of Chloe and her.
But Josh's spending habits became increasingly unstable.
In addition to giving gifts to Lauren and Chloe, he also bought expensive wines whenever he felt like it, went out to eat, and tipped everyone he met.
These days, he seems to be following Isaac to social gatherings and often makes large bets with the friends he meets there.
He would sometimes win several times the amount he had bet and spend it lavishly. Such things only increased Josh's spending habits.
The problem was that he lost more bets than he won.
But Josh's mind was engraved with only the pleasure of gaining, so he always thought he was gaining.
Lauren was becoming increasingly worried about Josh's increasingly loud voice.
"Josh, where on earth did you get all this money?"
"I told you, things are going well with Isaac."
"So, what do you do?"
"Even if I tell you, my mother won't know."
"Still, tell me. I'm curious."
"Oh, it's complicated."
Lauren took a few steps back, taking notice of Josh's annoyed tone, and then asked cautiously again.
"Hey. Is Bridget done paying off your debts? You said you had money to give to Viscount Winston. Is that all settled?"
"Oh, Mother!"
Josh, who had been sprawled out on the couch hungover from last night, jumped up.
"I told you. I'll take care of everything. Don't worry."
"Yeah, yeah. I believe you'll figure it out and do well."
Lauren flinched and fiddled with her knitting needles for no reason.
After feeling anxious for a while, she ordered the maid to bring some honey water for Josh to drink.
As Josh sat back down on the tray, satisfied with the sweet drink, Lauren spoke again cautiously.
"Didn't I tell you about Bridget last time? I think Bridget got hurt a lot because of us..."
"Why? Did you get a call from Bridget?"
Josh only then paid attention to his mother's words, wondering if Lauren had received a letter from Bridget.
"She's been eating and living well on her own, but now you're thinking about us a little?"
"Oh, no, that's not it. I haven't received any contact yet."
"Why on earth is she doing this to us? Let's see how well she lives by herself, abandoning her family."
"Josh, don't say that. How much good have we done for Bridget? Bridget even married Viscount Winston for the sake of her family..."
"Mother, that was a good thing on my part. I found a good match for Bridget."
Suddenly Josh remembered Julian becoming King and added.
"Because Isaac Winston was the best back then."
"Yeah, yeah. That's right too."
Lauren nodded, listening to Josh's explanation for a moment, fearing that he would get angry and leave.
"But anyway. Bridget sacrificed herself too. And then, that time... when you met Queen Dowager Josephine. You know what we did to Bridget back then..."
"..."
That hit Josh right on the mark.
Josh jumped up again and made an angry excuse.
"Why are you bringing up that story again? Looking at how quiet it is now, it seems like Bridget is trying to bury it, so why is my mother bringing it up again! Who said I forgot? But I couldn't help it back then! No, what kind of older brother would let his mature younger sister wander around and have an affair with another man in secret? What if she ends up throwing her body away?"
As his excited speech grew longer, Lauren hastily tried to console him.
"No. Mom said you did nothing wrong. I didn't bring it up to make you feel bad. Don't be angry."
"What do you mean you didn't bring it up to make me feel bad? You brought it up just to attack me!"
"No. That's not what Mom said. I said we were wrong to Bridget. Bridget risked her life because of us. How much that hurts..."
"I risked my life and went to see Queen Dowager Josephine back then! For our family, for Bridget, who was blinded by men!"
Josh got excited and started swearing.
Lauren was startled. She tried to cover Josh's mouth, worried that the maid might hear downstairs.
Josh shook off Lauren's hand and grumbled.
"Would I have known that he would become King's? It's not like I can see the future! I was just trying to raise my family!"
"Josh, please speak up...!"
"Mother! You are also responsible for what happened back then! It was my decision to go to the Queen Mother, but in the end, it was you who decided to blame it on Bridget! Don't you remember?"
"I, I framed you! Why on earth did you say that I was going to mediate between you two back then..."
"You say that my mother didn't burden Bridget at all? Put your hand on your heart and think about it. Did my mother's expression or tone of voice not burden Bridget at all?"
"Oh, Josh... Stop it. Why on earth are you doing this to me?"
"That's because my mother speaks as if I have no responsibility and as if I'm the only bad guy!"
"I didn't mean to. I just thought maybe we could apologize to Bridget about what happened that day..."
Lauren collapsed on the sofa in tears.
Josh grumbled and got a little angrier.
He also knew what he did wrong.
It was more like this because he knew.
He didn't want to face his regrets and fears. He didn't dare to do so, so he just wanted to avoid them.
Although it was cowardly, Lauren was held back by the words that she was also at fault.
Josh didn't want to feel anxious and sorry all by himself. He wanted his mother to share the burden with him.
Some of the responsibility falls on Bridget.
"You were all foolish, and it's in the past, so don't bring it up again. That's probably why Bridget keeps her mouth shut!"
"..."
"Don't make a fuss about it. She and I are both fine now. It's enough that my mother went to the palace once. Bridget knows how much courage it took for us to go to the palace. She will understand how we feel."
Lauren just shed tears, and Josh ended up running away from home.
Lauren wrote a letter to Bridget without Josh's knowledge.
"Bridget, we were really wrong. After hearing you, Mom realized how much I didn't consider your situation and I reflected a lot. Josh is sorry for you too. He said that the reason he can't go to you and apologize is because he can't face you. We are truly sorry to you. Mom always thinks of you. I understand and support you now that you have become His Majesty's wife. We will always pray for you. Whenever you are having a hard time, come back to your family. I really miss you. I love you forever."
Lauren took out of her treasure chest a family drawing that Bridget had done when she was very young.
It was a picture of Dad, Mom, older brother, younger sister, and even Bridget, all smiling and enjoying a picnіс.
Lauren folded it and put it in an envelope along with the letter.
She hoped that Bridget would feel a little better as she recalled happy memories with her family.
***
Bridget received a letter from Lauren, which she had left behind for the soldier at the entrance to the palace.
She debated several times whether or not to open the letter.
Millea looked at Bridget with concern.
Even she, a third party, couldn't decide whether it was right to open the Ietter or to ignore it.
What about Bridget?
There was nothing Millea could do but stay by Bridget's side in silence.
Finally, Bridget opened the letter.
She read it quickly, then gritted her teeth, firmly turned it over, and put it down.
"Are you okay, Bridget?"
"...I don't know."
Even though so many things had changed, the content of her mother's letters was not different from her past life.
In her past life, she tried to understand and forgive her family by reading her mother's letters.
But now. Instead, she feels angry.
"The plan is should we proceed as planned?"
Millea asked cautiously.
"This letter won't change anything."
Bridget was adamant.
The two knew what Josh and Chloe did when they met Nigel.
The scene from that day was recorded in its entirety in the golden cigarette case that Michael gave to Diane, and everything was reported to Bridget.
Millea looked at the fallen family picture and sighed inwardly.
The people who would have been Bridget's happiness as a child were smiling in the picture.
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I hate Josh
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