THIBV - Chapter 138

"Butler. Do babies naturally resemble their parents from birth?"

"Who else can you resemble besides your parents?"

Cedric answered honestly.

Once the new owner of the Winston mansion, which was up for auction anyway, was confirmed, Isaac would never be seen again.

"..."

The next day, the man came to Winston's mansion, knocking on the door and begging for the baby to be returned.

Isaac, who had chased him away again, asked Cedric again.

"Does the butler also think that person is Eli's biological father?"

"I think so in many ways."

"..."

The third time the man came to the mansion, Isaac handed Eli over to Cedric.

"Give him the baby."

As much as he loved Eli, he didn't need him if he wasn't my child.

It felt disgusting to see Eli who looked exactly like the man.

What Isaac needed was a blood relative to succeed him, not a child of another man who was not his blood relative.

Isaac came out and took a seat at the bar.

It was so bitter that it felt like his insides were burning, but he poured some strong alcohol into it.

"You wicked bitch. You want to switch babies?"

It reminded him of Penelope.

"You shameless devil bastard... Are you toying with me?"

The Duke of Linchester came to mind.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Isaac clutched his stomach and banged hia forehead on the table because his stomach felt like it was twisting.

Isaac, who had been groaning like that for a long time, raised his bloodshot eyes.

"The Duke of Linchester... Do you think I'll just be used? Just wait and see."

Isaac wasn't as naive as Penelope.

When the Duke of Linchester revealed Bridget's secret, Isaac was puzzled why the Duke would help him unconditionally.

Even though he went to the Duke with the mindset of grabbing at straws, he never thought he would actually receive help.

Even with the fallout from Utah and Chloe's wedding, it was suspicious that he was doing him a favor instead of holding him accountable.

Isaac wasn't only involved in illegal business using war victims. He was involved in a lot of different businesses.

Even though he ate everything up, there was one thing he learned while doing business.

Preparing for the weaknesses of people with money and power in case something unexpected happens.

Just as Chloe had thought of catching Bridget's ankle. Isaac kept a close eye on the Duke of Linchester's quarters, looking for anything that might catch him off guard.

Having lost everything, only revenge burned in his empty heart.

The family of Chloe and Florence, who had been sold away because of his schemes, were no longer in his sight.

***

It's Chloe's due date again.

I put down the flowers she was holding as soon as Isaac ran out, calling for Eli

The sharp expression he had shown Isaac was nowhere to be found, and only a fragile expression that seemed ready to break was revealed beneath the mask.

"Ha..."

I was finishing preparing a gift to send to Duke Elias and arranging flowers.

After hearing from Millea that Chloe had been taken away, Julian threatened to kill my family if I felt resentful, so I sent him back.

Later, while I was decorating flowers to calm my troubled mind, Isaac barged in.

It's not even noon yet.

It was a very hectic morning. It was hard to keep my composure.

My mood is so gloomy, but why is the weather so sunny?

I looked out the window at the tops of the neatly lined coniferous trees in the garden and told Anna to bring Millea.

"Isaac knew the secret."

Millea Immediately knew what secret I was talking about.

"It wasn't unexpected."

"Isaac won't be able to tell Julian the truth. He doesn't have the guts to do that. But."

I stared at Millea with a complicated expression.

"If the Duke of Linchester is determined to use it, he will continue to blackmail me with it. Even if it is not necessarily through Isaac."

We are silent for a while.

Although we didn't say anything, it was clear that we were thinking the same thing.

Millea asked me with her eyes if I was ready, and I nodded.

"Yes, Bridget. Secrets are weaknesses only when they remain secrets."

The time has come.

It's time to reveal everything to Julian.

Julian's voice, asking. "Should I kill your family?" lingered.

If he wants to do that, who can stop him?

Now you'll know why that might be...

I looked at Millea anxiously, then lowered my gaze with a sigh.

There was no way I wouldn't have told Julian about Josh's sins.

I watched as Josh sold out not only Julian but also myself and Chloe.

I felt resentful when I heard Josh say that I had been wasting the money on foolish things.

I hated Josh so much that I wished he would just die somewhere.

These days, I feel like telling Julian everything with my own mouth and as King him to kill Josh.

But having the desire to kill and making it a reality are two different things.

Sometimes I dreamed that Julian was killing Josh.

It was a dream where Julian was covered in Josh's blood and felt satisfied.

Beside them, Lauren, Chloe, and... the dead father screamed.

Each time, I woke up writhing in agony. 

"Ah..."

As soon as Millea left the drawing room to meet Julian, I clutched my chest.

The front of the dress seemed about to tear with the strength of my grip.

"Why...! Why!!"

There are so many people in this world who live well without going through things like this.

Why does this only happen to me?

How can I avoid being miserable?

Should I let Josh die?

Should I keep a secret?

Then, all of a sudden, anger welled up in me.

What did I do wrong? What on earth did I do wrong to deserve this suffering?

And what about Julian? What did he do wrong to deserve such pain?

I sat down and hit the floor, crying silently.

All I could do was cry.

Now everything is in Millea's hands.

My breathing was trembling, full of sobs.

"What are you trying to say that takes so long?"

Julian was sitting across from Millea, who had suddenly asked him to spare some time for a cup of tea.

He was keenly aware that Millea was nervous.

Having lived his whole life craving affection, he was quick to pick up on the emotional states of his caregivers that were different from usual.

"Did Eric have an accident?"

He told a joke to deliberately ease the tension.

There was no way Eric would do that.

Even if that had been the case, it would not have been something that could have been resolved only if the King had stepped in.

Even though he laughed playfully, Millea did not laugh.

Julian became a little anxious.

"Your Majesty."

"I've been waiting, so tell me."

"Three years ago, there was a situation where money was transferred from the Duke of Linchester to Bridget."

"..."

His once playful face turned cold and hard.

He looked at Millea as if he was tired of it.

Even just hearing that story made Julian lose control of his facial expression.

It was something he was constantly trying to ignore so as not to think about, but it still hurt and was difficult for him...

"Why do you keep bringing up that i ssue? I told you last time that I didn't want to hear it."

He ran his fingers through his hair nervously.

"I don't understand your intentions. Why are you bothering me again with a problem I decided to cover up? Even if it's you if you bring up the subject again..."

"At the time, Bridget probably didn't even know what was happening under her name."

Julian paused.

"...What?"

"She was held captive by Josh Florence."

The eyes, bloodshot from the curse, closely examined Millea's face and gaze.

What is she talking about?

Whether the meaning that he interpreted is correct.

Julian's expression collapsed as he looked into Millea's eyes, which were telling the undeniable truth.

"What do you mean? Explain it so I can understand. What did you just... say?"

"Bridget has never betrayed Your Majesty "

Millea could have told him anything.

If only he could accept it clearly.

"It wasn't Bridget who sold you out."

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