Chapter 68
Arista spoke first.
“…So the man has changed again, Miss Becky.”
The person standing right in front of Arista was Becky—Lucas’s beloved, the one who sang songs of love for him.
This time too, she was playing around with men who weren’t Lucas. Not just one, but switching partners. The thought that Becky was cheating on Lucas made Arista clench her fists and glare at her with deadly intent.
“What is it? You thought I wouldn’t recognize you, but you knew all along?”
Becky, arms crossed, looked at Arista with a crooked gaze.
Compared to the last time when she tried to hide, now she was boldly brazen.
Arista, on the verge of losing her composure, didn’t notice Becky’s trembling hands. With her face set coldly, she spoke.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing right now?”
For a moment, Becky seemed tense, but then arrogantly lifted her chin.
“What are you talking about? What did I do?”
“Did what…! Aren’t you doing inappropriate things with other men while Lucas is waiting for you? And this time, it seems you’ve even switched partners again.”
When Arista gave her a look of contempt, as if Becky were less than a bug, Becky let out a mocking laugh.
“So, are you saying you’ll tell Lucas that I’ve been with another man?”
“Of course. Someone like you isn’t worth Lucas’s love even a thousand times over.”
Feeling that further conversation was pointless, Arista turned away coldly.
“You’d better not.”
Becky’s words held a chilling undertone as she stopped Arista from leaving.
“The woman Lucas was seeing right before me also cheated on him with another man. Do you know how much that hurt him?”
Arista’s hand twitched at hearing something she hadn’t known before.
“Those old wounds haven’t healed yet, and you could hurt Lucas in the same way again, right?”
“Is that supposed to mean anything? Someone who knows how much he’s been hurt is cheating?”
“Well, my lips may have been with another man, but my heart belongs only to Lucas. I won’t give my heart to anyone else.”
Arista’s mind couldn’t follow her reasoning—it wasn’t even worth trying to understand.
“You’ll never be able to tell Lucas what I did.”
“And why would you think I couldn’t? I could go right now and reveal all your true colors to him.”
Becky suddenly laughed. Arista frowned at the absurdity of her laughter.
“You’re not serious, are you?”
Wiping away her tears, Becky looked up at Arista with a grim expression.
“Lucas won’t believe you.”
Her confident tone shook Arista.
“No matter how long you’ve known Lucas, you’re just a friend’s little sister. I’m his girlfriend. You don’t know how much Lucas clings to me.”
Arista should have ignored her words, but for some reason, she couldn’t move.
She thought of Lucas, who had always seen her only as a friend’s younger sister.
“And you, didn’t you like Lucas?”
Arista’s violet eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Seeing Arista unable to hide her feelings, Becky laughed.
“What would Lucas do if he knew you liked him? Even if I reveal my actions, he’d think you’re acting out of jealousy.”
It was all baseless speculation, not worth listening to.
Yet, hearing Becky’s words, it seemed possible that Lucas wouldn’t believe her.
‘Lucas has always prioritized his girlfriend.’
Arista had even seen him with other women. Every time, he poured everything he had into the one he loved.
She envied them but realized she could never occupy that place.
He had always seen her only as a close friend’s sister.
‘Would Lucas really believe me?’
A minute ago, she had been certain, but now she didn’t know.
Even if Becky was cheating with other men, Lucas was still in love with her. Not knowing the truth didn’t change the fact.
“See? You can’t be sure, right? Lucas wouldn’t believe you over me.”
Arista bit her lip and looked away.
Becky, thinking she had won, smirked and brushed past her.
“You just need to stay still. Then Lucas will be happy too.”
Becky deliberately made her heels click loudly as she distanced herself. Arista remained frozen in place.
Once she was far enough, Becky exhaled shakily.
“They didn’t notice, right…?”
Her heart had almost jumped out of her chest when she faced Arista. To think she’d run into her again, and that Arista remembered everything from last time. Half of it had been a gamble, but luckily it had worked.
‘No, not innocent… just foolish.’
Arista clearly still had feelings for Lucas. Becky had exploited that weakness and everything had gone according to plan.
If Arista had thought a little longer, she would have realized how ridiculous Becky’s words were.
“That just means she likes Lucas that much.”
Becky sneered, but soon wiped the smile from her face and left the party hall.
Clatter-clatter.
The carriage shook. Celine gazed blankly out the window.
A new tear ran over the dried tracks on her face.
“…Has he really forgotten me?”
Tears sprang forth like a fountain. Celine squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in her hands.
The man she had loved—or rather, still loved—was kissing another woman.
When their eyes had met, she had felt a flicker of connection. Had it all been her imagination?
For the first time, Celine bitterly regretted her decision. What she thought was best had turned out to be the worst.
“I should have just run away with Bern…”
Regret surged. At the time, she had been exhausted—unacknowledged by Marquis Casper, with her father pushing for marriage.
She had thought that if she held out a little longer, Marquis Casper would recognize her and she could live happily with Bern—but it was all wishful thinking.
At a time when she was discussing marriage with Bern, Marquis Casper had come secretly.
“Break up with Bern.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
At first, she had hoped he was finally acknowledging her, but that was not his intention.
“Unless you’re completely foolish, you must understand. I’m telling you to break up with Bern.”
“I love Bern.”
“The kind of love you’re talking about is the type that ruins a spouse, it seems.”
Celine froze at the shocking words.
“Baron Jenson took on quite a bit of debt. Don’t think I wouldn’t notice.”
“That’s…”
“You surely assumed marriage with our family, so you forced it despite the risk. What good is it if my son marries you? You’ll just waste money and serve your in-laws your whole life.”
Her words left Celine unable to speak.
“Even if it isn’t you, there are plenty of women who could make my son happy. So give up. Or I will use force to make sure you never appear before my son again.”
Handing over a heavy purse, Marquis Casper left. Celine remained seated, unable to rise for a long time.
She felt pitiful for being unable to argue and painfully aware she could do nothing for Bern.
So she endured cruel words and separated from Bern, marrying Marquis Lemario as if sold.
She had thought time would make Bern forget her. She had tried to imagine a bright future to be happy herself.
But as time passed, the absence of Bern caused her great pain.
Whenever she heard news of Bern in seclusion, she deluded herself that he must feel the same. That darkness comforted her somewhat.
Then, rumors came that Marquis Casper had died and Bern was engaged.
“Lucia Agnes…”
The woman sitting next to Bern. Seeing her at the tea party, Celine immediately realized she was a wonderful woman.
Unlike herself, she could support Bern, came from a loving family, and radiated affection.
So Bern had fallen for her? Even knowing Celine was at the party, he kissed her.
“Ha… haha…”
A hollow laugh slipped through Celine’s fingers.
“I let go first.”
Bern had held onto her stubbornly, but she let go for his happiness.
Not for him, but because the burdens on her shoulders were too heavy, she had run away.
When she said she would marry another, did Bern feel the same?
Even if she wanted to ask, he was now out of reach.
Clutching her empty chest, the carriage arrived at the mansion.
After sitting still for a long time, Celine finally rose when the coachman urged her.
The large mansion felt suffocating, like a prison.
It was a relief that Marquis Lemario, obsessed with work, was rarely home. If he had been like her father, she would have gone insane.
“What time is it, and you’re only just coming in?”
Celine, trying to quietly go upstairs, flinched at the sharp voice.
Her mother-in-law, over seventy, always found fault and made life miserable.
“It’s been years since you married, and you still can’t behave! Don’t you worry about your husband who works outside?”
“…Mother, I’m a bit tired. May I go to my room?”
“Tired? Ah, of course. After spending all your husband’s hard-earned money at the party, you must be very tired.”
“Sigh… Mother. I only attended the party on his behalf. It’s hosted by the Diorès family; I couldn’t not go.”
Her mother-in-law coughed, acknowledging the point.
“Hmm! Anyway, mind your manners! You go out so much, maybe you’ll get pregnant. Spent all that money and still no child, what’s the point?”
After a tirade, the mother-in-law finally went to her room. Celine finally entered hers, thinking she had dodged a worse scolding.
The constant lectures about going out and children were exhausting. She only attended necessary events, so why the disapproval?
“Maybe she just hates my existence.”
Her mother-in-law often wished her son were younger or wealthier, making it hard to bring a young bride.
‘Not my place to argue.’
Being married off into such a family, Celine had nothing to say. Not pretty, from a mediocre family, and unlikely to find a proper match.
She had been overjoyed when Bern first proposed…
“If only I had run away with Bern…”
Would she have been happy, even living modestly? Now it was far too late, but she allowed herself a glimpse of that happiness.
After a while, she heard commotion outside, strange for bedtime.
“What’s going on?”
Celine reluctantly went to see.
“Ma’am! Snap out of it!”
“No! My son! My son…!”
The voice that had yelled at her moments ago now sounded mournful. Her heart beat faster.
Celine slowly approached the crowd.
“Ahhh! My son!”
Her mother-in-law wailed, supported by servants, while the staff around looked somber.
“…What happened?”
“Little Miss! Sir…!”
Hearing the words, Celine froze.
A strange light filled her face.
Should she grieve at this news? Celebrate?
But one thing was certain: a new opportunity had come for her.
