Chapter 61
Melissa’s shoulders lowered slightly as she quietly listened to Chloe’s words.
“So that’s why you got so angry when I suggested eating rabbit meat…”
“Yeah… Uncle was annoying…”
Sniffling as if remembering that moment, Chloe rubbed her nose again. Melissa gently stroked her daughter’s cheek.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“……”
“If you’d told me, I would’ve helped. You wouldn’t have had to suffer all by yourself. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Mom… I thought it might trouble you…”
Chloe pressed her cheek more tightly against her mother’s warm hand, mumbling timidly.
“You’re a wolf, and Dad’s a beast too… but I’m just a rabbit. It felt weird, so…”
Hearing her daughter’s voice grow smaller and smaller, Melissa bit her lip. Chloe glanced up nervously when she saw her mother sigh deeply, staring down at the floor.
“Chloe.”
Melissa’s voice came firm as stone.
“Even if you were a worm instead of a rabbit, you’d still be my daughter.”
In Chloe’s damp green eyes — as wet as a forest after rain — shone Melissa’s golden eyes, warm like sunlight.
Her voice, more reliable than anyone else’s in the world, filled Chloe’s heart like sunlight seeping into every corner.
“No matter what anyone says, no matter what nonsense they spout — you’re my daughter. I gave birth to you, I raised you, and I love you more than anyone.”
That voice made Chloe forget all the horrible nights she’d endured.
It silenced the cursed whispers from her past life that had followed her into this one.
“So from now on, whenever something hurts that much, you have to tell me, okay?”
Melissa’s firm tone softened suddenly, her eyebrows drooping weakly.
“Finding out only after everything’s happened… it really breaks Mommy’s heart, you know?”
Hearing that, the tears that had been shimmering in Chloe’s eyes finally rolled down her cheeks.
She felt relief and healing — and crushing guilt.
Because unlike her mother, who trusted her completely, she hadn’t been able to do the same.
Even if it had been for just a moment, even if it was because of her old scars, she had doubted her mother.
“Oh, my baby. Why are you crying?”
Chloe sniffled and rubbed her hands together in her heart.
I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry.
I’m a bad daughter… a horrible daughter who couldn’t even trust you.
But she couldn’t say those words aloud.
She didn’t want to hurt her mother — not just to ease her own guilt.
And besides, she couldn’t explain the previous life that had made her think that way, even for a moment.
I’ll never doubt my mom again!
Fuming at herself inside, Chloe threw her arms wide and hugged her mother tightly.
“Mom, hey Mom.”
Then, looking up at the mother who was far too precious for her, Chloe whispered with all the sincerity in her heart,
“I love you most in the whole world.”
“Oh my…”
Melissa let out a small groan, hugging her daughter even tighter at the teary, stuffy voice.
“Mommy loves you most in the whole world too, Chloe.”
I love you.
At those words, Chloe felt the presence of “Lee Ah-young” — the woman who had lived inside her — waving goodbye as she disappeared.
Be happy, Chloe.
She could feel her past-life mother and father — now nothing but violent memories — sinking into eternal darkness.
Goodbye.
She whispered it softly, wishing peace for the woman who had known nothing but pain, whose face had been covered in bruises even at the very end.
Goodbye. Rest well.
And in that moment, where sadness and joy intertwined —
Someone appeared in her clear, tear-dried vision, standing awkwardly like it was fate itself.
Oh…!
But the moment she recognized the person, Chloe’s face, which had brightened with excitement, turned shy and hesitant again.
She wasn’t ready to call him anything yet.
Lucian Leander stood there, clutching several jars of custard pudding as if to give them to her, but unable to approach.
Realizing he was watching her mother’s reaction, Chloe fidgeted, sneaking glances at Melissa, hoping she’d notice him.
Sensing something from her daughter’s fidgeting, Melissa slowly loosened her embrace and turned around.
Because Chloe was facing away, she couldn’t see her mother’s expression —
but she knew it wasn’t a pleasant one.
Lucian’s hesitant gaze dropped even further toward the floor.
Melissa, with just a glance, silently warned him not to come closer, then quickly turned her head back.
The timid rabbit-beast Chloe, instinctively trying to please the strongest one in the room, flashed her teeth in a forced grin.
“Our Chloe,”
Melissa said softly, smiling in satisfaction like a ruler pacifying her domain.
“Our Chloe, whose daughter are you?”
“Uh… Mom’s daughter…!”
“That’s right. Chloe is Mommy’s daughter.”
Melissa kissed her daughter’s cheek approvingly.
The suction was so strong that Chloe nearly staggered, but Melissa just hugged her tighter.
“No matter what animal Chloe is, no matter who her father is — none of that matters. The only thing that matters is that Chloe is Mommy’s daughter.”
Her words seemed directed toward the man standing behind her.
And seeing the faintly hurt look on his face, Chloe mustered her courage to speak up.
“…But, um… maybe it’s not completely unimportant?”
“…Hm?”
“I-I mean, the second part might be… kind of important?”
Melissa’s pupils dilated — like a wolf right before a hunt.
The kind of look that said she could swallow a baby rabbit whole in one bite.
“My dear daughter… what do you mean by that…?”
“Ah! Nothing! I was just saying nonsense!”
Ha ha ha! The naturally cowardly rabbit-beast panicked and dove back into her mother’s arms.
“Right! The only thing that matters is that I’m Mommy’s daughter! Nothing else matters at all!”
Satisfied with that answer, Melissa smiled and lifted her daughter up into her arms.
Chloe wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck, avoiding Lucian’s gaze, and heard her mother hum a cheerful tune.
“Now, how about we go see Uncle? I heard he brought chocolate cookies. Let’s go eat some!”
Melissa walked right past Lucian as if he and his handful of puddings didn’t even exist.
As if his existence itself had been deleted.
Watching him grow smaller in the distance, Chloe shyly lifted her hand.
See you later.
Ah… Dad.
The word felt awkward — uncomfortable, even.
But today, she wanted to whisper it, at least once, even if only in her heart.
By the time they arrived at the meeting room in her mother’s arms, the meeting hadn’t yet begun.
Chloe sat quietly in her seat, stealing glances at Lucian sitting far away, then turning forward again.
There sat Zion — expressionless, motionless, like a carved wooden doll.
Chloe studied his pale face for a moment, then turned to the side.
“Uncle.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m hungry.”
Blake stared at his niece as though she’d just announced the end of the world.
“Chocolate cookies.”
Looking at him calmly, Chloe ordered in her usual serene tone,
“Hand over all the chocolate cookies you’ve got, Uncle.”
“I-I’ll give them all! Every single one!”
Blake hastily dropped the documents he’d been reading and rummaged through his pockets.
Soon, all sorts of snacks spilled across the child’s desk.
“Assistant! Bring milk! And orange juice and pie too!”
“Yes, sir!”
Hehe. Ignoring her uncle’s frantic orders, Chloe picked up the smallest cookie in front of her.
“Eat lots. Eating well is the most important thing for kids.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“After you finish your snacks, let’s go eat something delicious later. Uncle will make you the best meal ever.”
“Okay, okay.”
As Blake watched his niece’s chubby cheeks move, a smile spread across his face — but his gaze soon drifted to the other child in the room.
Zion, who must also have been hungry, just sat there quietly, as if he had no will of his own.
The contrast with his lively niece made Blake’s heart ache for a moment.
And then, in his mind, the image of the little girl he’d seen just moments ago flickered once more.
