Chapter 11.5

As Wendy’s arm, caught by Kevin, hung limply, he chuckled. From the beginning, Wendy had no choice. Above all, Kevin believed that Wendy, who grew up loved by her family in the Rosewood Earl’s household, would never be prepared for street life.

As proof, Wendy couldn’t refuse and was dragged to him, and she couldn’t resist now.

“You made the right choice.”

Kevin pushed Wendy to the floor. A dark shadow of a man loomed over Wendy, who fell like a doll.

She had to endure. As he said, it was something she would experience once married anyway.

But when he placed his lips on her neck and slid down, it was unbearable. It felt like a disgusting bug crawling.

Fearing she might scream or resist unknowingly, Wendy clenched her mouth shut and fists, struggling to endure. Shame, humiliation, resignation, and despair mixed, causing silent tears to flow down her white cheeks.

It was then.

“Wendy!”

Lucas’s voice came from beyond the closed door. Soon, the door burst open with a force that seemed to break it, and Jayden and Lucas rushed in.

“Lucas…”

Wendy burst into tears. At the same time, as Jayden saw Wendy pinned under Kevin, he was about to charge forward.

Bang—. The gunshot that struck his ears made Jayden pause, turning with a bewildered face. White smoke rose from the barrel of the gun Lucas held, then quickly disappeared.

“Ahhh!”

Kevin screamed, letting his left arm hang. His damaged right hand couldn’t cover the gunshot wound, so he scratched at it with his right arm.

“Jayden, take care of Wendy.”

Lucas walked over and kicked Kevin’s face. Simultaneously, Jayden blocked Wendy’s view, took off his jacket, wrapped it around Wendy’s shoulders, and lifted her. Though staggering, Wendy looked at Lucas’s back.

When she clung tightly to Jayden’s arm to stop him, he embraced Wendy and turned to Lucas. Having spent years together on battlefields and training grounds, Jayden sensed how far gone Lucas was just by the atmosphere.

“Lucas.”

“Take Wendy out. You won’t see anything good if you stay.”

“Hey, Lucas.”

“I know what you’re going to say, but don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

No, that’s the bigger problem, though?

Jayden stared at the back of Lucas’s head, bewildered.

“Brother…”

“Let’s go for now.”

Jayden embraced Wendy and left. Until they left, Wendy tried to look back at Lucas, but Jayden prevented her.

As the sound of the door closing reached them, Lucas brushed his bangs back.

“I didn’t think I’d see this twice.”

“Hngh, ugh.”

Kevin’s face, smeared with blood from his nose, couldn’t leave the floor.

Wearing black leather gloves, Lucas calmly pressed down on Kevin’s left hand. A scream of horror and the crunching sound of breaking bones followed.

“Did my warning seem like nonsense?”

“Ugh, ugh…”

“I should’ve killed you then. Then you wouldn’t have lost your left hand too.”

Thud. Lucas kicked Kevin’s side. With a sudden blow, Kevin’s body flipped, and his eyes faced the ceiling.

“Why, cough. Why go this far…”

“Why? Because you messed with what’s mine.”

Even as he said it, Lucas chuckled.

Mine? Who said it was mine? 

It was merely his wishful thinking, yet he uttered it without hesitation.

“Then, cough, you should’ve kept it well from the start.”

Kevin twisted his face into a smile.

Lucas’s face, which seemed unable to become colder, grew darker and colder. To be hit where it hurt by Kevin, of all people. He deserved to be called a fool, an idiot.

“Right. I should’ve done that. If I had, trash like you wouldn’t have clung to her.”

Lucas nudged Kevin’s face with the toe of his shoe.

“No matter what, losing her to someone like you would hurt my pride, wouldn’t it? What should I do? Should I bury you alive so you can’t even approach Wendy?”

“No matter, cough, even if you’re the Duke Devon, killing recklessly is…”

“That’s true. I’m curious about what’ll happen too. Should I check?”

***

“Brother. What if something goes wrong?”

“Who? Lucas? Or that bastard? If it’s about that jerk, don’t even mention it.”

“Brother!”

It would be a problem if either Lucas or Kevin went wrong. If Lucas went wrong, she wouldn’t be able to bear the guilt, and if Kevin went wrong, and withdrew the proposal, what would happen to the Rosewood Earl’s Residence?

Wendy fretted, anxiously stamping her feet. She wanted to go back and stop Lucas immediately, but Jayden wouldn’t allow it.

After seating Wendy in the carriage, Jayden departed without waiting for Lucas.

Jayden silently wiped Wendy’s tear marks.

“No need to worry. Lucas will take care of it.”

“It’s not about handling it, what about Avon Distribution? Brother, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Forget the proposal. By now, a rejection letter must’ve arrived at Countess Avon’s residence.”

“Brother!”

Then what? What about the business? What about the Rosewood Earl’s Residence?

Wendy tightened her grip on the jacket and stared at Jayden. Her eyes trembled slightly, not from the fear of what almost happened, but more from worry for her family.

Jayden gently patted Wendy’s shoulder to reassure her.

“You don’t need to worry. I’ve found a way.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Well, we’ll have to tighten our belts for a while, but soon we’ll find our place.”

“We can tighten our belts as much as needed. But is it really okay?”

“Trust me. Trust this brother of yours. Don’t I have enough credibility?”

“It’s not that…”

Wendy’s head drooped.

“I just didn’t want you to bear all the burdens. I’m a Rosewood too.”

“Then you should’ve protected yourself as a Rosewood. Why try to become an Avon?”

“That was the only thing I could do.”

“Why is that the only thing? Just being you is enough for me.”

“……”

“So don’t worry. It’ll be the first thing I accomplish as the head of the Rosewood Earl’s household.”

Jayden smiled warmly.

His confidence made Wendy feel sure she could trust him. Maybe she just wanted to believe, but Jayden, though often playful, didn’t speak nonsense.

“…Okay, Brother.”

“Just endure a little longer. This brother will make sure you live well.”

“Oh, really.”

Jayden’s boast made the tears of emotion disappear.

Wendy wiped her tears roughly and glared at Jayden. Watching him grin mischievously, she eventually laughed along. Feeling relieved, Wendy brightened for the first time in a while, and when Jayden affectionately ruffled her hair, a radiant smile bloomed.

But as she gazed out the window, the smile faded. At that moment, when she had resigned herself to everything, Wendy unknowingly thought of Lucas.

As always, she hoped he would come to rescue her, extend his hand in this miserable and desperate situation, embrace her, and comfort her. Though she thought she shouldn’t wish for it, and knew it would never happen again.

Yet when Lucas’s voice came from beyond the door, which seemed it would never open, tears welled up.

If Jayden hadn’t been there, Wendy might have just cried in his arms.

‘Fool.’

Wendy rested her forehead against the window. Love was stubbornly persistent. No matter how much she tried to remove it, it left stubborn traces and clung on. It was fortunate if it didn’t grow, but if she let her guard down, it would expand before she knew it. Pressing it down only deepened the traces; it never disappeared.

When could she be free from him? Would time equal to the years she loved him be enough to move on?

Wendy’s long sigh left a blurry mark on the glass. Though the breath on the window quickly vanished, Wendy’s heart remained cloudy.

***

“Are you just arriving? Jayden, Wendy.”

“Mother?”

When they arrived at the Earl Rosewood’s residence, the siblings were warmly greeted.

At the entrance stood the Countess of Rosewood, their mother. As always when returning from an outing, she smiled warmly, though she looked pale, her appearance was unchanged.

“Mother, are you well?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

The Countess embraced Jayden and Wendy together. Though it was difficult to hold the children who had grown while she was drowning in grief and despair, it was reassuring.

“I’m sorry. You must have struggled, bearing all the burdens.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“And thank you. For giving me enough time to grieve.”

“Mother.”

“You’ve worked hard, Wendy. I’ve watched how maturely and sensibly you’ve handled things. I’m proud of you.”

Though Wendy had been teary-eyed all the way back to the residence, she didn’t hold back this time.

Good things seem to come with bad ones. Jayden found a way to save the business, she no longer had to be swayed by Kevin Avon, and her mother regained her mental stability. All of this happening in one day was incredibly reassuring, and tears flowed freely.

“Right? Wendy worked the hardest.”

Jayden supported his mother, encouraging Wendy from the side. However, neither his mother’s nor his brother’s praise could stop Wendy’s tears.

“What’s this, Wendy? Crying like a child after being praised?”

“Indeed. Our Wendy is still a child.”

“Because of whom…”

Wendy’s voice, expressing her dissatisfaction, was muffled like a hard-to-understand grumble.

Ah, it feels a bit nostalgic now. Comfortable and warm, reassuring. So Wendy could laugh even while crying at Jayden’s teasing.