Chapter 24

While he calmed his anger, the questioning continued.

“Answer me.”

“My uncle…”

Calming his excitement, Lennox played one of the cards he had prepared.

“…”

“Since my father fell ill, my uncle has been gradually revealing his ambitions. He’s been recruiting the family elders and slowly extending his reach to the subsidiary companies.”

“By uncle, do you mean Earl Eiden?”

Harriet asked cautiously, surprised. Lennox nodded slightly in response. Harriet blinked with her mouth open. If it was Earl Eiden, he had an excellent reputation in social circles. He was energetic, had good business acumen, and often gave to the poor and orphans. To the world, he was a businessman with a great character, expanding into social work.

“My uncle was the one who kept Father’s illness a secret. I only returned because I got a tip from an informant. My uncle probably thinks I ruined everything by coming back.”

If his father had passed away while he was abroad, it would have been his uncle’s world.A loyal brother who had been nursing his father day and night, and even a subordinate employee. Most of the elders were already on Earl Eiden’s side, and if they held a general meeting to elect a new chairman, Eiden would likely win. If not for some elders who insisted on giving him a chance, all rights would have already been transferred to Eiden.

“You must have heard from Aaron, but I’m working on a shipping business with your father, Earl Vanetti.”

“The shipping business is already nearly monopolized by your family. Why would you give our Vanetti Earldom family a chance?”

“The shipping business we’re pursuing this time isn’t just simple trade; it’s the raw material for a mode of transportation that will soon be in the spotlight. The source of that material is on the southern continent.”

The other continent was an unknown land inhabited by people of different skin colors and races. Although diplomatic relations had begun ten years ago, trade ships only traveled back and forth about once every six months.

“My father’s island is certainly in the middle of the southern continent.”

“Yes. Corsica Island.”

Harriet’s memory was impressive, recalling the island’s existence with just a brief explanation. Lennox, who smiled faintly, continued speaking.

“And that island will serve as a drawbridge and warehouse.”

“I see.”

Lennox took out a cigarette from his pocket, skillfully cut the end, and lit it with a match.

The reason for promoting the shipping business with the Vanetti Earl wasn’t just that. Corsica Island wasn’t the only island that could serve as a bridge to the southern continent, and they could even purchase several islands directly. However, he deliberately chose the roundabout way of selecting the Vanetti Earl as a business partner.

It was because of the woman right in front of him. It was the first and last time he had put in so much effort.

“Marrying you is necessary for me to solidify that union. And a solidly connected business will lead to success. If this business succeeds, I can surpass my uncle and succeed my father.”

In truth, there wasn’t much time left. The Duke’s mind was becoming increasingly unclear, and Eiden continued his behind-the-scenes work. Although there was a final card, he couldn’t be complacent. A single mistake could narrow his position in an instant.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Returning to her role as businesswoman Harriet Coco Vanetti, Harriet straightened her back.

“How long will it take for that business to succeed?”

“Half a year.”

It was a shorter period than she had expected. Realizing it was a business that had been prepared for longer than she thought, Harriet nodded.

“Alright. But let’s write a contract.”

“What kind of contract?”

“Lennox Diorne and Harriet Coco Vanetti will marry within this month and divorce six months later.”

She no longer wanted to be swayed by someone, especially a man she had known since boyhood. If anyone were to take control of the relationship, it should be her. If the end was predetermined from the start, there was nothing to fear.

* * *

Everything proceeded swiftly afterward. Franz laughed heartily, welcoming the union with the Diorne ducal family, and with the Duke of Diorne’s written consent, the wedding date was set.

The social world quickly caught fire. Some speculated about the connection between Harriet’s brother Aaron and Lennox, claiming the two had been lovers for a long time, while others described the union as a strategic marriage to accumulate more power and wealth for both families.

However, what neither side expected was that, contrary to the speculation of a wedding of the century, their wedding would be held privately with only a handful of guests from both families.

During this process, Harriet was confined to a villa under the pretext of bridal lessons for nearly four days. The villa, a male-free zone, did not see even a glimpse of Lennox, the groom-to-be, and only Theodore’s wife Olivia and her mother Margaret stayed with Harriet, keeping her company.

“You’re truly beautiful, Harriet.”

Margaret, her eyes glistening with tears, admired Harriet in her wedding dress.

“You’re truly beautiful, Harriet. More than any bride I’ve ever seen.”

Olivia, standing beside Margaret, showered her with compliments. Feeling embarrassed, Harriet looked at herself in the full-length mirror instead of responding. The white wedding dress encircled her neck and covered her wrists, with a classic and modest design that did not reveal her body’s silhouette. It was a dress that fit the image of a shy and innocent bride well, but to her, it didn’t quite suit her. Her history with men was already well-known in social circles, and she was not a shy new bride marrying a groom she had just met.

Their union was neither a romantic love marriage nor a thoroughly politically calculated strategic marriage, but one thing was certain.

It was a dry marriage with a predetermined end. In half a year, the relationship would quietly dissolve.

“Madam. Just a moment.”

While Harriet looked at her reflection with an ambiguous expression, a maid knocked and spoke to Margaret. Margaret, puzzled, followed the maid out, leaving only Olivia and Harriet in the room.

Finally, Harriet let out a sigh she had been holding back. Margaret was the mother who had raised her and would sit in the main seat at the wedding, but she remained an uncomfortable presence.

“Harriet. What’s going on?”

As the tension eased, Olivia asked with a concerned look as Harriet sat at the console.

“Until recently, you weren’t in that kind of relationship with the Young Master. Rather…”

“Rather, we were like cats and dogs when we met. Not openly, though.”

In fact, it was a one-sided dislike on Harriet’s part. Olivia, who was about to correct Harriet’s words, gave up and nodded roughly.

“I heard Marianne barged into your office recently. They said there was a loud argument. Was it because of that?”

“It’s not because of Marianne that I’m getting married. No matter how hot-tempered I am, I’m not that irrational.”

Cutting off Olivia’s words, Harriet grasped her throbbing temples. No matter how close Olivia was, she was still a rival and the wife of her brother Theodore. She couldn’t tell her everything honestly.

“Enough about me. Your issue is more serious, so why don’t you address that first?”

“…”

“Claire, I mean.”

Olivia’s expression darkened when Harriet hit the mark. It was an issue she had been trying hard to ignore. Clicking her tongue, Harriet got straight to the point.

“How long do you plan to leave it to me? I’m not the one involved.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

Olivia lowered her head deeply, avoiding Harriet’s gaze. Watching her profile, Harriet bit her lip.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t understand Olivia. No wife would personally care for a woman carrying her husband’s illegitimate child. Even the famously saintly Countess Margaret Vanetti didn’t accept Harriet’s biological mother.

In truth, Harriet didn’t even know her biological mother’s name. She only vaguely knew from things the family elders let slip when she was young that she was an unknown actress from the theater company where Claire had been. She was curious but didn’t really want to know. She had no intention of peeling off the scab of a festering wound to see the blood. To Harriet, the existence of her biological mother, whose name and face she didn’t know, was just that.

After a long silence, Olivia finally spoke.

“For now… I’ll manage while you’re on your honeymoon.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I should at least do that.”

With a bitter smile, Olivia nodded. Watching her with pity, Harriet cautiously offered a suggestion.

“Maybe the child that woman is carrying isn’t Theodore’s. She might be carrying another man’s child.”

“Harriet.”

Olivia softly admonished her, calling her name.

“That statement hurts you too.”

This time, Harriet was the one hit in the heart. It felt like a hidden part of her, deep inside, that no one had seen, had been exposed.

“Anyway.”

Unable to bear the tense atmosphere, Harriet abruptly stood up.

“Let’s leave it at that for now. You know the location of the villa, right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“If anything happens, contact me right away.”

“Got it.”

Without even looking at Olivia, Harriet quickly left the room, almost as if fleeing.