Chapter 27

Marianne, who seemed likely to ignore him, surprisingly followed Aaron out. Only after confirming no one was around did Aaron release her arm. With a displeased face, Marianne spoke.

“What is it? Why did you drag me out like this?”

Taking her words as an opportunity, Aaron, with a hardened expression, cut straight to the point.

“Didn’t you say you were going to the bride’s waiting room to apologize? Why did you come back so quickly?”

“Oh, that?”

Originally, Marianne wasn’t even supposed to set foot at this wedding. How could the younger sister who ruined her sister’s wedding three years ago attend as a guest? Naturally, the attention and focus that should have been on the bride would all shift to her.

Franz, who wished for this eldest daughter’s wedding to proceed without any issues, was of course furious. The unwelcome guest knelt before her father.

“Sister, you said you reflected on all your wrongdoings to Father, that you regretted and regretted again over the past three years. You wanted to sincerely ask for forgiveness from your older sister before the wedding began.”

Though it was hard to believe, Aaron was inwardly relieved. Despite the events three years ago, Harriet was marrying someone far better than her former fiancé, Mikhail.

Though she might not be inclined, if she heard Marianne’s sincere apology, perhaps a breakthrough could be found in the family relationship that felt like walking on thin ice. But Marianne returned quickly, not even staying for a few minutes. Before he could question her swift return, the ceremony began, leaving Aaron with a lingering uneasy feeling.

“Oh, right. That’s true.”

A straightforward acceptance met his sharp questioning. Marianne smiled at his suspicious gaze.

“I really intended to kneel and apologize to my sister, but I couldn’t.”

“What?”

“The Young Master was with her. The atmosphere was unusual, so I couldn’t bring myself to knock.”

This was news to Aaron. As his eyes wavered, Marianne continued.

“It seems your brother-in-law and sister are very affectionate. Considering he couldn’t wait to meet the bride before seeing her at the ceremony.”

Her tone was gentle as if to reassure him. But Aaron, not lowering his guard, retorted sharply.

“Of course. My older sister deserves to be loved and happy.”

Deserves? 

A crack appeared in Marianne’s perfect smile.

“Deserves, you say. Do you really think so?”

“What?”

“Who do you think is to blame for Mother’s health deteriorating like this?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I heard from the family doctor. Before Harriet came home, Mother was in relatively good health.”

“Little sister!”

Realizing what she was insinuating, Aaron urgently scanned their surroundings again. Fortunately, no one was around yet.

“Are you in your right mind? What if someone hears you? Mother’s health has nothing to do with our older sister. It’s just a coincidence. It’s more reasonable to say her health declined after having me at an older age.”

Though difficult to say, he finally voiced it. Marianne, reading the hidden guilt in him, brightened her eyes.

“Well, maybe. Still, Harriet’s presence undoubtedly brought shock and despair to Mother. No woman would welcome a child her husband fathered outside, not even a mother hailed as a saint.”

“Watch your mouth.”

Aaron, not even the one being criticized, flushed with anger and warned her in a low voice.

“I thought you might have changed a bit, but you’re the same as ever. You were never satisfied with what you had, always envying and coveting what our older sister had. Only after she yielded to you did you feel content.”

“Why bring up old stories now?”

As if hearing a boring joke, Marianne yawned and turned away. With fierce eyes, Aaron grabbed her shoulder to stop her from leaving.

“You’re not eyeing my friend now, are you? Just because he’s our older sister’s husband?”

“Hmm. Why would I? I already have a husband.”

“Actually, I stopped by your place briefly yesterday and saw this.”

Aaron pulled something from his pocket and waved it. Marianne’s relaxed demeanor vanished as she reached out urgently to snatch it.

“Are you crazy? Are you a thief? Why are you touching someone else’s things?”

“Well. That’s your specialty, but I was so intrigued I couldn’t help myself.”

“You!”

“That’s why you came here, right? Facing divorce without getting a penny, you wanted to mend things with Harriet and cling to the family.”

“Watch your words. There are things you should and shouldn’t say.”

Grinding her teeth, Marianne glared at her brother with a pale face. Aaron shrugged and brushed past her, delivering a final blow.

“For now, I’ll keep quiet. So stay silent and disappear before I speak up. It means don’t obstruct our older sister’s path anymore.”

His voice was filled with disdain, as if dismissing a bothersome peddler.

“Damn it…”

Only after Aaron left did Marianne lean against the wall. The unexpected situation left her mouth dry, and her nerves were on edge. She was biting her nails unconsciously when footsteps approached, and someone spoke to her.

“Are you Miss Marianne Vanetti?”

It was an unfamiliar face. With a guarded expression, Marianne looked at the man.

“Who are you?”

“I thought so. It’s you.”

The man, his face lighting up, pulled a card from his jacket and handed it to her.

“This is who I am.”

“…You’re a journalist. I understand all interviews were declined.”

“Well, if you slip someone a little money, you can sneak into the venue. Though it was quite a task this time.”

The journalist, smiling slyly, examined Marianne with experienced eyes.

It was true. The security was so tight, he had to beg and plead with an acquaintance to disguise himself as a staff member and barely managed to sneak in after the ceremony had ended.

He was pondering whether to leave empty-handed when the youngest son of the Vanetti family, with a hardened expression, caught his eye. Simultaneously, the journalist’s instincts flared, and his blood boiled with excitement. It was the journalist’s sixth sense for a scoop.

Following his instincts, he trailed Aaron Vanetti’s path, and sure enough, he spotted the woman who had fled the country three years ago. Approaching her, he confirmed his suspicions.

“I have nothing to say.”

Marianne replied coldly, adjusting her bag. Her return had already spread widely due to an incident at Harriet’s charity birthday party. Although Lennox Diorne’s involvement shifted attention to Harriet’s engagement news rather than her triumphant return.

As she tried to pass the journalist, one question stopped her.

“Isn’t it frustrating?”

“…What?”

“Your sister, Harriet Coco Vanetti, always overshadowed your name in the media. Despite being only two years apart, you were always compared to her. The beautiful and intelligent older sister, and the relatively ordinary younger sister.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Marianne turned sharply and glared at the journalist.

“If you insult me like this, I won’t stand by. Do you want to be dragged out by security like a dog?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I just think it’s unfortunate. Living in your sister’s shadow all your life, and now living like a criminal due to the incident three years ago.”

“…”

“After all, love isn’t a crime, is it? Even if the person was wrong, you can’t choose who you fall in love with. It’s like an accident.”

Strangely persuasive words. Above all, they tugged at her heart. Marianne’s fierce eyes softened at his words defending her. Sensing her lowered guard, the journalist, inwardly smiling, pulled out a pen and notebook from his jacket.

“I believe no one is perfect. Everyone has flaws and things they’d like to hide. Sometimes they’re trivial, but other times they’re fatal.”

“And so?”

“I’m just curious about the story behind this marriage. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.”

It was the intuition of a journalist who had chased countless scandals over the years.

“If you know anything…”

“You have quite the intuition.”

Before he finished, a small laugh interrupted him. Seeing her smile, the journalist’s face lit up with anticipation.

“Do you have something to report?”

“Well…”

Feigning hesitation, Marianne turned her head. Her attempt to apologize to Harriet by visiting the bride’s waiting room was the beginning. Strangely quiet, she was puzzled as she grabbed the door handle, but a low voice was coming from inside. Curious, she pressed her ear to the door and eavesdropped, and a shocking word pierced her eardrum.

A marriage in name only.

They had claimed to have fallen in love and decided to marry quickly. That’s what everyone believed. Her heart raced with a dying excitement. She pressed her ear closer to hear more when footsteps approached. Startled, Marianne leaned against the side wall as the door opened. Unfortunately, that was all she overheard.

“Well, it’s nothing much…”

Marianne, drawing out her words, feigned hesitation, biting her lip. The journalist, excited by the unexpected scoop, pleaded earnestly.

“Even the smallest thing is fine. Even a tiny bit of news.”