Chapter 52

His calm declaration left everyone stunned into silence. Though it was an expected result, the repercussions would be like a typhoon.

“In the end…”

Franz, with a complicated expression, spoke heavily.

“If you change your mind, I’ll give you 30% of my company’s shares.”

“Father!”

Theodore interjected, aghast.

“That’s too much. 30% is more than enough! It’s enough to have voting rights as a director!”

Despite the strong opposition, Franz remained unfazed. Divorce was a serious matter. Even though times were changing, divorce, for any reason, was a fatal scandal that followed one in conservative high society until death.

“You can have another woman, even have children. Just keep Marianne in the wife’s position.”

“…”

“I’ll support you in every way, not just with my company’s shares. Even if you want to go into politics, I’ll help you. As long as you don’t divorce.”

It was a generous, even shocking offer. One might consider it, but the answer was a refusal.

“I decline.”

Mikhail shook his head. His expression showed a steadfast resolve that would not change. Franz, sensing the determination and solemnity in his face, finally raised his hands in surrender.

“Alright. Do as you wish. I won’t say anything more.”

The conversation reached its conclusion. Harriet, amidst the continuing shocks, quietly observed the two men. She thought of Marianne, whom she had seen earlier, sprawled out like a rag, drunk. She hadn’t understood why Marianne acted that way when her husband was merely coming to fetch her, but now everything was clear.

She was afraid of this moment. Of having her misdeeds exposed to her family and facing the consequences.

However, there was one more unresolved question. Harriet slowly interjected between the two.

“Father.”

Franz, about to rise weakly, turned to Harriet.

“Why did you call Marianne back?”

“Because you haven’t overcome it.”

Harriet blinked at the unexpected answer. Franz calmly explained.

“Some problems are best faced directly rather than avoided.”

“How did you know I haven’t overcome it?”

Whenever she visited the family home, she pretended to be bright. She acted as if nothing had happened, as if the events of three years ago were nonexistent. Yet the fact that her father had seen through her facade made her heart sink.

“You’ve changed partners countless times over the past three years because of it. You’re essentially tormenting yourself.”

At his continued words, Harriet averted her gaze. Her father, who cared about the public eye, had overlooked her recklessness for her own sake.

Although there were still conflicts over company matters, understanding his intentions now made her eyes well up.

“I wanted you to confront Marianne and face your nightmare directly. And realize it’s not as significant as you think, allowing you to move on. I apologize for the harsh approach.”

“…Yes.”

At the moment when Harriet nodded, overwhelmed with emotion, the dining room door suddenly swung open, revealing the face everyone had been waiting for.

“So, what? I was just a tool?”

“Marianne!”

Marianne stood there, pale. Almost everyone shot to their feet.

“Since when did you hear…”

Before Harriet could finish, Franz interrupted sternly.

“Come here immediately!”

“Why should I?”

Screaming defiantly, Marianne glared at Franz.

“I thought you had grown old and soft-hearted, Father, calling me back to leave me an inheritance before dying. I didn’t know I was just a tool!”

Her face was that of a victim, nothing more, nothing less. Harriet was stunned, running a hand through her hair.

“Are you saying you did nothing wrong?”

“What did I do? I just set a small trap. It’s the person who willingly fell into it who’s at fault, right?”

Grinding her teeth, Marianne glanced sidelong at Mikhail, who was glaring at her.

“Shut up, Marianne!”

Franz, enraged by her shameless attitude, ordered the servants standing awkwardly to seize her immediately.

“Let go of me! How dare you lay hands on me?”

Marianne shook off the servants’ hands, screaming. Harriet, clenching her fist, approached her.

“Miss…”

“It’s okay.”

She signaled the servants to step back and then slapped Marianne across the face.

Slap.

“Ah!”

Marianne clutched her reddening cheek, stunned.

“You!”

Harriet grabbed the hand Marianne raised in retaliation.

“Let go!”

“What grudge do you have against me to do such a thing?”

“Grudge?”

“I never once thought of you as anything but a sister. I always tried to get along with you, yielding to you. But you were never satisfied. At some point, you openly antagonized me.”

It was a question Harriet had buried in her heart for years. Now it was time to get an answer. She tried to remain calm, waiting for Marianne’s response.

“I hate you. You’re less deserving than I am to be part of the Vanetti family.”

“What?”

“I’m from a collateral line, but at least I have noble blood. Both my parents were nobles, though they died early.”

“…”

“But you were born from the womb of a filthy actress, a bastard with no shame!”

Marianne shouted, uncaring of the maid and servants listening, and smirked after her outburst.

“Is that it? Your attitude changed after you found out?”

“You always looked down on me, pretending to be generous. I accepted it when I thought you were the only one brought in. But to think someone even lower than me dared to look down on me. Wouldn’t anyone go mad with anger?”

It felt like being hit on the back of the head with a blunt object. Harriet tried to stay composed. Something was boiling up to her head, ready to explode. She barely managed to suppress it and spoke with difficulty.

“I never… looked down on you. Not once.”

“Liar.”

Marianne retorted with a cold laugh, as if she’d heard a ridiculous joke.

“You were always eager to show you were better at anything I learned. Whether it was piano, languages, or anything!”

It was something Harriet hadn’t considered. Stunned, she shook her head.

“That’s just your assumption, a victim complex.”

“Shut up.”

The next moment, Marianne, who had been glaring at her, suddenly spat in her face.

“Miss!”

“Harriet!”

“Little sister!”

Everyone gasped in shock. Harriet wiped the spit from her cheek with her sleeve and signaled for those approaching to stop.

“Fine. I’m done. But you still need to apologize.”

“What?”

Startled by Harriet’s unexpectedly calm response, Marianne blinked in disbelief at her next words.

“Apologize to Mikhail. You manipulated and destroyed a person’s life for your own ends.”

Harriet’s unwavering voice criticized Marianne clearly. Marianne was speechless for a moment, then smirked bitterly.

“Anyone would think I r*ped him. I wasn’t the only one involved, you know?”

“Really? Is that so?”

Harriet tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. Grinding her teeth, Marianne asked in a trembling voice.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m curious if someone as cruel as you would have approached Mikhail without any preparation.”

For a moment, her eyes, which had been confident without a shred of guilt, wavered. Harriet, noticing the unusual reaction, was about to press further when Marianne turned away with a cold face.

“There’s no point in listening anymore. I’m leaving.”

“Marianne!”

Harriet grabbed her shoulder, but Marianne shook her off roughly and fled.

“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!”

Franz shouted, ordering the servants. The servants, who had been frozen, unable to move, belatedly chased after Marianne. Harriet did the same.

“Miss, please go back inside.”

“Move.”

Whether she had ridden a horse, Marianne had placed her foot in the stirrup and was about to mount the saddle. Harriet, who ran urgently, blocked her path.

“You can’t leave like this. Are you going to cowardly run away from the crime you’ve committed?”

“Crime? What did I do wrong? You’re the coward! Who cornered me and interrogated me in front of everyone like a beast?”

Instead of reflecting or feeling sorry, Marianne shouted even louder, and Harriet was speechless. It felt like she was facing an animal that couldn’t understand words.

“Do you… really feel no guilt? Aren’t you sorry?”

No matter what, Harriet couldn’t let Marianne go like this. There were many things she needed to hear. Besides apologies, she needed to know who that unnamed accomplice was.

“I don’t feel anything like that.”

Marianne, with a twisted smile, pulled the reins. At that moment, a huge shadow loomed over Harriet’s head. The horse, which had raised its front legs, was about to trample Harriet.

“Harriet!”

A hand pulled her from behind, narrowly avoiding the horse. Clicking her tongue, Marianne kicked the horse’s belly with her heel and sped away. Harriet, watching the dust rise as the horse galloped away, slowly raised her head.

“…Lennox.”

“Are you alright? What happened?”

Lennox, sweating from shock, checked her complexion.

“Well…”

It was a long story. Harriet was about to catch her breath to calm her startled heart when suddenly the sound of a horse neighing and a scream was heard.

“Neigh!”

“Ahhh!”

Almost simultaneously, Harriet and the others who had rushed outside looked toward the gate.

“Oh my!”

The horse, running along the cobblestone path, suddenly reared up as if bitten by something and went wild.

“Marianne!”

“S-Someone save me!”

Marianne, who had been holding onto the reins, couldn’t withstand the wildly bucking horse and fell from the saddle. Harriet reached out her hand and screamed.

“No!”

If she were trampled by the hooves, she would surely die. Just as she covered her eyes with both hands, unable to bear the terrible scene to follow, a gunshot rang out from somewhere.

Bang!

Suddenly, a bullet flew from somewhere and pierced the horse’s neck. The horse, screaming a desperate death cry, fell to the opposite side of Marianne.