Chapter 80

If pushing aside that infuriating girl, Diane Lina, to claim her place as the adopted daughter was the first step toward happiness, then marrying that proud man, Edward Wale, would be the final destination.

So she absolutely could not let go of that man.

He was the champagne that would prove her success, the golden key that guaranteed her happiness.

But suddenly, a professional beauty not even from a lower noble family, but a commoner?

Hmph, not a chance.

Maybe naive Edward Wale could be infatuated for a while, but it was no good to let her stay around for long.

There was always a risk, however small.

Overflowing with Marquis Jude’s money, the Marchioness who, perhaps out of longing for her lost daughter, treated Kate as her daughter’s double, and the Jude Marquisate brothers who, out of guilt for their youngest sister’s sacrifice, poured all the love a real sister should have received onto Kate…

With their powerful support behind her, the only woman who would end up with that man was Kate Jude—it had to be, and it would be.

But right now, she was stumbling several times trying to keep up with Edward, who was walking too quickly, with her in high heels.

If she threw off these shoes and ran, she could catch up in no time.

But she couldn’t treat her well-cared-for noble feet that way.

She was a noble lady, after all.

“Edward! Wait!”

Edward didn’t seem to hear her, not even slowing down until he reached the stand lights in the outdoor garden.

“Huff, huff!”

She finally caught up to where he stood, steadying her breath.

“Hey, you crazy woman!”

But before she could catch her breath, Edward’s words made her freeze, inhaling sharply.

She looked at Edward with wide eyes, her brow furrowing.

“Edward… Why are you saying such harsh things? It’s scary.”

“Harsh? Ha! That’s funny. You really don’t know what scary is, do you? Are you out of your mind? Or do you want to be out of your mind, saying things like that?”

“Edward! How could you say that!”

Kate put on the shocked expression noble ladies always wore when hearing such things.

Out of your mind? He wouldn’t actually do it.

“Don’t pretend to be surprised. You’re not surprised at all.”

Of course. She’d expected this.

He was the only person who never fell for her act.

Even after fifteen years in the Marquisate, everyone else was fooled, but this man who only saw her occasionally knew her so well.

But she didn’t hate it.

It meant they were the same kind.

Maybe it was fate.

Still, just because he knew her didn’t mean she could reveal herself.

She had to keep acting, even if he knew it was an act and she knew he knew.

He could show himself and stay the same, but if she revealed everything, she’d become Kate Lina, the orphan from Lina Orphanage, not Kate Jude of the Marquisate.

“What do you mean? What woman wouldn’t be scared by such words?”

“You must think you’re a good actress. You were terrible since you were a kid.”

“….”

Yes, he’d seen through her since they were children.

He knew she was fundamentally different from the Marquisate family.

“I don’t care how you fool the Jude Marquisate and pretend to be their weak daughter. I don’t want to talk to someone like you. But when someone like you comes and talks trash to my woman, I want to sew your mouth shut.”

“My woman?”

Kate was more bothered by ‘my woman’ than the threat to sew her mouth shut.

“Didn’t you see earlier? Unlike you, she’s beautiful inside and out. No, wait. Correction. You’re ugly inside and out. So yes, you don’t have anything in common.”

“Hah!”

Kate let out a scoffing laugh.

Beautiful inside and out?

A commoner girl?

Who would believe such naive nonsense, not just herself but anyone in the world?

As expected, he was just a naive noble boy who spoke harshly but knew nothing.

“Are you laughing?”

Edward Wale’s lips twisted.

Even that twisted expression was somehow alluring.

“Edward, get a grip. Open your eyes. Why are you falling for a commoner girl? Is she just pretending not to know anything, playing innocent?”

“Pretending?”

“Yes. She must be acting with all she’s got. A commoner who dared to catch a Wale Dukedom man has to keep acting until she gets something out of it.”

Kate dropped her act now.

There was no point hiding her true face from this man, but it was more important to reveal the true nature of the woman he was obsessed with.

Since he was being fooled by a commoner’s act, it was time to make him see reality.

“You’re right. Unlike you, she’s a much better actress. She’s been incomparable to you since she was a child. That’s why I like her.”

But Edward Wale only said stranger things.

What nonsense was this?

Since childhood?

He’d never met a commoner girl before.

“This hotel is amazing. I’m excited for the cruise too. How many pillars of this hotel did my father’s money build? Would it even stand without that money? The money of Marquis Jude, who loves me absolutely.”

Since Edward Wale wouldn’t listen, Kate had no choice but to bring up her background as the daughter of the Marquis.

Edward Wale’s face twisted.

Of course.

Seeing his expression, Kate felt more confident.

“If you become Marquis Jude’s son-in-law, Wale Hotels will rise in every resort in Traum Kingdom. Isn’t that right? If you marry me.”

‘I’m the woman who’s useful to you.’

Kate looked at Edward with pride.

But why did he look like that?

His face had become expressionless, tilted to one side.

He closed his eyes and rolled his neck.

“You really lack imagination. That’s why your acting is so bad. Why build Wale Hotels in every resort in Traum? Only build them where it’s worth it, you idiot. And even if I build Wale Hotels abroad, marrying you—ugh, just saying it is disgusting. Anyway, I don’t need Marquis Jude’s money.”

“Why make things hard when they could be easy?”

“Talking to you is what’s hard. Go tell your father what I said last time.”

What did he say last time?

Kate blinked.

“See, you’re stupid. You forgot already. I told him if you ever talk dirty to my woman again, I’ll pull all his money out. And here you are, talking trash in front of her. Tsk tsk.”

“…!”

Was he serious?

How could he just pull out all that money?

“If you come talk nonsense in front of my woman again—ah, what should I do? I can’t even think straight talking to you. You make me stupid.”

“Edward!”

Kate was so angry she couldn’t help but shout.

What was he going to do, threaten her like that!

She was the daughter of the Jude Marquisate!

“Oh! Almost forgot. If you call me Edward one more time, I might hit you. Got it? I’ve never hit a woman before, but maybe I’ll try it.”

“Ed…”

Kate bit her lip before finishing his name.

She knew it wasn’t an empty threat.

He was serious.

Of course, if he hit her, he’d be in trouble, but he wasn’t the type to think that far ahead.

And if he hit her, marrying him would be impossible.

Unless she kept silent after being hit, any noble woman who married a man who hit her would be considered crazy.

The overprotective Marquis and Marchioness wouldn’t stand for it.

It was infuriating, but she had to endure.

“Seems you understand. I hope this is the last time we ever talk alone. I left my woman alone because of you, and I’m in a hurry to get back. I’m going in, but don’t follow me right away—stand outside and cool off in the breeze before you come in.”

Edward Wale finished speaking and immediately returned to the banquet hall without waiting for her reply.

Kate trembled.

No one had ever spoken to her so harshly before.

The difference now was…

He had a woman.

D*mn!

What was so special about her?

She was just a commoner!

If Edward Wale was acting like this, that insignificant woman must be a tougher rival than any noble lady.

Her success was right in front of her, and yet a worthless woman was trying to trip her up.

She would never allow it!

Kate clenched her teeth, fighting back tears.

She wanted her brothers to see her red eyes.

Ah!

Of course!

If she kept her eyes teary as she returned to the banquet hall, she’d need quite the skill to show them to the Marquisate family. Just then, she saw her three brothers coming out into the garden to find her.