Chapter 24

– Chapter 24 –

Isabella read the five-page report several times.

She thought she had read something wrong, so she had to confirm that it was indeed correct.

After that, she engraved every single letter into her mind just in case there was something she missed.

That night, she headed for the basement behind her office.

The only one who followed her was Herna, who served as her hands and feet.

Externally, she looked the same as she always did.

However, despite her seemingly calm state, internally, her heart was in a deep swamp.

“I put the wrong person in charge.”

Isabella’s anger burned quietly.

In front of her, Whitney trembled on the ground.

“How dare you do this without my knowledge.”

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“

Whitney was frozen with fear, unable to say anything.

The longer it dragged on, the angrier the Duchess grew.

“I was blinded.”

A shadow loomed over Whitney as she looked down on her.

“Or, you’re just more cunning than I thought.”

“Ma-Madam..”

“It doesn’t matter. In the end, you’ll get the same punishment.”

Isabella’s face grew even paler.

With a single flick of her hand, the knights dragged Whitney out.

Isabella had no mercy.

It was different from her usual careful and benevolent judgments.

Her anger was strong.

“Kick her out. Make sure she never sets foot in the Capital again.”

“Madam, please rethink your decision. How many years have I been loyal to you and Aiden?”

The ends of Isabella’s lips showed signs of bitterness.

“Loyalty? As if. You’re quite funny with your words.”

She laughed.

“You dare say such a word after what you have done to my son?”

Isabella’s voice was loud.

She knew everything

Whitney’s excuses only made her angrier.

“You tricked Aiden by pretending to be faithful. If you were, it shouldn’t have been difficult for him.”

Isabella had to force herself to speak without a tremble due to her immense anger.

When she learned all the facts, she felt so far removed.

She took for granted that Whitney would be working for Aiden.

So, Aiden was left with a lot of authority to minimize any inconveniences, contrary to her wishes.

She didn’t think Whitney would exercise her son’s power by using her twisted mindset to brainwash and control young Aiden.

“Was it fun? Did it seem like you had Aiden in the palm of your hand?”

“Your brutal ways have left Aiden scarred.”

Aiden didn’t have the dignity of a successor, and his facial expressions gradually changed to hide his fear.

In the end, Aiden became scared of the slightest touch.

Isabella slowly rose from her chair and walked over to Whitney.

She put one hand on her shoulder.

The movement was calm, but her grip made Whitney moan and lift her head.

The moment their eyes met, Whitney’s pupils shook violently.

The situation was very shocking.

“Th-that’s not true …. I can explain. This is all a conspiracy… If you can just trust me, I can explain… I haven’t harmed young master Aiden even once……!”

Whitney raised her voice and showed an innocent face until the end.

“Enough.”

But it was in vain.

Isabella’s eyes only grew colder and darker.

“Not killing you wasn’t part of my plans. But, if you deceive me once again, you won’t die a pleasant death.” She promised.

When she turned her head, Whitney was dragged away.

The back image of Whitney being dragged out was a miserable sight.

As she was being taken away, Erin stood in front of her.

She was waiting for Whitney as if she knew everything

Whitney’s eyes flipped as soon as she saw

Erin.

She screamed so hard that her eyes were bloodshot, and she struggled to run forward.

But, she was helpless as she was being held back, and her mouth was gagged.

Erin opened her mouth to speak to Whitney despite Mona trying to stop her.

“Whitney.”

“……!”

Whitney, who couldn’t make a sound, showed a vicious expression with her eyes.

However, Erin did not get intimidated, and instead, she moved closer.

“Why are you so excited? This is a natural result of your actions.”

“……!”

“Did you really think that nothing would happen if you treated Aiden that way?”

Erin said, erasing her childlike expression.

“This is nothing compared to your sins.”

“I’m happy with just this much.”

Whitney didn’t have a great ending.

With one word from the Duchess, she was finished.

But, it was not in vain.

Since it was the last thing Erin expected.

“Did you have fun this whole time? It must have felt like you had become an amazing person.”

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“But it was all an illusion, Whitney. You have nothing.”

None of what happened so far was due to Whitney’s greatness.

It was impossible for her, someone so insignificant, to indefinitely hold control over the heir to the family.

“The way you look right now. It suits you.”

In these final moments where Whitney looked miserable, it suited her so well.

“You’ll pay the full price for what you have done.”

Erin raised her hand. Then she waved to Whitney.

She watched Whitney quietly until she disappeared into the horizon.

“I don’t think she should be able to just go like this.”

Erin muttered in a low voice, one which only Mona could hear.

“Watch where they stop and let me know.”

“Yes. I will do so.”

She was meant to come back after seeing the entirety of Whitney’s death.

Erin, who commands, and Mona, who listens, knew what form of death would take place.

The situation with Whitney seemed to have come to an end.

As Erin went back into the mansion, the Duchess was waiting for her near her room.

Erin, unsurprised, greeted her calmly.

“I heard the news and came out to see.”

“Is that so. And Aiden?”

“He probably doesn’t know yet.”

“It’s a bit late, but try going to bed early.”

“Alright. Then, goodnight.”

Erin bid her goodbye then continued to walk.

“Erin.”

The Duchess called her.

“You knew everything all along, didn’t you?”

Erin looked back at the Duchess and responded.

“Yes.”

Erin answered honestly.

Isabella was neither surprised nor angry; she smiled and spoke again.

“Did you not tell me on purpose?”

“Yes.”

Erin answered honestly once again. The Duchess liked Erin.

“The Duchess has never loved Aiden.’ That reasoning and Whitney’s work were different matters.

In fact, if she did love Aiden, her ignorance of the situation would have gone on for longer.

If she were actively interested and paid attention to him, everything would have been much different.

So Erin didn’t tell the Duchess.

She hoped that the Duchess would be greatly hurt and shocked.

Then, the times of pain that Aiden endured by himself would not be in vain.

She hoped that the Duchess could understand what he felt, just for a little bit.

Even if the Duchess read her intentions and changed her attitude, she would have no regrets.

The Duchess looked down at Erin and spoke.

“Thank you. For being by Aiden’s side.”

The Duchess smiled brightly.

Erin politely bowed and headed to her room.

As soon as Erin passed by, Isabella’s face twisted as if she was in pain.

She regretted everything.

When was it?

When she pretended not to care about Aiden and didn’t check too deeply into the details on purpose?

It had been so long since she had spent time with Aiden that she didn’t even remember.

There was no sincerity even once.

She always had an unending affection for Aiden.

He was the child that she gave birth to. Of course, she had the maternal instinct to love and worry for her child.

However, someone evaluated her appearance as unworthy.

The Leinster family was amazing, both internally and externally.

To maintain its reputation took much patience and sacrifice.

Young Aiden was no exception to that rule.

At first, Isabella broke the custom of the Leinster family.

When Aiden was born, she raised him without a nanny.

That short amount of time was the happiest time of her life.

The child grew quickly.

Aiden brought a lot of laughter and tears when he was just a toddler.

Whenever he found her, he ran to her with his short legs and hugged her.

To Isabella, he looked so lovely, but to others, he was an incompetent successor.

The elders of the family and other nobles also pointed out that she was ruining the heir of the Leinster family.

The more they did this, the greater the pressure to make Aiden the perfect heir.

Even if she raised Aiden, education was not an area in which she could interfere with.

The more she loved Aiden, the more Aiden suffered.

For Aiden to be strong, she had to be cool-headed.

So, she made a decision.

She chose a nanny that she could trust.

And, she tried to be a bit indifferent.

Even so, when she met his eyes, she was bothered, and at some point, she turned away from them.

As a result, she became a person who was ignorant while being estranged from Aiden.

“And like that… I neglected my son.’

Isabella closed her eyes.

She clenched her hands as her fists shook.

– To Be Continued –