Chapter 139 - Family, Dignity, Reputation

Victoria suddenly woke up. She glanced at the clock. Two fifty-nine in the morning. She heard screaming and she thought that she's hallucinating. She slipped off from the bed and reached the thick robe to cover her naked body. She went to the door and opened it. Since her room was just across Stacey's room, she could hear Stacey crying while Maverick seemed to be hushing her. 

She was worried so she knocked. 

"Come in," Maverick said. She opened the door and peeked at them. Stacey looked at her with those tears in her eyes. 

"What's wrong?" Victoria asked. Stacey gently slipped off from the bed and hugged her. Victoria gently caressed her hair. "The two of you haven't had dinner." Victoria kissed Stacey's forehead. Maverick approached them. 

"So, what do you girls want to eat?" Mave asked. "I'll prepare some comfort food. What do you think?" He reached Stacey's head. 

Stacey only nodded and reached Maverick's hand. 

"Let's go to the kitchen then?" 

Victoria smiled and squeezed Stacey's right hand gently. 

"Go with Mave. I'll just dress up." 

"Okay, I'll wait for you." 

Victoria went to her room and put some pajamas on. She didn't wake her husband since she knew that he's so tired, she didn't wake him up. To her surprise, Caleb also comes out of the room with Kaisley. 

"What's going on?" Caleb asked. "We heard screaming." 

"Oh, so the two of you are still awake at this time?" Victoria asked without answering his question. 

"Yeah, we are busy." Caleb grinned. 

"It's Stacey, she had nightmares and we are off to the kitchen. Mave's going to cook." 

"Great. I'm in." Caleb said and reached Kaisley's hand. 

"You are always about food," Kaisley mumbled and the trio went to the kitchen. Victoria led them. They found out that the couple was hugging instead of making food while Maverick was behind Stacey and she's holding a spatula. 

"What are you making?" Caleb asked. "And please, stop with the flirt," Caleb grumbled. 

Victoria sighed as she shook her head. 

"I never said anything when you were flirting with Kaisley. Even back then." 

Stacey giggled a little as Maverick kissed her top head and rummaged through the big fridge. They even have a door for the freezer. Victoria washed her hands to help Maverick. Caleb also set up his fiancee on the seat next to Stacey and kissed her. 

"I'm going to make the best drinks. Stay there, babe." Caleb winked as Kaisley chuckled. 

"So, what are we going to make?" Caleb asked. 

"Uh, what does Stacey want?" Victoria asked. 

"I'll eat anything." 

A silhouette was just near the door and none of them noticed that the man had been staring at them as they got noisy and started laughing. 

"I'll get Kenzo!" Caleb said and was about to go to the door and he screamed in horror after noticing that a man is standing by the door. He quickly rushed behind Kaisley. 

"Coward," Kenzo grumbled as he stepped into the light with a smirk. "So, you plan for a party without me?" he snorted. Victoria throws a mitten directly to Caleb's head. 

"Love, no. We were just about to call you." Victoria glared at Caleb and she hated how Caleb screamed like a little girl. 

"Really?" Kenzo stared at his wife. 

"Love, come on. Don't scare us like that." Victoria approached him and snuggled to his chest. 

"You better pay, Duchess." He grumbled to her, scooped her jaw, and kissed her passionately. 

"Oh, geez!" Maverick and Caleb complained. 

Victoria was finally happy that they were complete. Caleb wasn't alone anymore and with their very good friend. Although all of them had reached something that they never expected, they were happy and she wanted to waste a little money from her husband to throw a party. 

"I love you," Victoria whispered to Kenzo and he hugged her tightly and kissed her temple. 

"I know that you miss my cooking. What do you want to eat, my love?" Kenzo asked as everyone started complaining about how cheesy they were. 

"Hmm, something like noodles and seafood. I want something spicy too and something sweet." 

"Quite complicated." Kenzo patted his head. "Girls, just sit still," Kenzo said and he removed his thick robe and gave it to Victoria. 

He shows off his sexy body by only wearing pajama pants. Caleb frowned and removed his pajama top and Maverick did the same. 

<><><><> 

Baroness Regina's Residence

After learning that Victoria was in good hands, she was relieved. But some people weren't relieved. Like her son and mostly, the daughter-in-law. They were isolated in the guest house, even Katarina. She heard from the maids and butlers that they were shocked that Victoria was the Duchess and the charges that the Duke filed were still in process. 

She kept them there because she wanted them to pay for what they did to Vivien. Although her son didn't know about it, her daughter-in-law was a complete murderer. She couldn't sleep for days and then, there's another problem. She was afraid that one day, she might get murdered in her own house. But she already rewrote her will and she wouldn't care now. The only person that she trusts is herself. 

"Our family's dignity has been tainted because of her," Regina mumbled. "I also failed as a mother." 

"Grandma, I'm sorry to hear that." 

She looked up at Renzel who did all of the work to cover up everything. She doesn't know him well outside the house, but she already investigated his background and there were only a few women who had been in a relationship with him. He doesn't go out much and only stays in a few places. However, what Regina wanted to know are his darkest secrets. 

"But would you think that it's better if I put you in that position? As a Lord Representative?" 

He bowed his head. 

"I'm sorry grandma. I don't think that I could handle such responsibility. Also, I am not the firstborn of the family." 

"I chose you anyway." Baroness Regina mumbled. 

"You aren't like other family members. You are different." 

"That's because I am not a pure Parson too. Just like Victoria, I don't want to be in this family." 

"You are a true Parson. Parson never tries to scam others or looks down at another's weakness and steps on them. But you weren't like that…" 

"I have dark secrets of my own too, grandma." 

The old woman laughed as she reached her tea. 

"We all have that. As long as it's not illegal, my dear." 

"I think it's illegal in our family." He pursed his lips. "I love this woman. She's just a barista and a college student. I offered her a place to stay… and to help her with her education. She declined but we were still together until mother found out. She broke up with me for no reason and~~I found the reason after mother said that she took half a million." 

"And you trust your mother for that?" Regina asked. 

"I wanted to. But seeing her still working nonstop, and losing weight… made me wonder if she ever had that half million. It's big money and she could feed herself." 

Regina saw that sincerity that she never saw in him. 

"I'm sorry, grandma." 

"Do you still love her?" 

"I do… she's the only woman who treated me casually. She never flirted with me like other women before, for the sake of money." 

"My dear, you are working hard for our family company." 

Renzel looked away as he stared at the family photo. 

"I only work hard to please the family." He grumbled. 

"You did well." The old woman stood and went to the window. "Victoria's mother was the maid of the family. She used to give me fine and delicate teas." 

Renzel listened to her. 

"Everything was only meant for her and I wanted you to know the biggest secret of this family." 

"So, it's not about Victoria?" He asked. 

"It's more than that." She sighed. "What this family did to Victoria's mother is unacceptable. It's a crime. But there's something more behind this perfect family facade. I want you to handle these things, not against the family. But to clean up and get back our reputation. I will be at your back, anytime." 

"Yes~~Yes, grandma. I'll do my best." 

"Also, Victoria is your real sister. She's Parson and you are a Parson no matter who your mother was." 

"I understand. Protecting this family is what we do. Dignity is what we should have. Reputation is a must. Victoria did well, marrying someone she loved with all of her heart without any bias and without looking at the man's background. It was a pure feeling, and I want you to do the same. I want you to marry someone who has a good heart, kind, compassionate, down to earth, and not some swindler." 

"Yes, grandma." 

"I am not telling who you should marry. The person who you are going to marry is someone you love. Like Victoria did. I wouldn't mind if your lover has a father of a murderer or an illegitimate child of a commoner family. As long as she won't interfere with any inheritance and won't trick our family. I am fine with it. All I want is someone that could take care of you and love you." 

"Like Kenzo?" Renzel asked. "Kenzo was a beggar and he never asked anything from this family. Not even money." 

"Yes, that's because he has dignity and reputation. Instead of sitting pretty and letting his wife work, he became a house husband in a short time and then had a job to give his wife money." 

Renzel was aware of Kenzo and he admired him and Victoria so much because they were free unlike him. 

"I only want you to be happy too. If you are happy, everything will not be complicated.. I don't want you to end like your father or like your uncle."