To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 112

The sudden rain slowly stopped, and by early the next morning, it had completely cleared. Ian had spent the whole night listening to the rain with a cold expression, sitting by the fire lit by the caretaker couple. He only stood up when the slanting sunlight began to sting his eyes.

A beautiful scene spread out under the warm sunlight. Despite the bad weather last night, the view outside the window looked like a painting. Birds sang in the mountains, and clear water droplets fell from the leaves. Some broken branches and muddy puddles were visible, but even those added a natural charm.

However, Ian’s eyes stayed sharp as he looked at the sparkling surface of the calm lake. He stared emotionlessly at the scene in front of him, then turned his head at the sound of a distant carriage.

This place was private property, and only the caretaker couple and delivery workers came and went. Occasionally, someone who got lost or a villager might pass by, but it was very rare. That’s why Ian watched the carriage approaching the villa with a puzzled look. Then, his face hardened when he recognized the familiar emblem on the carriage.

‘So they found out I was here.’

He saw the caretaker husband running toward the approaching carriage. Soon, Count Parden stepped out of the carriage carrying a large bag.

Count Parden spoke to the caretaker and then looked up at the window where Ian stood. Ian stared coldly at the count’s worried face, then made a gesture for the caretaker to let him inside.

A fire burned in the villa’s library, which had not been used in a long time. Ian and Count Parden sat across from each other on a couch, not too close to the fireplace.

Ian had his arms crossed and didn’t hide the hatred on his face. Count Parden, on the other hand, sat with his hands together, looking sorrowful. But even the deep grief on the face of the man he had once thought of as a father didn’t make Ian blink.

“Ian.”

Count Parden spoke first. His chin trembled, and his voice was hoarse.

“What did you do to Aisha to my daughter?”

His voice was full of blame and sorrow. But Ian, who had already expected Aisha to faint based on what the servants said, raised his chin arrogantly and replied with a blank expression.

“Sounds like she fainted. If you’re blaming me for that, it’s not fair. It’s not my fault Aisha has a weak body.”

His voice had no concern at all. The color drained from Count Parden’s face. He looked at Ian in disbelief, then let his gaze fall into the air.

Seeing that, Ian felt the weight of concern deepen in a corner of his chest. But he ignored it and repeated the words “revenge” and “enemy” in his mind.

It seemed to work. His thoughts of Aisha faded, and sharp hatred toward the man before him took over. Ian stared at Count Parden and spoke mockingly.

“More importantly, how did you know I was here? You didn’t send someone to follow me, did you? Or did this place come to mind since I said I knew about the past?”

Count Parden didn’t reply. Ian shrugged at the man’s silent, empty gaze.

“Well it doesn’t matter how you found me. Actually, it’s perfect. I had something to say anyway.”

“I’m sure you heard from your daughter. I can never forgive you.”

Count Parden flinched at those words. Ian caught the deep guilt in his eyes and his gaze sharpened. He was right. This man was the one who killed his parents, the one who had deceived him all this time.

With his anger rising, Ian no longer questioned whether Count Parden might not be the culprit. He spoke in a chilling tone.

“Let’s start with breaking off the engagement. Tomorrow no, starting today, I’ll do my best to cut that tie. It’s ridiculous to stay engaged to your daughter.”

“Breaking it off You say that so easily, Ian.”

Count Parden’s face twisted at the word “breakup.” His eyes grew bloodshot as he questioned Ian.

“I heard from a maid. That Aisha bought birth control because of you. Is that true?”

Though he didn’t say it directly, he was blaming Ian for sharing a bed with Aisha. Ian froze for a moment, then sneered and replied.

“Yes. You’re right. I shared a bed with Aisha.”

“You…”

“That face says it all. You look shocked. Well, of course you would be. Your precious daughter lost her purity before marriage.”

Seeing Ian admit it so casually and even mockingly, Count Parden clenched his fists tightly. His daughter was more precious to him than anything. Yet the boy he had once raised like a son now laughed while saying he had used her.

“You After doing something like that, how can you be the one to talk about breaking it off first? How can you say it so easily?”

As Count Parden stammered, unable to speak clearly, Ian smirked. It felt both unpleasant and satisfying. A part of him said to stop, but hurting his enemy was far too tempting.

“Why are you so shocked?”

“You’re blaming me for talking about breaking it off when we already slept together? Normally, I’d take responsibility. We’d be married by now.”

“But Aisha is your daughter. The daughter of my enemy. It was pathetic how she kept begging, but as a woman, she was not bad. Maybe because you raised her so delicately. She had her charms, so I played with her for a bit.”

The longer Ian spoke his cruel words, the heavier Count Parden’s breathing became. Finally, unable to hold back, he jumped to his feet and clenched his teeth like he might attack any second. But Ian looked up at him without fear and said,

“Still, I had some feelings left and gave her a chance. Didn’t she tell you? She rejected my proposal.”

Ian’s face lost its smile as he recalled his conversation with Aisha. His voice came out low and bitter.

“She said she’d choose you over me. What a touching father-daughter moment. But don’t worry too much. Whether it’s old feelings or just attachment, I’ve decided to spare only Aisha. Of course, she won’t live as nicely as before.”

His words were cruel, but Ian had firmly decided to keep Aisha by his side. The more he thought about her body and face, the more he knew he wouldn’t get tired of her. And he couldn’t imagine life without her.

‘She’s mine.’

Ian had thought it over all night and finally accepted it. She had chosen her father and thrown him away without hesitation, but he couldn’t throw her away.

He had tried to deny it, but Ian still loved Aisha. He had said cruel things calling her a slave, saying he’d sell her but if he couldn’t have her, he felt like he’d go mad.

So he planned to keep her with him forever, to torment her. He would tie her down with family, make her his mistress, and eventually use a child to lock her in place. That’s the life he wanted her to accept.

Of course, she needed to be punished for choosing her father over him. But if, in the end, she truly asked for forgiveness he would let her live peacefully as his wife.

If they had three children two boys who looked like both of them and a girl who looked like her maybe then he could be kind to her, kiss her first, hold her gently.

As Ian continued his twisted thoughts, Count Parden stood over him, struggling to calm his clenched fists. He breathed deeply several times, then slowly let out a long breath. Rubbing his face with both hands, he finally spoke, unable to hide his sorrow.

“She had a miscarriage.”

Ian, who had been sitting with one leg crossed and a crooked smile, was visibly shaken for the first time at Count Parden’s words. He couldn’t understand what he had just heard. He repeated the words in his head several times before finally speaking.

“What?”

“Aisha had a miscarriage last night. Right after you left.”

Count Parden repeated the horrifying news to Ian, who now looked stunned and empty. As Ian’s twisted expression slowly faded into shock, Count Parden cried out.

“That girl Aisha never caused her parents or brothers any trouble. Except for things related to you. So the child must have been yours.”

“Ian. I was always proud of you. I thought you were a better boy than even my own sons.”

“But it was all my mistake. You’re truly heartless. No I can’t even see you as human anymore.”

“Aisha is weak, just like you said. But you made her even weaker. You gave her a wound that will never go away.”

“Lies.”

Just as Count Parden’s voice became choked with tears, Ian sharply cut him off with bloodshot eyes.

“A miscarriage? That’s a lie!”

“That’s a ridiculous lie. Why would she miscarry? I always made sure she took birth control. And Aisha never said anything about being pregnant. Not once… not once…”

The medicine Ian used was highly effective but not perfect. Ian knew that, which was why he could no longer use it as an excuse.

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