To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 117

In the Count’s drawing room, a grand drinking party was being held for the first time in a while. But only Cliff was drunk none of the other three had even a hint of intoxication.

“Drink, Graham. It’s a happy day. You have to drink.”

Marissa and Cliff’s new bride, Renee, hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol from the start. Graham drank with Cliff but secretly poured some of the wine onto the carpet now and then. Marissa and Renee noticed this but didn’t call it out instead, they even helped.

“Cliff, you’re already really drunk.”

“I’m fine. I’m oka—…”

Thud.

Under the silent agreement of the three, Cliff finally collapsed forward onto the table, fast asleep. As soon as Marissa confirmed he was truly out, she quickly called for a servant and ordered him to be taken to a guest room.

“Take the Marquess to the guest room on the third floor. The room at the very end would be best.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Even after Cliff was gone, the three remained silent. They didn’t know what to say. Meeting again like this it was beyond shocking. It was almost terrifying.

“Daphne.”

Graham was the first to speak after a long silence. Renee flinched at the sound of her real name being called. But that was all she didn’t avoid the stares of Graham and Marisa.

“What happened?”

Graham glared at his first love with a pale face and asked through gritted teeth. Daphne now Renee moved her lips as if to speak, but no voice came out. Then suddenly, she stood up and dropped to her knees in front of them.

“Please pretend you don’t know me. I have to marry him. I must.”

With both hands clasped together, begging, Daphne still looked beautiful. She had lost a little weight compared to when she suddenly disappeared years ago, but even that made her seem more delicately lovely.

Graham’s face twisted with anger as he stared at her lemon-colored hair tied up neatly. Her unexpected appearance had shaken him to the core. He had tried to hold it in front of Cliff, but now that he was gone, he no longer could.

“Is that all you have to say? You! You…!”

Graham’s breathing grew rough as if he was about to yell. He had thought he’d forgotten her over the years, but seeing her again, the anger overwhelmed him.

“Graham, calm down.”

Marissa grabbed her husband’s arm firmly. Her touch helped him come to his senses.

“Sorry. You shouldn’t be surprised. And my anger is just”

Graham apologized to Marissa with a worried look. As he regained clarity, the rage and betrayal he’d felt toward Daphne quickly faded, replaced with concern that his wife might misunderstand or that this situation could harm the baby she carried.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say more. Don’t worry.”

Seeing her husband’s troubled face, Marissa nodded with firm eyes. Graham, comforted by her steady trust, nodded back and stayed silent. Daphne, watching the couple from below, had a fleeting, icy look in her eyes.

“Daphne. Explain. Now.”

Marissa, who had patted Graham’s hand a few times, turned to Daphne and spoke in a cold voice. Daphne looked at Marissa’s rounded belly for a moment, her eyes welling with tears. Then she began to speak, explaining what had happened.

“I had no choice. Back then”

According to Daphne, it all started with the former Count Parden—Graham’s father. When Graham entered the academy, the then-Viscount quietly pressured Daphne to give up on marrying Graham.

“Marissa, you saw it too. How hard the former Count made things for me. He kept bringing up my parents, giving me dirty looks. How could I endure that?”

Daphne tried to justify herself, recalling that time. Yes, it had been a difficult situation. Graham was far away, and the former Count was harsh. And then, a kind and handsome stranger appeared, Of course, she later found out he was a total scumbag, but at the time, Daphne felt she had no choice but to rely on him.

“It’s true the former Count was harsh. But Daphne, your parents were also at fault.”

Marissa disagreed. Having lived in Parden territory with Daphne, she understood the bigger picture. The former Count, already cold toward Daphne, had been pushed further because of her parents.

“Your parents told everyone you were Graham’s fiancée and made unreasonable demands of the former Count. And you left with that man after the Count went to the capital. Now you’re blaming someone who’s passed away? Don’t you think that’s shameful?”

“T-the family was going through a hard time. That’s why my parents acted that way. And what does it matter if the Count went to the capital? The Countess stayed behind and made my life miserable. She always compared me to you, Marissa. She… she bullied me so much. Graham, it was all your parents’ fault…”

“Enough.”

Still avoiding Daphne’s eyes, Graham held only Marissa’s hand. When Daphne mentioned his parents, he cut her off sharply. His voice was cold and without a shred of affection or trust.

“Don’t blame my father and mother. No matter the reason, you were the one who broke our trust first.”

Daphne bit her lip, looking hurt, but Graham’s expression made it clear that no excuse would work. Her shoulders slumped, and she mumbled even more pitifully.

“You’re right. It’s all just excuses.”

“But I’ve already paid for betraying you. Look at this.”

Daphne lowered the top of her dress slightly and bent forward. On her back were faded but still visible whip scars. The awful marks looked out of place on her pale skin, and Graham and Marissa’s eyes flickered with shock.

“Do you know what happened to me after I left you, Graham? My first child The father was worse than a dog. He tricked me, saying we’d live together, and convinced me to leave my home and family. But every night he gambled, and when he lost, he beat me. Eventually, I lost the baby in my womb.”

She spoke of the child’s death while glancing at Marissa’s belly. Marissa instinctively held her stomach, feeling a chill. Graham also gripped her hand tighter, visibly uncomfortable.

“Even after I lost the baby, the violence didn’t stop. I finally ran away and tried to return home, but my parents had already left. I spent nearly six months looking for my family. I finally found them”

“The family I found after two years… sob… Father had died of illness, and my poor little sister had drowned. My mother broke into tears the moment she saw me. She told me she had planned to die that day, but since I’d come, she couldn’t.”

“After that, my mother and I decided to go to my uncle’s house. Before arriving, I decided to become Renee. My uncle’s family had heard vague rumors about me But they’re nobles too, so they wouldn’t accept me if they knew I was an unmarried woman who’d lost a baby. I thought living as Renee would be better. You know how people treat a woman who lost a baby without ever being married. I felt sorry for the real Renee, but I had no choice.”

Daphne’s voice was filled with self-pity. Marissa and Graham weren’t entirely moved, but they did feel sorry for her painful story. After all, she was their childhood friend. The young couple still had soft hearts.

“I was worried someone would find out, but since we hadn’t stayed in touch, my uncle’s family didn’t realize I wasn’t the real Renee. I was lucky.”

“I thought I’d finally found peace. But not long after, my mother died and my uncle’s family changed.”

“Soon after my mother passed, my uncle made me his daughter, then tried to marry me off like I was merchandise. If Cliff the Marquess hadn’t appeared then, I’d have been sold off to some old man.”

Daphne’s eyes sparkled at the mention of Cliff. Handsome, noble, rich Cliff was her salvation, her once-in-a-lifetime chance.

“If this marriage breaks off, I’ll have to go back to that hell. So please keep this a secret. Pretend you don’t know me. Pretend we’ve never met. Please, Marissa, Graham we were such close friends once.”

Crying and begging, Daphne looked pitiful helped, no doubt, by her striking appearance. Graham and Marissa both felt a hint of pity.

But Marissa, who was the more clear-headed of the two, quickly came to her senses and shook her head.

“No.”

Marissa’s heart was heavy. She already felt some guilt toward Daphne. But no matter how many times she thought it over, it was too risky. Especially considering Cliff’s personality if he ever found out, the consequences would be serious. So, suppressing her guilt, Marissa spoke firmly.

“If the Marquess finds out later, it won’t just hurt you. We’ll be dragged into it too. If you want help escaping the arranged marriage your uncle set up, I’ll help. But give up on this marriage.”

The pity in Daphne’s tearful eyes turned to venom. She stood up abruptly and shouted at Marissa.

“I can’t! No—I won’t!”

“Why should I give up this marriage? Do you know how hard I worked to get this chance?!”

“You both know. Someone like Cliff… I’ll never get another chance like this. And I’m not the only one who should feel guilty. You two did things wrong to me too!”

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