To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 120

When Marissa first noticed the change in atmosphere, she didn’t think much of it. Maximizing profits, placing people in the right positions and using them effectively Marissa felt a deep sense of achievement and pride in her work. She was far too busy to care about rumors.

“Daniel! You can’t hit your friend! Edward! You should’ve stopped your little brother!”

But after Edward was born, followed by Daniel, Aisha, and Arthur, things changed.

“He started it!”

“Daniel! You’re still not sorry—”

“He called Mom a rude commoner woman with no manners! You expect me to let that go?”

“He insulted Mom! I should’ve hit him harder!”

Marissa didn’t mind being excluded herself. It was annoying, but bearable. She could handle the whispers. But it was different when her children were excluded in their social circles. That more than anything else was something she couldn’t endure.

“I want you to take over what I was doing now, Graham.”

“What? You’re better at it than I am.”

After Aisha and Arthur were born, Marissa made a decision. Around that time, Graham’s position had risen, and the role of a so-called ‘lady of the house’ had become more important.

“I’m not saying I’ll quit completely. But if we want to fit in with those high-and-mighty nobles, there’s no other choice.”

“Marissa, you don’t have to do that. No matter what people say…”

“Enough. That’s it. And, sigh…”

“From now on, I’ll even speak a little differently to you. At least in front of the kids and others.”

Marissa handed over control of her business to her husband and, like most noblewomen, took charge of the household. Of course, her wisdom didn’t disappear, so she still discussed and advised on business matters. But that side of her was only shown at home.

Her outings also changed both in direction and appearance. Once always dressed in comfortable clothes, rushing from place to place, Marissa now wore elegant gowns and visited the homes of noble sponsors.

As Marissa started to step into their social circles, the noble ladies welcomed her with smiling faces and refined words. But underneath, their words were sharp as thorns.

“Countess Parden, I heard your second son is much more spirited than your eldest, perhaps taking after your side of the family?”

“Oh, not at all. He’s nothing compared to your fine son.”

The garden where the ladies gathered was another kind of battlefield. Less physically tiring, perhaps, but the quiet fights over tea were mentally exhausting. And since her usual responsibilities hadn’t decreased, Marisa had to cut down on her sleep even more.

“You must be more tired than I am, and yet I was the one complaining. I’m sorry.”

The only one who truly understood was Graham, always by her side. He knew how hard she worked and always looked apologetic. But Marissa frowned at his apology.

“I chose this path, so don’t look at me like that. It annoys me.”

“But… okay. How are the kids? And how’s Aisha doing?”

Graham tried to say something more but changed the subject to the children. Marissa didn’t stay upset and answered calmly.

“They’re all asleep. Aisha’s fine now. Her fever’s gone, and she’s not crying anymore.”

“That’s a relief. She cried so much yesterday. I worry about her since she’s always been weak…”

Graham’s face brightened at the news that Aisha had stopped crying. She was their only daughter and the weakest among the children. Whenever she cried—no matter the reason—Graham was always troubled and heartbroken.

“You spoil her too much. That’s why she throws such tantrums.”

Marissa scolded him, frowning. The reason Aisha had cried for two days straight was, in fact, ridiculous.

“Please take care of our kids while we’re away.”

“Don’t worry. It’s your 10th wedding anniversary how lovely.”

“Haha. Next time, I’ll watch your kids. Just take some time off.”

About a month ago, the Marquis Lloyd and his wife went on a couple’s trip and left the Ian siblings at the Parden estate. A week ago, they returned and took the children back.

“I want to play with Ian. He promised to play with me every day!”

But Aisha, who had grown very attached to Ian especially him cried for two whole days saying she missed him. Marissa tried to scold her sternly, but Aisha’s sulky face and teary eyes didn’t go away. Seeing her like that made Graham and her brothers panic.

“This is the first time Aisha’s acted like this. Honestly, I was glad. She used to be so timid—it worried me.”

“She’s only five. If she picks up bad habits now, they’ll stick.”

“Aisha’s not that kind of child, so don’t worry. Still… it seems like she likes Ian more than her brothers. Maybe she knows he’s her future husband?”

“Don’t say things like that. You and the Marquis always say those things in front of the kids. Now Aisha actually believes she has to marry Ian. Do you even realize how much your careless words affect them?”

“So what? They’re practically engaged anyway.”

“Graham.”

“Alright. I’ll stop. So don’t be mad, okay?”

Graham quickly surrendered under Marissa’s stern tone. She was about to say more but stopped when she saw how tired he looked.

The two soon went to bed. Lying down, Graham naturally offered his arm as a pillow, and Marissa snuggled into him, eyes closed. But a thought popped into her mind, and she opened her eyes.

“By the way, did you see the Marquis today?”

“No. Not today either. I don’t think he’s come to the palace at all.”

“Maybe he’s still tired from the trip. Still, it’s strange. He should’ve shown his face by now.”

After taking the children back, the Cliff couple hadn’t been seen since. Normally, they would have met several times by now. Even during his busy schedule, Graham had started to wonder.

“Graham. About that day…”

Marissa hesitated with a tense expression, then spoke. When she saw the Cliff couple a week ago picking up the children, she’d felt an unexplainable sense of unease. Their movements were awkward, their eyes avoided each other And Renee’s pale face, full of anxiety, had especially worried her.

“Hm?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go wash up. You need to sleep soon you said you have to leave early tomorrow.”

But Marissa quickly shut her mouth and closed her eyes. If her worries were true, the consequences would be enormous. She was too afraid to even speak them aloud.

A suffocating silence filled the room. Renee, collapsed on the floor, could barely breathe under the heavy pressure.

“So it’s all true?”

“Before you married me, you were already married once—and pregnant, too? Ha!”

Cliff had returned home after a week, and he looked like a madman. His empty laugh burst out after those emotion-filled words. Daphne—no, Renee—squeezed her eyes shut as if the truth of her past had struck like an arrow, then slowly opened them.

Gasp.

Her breath caught. His blue eyes, burning darkly, were fierce beyond anger, they were terrifying. She had never seen such a look in nearly ten years of marriage. Trembling, she curled up, then crawled over to grab Cliff’s pant leg.

“C-Cliff…”

“Please… please listen to me.”

They shouldn’t have gone on that trip. Daphne had repeated that foolish regret over and over. But the trip itself wasn’t the problem. It was the unbelievable coincidence of meeting a hometown merchant who knew her past, and Cliff overhearing his bitter, malicious words blaming her father for swindling him.

“I—I had no choice back then. None of that was what I wanted… It wasn’t my decision.”

“I was too young. I couldn’t think clearly. I didn’t know what to do I was swept up in it all. So…”

“Shut up!”

Smack.

With her golden hair falling forward, crying as if under a mythic curse, Daphne looked utterly pitiful. But in Cliff’s eyes, she was nothing but a witch a monster. He shook her off coldly and glared with hate.

“You call that an excuse? You had no choice?”

A former husband, even a pregnancy… Any man would be shocked to find out such secrets after ten years. But Cliff’s reaction was even stronger. The moment he heard Daphne’s secret, he saw the image of his most hated person his mother, Diane overlapping with his wife.

‘Ah… Randall.’

‘Diane. I love you. Diane. Diane…’

Cliff had never told anyone, but in the Kingdom of Todome, he had once seen a shocking side of his mother. A man someone who was not his father—connected to her. For the young Cliff, who’d been dragged to Todome due to his parents’ divorce, it was a horrifying memory.

‘Royal blood runs through your veins. Always be mindful of your behavior. Never bring shame on yourself. I won’t forgive you if you act like your lowly father.’

And in the Empire, Diane had always preached about nobility. She pressured Cliff to live honorably, yet committed deeply immoral acts herself. Because of that, Cliff developed a deep mistrust not only toward his mother but toward women in general.

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