To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 31

“Edward Do you know how I felt when I heard that earlier?”

“I… I was happy without realizing it. Even though it sounded like being engaged to me was just like buying and selling an object my heart still fluttered. I should’ve felt miserable… but… ah.”

A hollow, bitter laugh slipped from her lips. At the sound of his younger sister’s broken voice, Edward unconsciously clenched his hand. Aisha winced slightly from the sudden pain and let out a soft groan.

Realizing what he had done, Edward quickly pulled his hand back. Aisha gently rubbed her sore shoulder, then placed her hand over his again, this time firmly with both of hers. She held on tightly to his much bigger hand.

“I was foolish I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m really sorry. I should’ve acted smarter for your sake, for both my brothers but I didn’t. I’m so sorry.”

As she kept apologizing, Edward’s jaw tensed. He looked silently down at his trembling sister, still holding his hand as if it were a lifeline, and finally spoke after a long pause.

“Aisha. I’ve never believed in myths or legends. But today, for the first time, I resent Cupid’s arrow.”

Cupid, the childlike god from the ancient mythology of the Caesar Empire, was the son of Venus, the goddess of love. Though he looked cute, his arrows had great power. Anyone struck by them would fall into a deep, uncontrollable love—almost like a curse. That’s why people often said those suffering from hopeless love had been hit by Cupid’s arrow.

Edward had always dismissed such stories as nonsense. But seeing his sister unable to let go of Ian, despite the pain, made him feel like that cursed arrow might truly exist. He tried to pull his hand away from hers but stopped and spoke in a weary voice.

“I won’t say anything more. If this is what you want, I can’t stop you. But as your brother I just hope”

“I just hope that arrow stuck in your heart is pulled out as soon as possible.”

For years, Sophia hadn’t even glanced toward the Parden family. But now, she was here. Or rather, she had been dragged here by Ian.

“Ian. Please brother. I, I…”

“There’s no need to do it this way. I just need to apologize to Aisha, right? Just to her okay?”

From the front gate, Sophia’s face was twisted in shame and on the verge of tears. Even as her brother pulled her along, she desperately shook her head. But Ian, holding her hand, didn’t look at her or stop walking.

While Ian and Sophia walked in, everyone from the Parden family except Aisha was already gathered in the estate’s largest parlor, waiting for them. Their expressions were equally sour, and the servants nearby watched their masters nervously.

“Even today, she couldn’t bother to arrive on time Honestly tsk.”

“Ahem”

Sitting in the main seat with her husband, Marissa couldn’t hide her displeasure. Her sharp words made Graham beside her cough awkwardly. Clearly uncomfortable, he finally spoke in a careful tone.

“Marissa, since we’ve even called in a notary, maybe we should excuse the children and the servants. Too many people might not be ideal.”

“Graham. If you’re going to say something like that, you might as well just sip your tea. I’m already furious that we’re ending things like this Are you serious right now?”

Everyone’s eyes turned sharp except Arthur’s at Marissa’s fierce words. As she glared at her husband, Daniel, who had been standing with arms crossed, raised his voice.

“Mother’s right. It’s already infuriating enough that she’s getting away with just an apology. And how do we know Sophia won’t pull something on Aisha again? I’m not leaving. No way.”

The Count of Parden couldn’t respond to his wife. He knew she had already compromised by not taking Sophia to court.

But making a noble lady like Sophia apologize in front of the entire Parden family including Aisha, a notary, and eight servants Marissa had clearly summoned was a huge blow to her pride and a public humiliation. Still, unable to argue further, Graham snapped at Daniel instead.

“Daniel! Don’t interrupt when your parents are speaking! And what’s with that black sword? Go put it in your room at once!”

“No. If someone runs their mouth again, I might need to cut it off.”

“Did you just say!”

Graham was about to explode at Daniel’s harsh words but stopped when he saw something. His sudden hesitation made everyone turn to the entrance.

“Sorry I’m a bit late.”

“Come in, Aisha.”

Aisha was standing at the entrance, wearing a beige dress. When her eyes met Graham’s, she gave an awkward smile and looked away. Following her mother’s signal, she quietly sat down. Graham lowered his head, biting his lip at the look on her face.

‘Marissa’s right. I shouldn’t be like this. Even if Sophia feels like a daughter to me my real daughter is Aisha.’

Graham sighed heavily. Marissa was right while looking after Ian and Sophia, he had failed to truly take care of his own children.

“You better keep your head straight. If you forgive her right away or something, I won’t let it slide.”

Daniel smirked at his depressed father and warned Aisha sharply. At his firm tone, Aisha nodded and slowly looked around at her family.

Her father, Graham, was holding his head down, hand on his forehead. Her mother sat upright, as cold as her second son. Edward, across from her, had his eyes closed with a slight frown.

‘They’re all like this because of me…’

Aisha, heavy with guilt, turned her gaze toward her eldest brother. Arthur flinched and quickly turned away when she looked at him. His awkward movements might have seemed strange, but Aisha, lost in self-blame, didn’t notice and just sat with a downcast face.

The room was silent. But the heavy atmosphere didn’t last long because Ian and Sophia arrived.

“I don’t want to go in”

Sophia’s voice was loud enough to be heard from the parlor. Practically clinging to Ian’s arm, she was pale and pleading. But when they reached the archway leading into the room, she stopped talking.

“Ah”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward her, and Sophia nearly collapsed. But Ian held her up firmly and bowed politely with a calm expression.

“It’s been a while. We’re here to offer a formal apology to Lady Aisha and the Parden family.”

Sophia felt like she might faint under the sixteen pairs of eyes staring at her including her brother’s. She tried to turn and run, but Ian blocked her. Before she could even move, he pushed her into the center of the parlor.

Everyone’s attention focused on her. After days of scolding from Ian, Sophia knew exactly what she had to do.

Sniffling, she stood in front of Aisha and turned to her brother with teary eyes. But Ian didn’t soften. With a look, he signaled her to speak. Reluctantly, she began.

“S… sniff… s-sorry… I was wr… uwaaaah!”

Sophia’s apology was barely understandable. Head hanging low, sobbing uncontrollably, she sounded more like a 7-year-old than a noble lady. Aisha looked at her with surprise, then turned to Marissa.

Unlike Aisha’s shocked face, Marissa remained cold. She stood up and addressed Ian in a stern voice.

“Marquess. I assume you don’t plan to end it like this?”

Though polite, her words were icy. Marissa had known the Ian siblings for a long time and usually called Ian by name unless it was official. The moment she used his title, the atmosphere turned formal.

“As promised, please proceed. In front of the notary, Lady Sophia must kneel and offer a sincere apology to my daughter.”

At her signal, the notary an older man with glasses and a strict expression approached. Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. She had heard it before, but still making her, the only daughter of the Lloyd family, kneel before someone like Aisha and even document it?

But Ian didn’t flinch. As if expecting this, he bowed slightly and replied.

“Of course, ma’am.”

“O-Oppa…”

“Sophia Lloyd. As head of our family, I command you: kneel before Lady Aisha and give her a respectful and sincere apology. Now.”

When she called him “oppa,” Ian responded coldly. Sophia looked at him in disbelief, then turned to Graham, who had always been soft toward her.

Just once if I call him ‘uncle’… he’ll help me like he always does. He did that day too, didn’t he? When I confessed, he was the only one who stopped Countess Marissa

“Ugh… U-Uncle, please h-help me… hwaaah…”

Her sobs were pitiful. But Graham didn’t even turn his head toward her. His coldness made Sophia tremble all over.

Support To the One Who’s Only Cold to Me