To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 80

“I know too, Daniel.”

Aisha nodded, cutting off Daniel’s words. Daniel looked dumbfounded at her response.

“Huh?”

“Of course I know. I have eyes too.”

Just like Daniel, Aisha had sensed that what they had seen earlier was unnatural. Still, she didn’t want to take Ian’s words at face value.

‘If I said I didn’t like it, he could’ve kept Miss Helen from coming here for my sake. He could’ve stopped her from coming to our engagement ceremony. Couldn’t he have been more considerate of me?’

‘I don’t like that Miss Helen comes here. I don’t like how she calls your name so familiarly.’

How many times had she told Ian how she felt about that woman, Helen? Aisha had been hurt countless times and shed many tears because of Ian and Helen’s relationship.

‘I won the bet, and I feel great. I’m getting a big reward. So smile, Aisha. I’m happy, so you should be too. Isn’t that right?’

‘We’re not married yet. We’re only engaged.’

Even setting Helen aside, Ian had never made Aisha feel secure. He was selfish and the one who hurt her the most. Aisha had been hurt by him so many times that she sometimes wondered how she had ever trusted him.

“It’s hard. I’m so tired.”

She meant to say it only in her head, but the words slipped out. At the same time, her expressionless face blurred, and a tear quietly fell from her pale blue eyes. Daniel couldn’t say anything as he watched the tear roll down his little sister’s cheek. He simply took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

That single tear was the last. Aisha wiped her damp eyes and, holding the handkerchief tightly, gave her brother a faint but clear smile. Daniel considered teasing her for crying and smiling at the same time, but he decided this wasn’t the right moment and asked seriously,

“What are you going to do now?”

Aisha didn’t answer. Her silence made Daniel’s anger flare again. What good was turning away from Ian if she was just going to forgive and defend him soon after? Unable to hold back, he raised his voice.

“Come to think of it, you suddenly stopped walking earlier, didn’t you? Don’t tell me you were waiting for Ian?”

“I was waiting for you.”

“Don’t lie! Do you think I’d believe that? Whatever, don’t even think about stopping me from talking. I’m going to tell everything I saw and heard today to Father, Mother, and Edward. Got it?”

Daniel crossed his arms stubbornly. Aisha looked at her brother for a moment and then nodded.

“Okay.”

“What?”

“Go ahead, Daniel.”

Daniel was taken aback by her response. He uncrossed his arms and looked at her with wide eyes, asking for an explanation.

“As you know, I can’t keep my head straight when it comes to Ian. If I can’t judge things myself, then I should listen to what others have to say.”

Aisha spoke softly while turning her head to look out the window, as if Daniel’s gaze made her uncomfortable. Her voice was calm but carried the weight of resignation.

“Yeah. That’s a good idea.”

Feeling awkward, Daniel glanced at Aisha and then looked outside the carriage like she did. The scenery rushing by reflected late autumn. The season, moving toward winter, felt lonely somehow. But not as lonely as Aisha’s expression, so Daniel kept looking out the window until they reached Parden.

“Miss Helen, I think it would be best if you leave the marquis’ house right away.”

As soon as Ian chased Aisha and Daniel away, Diane spoke to Helen. Helen, who had been straightening her wrinkled dress, nodded as if she had the same thought.

“If you go down that path, you can avoid Ian and catch a carriage.”

“Alright. I’ll see you next time.”

When Diane pointed in the opposite direction Ian had gone, Helen quickly moved. She knew too. If she ran into Ian now, it would not end well.

As Helen walked away as if fleeing, pale-faced Sophia finally snapped out of it and moved. But by the time she reacted, Helen had already disappeared from sight.

“Sophia.”

Diane looked at her for a moment and called her name. Sophia flinched at her grandmother’s voice and turned around. Her green eyes were full of discomfort about the current situation.

“It worked, didn’t it?”

“Huh?”

Sophia looked confused, not understanding her grandmother’s words. Diane gave her a warm smile.

“Oh, my sweet, innocent Sophia. My dear granddaughter. Was it a shock? I suppose the kiss was a bit much, wasn’t it?”

Could something like that just be called “a bit much”? Sophia didn’t like Aisha, but her conscience still sided with her. Since Sophia didn’t respond, Diane gently held her hand like comforting a child and spoke softly.

“Sophia, you’re a good girl. It’s okay to frown at what just happened. But try thinking of it this way.”

“We always believed Ian and Miss Helen had the same feelings. But your brother Ian is a bit old-fashioned, isn’t he? People like that need a big shock to break their stubborn thinking. What just happened may have helped Ian realize his true feelings.”

Diane emphasized the word “we,” but Sophia couldn’t nod easily like she usually did. Her heart kept saying no.

‘Does Ian really have feelings for Helen? He ran after Aisha like that.’

Would he have done that if he truly cared about Helen? Would Helen have run away like that if she believed Ian had feelings for her?

But if Ian didn’t care for Helen Memories from Sophia’s childhood, filled with loneliness and tears, came flooding back. Parents who adored their daughter, kind older brothers, and even Ian’s attention  all stolen by Aisha

‘I hate you, Aisha! Why does everyone like you?’

‘Sophia, what are you saying—Ah!’

‘I hate you! I really hate you!’

‘Hey! What do you think you’re doing to someone else’s little sister!’

She remembered pushing Aisha down and getting thrown into a muddy puddle by Daniel. The pink dress her parents had given her as a final gift was ruined beyond repair.

No one comforted Sophia afterward no one except Arthur. Remembering all this, Sophia clenched her fists and held back tears.

“And showing it clearly is best for Miss Aisha too. Hurting her for a long time with unclear feelings is worse than this.”

Helen, now back, sought agreement again. Sophia looked at Diane’s gentle smile for a moment, then finally nodded slowly.

“Yes. You’re right, Grandmother.”

As Sophia agreed, Diane smiled and gently rubbed her hand. The warmth of her grandmother’s wrinkled hand eased Sophia’s heart a little, and she returned the smile.

‘Yes. My side is Grandmother and Helen. I can’t think differently from them, can I?’

Repeating the word “my side” to herself, Sophia forced away her discomfort. But like a thorn caught in her throat, the unease and frustration lingered  and her smile remained stiff.

“Grandmother, can you give me a hug?”

Barely holding up the corners of her mouth, Sophia asked Diane. Surprised for a moment by the sudden request, Diane soon put on a well-practiced smile and opened her arms wide.

“Of course, my darling.”

As Sophia buried herself in Diane’s arms, she closed her eyes tightly. Diane, in turn, gave her a brief, cold look as if Sophia were a burden before turning her head in the direction Helen had gone.

‘There’s not much time left Whatever that illegitimate girl is planning, she’d better deliver results quickly.’

The setting sun cast long shadows over the bushes where Helen had disappeared. Feeling anxious, Diane bit her lip and lowered her gaze. There, between the green blades of grass, a small purple wildflower peeked out.

Diane’s expression darkened. She lifted her foot and crushed the flower beneath her shoe as she muttered to herself.

‘’ll make sure my children get what’s theirs.’

When Helen got into the carriage, her breathing was heavy, and her velvet shoes were dirty with dirt and dead grass. Thinking about how she had rushed in like a fugitive, she trembled with humiliation and muttered,

“Just wait and see. I’ll become the marchioness no matter what it takes.”

But even as she said it out loud, she couldn’t think of a clear plan. It felt good to show Aisha with Ian, but she knew Ian would only grow more hostile after this. And after causing such a scene, Diane and Sophia would no longer be able to openly invite her back to the house.

“Hmph! Whatever. That fox-like old woman and Sophia were never that helpful anyway. Useless people!”

Frustrated, Helen stomped her foot and cursed Diane and Sophia. Her angry, panting breath filled the carriage.

“Haah…”

After a long moment of fuming, Helen tried to calm herself with a sigh and raised her hand. She pressed her fingers to her forehead to ease her headache.

“Ow!”

The cold metal of a ring touched her warm skin, making her flinch. Helen looked at her hand as if she suddenly remembered something.

‘That’s right. I have a brother.’

Three rings were on her left hand. But they were overshadowed by the large, ornate ring on her index finger.

‘Now that things are like this, I have to use my hidden card.’

Helen rubbed the ring on her left index finger, her eyes gleaming with cunning. And inside the ring, the engraved lion raised its head as if ready to roar.

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