After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 335

A cold shiver ran down Sebelia’s neck.

There shouldn’t have been any other Ashrents staying at the estate. Rossel’s mother had passed away when he was young, and there was no one here who would be taking this kind of medication… Just as that thought flashed through her mind, a white light exploded before her eyes.

The instant she realized the truth, she grabbed Rossel’s arm.

“It’s Mother, isn’t it?”

Sebelia’s direct question left Rossel looking uneasy. He parted his lips, unsure how to answer, but Sebelia’s calm voice filled the air.

“So it really is Mother.”

Her grip tightened on his arm. With a quiet sigh, Rossel covered Sebelia’s hand with his own.

“Calm down.”

He murmured softly, and Sebelia’s shoulders shook. After a few unsteady breaths, she raked her hair back and spoke again.

“If… If I’m mistaken, please just tell me.”

She waited silently for his answer. But instead of words, a heavy, uncertain silence stretched between them.

At last, Rossel sighed deeply.

“Yes, you’re right.”

He rubbed his forehead as he began to explain.

“Aunt woke up about a month ago.”

It turned out that Watts and Claude hadn’t come to Lockwood just for research or travel. They’d entered the country at Rossel’s request, who had been interested with a foreign doctor for some time seeking treatment for Elena Ashrent.

“He’s the one who treated your illness and even cured the Emperor of Belkram. I thought he might be able to help, so I called him here.”

Within the closed borders of Lockwood, Rossel had exhausted every possible avenue. All that remained was to look outside—someone with new ideas and fresh information. So he asked Watts to treat Elena, and Watts and Claude gathered remedies from Belkram and scoured Lockwood for new medicinal ingredients.

Months went by, and with the combined efforts of many people, Elena miraculously opened her eyes at last.

“And just now, I’d gone to get this from Mr. Watts—the last of Aunt’s medicine. I chose the early hours because I didn’t want you to find out. But, well… here we are.”

Sebelia’s face had gone pale from a rush of joy and shock. It was a miracle that her mother had regained consciousness. But why had they kept it from her?

Was it because she didn’t want to see me?

The anxious thought came to her out of habit, but Rossel, noticing her distress, reached out to steady her.

“Bella, Aunt is still in rehabilitation.”

“What?”

Rossel hesitated, then sighed and admitted the truth, as if the words were hard to say.

“She said she wanted to meet you when she was healthy. That’s why we had to keep her recovery a secret from you.”

He went on, watching Sebelia, who stood stunned and speechless.

“She said she didn’t want you to see her in pain.”

His voice was gentle, each word falling softly between them. Like raindrops onto the surface of a lake, one by one.

“She wanted to be someone strong, someone you could lean on—not a weak person who’d have to rely on you. That’s what she told me.”

And with that, the lake that had been brimming so carefully finally spilled over.

“All for a reason like that…”

Sebelia’s frail body slowly gave way, and Rossel closed his eyes for a long moment, supporting her as she slumped.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

He held her as her breathing slowed and the trembling finally stopped.

“I want to see her.”

“Bella, I…”

“Please, let me see her.”

Her clear, resolute voice rang through the corridor. Rossel met her eyes, and she repeated herself.

“I don’t care what state Mother’s in.”

“…”

“She’s my mother, and I’m her daughter.”

Fighting back her emotions, Sebelia spoke again.

“Just because I see her when she’s not well—does she think I won’t lean on her? That’s ridiculous. I’m not nearly so grown up.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The moment I see her, I plan to whine and complain.”

When she declared she’d scold her mother for not waking up sooner, and for such foolish ideas, Rossel gave a faint smile. Seeing that, Sebelia doubled down, her tone growing even more determined.