Don’t Ask, It’ll Hurt If You Know - Chapter 65

Chloe asked, her curiosity genuine. Because the shock from moments ago hadn’t completely subsided, she had momentarily forgotten she was supposed to be pretending to be Bianca Lloyd and made a slip of the tongue, but fortunately, Viscount Lloyd did not mention it.

“Of course. Bianca, you are without a doubt the daughter of Ena and myself.”

He spoke firmly, scowling deeply as if the very existence of such a doubt was utterly offensive. Judging by his reaction, it seemed Bianca really was his biological daughter. That made it even more appalling. How could a man be so indifferent to his own flesh and blood? Chloe simply could not understand it.

“Then shouldn’t you believe my words more than that woman, who doesn’t share a single drop of your blood?”

In the past, Bianca had told her father what she had been enduring and asked for help, but the diary recorded that he hadn’t believed her at all. It was because that vixen Ashley Lloyd had already laid the groundwork.

With the servants, including the butler and the head maid, all speaking in unison that the Madam would never do such a thing, it was only natural, in a way, that Bianca’s appeals didn’t stand a chance.

“Are you saying I should believe even lies just because you are my biological daughter?”

The vixen’s handiwork was still effective. When Viscount Lloyd asked in a sigh-laden voice, Chloe gave a soft smile.

“Of course not. The problem is that the person lying isn’t me, but that woman.”

The Viscount narrowed his brows and perched on the edge of the desk. Tap, tap. The sound of his fingertips drumming against the desk gradually grew faster.

“The butler and the head maid, as well as the others, testified that it was you, not the Madam, who was in the wrong, and that you attended the Rumonie on your own whim. Do you still intend to insist otherwise, that the Madam lied?”

“I’m not insisting. I’m simply telling the truth.”

Chloe crossed her arms and continued.

“If you don’t believe my words, go to the post office and check the records for that day.”

Since Bianca’s diary mentioned that a mailman was the one who brought the Rumonie invitation, there would surely be a record.

“If you check who the mailman gave the invitation to and whose signature he received, you will be able to tell who the liar is.”

As Chloe spoke with a voice full of conviction, the Viscount’s eyes narrowed. He stared intently at his daughter, whose personality seemed to have changed over the past few months as if she were a different person, and then asked.

“If the Madam knew you were attending the Rumonie, why didn’t she prepare you for it?”

“The reason is simple. She didn’t want to waste the money.”

When Chloe answered as if she were stating the obvious, Viscount Lloyd let out a short, cynical laugh.

“You’re making a ridiculous assumption. Do you have any idea how much money the Madam spends on you?”

“Well, I don’t know the exact amount, but one thing is for sure: it’s not money being spent on me.”

“The ledgers do not lie.”

“The ledgers don’t lie, but the person who wrote them can.”

As the head of a merchant guild, the Viscount immediately grasped what she was implying. His face contorted more hideously than ever before.

“Are you…… suggesting there is a double ledger?”

Chloe replied with a thin smile instead of words. The Viscount clenched his fists so hard they trembled, then he kicked the door open and stormed out.

* * *

It was noon that day when all the servants of the Lloyd household were summoned. Viscount Lloyd stood on the landing of the central staircase leading to the second floor. Beside him was Bianca; below him were the Viscountess Lloyd and Maria.

Seeing Bianca smiling as if she owned the world, while the mother and daughter were restless with anxiety, the servants sensed that something was happening.

“From now on, you must answer my questions honestly. If anyone is found lying, they will be dismissed immediately, so answer truthfully no matter what.”

The Viscount’s voice was as bleak as a sound echoing from a grave on a midsummer night.

“Bianca claims she has been abused by the Madam and Maria all this time. Is this true?”

Normally, they would have answered that no such thing ever happened, just as the Viscountess had previously instructed. However, sensing from the atmosphere that they shouldn’t do that, the servants kept their mouths shut and glanced at one another. At that moment, a small hand shot up from among the servants.

“I-it is true!”

It was Emily. Emily recounted everything she had seen and heard exactly as it was.

Starting with her bombshell statement, the other servants began to confess the truth one by one. Among the revelations were the facts regarding the Rumonie.

As the hidden truths were exposed like layers of an onion being peeled, the Viscountess’s face turned from deathly pale to blue. She collapsed as if she lacked the strength even to stand, but no one paid her any mind. Even her biological daughter, Maria, did not spare her a glance.

“So it was all true.”

The gaze Viscount Lloyd directed down at Ashley Lloyd was as cold as frost. It was the same for Chloe. Although she had a general idea of what had happened from the diary, she hadn’t realized it was this severe. The mother and daughter looked like monsters wearing human skins.

“You’ve been tormenting Bianca so terribly, and not satisfied with that, you created a double ledger to frame her for luxury? You even sent her to the Rumonie looking like a beggar to bring shame upon this family?”

Was it just a feeling, or did he sound most furious about the double ledger?

“Dear, that’s……!”

“Quiet! I don’t need your excuses!”

When Ashley Lloyd grabbed his trouser leg and tried to make an excuse, the Viscount shook her off fiercely. The shoulders of the woman sprawled on the floor trembled faintly. Maria also shed thick, silent tears.

“Did you think you would be safe after daring to do such things? A woman like you isn’t needed in this house, so immediately……!”

“Wait a moment, Father.”

Chloe, who had been quietly watching the situation from a step back, cut the Viscount off. If Ashley Lloyd and Maria were kicked out like this, she wouldn’t be able to fulfill Bianca’s bucket list, so she had to stop it.

“Everyone makes mistakes, and people grow into better versions of themselves through those mistakes. I hope you will give Mother and Maria one more chance.”

Considering she had just been calling her ‘that woman’ and enumerating her sins, the Viscount was dumbfounded by his daughter calling her ‘Mother’ and asking for a second chance.

“Do you mean that?”

“Of course. Ah, but I’m not saying you should just forgive them. Since they committed a crime, they must naturally be punished…….”

Chloe grinned and began to list Bianca’s wishes under the guise of punishments.

* * *

[Lock stepmother in the basement warehouse.], [Feed her only water for three days.], etc. Chloe fulfilled as many as four of Bianca’s wishes for Ashley Lloyd under the pretext of punishment.

She only got to use one on Maria, but thanks to Maria crying her eyes out, saying she was sorry and would never do it again, two were naturally included. Of course, Chloe didn’t think Maria’s tears were sincere.

Naturally, the servants were also punished. Most received a three-month pay cut, as it was acknowledged they had no choice but to follow the Madam’s orders.

However, those like Vessa, who had relied on their master’s favor to act arrogantly and commit insubordination, received even harsher punishments and were kicked out of the Viscounty. Naturally, Bianca’s bucket list was applied here as well.

The blood-red wind that had been blowing since last night eventually became a massive storm that swept through the Viscount Lloyd’s mansion. While everyone else was reeling from the aftermath of the storm, Chloe returned to her bedroom and checked Bianca’s diary first. Every wish that had been disguised as a punishment now had a black line drawn through it; there were a total of eight such lines.

“But why haven’t I returned to my original body?”

The black lines meant the wishes had been accurately fulfilled, so why wasn’t she returning to her original body?

Previously, she had returned immediately upon fulfilling a wish. Now that there was no sign of it, Chloe felt a sudden surge of fear. Her hands trembled at the thought that she might never be able to return to being Chloe Elena.

“No. I have to go back. I have to go back…….”

Muttering like someone who had lost her mind, Chloe suddenly felt a gaze and turned her head. There stood a full-length mirror with a flamboyant gold frame.

Was there always a mirror like that in this bedroom?

As Chloe frowned in confusion, the pink-haired woman reflected in the mirror—unlike herself—gave a wide, satisfied grin. Chloe clenched her fists.

Something hot surged up from deep within her chest, and her consciousness momentarily blurred. When she came to her senses, she was standing right in front of the mirror.

“It’s you, isn’t it? Bianca Lloyd.”

Chloe gripped the mirror as if she wanted to grab Bianca by the collar and asked. Bianca, who had been staring at her with a smiling face, gave a small nod.