I Only Want Your Child - Chapter 50

“Even if he were my lover, like you said, you’re hardly in any position to criticize me, are you?”

I glared sharply at him and continued.

“You’re the one who told me to take a lover.”

“……”

It was a warning not to push me any further.

Leaving him frozen in place, I turned and began to walk away.

Or at least, I tried to.

If he hadn’t grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

“Where are you going?”

Seeing me head in the opposite direction from the banquet hall, he frowned and asked.

I looked at him indifferently and continued.

“I think we’ve provided the banquet guests with enough entertainment, so this clown is clocking out.”

“What?”

He frowned as though he didn’t understand what I meant.

I roughly shook off his hand and walked away.

I could feel his gaze glaring at me for a long time.

If you think I’m going to be swayed by your words like I was in the past, you’re badly mistaken. Go ahead and try playing the star of the banquet without a partner.

* * *

The banquet ended without any major incidents.

Separately from that, rumors about the Baldomer couple’s discord had probably spread quickly among the guests who attended.

I didn’t care.

I was going to disappear from this place anyway once I obtained what I needed.

Just then, Kate, who misunderstood my stiff expression, cautiously spoke.

“Still, I’m glad the banquet ended without any major trouble.”

Glad…

Well, I suppose it was fortunate in an unfortunate situation.

“Oh, right! Madam, a letter arrived for you.”

“A letter?”

At my puzzled look, Kate held out the letter she’d brought with a confused expression.

“Only the recipient is written on it, and there isn’t any sender, so I don’t know where it came from.”

I took the letter from Kate and looked down at it curiously.

There truly was no sender written on it, nor was there any family seal.

I approached the desk, carefully opened the envelope with a letter opener, and pulled out the paper inside.

And the moment I read the contents, I froze.

[ To Juliana.

Please forgive me for contacting you like this despite the impropriety. ]

Gentle handwriting that conveyed warmth, and a gentlemanly tone.

It was Lloyd de Silverstel.

[ My heart has been heavy since we parted like that that day. I was worried that perhaps I had caused you trouble… ]

As I looked at the letter filled with gentle concern for me, my heart grew heavier and heavier.

Why are you trying to become involved with me again in this life?

I can’t give you anything.

[ I did not include my name as the sender because I was worried your husband might become suspicious. I know this letter may not be entirely welcome, but if I don’t contact you somehow, I feel as though I might end up going directly to the Baldomer estate.

I’m not asking for much. I simply want to hear from you directly that you’re alright. ]

I didn’t even properly read the rest.

Just as he’d said, rather than being happy to receive it, I found it troubling.

I had boldly told Kallion that it was none of his business whether Lloyd was my lover or not.

But I desperately hoped Lloyd would never become involved with me.

That was the least consideration I could show him in this life.

[ …I will wait for your reply. ]

After glancing over the final line, I took the letter and walked over to the fireplace.

Ignoring Kate’s puzzled gaze, I burned the letter in the flames.

It quickly turned to ash and vanished without a trace.

I calmly spoke to Kate, who was looking at me in confusion.

“I never received this letter. You should forget about it too.”

Kate looked blank for a moment, then nodded without hesitation.

“Of course, Madam. I don’t remember any letter at all.”

Watching Kate put on a determined expression as though burning with a sense of duty, I let out a small, deflated smile.

* * *

Kallion sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead.

He remembered what his father had shouted at him before returning to the separate residence.

When his father demanded to know whether Kallion was aware of the scandal involving Layla, Kallion argued that Layla was merely his secretary.

He couldn’t understand why his father was suspicious when he knew how close Kallion and Layla had been since childhood.

When his father ordered him to replace his secretary before the filthy rumors spread any further, Kallion argued that he wouldn’t dismiss a capable employee over such ridiculous gossip.