DTBBW Chapter 51

Chapter 51

“Please calm yourself, Dowager Duchess. I’m worried you might harm your health.”

Hazel first tended to her with care before turning to Rachel and admonishing her in a scolding tone.

“The Duchess should also watch her words. When Mother points out a mistake, you ought to humbly accept it and strive to correct yourself.”

The title of “Dowager Duchess” had suddenly become “Mother.” To anyone unaware, it would seem as though Hazel were truly the older sister-in-law.

Rachel, however, made an effort to keep her emotions in check. Lashing out in anger was exactly what they wanted to see.

“I believe you both misunderstood. What I meant was that our circumstances ultimately depend on His Grace’s decisions.”

Rachel’s calm response caused Rita and Hazel’s gazes to lock in an intense stare, sparks seeming to fly between them. The tension lasted only a moment before Rita abruptly stood up.

“Hazel, help me up.”

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t bear to sit here with her any longer.”

“I’ll escort you to your bedroom.”

As the two left in a rush, perfectly in sync, Rachel leisurely picked up the teacup before her. The tea, now sufficiently cooled, soothed her throat.

‘I may not fully understand Stefan’s intentions, but one thing is certain: he will never be swayed by another woman.’

In her past life, although Stefan often stayed outside the house, he had never caused a scandal—not even once. Rumors had even circulated that he might prefer men because of his pristine reputation.

‘He’s so cold-blooded that even in bed with his wife, he never loses control. Not even the most breathtaking beauty throwing herself at him could faze him.’

Trusting in his nature, Rachel sipped her tea with confidence. Meanwhile, Rita was pestering Hazel in another part of the residence.

“My son, Stefan, is meticulous to a fault. He won’t easily let anyone close to him.”

“But how could I possibly…”

“However, even someone as perfect as Stefan has his weaknesses.”

“Weaknesses?”

“He enjoys wine, and there are times when he drinks too much.”

“When does that happen?”

As Hazel asked, Rita turned her gaze to the window. The glass rattled noisily as if shaken by the fierce wind. The sky had darkened ominously, and heavy raindrops began to pour.

Tap, tap, tap.

“On nights like tonight, when the wind and rain rage.”

A peculiar glint appeared in Rita’s green eyes, making her look almost eerie.

“You don’t have to go all the way. Just give the impression that you’ve shaken Stefan, and Rachel will step down on her own.”

She nodded quietly, unable to confidently promise success but also unwilling to refuse. She didn’t want to disappoint Rita, who seemed to have high hopes for her, and she also wanted to test her own capabilities.

“Now, take off your clothes.”

“What? Why should I take off my clothes?”

“You’ll soon share a bed with my son. As his mother, I must inspect you beforehand.”

“In…inspect?”

“I trust you’re a virgin. But men don’t necessarily prefer virgins. I’ll teach you how to captivate a man’s touch and gaze.”

Knowing nothing about men, she could only obey her instructions. Stripped down to her undergarments, then fully undressed, Hazel stood trembling in shame before Rita.

Rita, showing no consideration, busily examined her body, her hands probing everywhere. Like a breeder selecting a strong mare to mate with a prized stallion, her touch was harsh and merciless.

This was the same humiliation Rachel had endured in her past life.

—

The transition from summer to autumn was a time Stefan despised.

The relentless downpour, as if the heavens themselves had burst, and the sudden, all-encompassing darkness brought by thick storm clouds, filled him with a deep sense of loss.

The sight of raindrops streaming down the window reminded him of his father’s face, streaked with tears, from a memory long ago.

“Father…”

His father, who shared the same appearance and temperament as Stefan, would often hold him tightly on stormy nights like this and weep uncontrollably.

As a child, Stefan feared those moments deeply and would always cover his ears to block out the sound. He didn’t want to know why his father was crying or what story lay behind those tears. All he wanted was to endure and escape that unbearable time.

It wasn’t until after his father passed away that he finally felt relieved, knowing he would never have to face such nights again.

“…But I’ve come to resemble my father far too much.”

As he approached his father’s age, he began to empathize with the man’s pain and wounds. Regret and longing filled his heart—if only he had been older, more understanding, or more attentive back then.

Thoughts crowded his mind: ‘If I had paid attention to those tears, could I have prevented him from leaving so suddenly? Would I still be crying alone like this?’

Whenever such thoughts arose, Stefan would lock himself in his study and retreat into solitude. He didn’t want anyone to witness him in such a pathetic state.

“And that’s why… I will never pass this curse onto anyone else.”

He poured crimson wine down his throat with reckless abandon. The overflow spilled out, staining his white shirt red, but he didn’t care.

The cycle of drinking, retching, and drinking again continued until his sharp mind dulled, and he collapsed into an exhausted sleep wherever he fell. Breaking down like this allowed him to whip himself back into shape and endure for a while longer.

Tonight was no different. After crumpling onto the floor, his vision blurred until the faint outline of a figure came into focus. It took him a long time to realize it was a person.

“Who…?”

The shadowy figure offered no response, simply lifting Stefan up and guiding him to the makeshift bed in the study. They stripped off his soaking shirt and meticulously wiped down his face and torso with a damp cloth.

As his consciousness waned, the figure seemed to smile faintly while gazing down at him.

“Father…”

Murmuring the word out of habit, Stefan had no idea who the figure truly was. Soon, his eyes closed, and the alcohol-induced haze dragged him into slumber.

The shadow confirmed Stefan was asleep before quietly exiting the study.

That night, they left the study door unlocked, hoping someone else might save him in a way they could not.

—

‘They say it’s darkest before the dawn. He must be feeling better by now, right?’

On stormy late-summer nights, Stefan always crumbled helplessly. Much like the sudden rain, his breakdowns came without warning, and there seemed to be no way to help him.

In her previous life, Rachel had been so terrified of his behavior that she’d bury herself under the covers, forcing herself to sleep just to escape the unknown dread.

But living her second life brought a new perspective.

‘Perhaps he has a secret I don’t know. What if that secret holds the key to unraveling the tangled mess?’

Throwing on a nightgown, she felt as though something was compelling her to head toward Stefan’s study. For the first time, she also found herself worrying about him.

‘What if he tripped and fell while drunk? Or what if he passed out from overdrinking?’

But as she approached the study, she froze at the sight of a familiar figure in the distance.

Even though they were the guilty one, she found herself shamefully hiding behind a pillar. Her heart sank as golden eyes, gleaming like coins in the darkness, caught her attention.

Those golden eyes disappeared into Susan’s room across from the study, confirming her suspicions.

‘That’s Hazel, isn’t it?’

Her legs began trembling uncontrollably. Seeing Hazel emerge half-dressed from Stefan’s study made it all too easy to piece together what had happened.

‘But I need to see for myself. Misunderstandings only make fools of everyone.’

With great effort, Rachel forced herself to approach the study door. A rich aroma of wine wafted through the slightly ajar door.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside, determined to see Stefan’s condition with her own eyes.

There he lay on the makeshift bed, half-naked. A thin slip lay discarded on the floor beside the bed.

Rachel bent down with trembling hands and picked up the slip, only to find bloodstains on it. Shocked, she dropped it back to the ground, her face contorting into an unreadable mix of laughter and tears.

‘So this is the secret I didn’t know?’

Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

She couldn’t tell if her feelings stemmed from betrayal by Stefan or frustration with her own foolishness. All she knew was the weight of despair pressing down on her.