“…He is my nephew.”
Chase, who had been silently observing everything, spoke in a low voice.
He already confirmed it last time, but his heart still ached this time as well.
The unchanged black hair and red eyes left no doubt. This child was undoubtedly of Halos blood.
“It’s a relief you’ve finally found your nephew.”
Lizelle said with a gentle smile, listening to Raphel hum his little tune.
She knew just how much effort Chase had poured into finding his nephew.
He cared deeply for and gave so much love to his brother’s child and nephew, Raphelion.
Because of that, Lizelle chose to be happy for him rather than confront him about the suspicions and accusations he had directed at her.
She understood that Chase’s feelings for Raphelion were genuine.
“…Yes, it is.”
Chase felt relieved by her bright smile and rubbed his stinging eyes.
Reflecting on everything, Chase realized that Lizelle had been a benefactor to both himself and Raphelion.
“Raphel, how about giving your uncle a hug?”
It seemed like the reserved Chase couldn’t speak directly, so Lizelle took the Initiative.
“Okay!”
Raphel quickly got off the sofa and ran towards Chase.
Then he opened his arms wide and hugged his legs.
“…Thank you, Raphelion.”
The warmth he felt from the small arms around his legs was enough to bring tears to his eyes.
Chase bent down, gathering Raphel in his arms.
Moved by the emotional family reunion, Lizelle felt her own eyes tear up.
Black hair and red eyes. When she saw the two of them, who looked so similar, holding each other, her vision became blurry.
Transparent tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
“Haha, how foolish of me…”
Even Chase, the person involved, wasn’t crying, so why would she…
She felt emotional when she thought their farewell was just around the corner.
As Lizelle raised her hand to quickly hide her tears, a shadow suddenly appeared over her head.
“Use this.”
Before she knew it, Chase had approached with Raphelion in his arms, holding out a handkerchief.
“Oh… Thank you.”
Lizelle took the handkerchief and hurriedly wiped away her tears. She didn’t want to show this unsightly side.
She wanted to part with Raphel while smiling. She wanted to leave only beautiful, happy memories for that child.
She didn’t want to show this tearful scene…
“Miss.”
Chase sat Raphel down on the sofa and spoke in a serious voice.
His serious tone made Lizelle, who was still holding the handkerchief, look up at him curiously.
“I want to apologize for misunderstanding you and acting rudely. I’m sorry.”
Chase bowed his head as he offered his apology.
His sudden words left Lizelle taken aback.
She had planned to demand an apology someday if it was revealed that Raphel was indeed his nephew.
But she hadn’t expected Chase to apologize first.
“Oh, well… Anyone could misunderstand.”
Lizelle, who was at a loss for words due to the unexpected situation, scratched her cheek awkwardly and answered.
There was no point in blaming someone who was offering a sincere apology.
Though she still felt a bit wronged for being treated like a swindler, Lizelle decided to let it go.
After all, Wilhazelle’s reputation wasn’t that great, and it was a situation that he could easily have misunderstood.
Moreover, no matter what his intentions were, whether it was surveillance or something else, thanks to his consideration, she was able to spend time comfortably in the mansion and create good memories with Raphel.
“I’m sorry.”
Chase bowed his head deeply and apologized once again, internally relieved when Wilhazelle gave a slight nod without saying anything.
He felt relieved that she accepted his sincerity, and also hoped that she now saw him in a more positive light.
“What about the reward money?”
Lizelle broke the silence, speaking with difficulty.
It was time to leave.
Now that it was confirmed Raphel was Chase’s nephew, she no longer had a reason to stay in the mansion.
She would take the reward she was promised and leave, just as she had planned from the beginning.
“I will write you a check.”
Though Chase hadn’t yet come up with a way to make her stay, he had no choice but to nod.
Through the antidote, it was revealed that Raphelion was his brother’s child, he had to pay her the reward as promised.
‘Am I really going to let her leave like this…?’
Although he thought about it for several days, he couldn’t find an excuse to keep her there and felt very sorry he had to let her go like this.
Chase watched her approach Raphel with his fist clenched.
“Raphel, be good, okay? Don’t skip baths even if you hate water. Don’t be picky with your carrots. Listen to your uncle… Alright?”
Lizelle got up from the sofa, crouched down in front of Raphel, meeting his eyes.
Then, she gently stroked Raphel’s hair with her small hand.
Her eyes took in his features, trying to imprint his image in her memory.
“Lizelle…”
Raphel clutched Lizelle’s sleeve as the atmosphere changed.
His red eyes trembled.
Raphel subconsciously noticed that the atmosphere was different from usual.
It felt as if Lizelle was going to leave him behind…
“G-go… I’m going to go! Raphel will come too!”
Raphel immediately shouted.
Though he didn’t fully understand what was going on, he felt that he had to cling to her now.
“Raphel. This is your home. You should stay here. You have to protect your uncle.”
“But Lizelle! Lizelle will stay too… right?”
His tear-filled eyes pleaded with her. Lizelle felt a lump in her throat as her own tears welled up.
She wanted to part gracefully, but the sight of Raphel made her feel as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
“…If you’re good, I’ll visit often.”
She took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly.
The more agitated she was, the more difficult the farewell became.
“No, no! No way!”
Raphel muttered frantically and fell into Lizelle’s arms.
“Waaahhh! No! Lizelle!”
He finally broke down, sobbing as though his world was ending.
Hot, thick teardrops quickly wet Lizelle’s shoulder.
“…”
Unsure whether to embrace him, she hesitated with her arms outstretched.
She wanted to hold him tight and comfort him, but she knew that if she gave in, it would only make her resolve weaker. She didn’t want to say goodbye to his warmth, his touch. If she held him now, parting would become impossible.
Her arms hovered in the air. Suppressing the strong urge to hug him, Lizelle clenched her fists, grabbing her dress tightly instead.
She applied so much force that her hands turned pale, the dress in her grip became wrinkled and unsightly.
Watching the heartbreaking scene, Rohan quietly wiped his nose with a handkerchief.
“Your Grace, could you take Raphel?”
Lizelle forced herself to speak firmly, her voice steady despite her heartbreak.
“Rohan.”
Following Chase’s order, Rohan quickly approached Raphel, who was in Lizelle’s arms.
“No! Noooo! Don’t take me away from Lizelle!!”
Raphel flailed wildly.
Rohan struggled to hold the small boy as he kicked and thrashed, trying to break free.
His short legs kicked Rohan hard.
“Raphel, you can’t act like this.”
Raphel looked at Lizelle with a tear-streaked face after hearing her stern voice.
“Lizelle! Don’t go! You can’t leave!”
Tears flowed non-stop from Raphel’s big eyes, and the corners of his eyes turned red.
Raphel tried his best to hold onto Lizelle until the very end.
However, it was not enough to overpower an adult.
In the end, Rohan managed to pry Raphel away from Lizelle’s arms. The boy’s cries were heart-wrenching, his voice breaking as he sobbed.
“Lizelle! Waaaah! No!”
Raphel resisted so fiercely that the fabric of Lizelle’s dress near her shoulders was torn.
“Master Raphel, it’s okay. You’ll still see her often.”
Rohan tried to comfort Raphel, who was forcibly held in his arms, but it was no use.
Raphel persistently wiggled his body to get out of Rohan’s arms and go to Lizelle.
“Waaah! Ugh!”
With Raphel’s cries echoing behind her, Lizelle stood abruptly.
She bit her lip hard to hold back her own tears and turned toward the door.
Now was the moment. If she didn’t leave now, the goodbye would become even harder.
“Lizelle! Lizelle!”
Raphel wailed as he watched Lizelle walking away.
Lizelle eventually opened the door and ran out, shedding the tears she had been holding back.
“Watch Raphel, please.”
Chase asked Rohan to take good care of Raphel and ran after her.
