* * *
Dana’s POV
I looked down at him with contempt in my eyes. What a trash.
He truly was as despicable as I had anticipated. Had she been unguarded and unaware, it could have been a disaster.
I did well in having a close watcher attached to Allice. Thanks to that, I received information about Huan’s arrival in advance before he was brought in by Allice.
After hearing the news, I had anticipated it. Cornered, Huan would surely come looking for me. Now, a man with nothing more to lose, he would try for one last gamble with the love potion.
It was just as well. Viego had returned from his business trip today, hadn’t he? This was an opportunity to spectacularly eliminate Huan. So, I…
“Everyone, go rest early today. The mansion’s atmosphere has been tense lately, and it’s been hard on everyone.”
ordered all the servants near her room to leave early. To ensure Huan could safely reach her room.
And I instructed the watchman, who was keeping an eye on Huan, to leak information to him about Allice selling the moonlight flowers privately.
“Milady! Are you alright?”
“Are you okay, Milady?”
Hearing the gunshots, servants, and guards rushed in. I weakly smiled at them. “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure, Milady?”
“Who fired the gun?!”
“I’m unharmed. And as for who shot the gun.”
I turned my head and looked out the window. The side of the mansion opposite mine, a distant window in view.
“I’m not sure myself.”
That was Viego Windsor’s bedroom.
Today, his secretary informed me that Viego had returned from his trip and had gone to bed early. But I knew. Viego could not sleep deeply.
There was no way he would miss such a commotion. He would never allow a scoundrel to hide in the mansion. That’s why I stood by the window, waiting for Huan to threaten me, making Viego the perfect witness.
And Viego’s marksmanship is always excellent.
His bedroom window remained shrouded in darkness, revealing nothing. But I was certain. That Viego Windsor was there.
“Bi-Big Sis?”
It was then.
“B-B-Big Sis. A-are you okay?”
Allice approached, pale as a sheet. Panting, tears streaming down her face in shock.
“How could this happen? Sob, what should we do? Big Sis, are you hurt?”
I looked at Allice, then smiled and dropped a meaningful remark. “Yes. It’s all thanks to you.”
At that moment, Allice was startled and looked at me. I just smiled at her.
It would be difficult if she was already this frightened.
Your nightmare is just beginning, Allice.
* * *
The Windsor mansion was in chaos. Huan Rolland. The man expelled from the mansion had broken in and threatened Danae Windsor.
Viego Windsor didn’t let it slide. He vehemently protested to the Rolland family and declared his intention to take the matter to the noble trial.
The Rolland family paid a hefty compensation and expelled Huan Rolland from their family. They literally erased him from their family registry.
“Carl, please do something!”
Her beloved brother had fallen into crime. Sandra, tears streaming, pleaded to Carl.
“Taking this to trial is too much. Huan will surely be imprisoned. It’s the end of Huan’s life! That’s too cruel!”
“Cruel?”
“Yes! Starting with the shooting, that’s cruel. How could you do that? Huan lost his right arm!”
She wanted to protest, but the shooter was Viego Windsor, the head of this family. So, Sandra could only suffer silently.
Viego Windsor had shot two bullets into the exact same spot. Even targeting the nerve center of the right arm, making it impossible to cleanly remove the bullets, firing two shots in quick succession! It was clearly intentional.
An evil intent to amputate Huan’s arm.
“Honestly, there was no need to use a gun! They could have just sent someone to stop him!”
“Get a grip, Sandra. Do you think Huan is the only one in trouble right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was the one who allowed him to come into the Windsor family. I entrusted him with the moonlight flower business because he’s your brother.”
“Carl…”
“But he tried to shoot and kill Danae, the sister of the head of the family. And Viego witnessed it.”
“S-still…”
“Now that this has happened, who should bear the responsibility?”
Sandra’s face turned pale. Only then did she realize her husband was in a tight spot.
“Y-You just need to find someone else to take the blame!”
The scales tipped quickly. Nothing was more important to Sandra than Carl. Even if it meant sacrificing her younger brother!
“Someone who let Huan into the mansion must be found. Blame them for everything!”
“That’s the plan.”
Carl declared with a steely face.
“Someone aided Huan Rolland’s intrusion. They must bear the entire responsibility for this incident.”
He then turned with a weak smile.
“So, Allice. If you know anything, tell us.”
“…Yes.”
Allice, who had been quietly listening, could only smile in response.
“I’ll do that.”
* * *
Allice’s POV
What should I do?
I bit my nails.
What if Uncle Huan wakes up?
He was currently unconscious due to his severe arm injury. But his life wasn’t in danger, so he would wake up soon. When that happens, he’ll be interrogated about who brought him into the mansion.
What if Uncle tells everything?
I was terrified to the point tears welled up. Pressing my eyes with my hands, I sobbed.
I had only brought Uncle Huan in with good intentions. Hoping for a family reconciliation, my benevolent intentions had once again turned into poison.
What if.
A flash of insight struck me.
What if Uncle Huan is exposed as the mastermind behind the moonlight flower price crash?
If that’s the case… Wouldn’t my actions be overshadowed? Yes, then no one would believe Uncle Huan’s words. The claim that I secretly brought him into the mansion could be dismissed as nonsense.
Yes. That’s the only way.
Before Uncle wakes up, I must act. I immediately sought Viego.
“Brother, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“The person who sold the moonlight flowers at half price in the black market.”
Viego looked up from the documents he was reviewing at my words. His piercing green eyes seemed to freeze me from head to toe.
“It’s Uncle Huan.”
There was no turning back. I spoke resolutely.
“Uncle Huan did such a terrible thing.”
Indeed, when you think about it, that’s a terrible deed.
Aren’t those who do wrong supposed to be punished? Isn’t that the natural order of things? Perhaps exposing such a person is the most noble act.
As I thought like that,
“Who told you this?”
“Uh, um?”
“Based on what evidence are you saying this?”
Caught off guard, I held my breath. But I didn’t have time to roll my head in front of those piercing eyes. So…
“D-Dad.”
I unwittingly blurted out the truth.
“Dad said it, when talking with Mom.”
“…”
Viego put down his fountain pen. Interlocking his fingers, he looked intently at me and then.
“Louis.”
He summoned his secretary.
“Bring Carl, the deputy head, here.”
At that moment, I was struck by an intense sense of foreboding.
Why Dad?
“B-Brother. You can talk to me. I heard everything Mom and Dad were talking about.”
“You’re done. I need to ask Carl why he said that. And.” Viego spoke in a low voice. “Why did he keep it hidden till now, despite thinking that way.”
Finally, I realized. I had made a very big mistake.
Want to read advanced chapters for this series? Good news, you can purchase 5 chapters in advance cheaper here.
