The Male Lead’s Father Refuses to Break Off Our Engagement

Chapter 90

 

“… Yes?”

“I don’t like your background, but since you are officially married to him, I can’t throw you away. And divorcing you would be a blemish on Cassis.”

“……”

Alexandra gestured at Evelia, who was staring blankly at her.

“What are you looking at so intently, sit down.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Ah yes.”

When Evelia sat across from her, she held out a teapot.

“Follow along.”

Evelia concentrated and poured black tea into a cup. Alexandra made a groaning sound.

“It’s worth it. It seems like Count Venion taught you well.”

Didn’t you say it was a mess earlier? Evelia barely suppressed the words that rose up to her chin.

“So, it’s a love marriage?”

“Yes, it is.”

“From what I saw earlier, it seemed like you had definitely captured Cassis’s heart. That kid can make that kind of face.”

“That kind of a face like that…”

“A fierce face.”

“Ah….”

Evelia couldn’t figure out what Cassis’ ‘ferocious face’ was.

‘But it’s definitely become softer than before.’

However… Does Alexandra feel bad about Cassis’ softened appearance?

While I was thinking about that, she added.

“Well, that’s not bad either. He was too rigid until now.”

Evelia now seemed to understand why Cassis did not kick Alexandra away.

“You care about Cassis a lot.”

“I do. I cherished him like my grandson. That child and Julia too…”

Alexandra looked out the window with a faint look on her face. Come to think of it, she had no children.

They said she had a son, but he died in an unexpected accident when he was young.

So it seemed like she really cared for Cassis and Julia like her own grandchildren.

“If you care for Ruth like you care for Cassis…”

“So, when are you going to have the heir?”

Alexandra asked, cutting Evelia off.

“Yes?”

“If you’re pretty, your children will be pretty too. Wouldn’t Cassis like your child more than Ruth?”

“That means….”

“I can’t recognize that child, Ruth, as Adelhard’s successor.”

At that moment, Evelia got angry and fought back.

“No matter what anyone says, Adelhard’s successor is Ruth. Even if I give birth to a son, that won’t change.”

In the first place, the possibility of a child being born between Cassis and Evelia was low. Wasn’t the marriage contract made with those conditions from the beginning?

However, even if the two got along well and had a child, Evelia had no intention of rejecting Ruth as successor.

But Alexandra had other thoughts.

“Do you want me to see a lowly child who doesn’t even know what she’s doing become Adelhard’s successor?”

“Please be careful what you say, great aunt. The child might hear it.”

“If he will hear, he will hear. Did I say something wrong?”

“Great-aunt!”

“Why are you doing this to a child who is a complete stranger? I thought you said you weren’t the child’s biological mother.”

“That….”

Alexandra narrowed her eyes and looked Evelia up and down.

“If that’s not the case, then you’re probably not feeling well, right?”

In other words, she was asking if I was ‘not feeling well,’ but the actual meaning would be different.

‘You’re saying I can’t get pregnant.’

There was no insult like this. Even though she is the adult in the family, why should I have to listen to this from someone I don’t even know?

‘Think of Cassis and Ruth. Be patient, be patient.’

Evelia barely held back what she wanted to say.

“It’s not what you think.”

“That’s a good thing.”

But it wasn’t worth continuing the conversation any longer. Evelia stood up without hesitation.

“I think you’ve said everything you wanted to say, so I’ll just get up.”

“Sit down.”

“No, I don’t think there’s anything more to say.”

“What?”

Alexandra’s face turned slightly red. Evelia quickly greeted her and left the room.

“Ah….”

Ruth was standing in front of the door. The child’s expression didn’t look good, as if he had heard what was being said inside.

The child didn’t say anything to Evelia. She also didn’t bother to ask the child if he heard it.

Instead, I just held the child’s hand and said this.

“Would you like to go for a walk with mom?”

Ruth’s eyes narrowed and he smiled, as if he knew when she’d had enough.

“Yes!”

 

*****

 

Ruth’s expression didn’t look good after he went out for a walk. Evelia talked about various things to calm the child’s mood.

But the child just smiled weakly and didn’t say anything.

Evelia eventually squatted down in front of the child to eye level. She held the small hand tightly with both hands.

“Ruth, if meeting your great-aunt is difficult, you don’t have to meet her.”

“Ugh.”

Ruth snarled.

“Then what’s the matter?”

“Just.”

“I don’t think it’s just.”

“It’s…….”

Ruth lowered his head, looking like he was about to cry.

“I think mom will be sad if I tell you…”

“Why mom?”

“That…”

The child hesitated and then muttered.

“… That?”

“Huh?”

“What’s my biological mom like?”

“Ah….”

This time Evelia was speechless.

‘I thought you’d ask it someday, but…’

But I never thought about the answer.

After Cassis declared that he would not tell Ruth about his biological mother, Evelia did not bother to bring it up.

Cassis needed mental preparation just as much as Ruth. I just hoped that Cassis would change his mind faster than Ruth would ask about his biological mother.

But I never thought Ruth would ask so quickly. Evelia could not help but be taken aback by the completely unexpected words.

‘I thought it would be at least a few more years.’

Perhaps the question Alexandra asked was the trigger. Evelia must have realized the existence of the mother who gave birth to him when she asked her if she was Ruth’s biological mother.

Evelia was bad at lying. It would probably be obvious if I said I didn’t know about Ruth’s biological mother.

But it was difficult to pretend to know.

‘Besides, I actually don’t know anything about Julia.’

All she knew about Julia was that she died giving birth to Ruth. I didn’t really know her personality.

But…

“She must be a good person.”

“Do you know my biological mother?”

Evelia decided to tell a white lie.

“No. But since she gave birth to such a beautiful Ruth, she must be a good person.”

Ruth opened his eyes wide.

“Am I pretty?”

“Of course you are. There’s no one prettier than you, Ruth.”

“Even prettier than Aria?”

Evelia burst out laughing.

“It seems like Aria is the prettiest in your eyes.”

“No!”

Ruth tried again.

“You’re the prettiest in the world, mom!”

The child let go and stretched out his arms. It seemed like he wanted to express how pretty it was.

“Then what about Aria? Isn’t she pretty?”

The child’s cheeks blushed at Evelia’s mischievous question.

“Aria… is the prettiest after you, mom.”

He embarrassed. Evelia thought so and rubbed the child’s cheek.

“Do you really miss your mom?”

“Ugh. I don’t.”

The child looked at Evelia’s gaze and hastily added.

“I really don’t want to see her! I have a mother!”

When I heard those words, my heart ached. When he found out that this relationship was actually a lie, I was afraid of the hurt the child would receive.

Evelia held back the urge to cry and hugged the child. Only then did I realize it.

‘I don’t want to break up.’

I didn’t want to be separated from Ruth and Cassis. I wanted to do my best to maintain this relationship.

I wanted to become a real family, not a relationship built on lies.

To do that…

Evelia thought of Cassis.

 

-I feel like everything will be fine when I’m with you. If you have to marry someone… I wish it were you.

 

Thinking of him showing greed that she was unaware of, Evelia had a bold thought.

‘Shall I tempt him?’

So that he will like no one other than me.

No, to make him like me.

“Mom? Your face is red.”

Ruth, who was squirming in her arms, suddenly spoke.

“Huh? Ah, I guess it’s because it’s hot.”

“It’s winter?”

Evelia’s face turned redder at the child’s innocent question.

“It’s because the clothes are thick.”

As of today, Evelia has a new goal.

In addition to the first goal of making Cassis and Ruth become closer, a new goal was to do my best to maintain this family.