Reilly, who knew everything, couldn’t forgive Anna. She was sitting in the living room with a calm expression on her face, drinking tea.
“Madam ……?”
“It’s been a while, Anna.”
“I thought you weren’t home.”
It was understandable as she had been unable to get close to Anna for more than four months. She has been staying in her room for almost all this time, taking walks or avoiding people.
Anna gave her a look she didn’t deserve. Riley sat up and looked her straight in the eye.
Anna, who felt that Reilly’s gaze had gone toward her stomach, Anna looked her on the smile on her face.
‘Yes, now you aren’t needed here.’
Anna glanced at the cup of tea that Riley was drinking. She wonder if Riley know what she put in it than what kind of expression she will make.
She calmed her pouting mouth, anxious to tell the truth.
If she ever had another child, she would be in trouble again. So Anna was put pills in her tea so she never became pregnant again.
Riley stared at Anna’s belly for a long time. Finally, her mouth opened.
“But it’s so strange, don’t you think your belly has been the same since forever?”
“No, it hasn’t. ……You’re unhappy that I’m carrying the Duke’s child, and now you’re trying to deny the existence of mine?”
“Of course not, I am delighted.”
Anna stared at Riley with bloodshot eyes, unable to control her own trembling. The day’s events seemed to overlap for Riley.
“Theo cares about kids, just like you faked having one to get him.”
“What do you mean?”
“A child that wasn’t even in your belly.”
Anna struggled to hide the tremble in her voice. She wrapped her arms around my stomach and shuddered.
“Even if your child is dead and you’re jealous. How can you think that?”
“Do you really think so?”
Anna’s face contorted at the sight of Riley’s stoic but unwavering face. As she walked past her, Anna grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going, now? You’re going to the Duke, aren’t you? What are you going to tell him?”
Riley shook off Anna’s hand and started upstairs.
“What?”
Anna’s head snapped down, then dropped to a small whisper.
“You’re not going to tell Theo that I don’t have a child inside me……. You can’t do that.”
“What……. now?”
She had nowhere to retreat. It was clear that if she was found out to be lying, it would not end with her being kicked out.
“Then this is the only way…….
To survive, she made an extreme choice. A plausible situation, and a clear motive.
Anna grabbed Riley’s hand as she turned around and shoved her away. Anna’s hands clawed at the air as she tumbled down the stairs. Her eyes were wide and the corners of her mouth turned up.
“Oh…… no!”
Riley reached out quickly, trying to catch her, but it was no use. Anna tumbled down the stairs, unable to scream.
“You’re crazy…….”
Riley gasped, her breath catching in her throat. As Anna threw herself down the stairs, Riley stopped.
There was a loud crash and the startled maid screamed in disbelief.
“Boo, Madam……!”
The maid’s scream made everyone turn to look at me, Riley, and Anna. It looked like Riley had pushed her.
Anna had fallen down the stairs, pregnant just like me. Anyone who knew all the circumstances would see that she had pushed Anna, who was carrying a child, out of revenge.
The butler hurriedly checked Anna’s condition on the floor.
‘Ha……. You’re crazy, you’re crazy.’
Riley was too shocked to say anything. She slowly made her way down the stairs to Anna, but Theo grabbed her wrist in a vicious grip.
“Ew…….”
“You! What the hell did you do!”
Theo threw her to the ground. He looked down at her, his eyes wide with horror.
“I didn’t think it would be this bad.”
A raised voice rang in her ears. At the chattering voices and disdainful stares of the servants, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Ha……. Ha ha.”
Anna looked up from her unconsciousness to see Theo rushing to her side, checking her over. Turning her head slightly, Anna smiled at Riley.
* * *
As Anna came to, the Duke’s house was in an uproar. Riley left the room to see how Anna was doing.
Through the crack in the door, she stared in disbelief at Anna, who looked just like me back then, sobbing on the floor.
“Anna, you’re not better yet.”
Theo grabbed Anna’s shoulders and stroked her back. It was a careful gesture as if trying to calm her down.
She dared to act the part of a mother who had lost a child. The idea of deceiving people and picking at their wounds sent chills down her spine.
I had heard from Ren that Anna had bribed the doctor with money, just in case, but I was the only one who knew about it.
I knew no one else would believe me, so I kept my mouth shut.
Anna seized the opportunity and pushed Theo away, slipping out of his arms. When she saw Riley through the crack in the door, Anna threw it wide open. As if to expand the stage for all to see.
Anna took a step closer and whispered in Riley’s ear.
“You know what? No one is going to believe you after this. You shouldn’t have touched me like that.”
With that, Anna sank to the floor. As she waited on the floor, Anna burst into tears and grabbed the collar of Riley’s skirt.
“What did my child do wrong……. Was it to get revenge? Madam, she didn’t know anything!”
The desperation was heartbreaking. The corners of Riley’s mouth twitched in disgust.
“Anna, calm down.”
Theo said urgently, pulling her into a hug. Riley remained calm the entire time. She steadied her breathing and watched Anna’s face.
“How could you……. think about killing my child?”
“…….”
Riley’s eyes grew cold. Despite her act, Riley didn’t waver.
“Oh, look at those venomous eyes.”
“She’s thinking about pushing her down the stairs and killing the baby in her belly. It’s pretty obvious.”
“I didn’t see it that way…….”
Theo’s face crumpled at the sound of the maids’ voices. With so many bad things happening in the family, he was worried about the rumors that would leak out.
“Enough, everyone, shut up.”
The chatter died down and the servants bowed their heads. They stared at the three of them in silence.
“Anna, I’m not going to let this go, and I think you need to calm down.”
“You and my child are dead, by the hands of that woman……!”
“Anna……. I know, I know, and I need you to get some rest. Riley, even you can’t get away with this.”
Theo’s attitude made Riley’s blood run cold. She remembered vividly what he had done when her child died.
She hadn’t forgotten a thing, every word he’d said was etched in her mind over and over again.
A stabbing pain shot through Riley’s chest. She stared at Theo, her eyes a mixture of emotions.
“I see, I see.”
Theo flinched slightly at the low, warning tone in Riley’s voice.
Anna continued to push her. This was their only chance. It was no secret that Theo treasured the child.
“It’s all because of you. If it wasn’t for you, my child wouldn’t be dead. You hated me from the beginning, and now you’re killing my child……!”
“Very well, then. I’ll step down as Duchess, I don’t see the point in staying here when no one recognises me.”
Theo’s eyebrows rose at Riley’s words. There was no need for Riley to leave now that the child Anna was carrying was dead.
“…… ha. Anna, I know it breaks your…… heart to see your child like that, so please calm down.”
Suddenly, Theo changed his behavior and patted Anna on the back.
She knew if she didn’t take Anna’s side here, everyone would curse at her. Riley was the one who had sent Anna’s child to her death now, no matter what anyone said.
“Calm down……. Did you say calm down? What kind of parent can be so carefree when their child is dead?”
Anna felt weak at the sight of Theo’s grave expression. Maybe he didn’t even love his own child that much.
‘If I had really had a child……. my life would have been even more ruined.’
Anna withdrew her hand from Theo’s grasp and slumped to the floor.
At this point, there was only one way to get the people of the Duke’s House on her side. To keep them from abandoning her, to keep her here.
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