“It was an establishment created by the man you neglected in the first place. You left everything to a troublesome subordinate, so don’t stop me!”
Jared glared with piercing eyes, his voice a roar, as Wahash’s grip on his arm didn’t loosen. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t break free.
“I can only apologize for that, but you cannot blame Johan. Because this man truly did not know where you were.”
“Lies. There’s no way I can believe that!”
“It’s not a lie. It’s true Johan tried to keep you away. However, he was trying to send you to a trustworthy acquaintance. He had nothing to do with you being sent to that facility. Rather, it was unexpected. You were kidnapped without Johan’s knowledge. Isn’t that right, Johan?”
“–Yes.”
Jared sank to his knees as his father confirmed Wahash’s words.
“Jared!”
Olivier rushed to Jared and held him tightly. Her younger fiancé looked on the verge of tears.
Olivier tightened her grip on her arms with all her might, like a mother bird protecting her chicks. Then, she glared at Wahash and Johan.
“That’s enough. I understand that Father-in-law doesn’t hate Jared and wasn’t planning to confine him to a facility. Therefore, Jared and I will be leaving. Please don’t say anything more to Jared right now.”
Olivier regretted it.
She wished she hadn’t thought that she might be able to mediate between Jared and his father, just as Jared had helped improve her relationship with her own father.
Olivier had heard about Liz Murphy from her father. Not everything, but it was a heavy truth. Therefore, she was anxious about whether Jared could accept it. That anxiety led her to hope that by improving her relationship with her father, the weight of the truth would be dispersed.
–But this wasn’t what I wanted.
However, the truth Wahash revealed was that his father loved his son. It was a bolt from the blue for Jared, who had never doubted that his family had no affection for him.
The boy trembling in her arms didn’t look like someone strong enough to be chosen as a Court Mage. This was the first time Olivier had seen Jared reveal such weakness.
She wasn’t disillusioned. Instead, she felt relieved by his vulnerability and even found him endearing. But her feelings and the current situation were different. More importantly, Wahash hadn’t revealed everything yet. She wanted to get him out of here before the truth weighed even heavier on Jared.
“No, that won’t do.”
“No matter how you claim to be Jared’s Grandfather, you have no right to stop us.”
“Perhaps so, but I want you to hear it all. It’s better not to think of anything foolish; I won’t hesitate to take any means to achieve my goal.”
Wahash dismissed Olivier’s plea. Not only that, but he even threatened that he might resort to rough methods if necessary.
“By chance, you and Jared happened to be here when I arrived at this mansion. I consider this fate. Since you’ve come this far to know the truth, know it all. It will be difficult, but overcome it.”
Olivier shook her head, trying to protect Jared, who remained motionless in her arms. But that was all she could do.
Jared certainly didn’t hate his father, Johan, now. But he had once harbored hatred and resentment, and had lived on the dream of revenge. For a short time, it had been Jared’s purpose in life.
But it was denied. He found out it wasn’t true. It was natural for him to be shocked.
He wasn’t simply told by his father that he wasn’t unloved.
The truth of his father’s hidden affection was suddenly revealed by a third party. His still immature sixteen-year-old heart couldn’t accept it all.
“Please stop. If you are Jared’s Grandfather, I beg you.”
“–Hmm. Olivier Alway. Why are you so disturbed?”
“I’m not disturbed.”
“No, you are. I can hear your heartbeat clearly, so you can’t hide it. Perhaps… you heard the truth about Liz’s death from your father?”
“I don’t know anything!”
“That’s a lie. Your voice trembled with agitation.”
At Wahash’s pointed remark, Olivier, still hugging Jared, tensed unconsciously. And that change was transmitted to Jared in her arms.
“Olivier… sama?”
At the sound of her fiancé calling her name, Olivier tightened her embrace.
At the same time, her calm self, realizing she couldn’t hide it and shouldn’t resist, tried to dissuade her flustered self.
Olivier braced herself. To Jared, who looked at her with questions and confusion,
“I love you with all my heart. I’m sorry. That’s why I couldn’t tell you–”
She decided to tell him the truth.
If Wahash was here and would see through a lie, she chose to reveal the truth she knew herself, rather than cover up a lie with another lie.
“The cause of your Mother’s death was indeed poison. But she wasn’t poisoned. –It was suicide.”
“–Huh?”
Jared’s eyes widened. He pulled away from her embrace and looked at her directly. Their eyes met, but she met his gaze with a tearful face.
Jared couldn’t comprehend her words—or rather, he didn’t want to.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to keep it a secret. But I couldn’t trust Father, and… above all, I didn’t know how to tell you.”
She hugged the now-distant Jared again and apologized. She repeated her apologies over and over.
“Olivier Alway. It’s true that Liz committed suicide. Do you know why?”
“No, only that she committed suicide.”
“Then I will tell you. Or… will you tell him yourself?”
Wahash’s gaze shifted from Jared and Olivier to Johan.
“I don’t know anything! I want to know more than anyone why Liz did that!”
“No. It’s not you, Johan.”
Wahash’s eyes were indeed on Johan. But more accurately, they were directed at Karina Daum, who was watching the proceedings with her son behind Johan.
“–You, Karina Daum.”
“Mother?”
Roik called out to his mother in a confused, small voice, and Karina flinched.
“No way… impossible…”
Jared’s voice trembled, unable to believe it. It wasn’t just Jared. Olivier and Johan also looked at Karina in disbelief.
Karina didn’t deny or confirm. She said nothing. That only heightened the family’s anxiety. The only thing she did was cover her mouth with her hand and tremble.
“Karina… what do you know?”
“…Husband.”
“Tell me, Karina. Why did Liz commit suicide? Why did Liz have to take her own life!”
Johan grabbed his wife’s shoulder and shook her violently.
However, Karina said nothing, only shaking her head.
