The Wicked Wife’s Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 170

‘I should have thanked Catherine properly…’

Nina unfolded her writing paper. She had wanted to thank Catherine in person for helping her, but she hadn’t been able to meet her in the banquet hall, perhaps because Catherine had returned home as soon as the hunting festival ended.

The day after the hunting festival.

Nina wished to visit the Barrington residence but was unable to do so. She needed to be examined by the family physician first, and her husband insisted they leave for home at once, no longer trusting the palace.

Truthfully, after what she had gone through, she herself didn’t want to remain in the capital any longer, so she followed his wishes. That’s why, as soon as she arrived home, she took out her writing paper.

“They say you should repay kindness twofold, but I’ve already done it.”

The thought of what might have happened without Catherine’s help was so terrible that she didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Madam, from now on, I will serve Lady Catherine Barrington as my benefactor…”

Marsha sniffled. She had been in this state ever since realizing just how narrowly they had avoided disaster.

“I’m going to think of Catherine as a benefactor from now on too. But really, her observational skills are a marvel.”

That day, as soon as Nina felt something was wrong with her body, she’d excused herself and slipped away, thinking no one would notice.

But how had Catherine realized and followed her? Nina couldn’t help but think her perceptiveness was extraordinary.

After finishing her letter, Nina headed to Ian’s bedroom.

“Looks like everything is pretty much ready.”

Nina smiled in satisfaction as she looked around the room where Ian would be staying during vacation.

The butler and Melanie had arranged everything perfectly according to her instructions.

Since Ian had left for the academy, no one had stayed in the room except when cleaning.

‘This is the room Ian used until he was about eight, right?’

That’s why not only the bedding but the bed itself was a bit small, so she’d replaced it with a larger one.

Since carpets and curtains tend to gather dust even with daily care, she’d replaced those with brand new ones, but otherwise, she hadn’t touched anything else.

She couldn’t just change things on a whim in a space filled with Ian’s memories.

“Madam, Young Master Ian said he’d be arriving tomorrow, correct?”

“Yes, he’ll probably get here tomorrow evening. What about his clothes?”

“They’re all sorted by size and put away in the wardrobe. Once the Young Master arrives, you just need to check his measurements and send them to the tailor.”

“Good, we should get new clothes ready as well.”

Everyday wear, pajamas, and even formalwear.

When Nina had seen Ian at the academy, he seemed a bit more physically developed than his peers.

‘Well, he is of the Bayern bloodline…’

Her own husband was nearly 190 centimeters tall, after all.

She was curious whether Ian had grown taller during the time apart.

It was inevitable to be curious about the growth of Ian, who resembled the classic model-student type from a youth manhwa—kind and well-mannered from an early age.

‘But I’m a little worried…’

The heir to House Bayern was coming home for vacation after two years. Shouldn’t there be a party or something?

She wasn’t his parent, but she was his guardian now.

The problem was, she had absolutely no connection to the ‘mommy community’.

Not just that, she’d refused all social gatherings unless there was a compelling reason, so she had no particular network to rely on.

“Hmm…”

For now, she decided to check the invitations addressed to her.

Usually, she received invitations to ladies’ social gatherings, formal luncheons, and dinners, but this time it was different.

Had news already spread that Ian would be coming home for vacation?

Letters from parents of Ian’s classmates at Saint Hennige Academy were coming in one after another.

“…I really am nothing like him.”

Nina muttered as she looked through the letters.

She herself had never managed to fit in during her school days, and whether by choice or circumstance, had always been a bit of an outsider.

But according to these letters, everyone seemed to be close to Ian.

“If I go back, you’ll be left alone, Aunt. So, I’ll stay with you.”

“…Would you mind staying with me?”

Just recalling Ian’s gentle, well-mannered smile and his sweet words made Nina nod unconsciously.

Even aside from his background, with such a lovely personality, it was no wonder he got along well with others.

Still, she couldn’t entirely trust everything written in those letters, and just looking at the families involved, she couldn’t figure out which connections she should pursue.

Especially since Ian wasn’t her own child, but her nephew, she worried even more.

If she failed in her role as guardian…