Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 187

Emma and Gregory exploded with fury.

“Bring them before me right now, Shane Blanchard!”

“I’d love nothing more, but Adeline won’t allow it.”

“Just bring them secretly. Don’t pretend to be innocent.”

“I’m sorry, Madam Bertrand, but Adeline is listening.”

Emma, fuming, turned to look at Adeline. Adeline, with a slightly overwhelmed expression, watched Emma’s anger, and when their eyes met, she gave a small smile.

‘The fishy smell won’t wash out with tea…’

The fishy taste lingering in her throat and stomach was unbearable. She couldn’t open her mouth easily. What on earth had Lloyd made her?

Gregory covered Adeline’s ears and spoke.

“Just say the word. Where are they hidden?”

“It’s hurtful to suggest that I hid them. I want them dead more than anyone.”

“And you think that compares to the feeling of a parent who almost lost their child they finally got back?”

“Oh, I feel my resolve wavering.”

Gregory covered her ears, but from Emma’s scoffing expression at Shane’s kindly spoken words, Adeline could tell he was spewing nonsense.

Emma knew how to curse with her eyes.

‘Mother… you’re strong…’

Adeline thought back to her childhood.

In front of her youngest child, Emma had been graceful and gentle, often in tears and laughter.

It was somewhat different from the reputation she’d earned after debuting in society, but people often have public and private faces, so Adeline hadn’t thought much of it.

Usually, people act sweet in public and show their true colors in private.

But it seemed Emma had been putting on airs only in front of her youngest child all along.

Especially after reuniting, Emma had often shown tears before Adeline, and it turned out all of that was calculated acting.

When she lifted her head to look up, she met Gregory’s gaze.

Gregory, smiling tenderly as if his eyes would melt, removed the hand covering Adeline’s ear slightly and whispered,

“Adeline, would you just nod your head?”

“……?”

“Come on, it’s fine. Just nod.”

She almost did as he asked without thinking.

Suddenly recalling the conversation between Emma and Shane, Adeline took a sharp breath and shook her head. Gregory, looking quite disappointed, covered her ears again.

“So that’s her answer.”

“And yet you can’t even convince one daughter—what are you so smug about?”

“Neither can you.”

“What was that?”

“……”

“Of course, I can’t either. When have we ever won against this child?”

“No one ever has.”

Shane nodded as well.

Though she couldn’t hear the conversation, Adeline was convinced they were undoubtedly speaking ill of her. She couldn’t just sit back and let it happen. This was her limit.

Adeline removed Gregory’s hands from her ears and sprang up.

“I’m going to go wash up!”

She had nearly died from wanting to brush her teeth.

Only after brushing her teeth three times in a row did the fishy taste finally disappear.

Adeline came out with a towel wrapped around her head after scrubbing off the remaining blood and grime in the bathwater Lloyd had drawn for her.

The nightclothes she’d been wearing were a mess of bloodstains, dirt, and were even torn in places. She doubted they could be salvaged even with a thorough wash.

Without hesitation, Adeline discarded the nightclothes and slipped on only a robe.

Not a single bruise remained on her body. It was yet another testament to Genevieve’s incredible skill.

‘I’m sure I must’ve broken a couple of ribs.’

She’d distinctly heard the sound of bones breaking as the sorcerer’s boot stomped down mercilessly.

After bathing, it all felt like events from a past life.

More like a past life than her actual previous life.

‘How many times will I keep reliving?’

Counting the time she’d spent in dreams, she’d lived for decades at least.

She applied a fresh-scented toner to her face and carefully worked oil through the ends of her damp hair. Lloyd’s nagging was relentless if she skipped this step; even when it was just the two of them living in seclusion, he’d never let her neglect it.