A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 75

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 75

“There should be another report I ordered.”

At the cold tone, Conrad immediately understood what Cain was asking about, but couldn’t answer easily.

A troubled look flashed through his eyes beneath his glasses.

“…It’s about Lady Viola. I’m sorry, Your Grace. I believe I must give you the same answer as before.”

At that response, Cain let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

Around the time Viola first set foot in the manor, Cain had ordered Conrad to investigate early on.

Just who was this man who was her former lover and Melody’s biological father.

Where the hell had he been hiding and what had he been doing while the woman who bore his child suffered alone through all that hardship.

He had ordered a thorough investigation into everything about that man and a full report.

Back then, Cain had believed without doubt that he would soon be able to grab that bastard by the scruff of his neck and drag him forward.

After all, there was nothing that couldn’t be investigated when Ashern’s information network was deployed.

But Conrad’s answer that came back not long after was hard to believe.

“We mobilized all our informants, but couldn’t find any clues about that man.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Yes. We couldn’t catch even the smallest clue. I apologize.”

It was an absurd story.

How could a person live without leaving a single trace?

So he had ordered the investigation again, but each time Conrad would only repeat the same words as now.

That there were no traces at all. As if he had never existed from the beginning.

‘Would it really have been more comfortable if that were actually the case.’

If the man who had hurt Viola had never existed from the start…

Then she wouldn’t have had to suffer like she did earlier.

Without realizing it, Cain momentarily entertained such thoughts, but soon wore a hollow, mocking smile.

It was because he knew better than anyone that it was an impossible assumption.

That man had definitely existed in this world.

Because the clearest evidence was staying right here in this manor.

Melody.

That child who was the spitting image of her mother.

As long as the daughter born between that man and Viola clearly existed, that man couldn’t be a fictional being.

‘Then what on earth…’

Cain fell into thought for a moment.

Sometimes the very absence of traces of existence could itself be a clue.

A chilling premonition ran down his spine.

The power and meticulousness required to so cleanly erase the footprints of a human being who had existed.

Thinking about it differently, this suggested the possibility that another massive force was involved.

Such as the Temple.

“Continue the investigation.”

Cain ordered in a cold voice.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Conrad bowed his head and left the study.

Left alone, Cain let out a deep sigh.

When he removed his gloves, the childish heart-shaped tape stuck to the back of his hand came into view.

At the same time, he recalled the bright smile of the woman who had put the heart-shaped tape on the back of his hand.

That pure laughter that sparkled as if it knew none of the world’s sorrows.

She was a woman who smiled so cheerfully…

What on earth had that man done that just seeing a similar face would make her collapse so devastatingly?

Cain unconsciously clenched his fist tight. He gripped it so hard that his knuckles turned white.

The face of the woman who had cried in his arms.

Her reddened eyes simply wouldn’t leave his memory.

It was a sleepless night.

* * *

Returning to my room, I faced Melody as usual, pretending nothing had happened.

When I told her about today’s adventures in an exaggerated way like reading a fairy tale, the child laughed delightedly.

But only briefly – perhaps raising my voice higher than usual seemed awkward. Suddenly Melody seemed to notice something was off about my condition and looked worried.

“Mama, woo? (Are you okay?)”

“Hm? What could be wrong?”

“Woo… (But…)”

“More importantly, Melody, you. You didn’t brush your teeth properly, did you!”

“Gasp!”

“I caught you! It’s the tooth-brushing monster!”

“Kyaaaaa!”

I deliberately acted even more exaggerated and played with Melody.

It was also a desperate attempt to lift my sunken spirits.

And finally when the lights went out and it was time for Melody to fall asleep.

“Mama, woo. (Good night.)”

When that moment came when I could hide my expression in the darkness, my fake smile crumbled helplessly.

“…”

Though I pretended otherwise, fragments of memory kept tearing through my mind.

Those very memories from my childhood that I never wanted to think about again.

I fell into the memories of the past without any chance to resist.

* * *

Viola had originally been a street orphan.

The kind of orphan who could freeze to death in winter and disappear from the world without anyone even knowing of her existence.

But her life was completely turned upside down one day by a chance encounter.

It was from when she happened to meet Count Devoroe on the street and caught his eye.

Count Alexander Devoroe.

He had once served as Princess Ophelia’s guard and was well known for his good nature.

Though he could have easily ignored and passed by a mere orphan.

Alexander picked up young Viola from the street and immediately took her to his manor to make her his adopted daughter.

A rise in status that happened overnight.

A dreamlike story you’d only see in novels.

However, unfortunately, that wasn’t a sweet ending but the prelude to the misfortune that would befall Viola’s life.

Of course, it was good at first. Each day was perfectly wonderful beyond compare.

Count Alexander truly cherished Viola.

He didn’t discriminate between his biological children and his adopted daughter, treating her preciously so she wouldn’t feel left out.

So much so that even Viola herself lived without realizing she was an adopted daughter.

The Count kept the adoption a complete secret even from Viola herself. At the same time, he raised Viola with all his heart as if she were truly his own blood.

The family members also treated Viola quite well.

On the surface, they and she were a perfect family. However, the warm happiness only lasted until she was five years old.

The year Viola turned five, Count Alexander suddenly passed away as if it were a lie.

“Father… *sob*, *sniff*.”

“Darling… How could you leave us so emptily…”

Family members dressed in black mourning clothes, grieving.

The funeral in Viola’s memory remained vivid like a high-contrast black and white photograph.

Mother, brother Reymon, and even younger sister Shurin.

That very scene where the remaining family members clung to the coffin, wailing.

Young Viola too, unable to hold back her bursting tears, tried to approach her family’s side.

But at that very moment.

“Are you stupid? What do you think you’re doing, butting in here?”

Viola was roughly pushed and tumbled to the floor.

Why?

Young Viola found it difficult to understand the situation.

Reymon had been subtly tormenting Viola from before.

Since she was too young to remember, he would pinch her or trip her when avoiding Father’s eyes, causing her harm.

Young Viola was accustomed to Reymon’s such meanness and had always endured it well.

But not this time.

It was because of Mother and Shurin, who were just watching her with cold eyes as she fell after being pushed while crying without understanding why.

Their chillingly cold gaze, as if the cold floor had always been her place.

‘Why are Mother and Shurin…’

Young Viola couldn’t accept the change in her family, who had been affectionately patting her head just days before.

In the end, Viola had to mourn the deceased Marquis alone in a cold wall corner, not among the funeral mourners.

‘Everyone must be so sad that Father passed away. They’re all suffering because it’s too hard. …I’m this sad too.’

The small girl had to swallow her grief alone while looking at the coffin of the man she had considered her father.

But even after the funeral ended, her family’s attitude didn’t change.

The Countess, who used to smile brightly every day, now grimaced as if looking at a disgusting bug whenever she saw Viola.

Shurin, whom she used to follow around calling “sister,” now sneered coldly while watching Viola being mistreated.

Reymon, who used to secretly torment her, now had no reservations.

Amid the cold gazes, Viola gradually became dejected.

I’m sorry. If I did something wrong, I’ll fix it.

The child clasped her small hands together and pleaded earnestly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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