She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 2

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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 2. Betrayal (1)

Cecilia Panning.

In the Imperial social circle, she was famous for her dramatic life.

First, she lost her parents, Count and Countess Panning, before she turned five.

Afterwards, the orphaned Cecilia was entrusted to the house of Baron Osburn, her father’s friend, according to her deceased father’s will, with no relatives to care for her.

She who had earned people’s pity became an adult and shocked everyone once again by marrying Evan Machi, a commoner.

People couldn’t understand her choice, but Cecilia didn’t care.

From Evan, who was also an orphan, Cecilia felt a deep sense of kinship.

Her friend Rosena Osburn, who had grown up with her like a sister, also actively supported their marriage.

That’s why the fact that Evan had no title was not a problem for her at all.

Then two years ago, everything changed.

‘What? Evan is… the lost son of Duke Hays?’

‘Yes, those cufflinks that Evan had are the proof. My son Gilbert gave them to that child’s mother.’

Suddenly summoned to the Hays Ducal House, it was revealed that Evan was the only son of Gilbert, who was the duke at the time.

The ducal family revealed that Evan’s mother had been a maid of the family, showing a birth certificate with her signature.

Additionally, the keepsake from his mother that Evan had treasured was also confirmed to be Gilbert’s possession.

The family’s grand duchess Elise immediately registered Evan into the family, and when Gilbert Hays passed away, he became a duke overnight.

Naturally, Cecilia also rose to the position of duchess.

From a count’s daughter to an orphan, to a commoner businessman’s wife, and finally to a duchess.

People thought she would only be happy now.

But that was a complete misconception.

“Evan, it’s already this late. Let’s go to the bedroom together—”

“Cecilia, please. I told you not to bother me.”

After becoming a duchess, Cecilia spent utterly lonely days due to her husband’s coldness.

Evan, who had been busy with business, became even more sensitive after becoming a duke, and their time together as a couple almost disappeared.

Cecilia mustered up courage with difficulty to visit his study, but Evan, as always, didn’t hide his annoyed expression.

“B-but you heard what the physician said too. Today is that important day…”

Normally she would have backed down while reading Evan’s mood, but today she couldn’t do that.

It had already been five years since Evan and she married, but the two still had no news of a child.

Cecilia felt anxious.

Especially Evan’s grandmother Elise blatantly demanded a child and tormented Cecilia at every turn.

‘I keep telling you. What are you going to do if that cunning Rainer Hays steals the ducal title at this rate?’

Elise terribly hated Rainer, who was her husband’s illegitimate son.

The anxiety that he might steal the ducal title was directed entirely at Cecilia.

‘It’s also a great fault for a wife to fail to properly support her husband.’

‘I-I’m sorry…’

Every time she heard Elise’s scolding, Cecilia felt suffocated.

Today was the very day that the physician she had met with difficulty after searching desperately had recommended they sleep together.

But Evan’s reaction was cold.

“A physician said what? Why should I do that?”

At his attitude of speaking as if it were someone else’s business, Cecilia felt disappointed in Evan.

But she held this back and spoke gently again.

“Why, because grandmother is also waiting for a child…”

“Ha, that story again? Aren’t you tired of it?”

Evan sighed and pointedly tapped the documents piled on his desk.

At that sight, Cecilia felt intimidated.

“If you have eyes, use them. I have a mountain of work to do right now.”

“A-are you really that busy?”

“Ugh, what would you know even if I told you? It’s obvious you didn’t learn anything proper while living off Rosie’s family.”

At his sarcastic words, Cecilia lowered her head.

She had made up her mind to definitely enter the marital bedroom together today.

But standing before him, she felt infinitely small.

“Go take care of Rosie instead if you understand. You ignore your friend who’s struggling to raise a child alone, and all you care about is having your own child? Do you want to live so selfishly?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

At Evan’s words, Cecilia’s face burned with shame.

As he said, Rosena was raising a child alone.

Rosena had originally been engaged to the eldest son of a prestigious noble family related to the emperor.

But when it was revealed that he was a fraud who had falsified his identity, her life came crashing down.

Since the child in her womb had already grown considerably, Rosena ultimately had to endure childbirth and child-rearing without a husband.

Having such a friend, she who had wanted to have her own child really felt selfish, just as Evan said.

“Sorry for bothering you. I’ll go now…”

“Yeah, please don’t come to the study anymore. Seeing your face makes my headache worse.”

“…Okay.”

Cecilia left Evan’s study as if being chased.

She moved her steps while pretending not to hear Evan grumbling behind her.

“Sigh…”

So today would pass like this again.

Cecilia trudged toward the bedroom with her shoulders drooping.

‘Does Evan not want a child?’

It felt sad that she seemed to be the only one feeling anxious.

Of course there was pressure from those around her, but more than anything, she wanted to hold a child who resembled Evan in her arms.

If only Evan had understood that feeling even a little.

If he had just said one warm word like ‘I understand your heart too,’ she wouldn’t have felt so lonely.

‘…No, he’s probably just very busy right now.’

Cecilia wiped away tears with the back of her hand and comforted herself.

That Evan still loved her.

That he was just tired and momentarily irritated.

Cecilia repeated this like a hypnotic chant.

But without her knowing, an irreversible misfortune was already approaching.

* * *

A few days later, late at night.

“This can’t be…”

Cecilia stood frozen in front of Evan’s study, covering her mouth.

“Mmm, Evan…”

“Haa, does it feel good? Hm? Say something. I like you so much more than Cecilia.”

Evan was passionately showering kisses on a woman lying on the desk.

Gone was his neat daytime appearance, replaced only by a man soaked in desire like a beast.

Around them, carelessly scattered clothes were strewn about.

The fact that he had refused to sleep with Cecilia all this time but was now holding another woman was maddening enough.

But when she confirmed who the woman in her husband’s arms was, Cecilia felt as if she had been slapped hard across the face.

“Ah, it feels good, mmm, I feel like I’m going to die from how good it feels.”

The friend who had grown up with Cecilia like a sister since childhood.

Rosena Osburn was in her husband’s arms, letting out coquettish moans.

She often stayed at the ducal mansion, bringing her son Jeremy with her.

‘Evan seems cold? No way. Isn’t it that you’re being too bothersome, Cecilia? You do have a somewhat clueless side.’

‘Is that so…?’

‘Yes. Evan is human too, so he might get tired if you interfere too much. Men hate that kind of thing the most.’

Even today, when Cecilia had confided her worries, hadn’t she answered with a nonchalant expression?

But the shock didn’t end there.

“Should I have another child for you? How about a daughter this time?”

“If you do that, it would be perfect. Since Jeremy takes after me, our daughter can take after you, Rosie.”

Evan smiled with satisfaction and kissed Rosena’s nape.

Cecilia almost collapsed to the floor in that instant.

‘Jeremy is… Evan’s child?’

The strength drained from Cecilia’s legs.

Though they shared no blood, she had cherished Jeremy, Rosena’s child, like her own nephew.

Jeremy had also followed Cecilia well, always smiling brightly.

That child who would run into her arms so innocently… was her husband’s son.

“Ah…”

Cecilia, who had been staggering, finally fell backward with a thud.

In that moment, the disgusting movements of Evan and Rosena devouring each other stopped.

Only then did the two discover Cecilia sitting collapsed through the crack of the open door.

“Ce, Cecilia?”

“Kyaah!”

Evan, who had been covering Rosena with his body, was so startled that he bolted upright.

Then he frantically tried to grab his pants to put them on but ended up falling on his rear.

“Ugh!”

“Evan! Are you okay?”

Even while watching Evan sprawled on the floor groaning, Rosena couldn’t do anything.

She was barely clothed, crouched on the desk and could only cover her body with both arms.

Faced with this ridiculous yet miserable scene, Cecilia couldn’t say a word.

She grabbed the doorframe and barely managed to stand up on her trembling legs.

“How, how, how could… how could you two…”

Cecilia spoke with difficulty in a trembling voice.

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart, as if she might cough up blood at any moment.

“How could you two do this to me?”

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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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