She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 32

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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 32. The Enemy’s Counterfire (1)

 

If she were to be rejected, she planned to put Jeremy forward and appeal with tears if necessary.

 

It was when she had steeled her resolve and stood in front of Cecilia’s Study.

 

“Rewrite the proposal. I cannot approve the budget as it is.”

 

Cecilia’s firm voice could be heard through the crack of the open door.

 

When Rosena secretly peered inside, she saw Cecilia sitting at the desk and a man standing across from her.

 

It was her husband Evan.

 

He was in the middle of begging Cecilia for business funds.

 

“B-but this business requires at least this much…”

 

“You want to squander the Duke’s Mansion’s assets with such a shoddy proposal?”

 

“Sq-squander? That’s not what I’m trying to do—!”

 

“No. Go back.”

 

Cecilia crumpled up the report and threw it on the floor.

 

Evan’s pride was crumpled along with it.

 

But he couldn’t dare to defy Cecilia.

 

The adoption papers he had excitedly signed without even checking the contents actually contained this clause:

 

“When Evan Hays uses the Duke’s Mansion’s assets, he must obtain permission from his mother, the Duchess.”

 

When Evan belatedly realized this, he slapped his forehead, but it was already too late.

 

As a result, he had to bow his head before Cecilia every time and submit budget reports.

 

“I told you clearly. If you need a budget, come with properly prepared content.”

 

Cecilia spoke firmly.

 

“Please leave now. And from now on, write with more sincerity.”

 

Cecilia lowered her head as if she had no more business with him.

 

Evan’s pride hit rock bottom, but there was nothing he could do.

 

“…I understand. Mother.”

 

In the end, he bowed his head submissively.

 

Since Rainer had strongly warned him at the last banquet, he couldn’t treat Cecilia carelessly like before.

 

Evan left the study with his shoulders drooping.

 

Rosena hurriedly chased after Evan as he trudged away.

 

“Evan!”

 

“Geez, you scared me. Make some noise when you walk.”

 

Evan looked at Rosena with an annoyed expression.

 

But Rosena didn’t back down.

 

“Why are you groveling to Cecilia like that? You’re the heir to the Duke’s Mansion!”

 

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

 

Evan asked back as if he was dumbfounded.

 

In this house, he was just a heir in name only.

 

The real power was firmly held by Rainer and Cecilia.

 

“Cecilia is clearly the mistress of this house. I need that woman’s approval to spend even 1 crown.”

 

“But—”

 

“Try defying her even a little. Huh? Do you want something to happen to your family?”

 

Evan let out a long sigh.

 

He was already living day by day watching Cecilia’s moods.

 

Far from being helpful, his father-in-law and mother-in-law only made things more complicated, which was disappointing.

 

“Rosie, so please don’t upset Cecilia. Okay? She’s your mother-in-law, so just serve her respectfully. Got it?”

 

After finishing his words, Evan walked past Rosena with big strides.

 

Watching his retreating figure, Rosena burst into incredulous laughter.

 

“Ha!”

 

She hadn’t known when she first entered the Duke’s Mansion and was overjoyed.

 

That she would be tormented daily under the guise of education.

 

That Evan would bow his head submissively before Cecilia.

 

And that even her child would be taken away.

 

‘I thought everything would work out once I entered the Main Residence…’

 

Contrary to her expectations, there was nothing she could have in this house.

 

Even a maid would be in a better position.

 

‘This can’t go on.’

 

Rosena clenched her fists.

 

She couldn’t live a humiliating life as Cecilia’s daughter-in-law forever.

 

She could no longer trust Rainer’s promise to pass the Ducal Title to Evan.

 

Rosena gnawed at her nails.

 

‘I need to find some way.’

 

A way to bring down Cecilia and Rainer and for her and Evan to seize real power in the Duke’s Mansion.

 

If she could find this, she felt she could even sell her soul to the devil.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, at the grand mansion of the Hays Estate.

 

Thud!

 

When Elise threw down the basket, the balls of yarn inside scattered and rolled across the floor.

 

In Elise’s ears as she breathed heavily, Rainer’s mocking ridicule from that day vividly echoed.

 

‘Shall I send some yarn to the estate so you won’t be bored? So you can knit a scarf for your grandson.’

 

Rainer had indeed sent a mocking gift to taunt Elise.

 

It was the moment her last bit of patience ran out.

 

“That lowly bastard dares to confine me here…”

 

Elise’s hands trembled.

 

Several weeks had passed since Evan officially entered the House of Hays, but she hadn’t even seen his face yet.

 

This was because Rainer had cleverly blocked her access to the Duke’s Mansion in the Capital.

 

‘Where are the carriages?’

 

‘Dowager Duchess, I’m sorry but all the carriages are currently under repair.’

 

‘What? Without my permission?’

 

‘Well, it was an order from His Grace…’

 

Rainer had all the luxury carriages of the Hays Estate repaired under the pretext of ‘caring for mother.’

 

But Elise couldn’t ride the carriages that workers used.

 

Naturally, she was confined to the mansion, which was no different from complete imprisonment from Elise’s perspective.

 

‘I thought he was a powerless puppy, but he turned out to be a wolf cub that would bite throats.’

 

She should have cut him off decisively when he was young and weak.

 

But it was useless to regret now.

 

The Ducal Title and the glory of the House of Hays had already passed into Rainer’s hands.

 

‘I must reclaim it by any means necessary.’

 

Elise’s eyes glinted coldly.

 

Fortunately, one card remained.

 

Her last hope, Evan Machi.

 

Though she had personally driven him out for being conceived by a lowly mother.

 

Now he was the last bastion she could rely on.

 

Elise immediately picked up the bell and rang it.

 

Soon the head maid Margaret entered.

 

“Did you call for me, Dowager Duchess?”

 

“We need to prepare to receive guests. Since there’s been a celebration in the House of Hays, I’m thinking of hosting a hunting festival myself.”

 

If she couldn’t go to them, she could bring them here.

 

Of course, since Rainer wouldn’t come willingly, other schemes were needed too.

 

“Send invitations to the Royal Court as well. Even if His Majesty cannot come in person, he will be with us in spirit.”

 

“Yes, Dowager Duchess.”

 

No matter how arrogant Rainer might be, he couldn’t simply ignore the Royal Court.

 

Since this was an official occasion where the Royal Court was celebrating Little Duke Evan.

 

Rainer would have no choice but to attend.

 

“….”

 

After Margaret left, Elise opened the locked desk drawer with an expressionless face.

 

Inside were a piece of parchment and a brooch that clearly showed traces of being retrieved from a fire scene.

 

On the faded parchment were Elise’s direct orders to set fire to the Hays Villa.

 

And this brooch was evidence of the tragedy from that time.

 

The frame was a mess from soot, but the amethyst stone set in the center still gleamed brilliantly.

 

Elise sneered as she looked at the name engraved on the back of the brooch.

 

「Mariana Hays」

 

To give the family name to a lowly mistress.

 

Her husband Kenneth must have truly loved that much younger mistress.

 

That made it even more unbearable.

 

‘Elise, people are born with their class already determined. And you stand at the very top among them.’

 

She was born as royalty of a neighboring country and married into Hays, the greatest family of the Ristea Empire.

 

Yet for someone like her to be placed on the same level as a lowly mistress was humiliation itself.

 

So she eliminated Mariana with her own hands.

 

But that choice was the fatal mistake.

 

‘Kenneth could never forget that lowly woman until the day he died….’

 

Her husband not only brought Rainer home and declared him his son.

 

In the end, unable to forget Mariana, he died of heartbreak.

 

He was cruel to Elise until the very end.

 

So Elise decided to become even more ruthless and vicious.

 

‘That woman you loved, I killed her with my own hands. I burned her alive along with the villa.’

 

The scene when she thrust this evidence before his eyes at the moment her husband drew his last breath was still vivid.

 

His face contorted with horror and shock—it was Elise’s most thrilling moment of victory.

 

Whenever Elise looked at these items, she would be intoxicated by the euphoria of having triumphed over Mariana.

 

‘Someday I must show this to that lowly thing too.’

 

Rainer, the illegitimate seed of her husband and that woman.

 

She was waiting for the day when she could wave this letter and mock him before his eyes after he lost his ducal title and became powerless.

 

Not that this would completely wash away the humiliation and disgrace she had endured her entire life.

 

But it was still worth waiting for.

 

“….”

 

Elise gripped the brooch as if to crush it and looked out the window.

 

The Hays Estate, her pride, spread out widely before her.

 

A twisted smile slowly spread across her lips.

 

“Yes, Rainer. Let’s see who has the last laugh.”

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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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