She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 4

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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 4. First Counterattack

Wendy stared at Cecilia with wide eyes, then burst into laughter.

“My lady. You must be terribly nervous?”

Wendy nodded as if she understood.

But Cecilia was truly bewildered.

She cleared her throat and asked again.

“Then, how old am I now?”

“What? You’re twenty-two years old!”

“Tw-twenty-two?”

Her age before death had been twenty-seven.

Cecilia quickly studied Wendy’s expression.

There wasn’t a trace of mischief or joking on her face.

The wedding with Evan, Wendy, her age…

The more she examined each detail, the clearer one fact became.

“Dear God…”

Cecilia muttered in a daze.

Without a doubt, she had returned to five years ago.

Right before her wedding with Evan, no less.

‘Should I just run away now?’

Cecilia seriously considered it.

Wouldn’t this just repeat that miserable life?

Besides, the terrible pain was still vivid.

It felt like this was her last chance to escape.

‘…No.’

However, Cecilia soon shook her head.

‘If I run away now, I’ll just become the crazy woman.’

There would be no scandal more sensational than a bride fleeing from her wedding hall.

The truly evil people were someone else entirely, yet being the only one pointed at would be too unfair.

‘Cecilia. You said you love me. Then you can love my child too, can’t you?’

‘Dying by your friend’s hand – are you following your parents?’

The words she’d heard from Evan and Rosena right before death pierced her heart.

The humiliation she’d suffered, plus the truth behind her parents’ death…

Even knowing all this, she couldn’t run away alone like a coward.

‘If I’m going to be covered in mud anyway, I’ll dirty Evan and Rosena together with me.’

Yes, she couldn’t back down like this.

She would pay them back in kind.

Cecilia gripped her bouquet tightly with her lace-gloved hands.

* * *

Countless guests had gathered in the grand wedding hall.

Though he was of common birth, Evan was a promising young businessman.

Since Evan had done his utmost to manage his reputation, there were quite a few guests.

‘Whew…’

Just before entering, Cecilia took a deep breath behind the door.

Soon the music announcing the bride’s entrance echoed, and the door opened.

Countless gazes turned toward the Virgin Road all at once.

Receiving those gazes with her entire body, Cecilia slowly took her steps.

Her heart began beating faster and faster.

‘Stay calm, I can’t waver now.’

Suppressing the urge to run out immediately, Cecilia maintained a composed expression.

Then, a familiar face came into view.

‘…Rosena.’

She was clapping with her usual bright smile.

Beside her, Viscount and Viscountess Osburn were also seated.

Cecilia’s face nearly contorted with rage.

She wanted to shout right here and now.

That they were murderers.

But Cecilia gritted her teeth and endured.

She tried to calm her mind, reminding herself that she had no evidence yet.

Unaware of her feelings, when their eyes met, Rosena mouthed words with a grin.

‘Con-grat-u-la-tions.’

Even this was exactly the same as five years ago.

‘Ha…’

In the past, she too had nodded and responded to Rosena’s congratulations.

Foolishly unaware that her husband’s child was in that belly.

‘How ridiculous I must have looked, giggling so innocently.’

Cecilia turned her gaze away with a cold expression.

Rosena’s hand faltered in confusion, but Cecilia had already passed her by.

At the end of the Virgin Road, Evan was waiting.

He took Cecilia’s hands with an ecstatic expression.

“Lia, you’re the most beautiful in the world today.”

He whispered shyly in Cecilia’s ear.

The old Cecilia would have been endlessly thrilled by this sight.

But now she knew it was all an act.

“…”

“Lia?”

When Cecilia gave no response, Evan looked puzzled.

But soon the priest who would officiate entered, and Evan naturally turned his gaze.

The sacred marriage vows between the couple proceeded in a solemn atmosphere.

“Evan Machi, do you swear to take Cecilia Panning as your wife and love and cherish her for life?”

“Yes! I swear!”

Evan answered as if he’d been waiting.

The priest’s gaze now turned to Cecilia.

“Cecilia Panning, do you take Evan Machi as your husband and swear to love and cherish him for life?”

“…”

But there was no answer from Cecilia.

In the lengthening silence, Evan looked back at her in confusion, and the guests began murmuring.

“Lady Cecilia?”

The priest called Cecilia again.

Only then did Cecilia slowly open her mouth.

“I…”

Everyone held their breath and waited for the bride’s answer.

“I will not go through with this marriage.”

But at this shocking answer, contrary to expectations, the wedding hall instantly froze.

Evan’s face contorted with bewilderment.

However, Cecilia was smiling quietly.

She shouted so everyone could hear clearly.

“Because Lady Rosena is carrying Evan Machi’s child.”

At Cecilia’s bold revelation, the wedding hall became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

Even the priest officiating the ceremony was at a loss for words, staring at her blankly.

“N-no!”

At that moment, shocked voices echoed from the guest seating area.

Rosena shot up from her seat with a pale face.

“Lia! What are you suddenly saying? How can you say such insulting things?”

“Th-that’s right! Even if it’s a joke, this is too much! Rosie isn’t even married yet!”

Rosena pretended to be an innocent victim with tears welling up, and Evan, who had been gaping like a fish, joined in.

The guests looked back and forth between the three of them in confusion.

They had simply come to celebrate a wedding only to get caught up in a love affair scandal, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

Evan grabbed Cecilia’s arm and tried to turn her toward him.

“Cecilia, enough with the jokes—”

Thwack!

But at that moment, Cecilia kicked Evan’s shin with all her might.

Evan, who had been raising his voice and spitting, immediately tumbled to the floor.

Shocked screams erupted from various spots among the guests.

“Ahhh! What do you think you’re doing!”

Evan clutched his leg and rolled around on the floor, screaming in agony.

Cecilia looked down at him coldly.

“You trash.”

After spitting out those words, she looked around.

The wedding hall was in chaos.

Evan was rolling on the floor making a big fuss, and the murmuring among the guests grew louder.

“It’s not true! I’m not pregnant! I can swear to heaven!”

And Rosena was desperately denying the pregnancy.

It was a desperate attempt to somehow escape the situation.

‘That won’t work.’

Cecilia smiled leisurely and spoke loudly and clearly.

“Then shall we verify it right here and now? If we call a skilled midwife or physician for an examination, we’ll know immediately.”

“L-Lia…”

“How about it? Wouldn’t that be much more entertaining than a boring wedding?”

Rosena’s face turned white as a sheet.

Physical changes had definitely begun since she became pregnant.

If she underwent an examination, the pregnancy would be exposed immediately.

No, actually, everything had already been revealed to everyone with just one word from Cecilia.

‘I was trying to hide the pregnancy and quickly find a marriage prospect…!’

The guests looked at Rosena with suspicious eyes.

Once she left this wedding hall, news of her pregnancy would surely spread throughout high society.

Rosena found herself trapped in an impossible situation.

Cecilia smiled triumphantly as she watched the trembling Rosena.

“Move aside.”

Cecilia confidently walked over Evan, who was still lying down.

There was no longer any reason to stay here.

“C-Cecilia! Stop right there!”

Evan shouted urgently from behind, but Cecilia didn’t look back.

All she could think about was quickly getting rid of this shackle-like wedding dress.

* * *

The red brick townhouse in the city.

Originally, this was supposed to be Cecilia and Evan’s newlywed home.

However, she who had stormed out of the wedding hall was now here alone.

“To think I’d see this house again.”

Cecilia murmured quietly.

This place was also exactly as it was in her memories from her previous life.

The placement of furniture, the color of curtains, even the subtle dusty smell characteristic of old wooden floors.

“Sigh…”

Cecilia briefly looked around and immediately began packing her belongings.

There wasn’t much to take.

Most of the things in this house were items Evan had prepared while showing off.

Even so, it was all just cheap furniture in a cheap shared housing, so she felt no attachment.

‘But there’s something I must take.’

Cecilia opened the small drawer of the vanity and rummaged inside.

Then she pulled out a small box that her fingers had found.

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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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