She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 86

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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 86. Trump Card

Tira’s greeting was affectionate.

But it was filled with malice.

Naturally, people’s gazes focused on Cecilia and Tira.

Most of the noblewomen gathered here today had directly witnessed the previous incident.

And this was the first time the two had faced each other since that day.

People’s eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation.

“I’ve been well. How is your health?”

Cecilia calmly received Tira’s greeting.

The moment she showed emotion here, she would become excellent prey for them.

“I’ve improved a lot, thanks to you.”

Tira also smiled cunningly.

“Actually, it would have been better if I had recovered a bit more before coming out. I’m still receiving medical treatment.”

Tira finished speaking with a pitiful expression.

The nuance was clear that she had been driven out because of Cecilia.

And that she was still suffering because of it.

“Now, now, everyone take your seats.”

Elise looked around with a satisfied expression.

As soon as she spoke, the noblewomen began taking their places one by one.

Cecilia and Tira also sat facing each other with Elise in the middle.

“Dowager Duchess, thank you for arranging such a wonderful gathering.”

As soon as they were seated, Tira spoke first.

“I’m a bit worried whether it’s appropriate for someone like me, who isn’t even nobility, to join such a gathering…”

“Not at all. Times are changing, so what’s the problem? This gathering is for you, so please enjoy yourself comfortably.”

“Oh my, thank you. I’m truly delighted.”

Tira acted coquettishly.

Of course, Elise’s words weren’t sincere.

She was someone who valued birth and status as the most important things.

However, today she needed justification for bringing Tira here.

So she planned to play along appropriately.

“More importantly.”

Elise turned to look at Cecilia.

“Given today’s occasion, how about formally apologizing to Miss Ruth for what happened before?”

Right after sitting down, Elise spoke to Cecilia.

Though it was phrased as a suggestion.

It was essentially pressure for Cecilia to admit she had bullied Tira.

Murmurs arose among the noblewomen once again.

In their minds, this matter seemed already decided as ‘a quarrel between a wife and mistress.’

“I’m fine, Dowager Duchess.”

Tira spoke in an extremely fragile voice.

Even her trembling lips looked disgustingly pitiful.

“I’ll go tidy up my clothes a bit before Father arrives.”

As Tira stood up, she didn’t forget to sway slightly.

She left the gathering while receiving sympathetic looks from all the noblewomen.

“I wonder if I shouldn’t have called such a frail child.”

“Not at all, Dowager Duchess.”

“Seeing you care for her puts us all at ease.”

“That’s right, that child must surely be grateful too.”

Other noblewomen hurriedly flattered Elise from the side.

“Usually, the person who caused trouble should be the one to clean it up…”

While subtly glancing at Cecilia.

There wasn’t a trace of goodwill in their eyes.

“…”

Cecilia silently lifted her cup and took a sip of water.

‘I seem to be quite the public enemy.’

Most of the ladies gathered here had daughters-in-law.

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships were naturally complicated.

They all harbored various grievances against their daughters-in-law.

Today they were projecting those grievances onto Cecilia.

‘It’s not even my fault, so why me?’

Of course, Cecilia had no intention of accepting this.

She had other things to do anyway.

She stood up from her seat.

“Where are you going?”

“Inside.”

Elise’s eyes narrowed at the short answer.

“I forgot something for a moment. Please continue your conversation in the meantime.”

Cecilia lightly bowed her head and turned around, entering the Duke’s mansion.

Behind her, she could hear the noblewomen speaking ill of her.

But Cecilia just snorted and brushed it off.

She had even experienced death, so what did gossip matter?

“Oh my, Duchess.”

Just as Cecilia turned the corner of the corridor.

She encountered Tira coming out of the powder room.

“Did you leave the gathering? Surely not because of me?”

Tira approached with that pitiful expression of hers.

Her intention to play the victim was quite obvious.

“You’re not upset because of me, are you?”

“…”

Cecilia quietly looked down at Tira.

This woman was currently probing Cecilia.

Whether she was intimidated or angry.

Either way, she must have prepared scenarios favorable to herself.

Cecilia had no intention of playing along with such shallow tricks.

“Miss Ruth.”

Cecilia looked straight at Tira.

“There’s no need to act when it’s just the two of us, is there?”

“What? What do you mean by that…”

“You worked with the Dowager Duchess to create this gathering to bring me down, didn’t you?”

“…”

Hit right on target, Tira pressed her lips shut.

After rolling her eyes for a moment, she let out a sigh.

“You knew? I thought you were oblivious.”

A sneer appeared on Tira’s lips.

She showed no sign of worry about being caught.

She crossed her arms and said.

“The Duchess is quite remarkable, coming to this gathering even knowing that. Or did you think this much was just easy for you?”

“Hardly.”

Cecilia smiled as if it were ridiculous.

“Who would take you lightly? You’re doing such a good job pretending to be Nigel Russ’s fake daughter.”

“W-what did you say?”

The air in the corridor instantly froze.

Tira tried to hide her confusion.

But she couldn’t conceal her trembling eyes.

“Just now, what did you…”

“Exactly what I just said.”

Cecilia took another step closer.

The tall woman looked down at Tira.

“You’re Nigel Russ’s mistress.”

“Wh-what kind of nonsense is that!”

Tira’s voice became sharp.

“Madam! What on earth are you thinking? Even if you’re a noble, I can’t just overlook such an insult. I’ll formally protest this on behalf of my father’s and my honor!”

“Honor?”

Cecilia asked quietly.

A faint sneer played at her lips.

“Does a woman who covets other people’s husbands have any honor?”

“Ha!”

Tira’s hands began to tremble.

But if she backed down here, it would be over.

After all, the New Continent was far from this place.

No matter how powerful House of Hays was, there was no way they could go there and investigate.

She and Naijel just had to deny it to the end.

“How can you make such ridiculous accusations without any evidence?”

“Evidence.”

Unlike Tira, whose face had turned red.

Cecilia remained calm.

She glanced at the window in the corridor.

Just like Tira had done not long ago.

“What are you doing now? Why are you looking outside?”

“They’ve arrived just in time. The evidence you’re so desperately looking for.”

“Wh-what?”

What had arrived!

But Cecilia didn’t explain further.

Instead, she walked past Tira.

“Hey! Where are you going without saying anything!”

Tira’s sharp voice echoed through the corridor.

But Cecilia didn’t stop walking.

Eventually, Tira hurriedly chased after her.

Whatever that woman was planning.

Tira couldn’t just sit still and take it.

“Do you think I’ll be scared by such bluffing? If you keep slandering me, I’ll tell His Grace everything—”

But her confident words couldn’t continue.

The moment she followed Cecilia out of the manor entrance.

Tira froze in place.

A luxurious carriage was parked in front of the manor.

And a woman was getting out of it.

Tira’s mouth fell open.

‘This can’t be! How is that person here?’

Her mind went blank.

Meanwhile, Cecilia approached the carriage.

“Welcome, you must have had a hard journey coming such a long way.”

She warmly greeted the middle-aged lady who had just gotten out of the carriage.

Well-pressed coat and modest jewelry.

She was a woman whose confident and leisurely demeanor stood out.

The woman looked around briefly, then gazed at Cecilia.

“It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

Cecilia lightly bent her knees in greeting.

And called her name.

“Mrs. Ruth.”

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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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