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She looked at Malcolm and spoke as if recounting something trivial, “Today, I met Lady Sophie.”
Malcolm reacted as if he had been bitten by a venomous snake and stared at her in shock. “She sought you out? What kind of rumors did she spread? Whatever she says, don’t believe her??he’s pot trustworthy!
Marjorie regarded him, her dark eyes soft yet regal, “Though I’m not well??cquainted with her, I know she’s not that kind of person. Besides, it wasn’t her who approached me. I encountered her while I was at the apple farm. She was picking up a child.”
Malcolm’s lips trembled slightly, and his gaze darted away. “What what child?”
Marjorie’s eyes remained gentle, though they held a trace of sadness. “I already know the details, so there’s no need for you to explain. I went there today intending to bring the child back for Willow to care for, but Lady Sophie insisted that one of you needed to go pick her up.”
Marjorie sat quietly while the two men shifted restlessly??articularly Malcolm, who seemed lost in a tangled web of thoughts, too anxious to meet her gaze or speak.
“The reason for bringing her back is clear to both of you. It’s not because I’m being magnanimous. The child is innocent. You are her dad, I am her stepmother, and she still has her birth mother. Moreover, secrets rarely stay hidden in this world. The Supreme Court is responsible for handling the case, and with so many hands involved, countless people will learn about it. You can silence one person, but not everyone.”She folded her hands in front of her and continued, “Even if the details haven’t spread, there are still those who have seen the case files. They will hold evidence that could be used against us. Our family has become a target. You and Lionel hold significant positions, and our daughter is the queen. Mistakes can be forgiven, but we must not give anyone leverage against us. The more we try to hide things, the greater the risk of disaster that would leave us in a vulnerable position.
“The treason case hasn’t been resolved yet, which means more people will likely come under scrutiny. If you’re worried about this damaging your reputation, that fear will only grow, and the costs will escalate. It’s better to face the problem now and take responsibility for past mistakes. Bringing her back to the household and allowing Willow to care for her is fulfilling your duty as a father. Anyone who tries to use this against you or our family will find it impossible to succeed.”
With that, Marjorie stood up. “I’ve said my piece. Lionel, you’ll go retrieve her tomorrow.”
Lionel hadn’t expected his mom to possess such foresight, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Malcolm stared at her, as if he was seeing her for the first time.
Marjorie turned to leave. The heavy, calming scent in the study made her dizzy. She stepped outside to take a few breaths of fresh air and felt somewhat better.
“Marjorie!” Malcolm called from behind, his voice laced with shame. “I’m sorry.”
“After all these years as husband and wife, I thought I knew you best, but it seems I hardly know you at all. Marjorie didn’t turn around. Her eyes felt prickly. “Protecting our family is your duty as the head, as it is mine as the matriarch.”
“I’m sorry!” He reached out, trying to grasp her arm.
She deftly evaded him, forcing back her tears. Her voice, carried by the wind, sounded both fragile and resolute. “I’m getting older. I’ll arrange a couple more concubines for you.”
“No, I don’t want that!” Malcolm’s legs felt weak beneath him. “I was foolish for a moment. Please believe me!”
Marjorie turned to look at him, her tone gentle as she said, “Of course, I trust you. You value your reputation above all else. If it weren’t for your feelings, you wouldn’t even consider keeping a mistress. you want Casey back, I would agree to that.”
It turned out that after losing faith in someone, it was indeed possible to become indifferent.
The next day, Lionel went to Pearwater Convent to pick up Amara.
Sophie was present, so he pulled her aside for a moment Conder Devin, please don’t worry. My mom will treat Amara well and won’t make things difficult. I have half??rothers and half??isters borne by my dad’s concubines, and my mom has always been kind to them.”
Sophie replied bluntly, “I don’t doubt your mom will be good to the child. However, I need to clarify something. Yesterday, your mom asked me what the child’s name was. I told her it was Briar. As for whether you will use ‘Amara’ after returning, that’s up to you.”
Lionel sighed softly. “Thank you, Commander Devin.
“Since you’re bringing the child back, will you let her meet Casey?”
Lionel nodded. “That’s fine. In fact, my mom said yesterday that if my dad wants to take Casey back to our residence, she would agree.”
Sophie looked at him in surprise. “You’re not that simple a person, Lord Lionel. Be a little kinder to your mom and consider her feelings.
Lionel hurried to explain, “Please don’t misunderstand. My mom isn’t petty. She thinks about the big picture to avoid giving anyone a handle against our family.”
“I’m not misunderstanding. I know your mom is considering the greater good, but that doesn’t mean you can treat her like she has no heart. In a situation like this, who do you think suffers the most? It’s not your dad. It’s your mother. Yet even in her difficult position, she’s still thinking about the future of your family.
You can’t match her vision.”
Sophie rarely showed such patience when communicating with members of the Quinton family. Yesterday, she had wondered if Marjorie was being too kind??earted.
Upon reflection, Sophie realized there was a reason for it??arjorie didn’t want the Quinton family or Kylie to be attacked later over this issue, so she would rather take the hit now.
Lionel’s eyes glimmered with sorrow. “I know my mom must be hurting. But if we’re talking about who’s suffering the most, it’s definitely my dad. This incident has caused many of our family’s young men to lose their respect for him. He’s sacrificed a lot over the years to maintain our family’s honor, and he’s been struggling with nowhere to vent his frustrations. That’s why he didn’t refuse Casey when she came to him.
“Commander Devin, you’re in the court too, so you should understand how difficult it is to hold an official position, especially since my dad is the Civil Minister. He’s always tirelessly recommending capable people to the court and evaluating officials..
Sophie understood that men often spoke from a man’s perspective, and their stance shaped their perceptions. So, she didn’t argue.
“Alright, Lord Lionel. I’m just offering a suggestion. After all, this is your family matter, and I don’t want to Interfere. You should handle it as you see fit.”
Lionel awkwardly said, “Alright, I’ll take Amara back first. As for whether I’ll bring Casey later, I’ll ask my mom again. If she agrees, I’ll send someone to fetch her. For now, let’s not meet her.”
Sophie wanted to remind Lionel not to keep calling the child Amora, as it was just another wound for his mom. However, it was clear he didn’t see it that way. Bringing it up again would only seem meddlesome.
With that, Lionel left with the child without allowing her to meet Casey. He hadn’t even asked Casey if she wanted to go to the Quinton family’s residence.
After taking care of a few matters, Sophie decided to check on Casey.
She was sitting alone in a shared room, and her roommate hadn’t returned yet. She hugged a blanket, sitting on the bed. Since arriving here, she hadn’t said much at all, and she hadn’t eaten anything today.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Sophie asked gently.
Casey lifted her head and softly asked, “Did he leave?
Sophie nodded. “He’s gone.”
A small sigh of relief escaped Casey. “The matriarch of the Quinton family will treat her well. I’m very reassured.”
Casey had approached Malcolm for a mission, so naturally, someone had investigated the Quinton family’s situation.
“Are you alright?” Sophie Inquired.
“I couldn’t be better,” Casey said with a smile, lifting her gaze to meet Sophie’s. Her long hair fell around her face, framing her eyes and making it look bigger than usual. “It feels almost unreal. How could the heavens be so kind to me? I really can’t believe it. I’m even afraid to step outside. What if I open the door, and someone takes me back to Harmony Palace to be punished?”
“Take a walk. You’ll see that everything is more real than it seems. By the way, if the Quinton family wants to take you back to their residence, would you want to go?” Sophie asked.
“My condolences,” Sophie said softly.
“She passed away in my arms. She was coughing terribly and throwing up blood. In a way, her passing is a relief,” Carmen choked out, her voice breaking.
Sophie felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. “If you want to bury her on the mountain at Pearwater Convent, you don’t need to ask the abbess. I can make that decision. That mountain was granted to us by King Sigmund after my dad achieved merit.”
“Really? Thank you, Your Grace,” Carmen replied, her gratitude evident.