Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 44
All evidence had been attributed to Hannah Linfitt. The sachet with poison and the now-empty lotion bottle.
So, regardless of who was actually behind it, the outcome wouldn’t change.
To Adam Lasphilla, the rivalry between the Rosencrantz brothers was irrelevant. Now that his relationship with Guinevere had soured, he didn’t care who would inherit the Rosencrantz title.
“Regardless of whether you name either me or Ulysses, Father would believe you.”
Since Duke Rosencrantz was absent during the incident, he would inevitably heed Adam’s words as a neutral third party.
“You are indeed astute, Sir Nigel.”
Adam nodded.
“How much will it cost?”
He was asking how much Nigel would invest in the count’s testimony.
The corners of Nigel’s lips curled up, but simultaneously, his fist were clenched tightly under the table.
‘To the very end, I’m being played around by that mongrel.’
He could tell the truth. That it was Cecilia Lasphilla who drugged him, causing this whole ordeal.
But in that case, Nigel would gain nothing. At best, it would be petty revenge against Cecilia.
On the other hand, what if the count would testify that it was indeed Ulysses who tried to drug Nigel?
Perhaps his father, who seemed to be waiting for the earliest chance to disinherit Nigel, would have to set aside that plan for a while.
‘I can’t miss this golden opportunity to smear Guinevere’s brat.’
Did that crazy girl foresee all of this?
Ulysses and Cecilia.
Between the two mongrels that Nigel loathed, who would he name as the culprit?
‘I thought you were a filthy mongrel, but you were a venomous snake all this time.’
Nigel chuckled sardonically to himself, realizing he had been bitten when he least expected it.
He then spoke to Adam.
“Would you be satisfied if I provided you with a list of mines likely to be profitable in the latter half of this year?”
“That would be sufficient.”
Adam smiled contentedly. The deal was straightforward and simple, and the truth was never of importance to either of them anyway.
***
After Nigel left, Adam sat alone on the sofa in the drawing room, tapping the armrest thoughtfully.
‘I’ve secured all the benefits I could. The threat of poison to the family has been safely eliminated as well.’
Initially, Adam had been furious to the point of seeing red when he first learned that his only son, Nathan, had nearly died. However, the child was safe and sound in the end.
Not only that, but he had also obtained a list of promising mines from Nigel. With the effort put into finding the pendant, he was set to reap considerable profits in the second half of the year as well.
There had been no loss.
Instead, everything had worked out to the glory of the Lasphilla family.
But…
“Sister.”
He rubbed his unrelenting furrowed brow.
“Why did you do it?”
The question, thrown into the void without the concerned party, received no answer. In the enveloping silence, Adam suffered alone in the agony of this betrayal.
Until now, he had believed that his sister would be on his side forever.
“Why did you do that?”
He had done everything for her, bought her everything she wanted. He had given her affection he didn’t even offer to his wife and children.
Because he trusted her. He had always trusted her.
Weren’t they siblings who could do anything for each other, with a relationship closer than any blood relation could be?
His sister had once made an enormous sacrifice for him, and he had always been truly grateful for that.
Even though she was a tainted woman who had dallied with other men while unmarried, he had willingly tolerated it because it was a choice she made for him.
She was the only person he felt was family.
His first wife had been distant from the start of their marriage, and his children thought him to be on a higher level, never to be reached. Although they were within his fence, they had always been distant—like strangers.
His sister was the only one he trusted.
But now, that very sister had betrayed him.
His only family.
“Haha…”
Now he was utterly alone, a snake guarding its den with nothing left to protect.
‘You’ve left me feeling utterly wretched, Sister.’
He sent these resentful words towards the woman dying somewhere in his house. Not that she would pretend to listen anymore.
Adam leaned his weight on the arms of the chair and stood up.
In the end, he had no choice but to return to that lowly woman.
She was the only one who would so joyfully welcome him, no matter when he showed up.
