Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 46.1
Chapter 46.1
It had been ten days since Vivian had sought me out, offering money and demanding I break off my engagement. She’d had ample time to tell Hector her version of events, undoubtedly embellished to cast herself as the tragic heroine.
Since I hadn’t agreed to end the engagement, and Hector hadn’t forcefully demanded it, she’d resorted to more drastic measures. If he learned of my supposed “cruelty,” he wouldn’t stand idly by.
‘That explains the forced payment.’ She clearly intended to claim I’d extorted the money.
While I couldn’t ignore Luke Randy’s persistent attempts to contact me any longer, Hector was a different matter. “It’s not time to see Hector yet.”
A little revenge for his betrayal seemed fair. I intended to break off the engagement eventually, but a bit of preemptive anxiety was a small price for him to pay. I smiled, picturing Hector’s agitation.
“What? Has the Randy family’s butler left already?” The door burst open, and Rettie Hazel strode into the drawing-room. “Honestly, she has no concept of knocking,” I muttered under my breath, lifting my gaze as Rettie quickly crossed the room and settled into the chair opposite me, crossing one leg over the other.
“What brings you here today, Rettie?”
“Why so formal? It’s not like we need a reason to see each other.”
“Actually, it’s more like we shouldn’t see each other at all.” Rettie’s eyebrow twitched at my bluntness. Normally, she would have snapped back with a sarcastic retort, but today, she remained silent, jaw tight as she controlled her temper. Clearly, her personality hadn’t undergone a sudden transformation.
‘Come to think of it, Rettie’s been quieter since meeting the Kishan princes.’
I’d struck a bargain with her: attendance at the princes’ tea party in exchange for her services and information about my parents’ plans. Her primary goal was the tea party, so she’d been playing nice, at least superficially.
Even then, she hadn’t completely masked her irritation, muttering under her breath behind me during the event. I’d assumed she’d revert to her usual behavior once the tea party was over. Instead, she’d become even more agreeable.
“Oh, Amelia, you’re so teasing. Is that any way to talk to your little sister, who came all this way to share our parents’ schedule?”
“…The schedule, you say?” She’d also started diligently reporting on the Count and Countess’s activities, something she’d neglected before. ‘So transparent.’ I had a good idea why Rettie’s attitude had changed so drastically. ‘Like father, like daughter.’ She was merely biding her time, playing the long game.
“Yes, that’s right. Today, they went to meet Vivian.” Rettie nodded, beginning her report. “They’re probably just trying to squeeze more money out of her. Father lost another fortune a few days ago… Oh, never mind. Anyway, I’ve smoothed things over with them, so they won’t bother you for a while.”
She’d almost let slip that the Count had lost more money. Their inability to curb their spending, even in this situation, was truly remarkable. ‘So, they’ve latched onto Vivian as their new source of funds…’
Vivian Ewill likely intended to use my parents to pressure me into breaking off the engagement with Hector, but the Count and Countess weren’t so easily manipulated. If they couldn’t force the break-up, they’d simply exploit Vivian, threatening to withdraw their support unless she paid them.
However, Vivian had borrowed that money from Luke Randy. He wouldn’t lend money to anyone, even his cousin, without expecting something in return. Vivian was likely another client of Hayland Loan. I doubted she could keep up with my parents’ extravagant spending habits.
“So, you did say something to our parents, didn’t you, Rettie?”
“Of course. Who else would help you?” Rettie replied with a bright smile. She was definitely the reason for my parents’ sudden change in behavior.
“What exactly did you tell them?”
“Oh, nothing much. Just that you’ve been struggling because of the Duke, and they should be more considerate.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“I explained everything perfectly. That’s why they’ve started to understand you. Haven’t you noticed their change in attitude lately?”
“It’s certainly different.”
“See? It’s all thanks to me.”
Rettie Hazel definitely wanted something from me. She had an ulterior motive, and I suspected it involved… ‘Haroon Kishan.’ It was the only explanation that made sense. Given her unconscious state after the beast appeared, her last memory of Haroon would have been at the sponsorship event. She’d likely convinced my parents that I was their only connection to the Kishan princes. Any connection to Kishan royalty, especially a prince, would have been enticing.
Even that wouldn’t last. For now, they had Vivian to exploit. But once she reached her limit, they’d revert to their old ways. ‘Rettie wants to achieve her goal before that happens.’ I simply smiled, feigning ignorance.
