Bonita took a step back at the lady’s outburst.
‘Fake daughter? Fraudster?’
Although Bonita didn’t know the relationship between the elderly lady and the duke, it was clear from her attire and the knights’ attitudes that she was a high-ranking noble.
Moreover, the only people she could think of being referred to as a fake daughter or fraudster were herself. Bonita’s mind quickly spiraled into negative thoughts.
Her face paled, and her small shoulders shrank pitifully.
Meanwhile, Aria was flustered for a different reason.
The lady’s stubborn and cantankerous tone.
Her disregard for others’ gazes.
Despite being well over sixty, she maintained her skin and hair impeccably and wore a dress adorned with sparkling jewels.
Her identity was none other than…
‘Mother-in-law?’
Catherine Lysianthus, the former duchess.
Technically, Aria’s mother-in-law.
“I thought you declared you wouldn’t return from the resort? What’s this commotion all about?”
“Luke you scoundrel!”
“Ow.”
Thwack!
Catherine swung her cane at Luke, hitting him squarely on the head. Luke groaned, seemingly unbothered by the pain, and grumbled.
“Stop making a scene.”
“I stop? My husband and precious daughter-in-law are gone, and all I have left is this dark creature!”
“Don’t call people ‘this’ or ‘that.’ It’s rude.”
“Hmph. More importantly, where is that mother-daughter con team? I didn’t come to see you, so tell me where they are!”
Luke sighed deeply. Meanwhile, Catherine scanned the area with her sharp gaze.
And there they were.
Although a bit far, Bonita was the only child around, so Catherine immediately recognized them.
“There they are! Those wretched ones!”
“Mother!”
“Don’t stop me!”
Luke chased after his storming mother, initially intending to restrain her but then thought.
‘She’ll understand once she sees them.’
She may not have the innate Lysianthus instinct, but Bonita was undoubtedly the spitting image of Elodie.
As expected, Catherine’s expression changed rapidly as she approached them, her face showing astonishment just a few steps away. Her gaze was fixed on the adult woman.
Aria smiled and greeted her.
“Long time no see, ma’am.”
“You…!”
Aria had lived in the Lysianthus main house with Elodie for over three years.
Recognizing her, Catherine’s eyes widened in shock. But what shocked her more was on the other side.
“Bonita, say hello. This lady is the mother of the duke, Lady Lysianthus.”
“The duke’s mother…?”
“Yes. To Bonita, she’s your grandmother.”
Hearing Aria’s explanation, Bonita, who had been hiding behind her, peeked out. Catherine’s gaze fixed on the child.
Bonita, seeing the noble lady with her mouth slightly open, hesitated before cautiously greeting.
“Hello, ma’am.”
But the greeting didn’t reach Catherine’s ears.
What she saw were the candy-pink hair and coral-colored eyes that shone differently in the light, resembling someone too closely.
“No, what is this…”
The furious, roaring old woman had disappeared.
Catherine, instead of shouting at Luke to stay away as planned, was left speechless, just gaping for a while.
Luke, who arrived a bit later, observed his mother from a distance. He had intended to intervene if she went on a rampage, but it seemed unnecessary given how the situation was unfolding.
“Um, ma’am…?”
It was Bonita who broke the ongoing silence, worrying whether the distinguished-looking elderly lady was angry because of her.
“If I’ve done anything wrong, I apologize. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not that, I…”
Catherine stammered, still unable to gather her thoughts.
Her mind was in turmoil.
‘To resemble her this much?’
Catherine was understandably flustered for a reason.
As the daughter of the esteemed Duke of Violet and born motherless, she had always longed for a female sibling to confide in from a young age. When she realized she couldn’t fulfill that dream, she wished for a beautiful daughter instead.
But after becoming the Duchess of Lysianthus, she only bore three sons, the youngest of whom died early due to frail health.
So, when her eldest son, Luke, married the sunny and beautiful Elodie, Catherine was overjoyed for the first time.
Elodie approached Catherine, known for her strict and harsh demeanor, without prejudice or preconceptions. It was natural for Catherine to end up adoring Elodie more than her own son.
But it lasted only for three years.
Afterwards, Catherine was so heartbroken that she left the Lysianthus mansion and stayed in a southern villa for years.
And now, suddenly, Elodie’s supposedly stillborn daughter had appeared.
Catherine had rushed over, thinking some conniving tricksters were targeting her son again.
But then…
In front of her was a tiny girl who looked unbelievably like Elodie. Catherine’s heart fluttered at the long-buried trace of Elodie.
‘No! Pull yourself together, Catherine Lysianthus!’
She almost reached out to Bonita’s chubby cheeks but stopped herself, scolding herself inwardly.
“How about it, mother? Do you believe me now?”
“Uh, well. She does look a bit like her.”
“A bit?”
“Anyway!”
Catherine snapped.
“I don’t accept it! If it was a lost child, maybe, but a stillborn child suddenly appearing? Nonsense!”
“But,”
“Didn’t you see it too! Elodie’s baby was dead! How can a child we held a funeral for come back to life?”
“Mother.”
Luke interrupted her with a subdued voice.
The child was listening. And…
He approached Bonita and declared,
“Bonita is indeed my daughter.”
“Luke.”
“I’m certain. …Although I’m still investigating how this happened.”
He glared at Aria with a chilling gaze that even the fearless Aria found intimidating.
Catherine, now much softer, said,
“We should at least conduct a paternity test. Your father believed in Lysianthus instincts, but I’m not so sure.”
“Indeed, I was planning to do that.”
Bonita’s resemblance to Elodie had kept everyone from saying much, but there was enough reason for others to find Bonita’s existence strange.
And with many eyeing the Lysianthus Duke’s position, they would certainly challenge Bonita’s origins if Luke disappeared without an heir.
To silence any doubters, it was necessary to summon a cleric and conduct a paternity test.
Once it was confirmed that Bonita was indeed Luke’s daughter, there would be no doubt about her legitimacy. Anyone who wasn’t blind could see that Bonita, just by her appearance, was the child of the former Duchess.
“So, the child is one thing. But what about that woman? Wasn’t she supposed to have left after Elodie’s death?”
Catherine’s question was met with an awkward silence.
Luke desperately wanted to speak about her suspicious points, but he couldn’t bring himself to threaten or demean the caregiver Bonita relied on in front of the child.
“Aria is currently allowed to stay in the mansion as Bonita’s caregiver. I’ll explain the details to you later.”
“What? Why not explain it right now”
Catherine’s tactless remark was met with a fierce look from Luke. She closed her mouth, noticing his finger violently pointing at Bonita, visible only to her.
Aria quickly interjected.
“Ma’am, since you’re here, why not enjoy a picnic with your son and Bonita?”
“Picnic? Such a trivial thing?”
Catherine, about to scoff, caught sight of Bonita’s face.
“But I do enjoy it immensely. Sometimes, it’s better to spend a leisurely and mundane afternoon than always being in the midst of something hectic.”
It was a quick change of stance.
Aria clapped her hands.
“Then let’s go back under the tree for a simple snack, especially since it’s lunchtime! The servants have prepared a picnic box for us!”
“What, sit on the ground to eat like some unsophisticated”
“Wow, really? Can I open the picnic box?”
Catherine and Bonita spoke over each other.
The coral-colored eyes sparkled with anticipation. Seeing this, Catherine cleared her throat and continued naturally.
“It wouldn’t be bad. I’ve always preferred eating on the floor rather than at a table since I was young.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
