Chapter 4
"She was after me?" I repeated, stunned. "But why?"
Mother let out a cold laugh, her gaze dripping with sarcasm. "Because when your father sent them away last night, he didn't just hand them some money. He made them a promise.
"He told them that if he ever makes a comeback, he'll bring them back right away. Then William will be his only son, the sole heir to Everstead Manor."
I couldn't believe Edward would make such a promise.
My heart sank.
William would be his only son, the sole heir. Where would that leave me, his own daughter?
"So, Vivian thinks that as long as I'm dead, William gets to be the rightful heir, is that it?" I asked.
Even though I was a kid, growing up in Everstead Manor meant I was no stranger to all the shady plotting that went on behind closed doors.
"Exactly," Mother replied. Her tone was icy. "Vivian wants to leave no loose ends. If you're alive, you could become a stumbling block for her son in the future.
"So, she took the money your father gave her and turned right around to hire a killer, planning to have you dead before you left the city. That way, with no witnesses left, no one can trace it back to her."
Vivian was so ruthless.
I couldn't help but shiver.
The Vivian who always played the helpless damsel in front of Father actually had such a dark side.
"Does Father know about this?" I blurted out, unable to hold back.
Mother glanced at me, her gaze conflicted. "Does it really matter if he knows or not?"
Yeah, it didn't really matter.
What was done was done.
Whether Father knew or not, it didn't change the fact that he doted on Vivian and was ready to push me aside for William, the son born out of wedlock. His foolish obsession with Vivian almost cost me my life.
As I thought it over, any childlike admiration I once had for Edward faded away, leaving nothing behind.
The prison carriage began to move slowly.
The wheels creaked as they rolled over the cobblestone road.
I rested in Mother's arms, silent for a long while.
She seemed to know what I was thinking, gently patting my back to comfort me. "Rose, remember this. In this world, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself.
"Never put your fate in the hands of any man, not your father or your husband."
I wasn't really sure I understood, but I nodded anyway. "Mother, did you know Father had someone else?"
"Yes." She answered without hesitation. "I've known since the year after you were born."
I felt a jolt of shock.
Mother had endured this for four whole years.
"Then why didn't you tell Grandpa?" I asked.
My grandpa, the Grand Marshal, commanded the army and had the kind of power that could shake the whole court. If he ever found out Edward dared to treat Mother like this, he'd make Edward pay dearly.
Mother shook her head. "Tell your grandpa, and then what? Have him force Edward to get rid of Vivian and William? Then Edward would end up resenting me, pretending to be polite in public, but secretly plotting revenge?
"Rose, you can't force someone to love you. If a man's heart isn't yours, even if you keep him close, what's the point? And besides..." Mother paused, her voice sounding weary.
She continued, "Your grandpa holds a high position. He's got a lot of eyes on him. There are plenty of people in court waiting for him to slip up.
"I don't want him distracted by my dirty laundry, and I definitely don't want to give anyone leverage to use against him."