Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 160

Retribution Bears Interest 160. Conflicting Emotions

Conflicting Emotions

January 7, 2024

Leah felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen at dawn.

“Ah!”

She was three months pregnant and being extra careful because it was still a critical time, but a wave of anxiety washed over her.

“What’s wrong, miss?”

Sarah, awakened by Leah’s groan, rushed to her side.

“My stomach hurts.”

Sarah quickly assessed Leah’s condition.

Her face was pale, she was drenched in sweat, and her body felt cold. Lifting the blanket, Sarah saw the chemise stained red.

“She’s bleeding!”

While Sarah was greatly alarmed, Leah remained surprisingly calm. She knew she was bleeding as soon as she felt the pain in her abdomen.

“It’s not severe. I’ll take care of it. Please call Karen.”

“I will.”

At Leah’s words, Sarah threw on a coat and hurried out of the house.

Dr. Karen’s house wasn’t far.

When searching for a house, Leah had specifically considered Karen’s proximity. Fortunately, there was an empty house in her neighborhood, so she immediately signed the contract.

After Sarah left, Leah skillfully changed her chemise and placed a clean cotton pad between her legs.

Since it was best to avoid moving as much as possible, Leah lay back in bed. About ten minutes later, Sarah returned with Karen.

“Let’s take a look.”

Karen immediately washed her hands and began examining Leah.

“Fortunately, the bleeding isn’t too severe. You’ll need to stay in bed for almost a month. Can you manage that?”

“You mean stay in bed for a month?”

“If we get through this critical period, there’s a way to deliver relatively safely.”

“What is it?”

Sarah asked, her face filled with curiosity.

“I’ll tell you later. First, it’s important to reach a stable period.”

Leah trusted Karen, but it seemed like she wasn’t telling her everything about her condition.

If the severity of her condition was a 10, Karen always seemed to report it as a 6.

Of course, Leah knew it was with good intentions. But the problem was that people naturally want to uncover the remaining 4.

As if sensing Leah’s anxiety, Karen sighed and said,

“What were you thinking, trying to carry twins with such a weak body? Were you jealous of someone?”

“Twins?”

Leah and Sarah exclaimed simultaneously. Was this the information Karen had been withholding?

Soon, Karen launched into a storm of nagging, and Leah and Sarah nodded like well-behaved students, listening attentively to her every word.

In that moment, joy, excitement, and fear surged within Leah like a tidal wave.

‘I must have been jealous of the Empress [referring to Vivian, who had twins].’

People unconsciously feel jealousy, and it seemed she was no different. Even though she admired Vivian’s happiness at having twins, she hadn’t consciously felt jealous. Maybe it was her body, not her mind, that had been envious.

“You have to protect the twins, right?”

“I… I have to. With my life.”

At Leah’s determined declaration, Karen waved her hand and laughed.

“You don’t need to risk your life for the babies. You’re still young, so there will always be other opportunities. And I always prioritize the mother in any case.”

That was a very doctor-like thing to say. Well, doctors didn’t need to be overly emotional. Karen gave her more instructions and then left.

“Twins…!”

Sarah seemed to be in shock and slumped onto the sofa. But Leah calmly considered that it wasn’t entirely unfounded.

Before Grace left, she had appeared in her dream and given her sparkling pearl earrings.

Earrings are naturally a pair, so she initially thought that was the extent of the meaning, but now that she thought about it, it seemed to signify twins. What else did Grace say?

“Get some sleep. From tomorrow, don’t move from the bed.”

Before Leah could recall more, Sarah changed the blood-stained bed sheets and helped her lie down.

“Yes, I should.”

‘I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.’

Joy and emotion washed over her like waves, and her mind was wide awake.

* * *

Terrence and Luke had set aside all official duties and were meticulously checking mail and bank records from various countries. The sheer volume of information was staggering.

It was amazing that Luke had managed to obtain so many records.

It would be impossible for an ordinary person, but with the Duke of Courtois’ influence, it was certainly within reach.

“Your Grace, I’ll look through these. Please go and have a meal.”

Luke looked at Terrence, who had become gaunt, with concern.

“It’s okay. Food won’t go down my throat.”

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the records. He knew it was like finding a needle in a haystack. He didn’t even expect a definite clue.

He just desperately hoped that among these countless documents, there would be even one small record that Leah might have left behind.

“James, have you checked the newspaper?”

Terrence called out to James, who was reviewing the newspaper on the other side of the room. Even though he trusted Theresa’s words, he checked the list of the deceased every day, just in case.

“No, sir.”

“Whew! That’s a relief.”

“Your Grace, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Do that.”

“I’ll bring you some food, so please eat it here.”

“It’s okay… Ah, okay, bring it.”

Terrence couldn’t refuse any longer when he saw James’ worried expression.

James soon took the newspaper and headed out.

“Why is your wife being like that?”

Terrence grumbled to Luke as he continued to sift through the records.

Chenel’s spiritual power must have been exhausted, as she changed her pronouncements every day, causing a great deal of confusion.

“I don’t know why she’s doing that.”

One day she would be happy, saying that Grace was doing well, but the next day she would be gloomy and predict misfortune.

What had she said this morning as soon as she woke up?

“She kept insisting that we had to go to Graymon…”

“What’s Graymon?”

“Graymon, you mean. It’s an island nation, and they’ve been ordering a lot of lace lately.”

“Chenel has become a businesswoman.”

“I don’t know if that’s the reason. She didn’t give me a specific explanation, she just kept repeating that she wanted to go there.”

“Is that so?”

Terrence paused what he was doing for a moment and looked at Luke.

He wondered why Chenel was so insistent on going to Graymon.

Terrence began to select records related to Graymon from the massive pile. He felt compelled to examine them first.

He frantically searched for and checked the documents. Just then, James came in with a simple meal.

“Your Grace, please eat first.”

“Just a moment, let me check one more thing.”

“Hup!”

James cleared his throat loudly, and Terrence reluctantly put down the documents.

If he ate quickly and got back to work, James wouldn’t bother him anymore. Terrence sat on the sofa and devoured the food.

“Your Grace, another letter has arrived from the Lebon Music Academy.”

“Warn them not to bother me.”

“They say they have something important to tell you and need to see you in person.”

“No way. I don’t have time for that.”

“They said they would come in person this afternoon.”

“Make up an excuse and send them back.”

“Understood.”

Terrence finished the food in one gulp and got up from his seat. He walked back towards the chaotic array of documents.

* * *

Leah stared out the window. The weather in Graymon was unpredictable.

It could be sunny in the morning, but it could rain at noon and be clear again in the evening.

‘Just like my heart.’

Her emotions changed several times a day. She felt brave about the pregnancy, but then she was scared, and she cried because she missed Terrence.

She hesitated constantly. Should she write a letter to Terrence saying, ‘I’m here’?

‘No, I’ll ruin everything if I do that.’

Leah needed to remember. Terrence was the man who had given her medicine to prevent her pregnancy.

She hadn’t completely forgiven him yet, and if she met him because she was overwhelmed with longing, their conflict would only deepen.

‘A mother has to be strong. Let’s be patient and wait.’

But she was struggling with an emptiness that couldn’t be filled.

Yesterday, she had seen Chenel and Pauline in her dream. She thought she only missed Terrence, but she missed everyone at the Duke’s residence.

Then, she suddenly asked herself, ‘Why am I here?’

Even though she had come to this strange place on her own. A bone-chilling sorrow washed over Leah.

‘I miss Terrence.’

Apart from resenting him, her longing was also very powerful.

Leah covered herself up to her neck with the blanket and curled up.

Even the rattling of the glass window in the strong wind made her sad.

* * *

James was in the middle of an argument with Heidel Hunt, who had finally arrived at the Duke’s residence.

“The Duke is not here.”

“Is he not here, or is he deliberately avoiding me?”

The white-haired gentleman questioned with a stubborn attitude.

“Professor, if you tell me your business, I will pass it on to the Duke.”

“I don’t have anything to say to the butler.”

James was also upset by his rude words and didn’t feel inclined to persuade him any further.

“If he won’t see me, I’ll just leave.”

Heidel Hunt turned around, expressing his displeasure.

Meanwhile, Terrence was looking through the records about Graymon when his eyes landed on a particular entry. It was a record of Grace Bizac sending a letter to Heidel Hunt of Lebon Music Academy.

“Wh… why?”

Terrence stopped breathing for a moment and checked the record again. He traced each letter of her name with his finger to confirm that it was really Grace.

‘It’s definitely Grace Bizac.’

“Luke, take a look at this.”

He urgently called Luke and handed him the record he had found.

“Did I see it wrong?”

Luke looked at the record Terrence gave him, and his eyes widened.

“You’ve finally found it, Your Grace!”

Terrence was surprised for a moment, but then a memory flashed through his mind.

Chenel had insisted on going to Graymon. And there was the letter James had mentioned.

Just then, James appeared in the office.

“James, Heidel what was it, the professor from Lebon Music Academy?”

“Hunt. I just sent him away.”

“What? Sent him away?”