When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 14

Having learned everything, Raili found it impossible to forgive Anna. She sat calmly in the living room, sipping tea.

“…Madam?”

“It’s been a while, Anna.”

“I thought you wouldn’t be home. If I were you, I would have left long ago.”

It was understandable. Raili had barely spoken to Anna for over four months, mostly staying in her room, avoiding people, and taking solitary walks.

Anna frowned, displeased. Raili stood and stared directly at her.

Anna noticed Raili’s gaze fixed on her stomach and smiled, a smug curve to her lips.

*Yes, now you’re no longer needed.*

Anna glanced at the teacup Raili was drinking from. *What expression would she make if she knew what was in it?*

She suppressed the urge to reveal the truth, her lips twitching with the effort.

It was clear that if Raili had another child, it would cause trouble again. So, Anna was once again doing something she shouldn’t.

Raili stared at Anna’s stomach for a long moment. Finally, she spoke.

“But it’s strange, isn’t it? Don’t you think your stomach has stayed the same for a while now?”

“…You’re unhappy that I’m carrying the Duke’s child. Are you now trying to deny my child’s existence?”

“Not at all. I’m happy about it.”

Anna couldn’t control her trembling and glared at Raili, her eyes bloodshot. Raili was reminded of that day.

“Theo values children. Just like you pretended to be pregnant to trap him.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the child that isn’t even in your belly.”

Anna’s face paled instantly, and she tried to mask her trembling voice. She covered her stomach and shivered.

“Even if you’re jealous because your child died, how can you even think such a thing?”

“Is that so? Do you really believe that?”

Anna’s face contorted at Raili’s calm and unwavering demeanor. She urgently grabbed Raili as she tried to pass.

“Where are you going? Now? Are you going to the Duke? What are you going to say this time!”

Raili shook off Anna’s hand and started toward the stairs.

“What do you think?”

Anna’s head dropped, and she whispered softly.

“You’re not going to tell Theo that there’s no child in my body… You can’t.”

“What are you…”

She had nowhere else to retreat. It was clear that if her lie was exposed, she wouldn’t just be kicked out; her life would be over.

*Then this is the only way…*

To survive, she made an extreme choice: to create a plausible situation with a clear motive.

In an instant, Anna grabbed Raili’s hand as she turned, using the momentum to push herself. As she fell down the stairs, Anna’s hands flailed wildly. Her eyes were wide open, and the corners of her lips were subtly raised in a triumphant smirk.

“Ah… no!”

Raili desperately reached out to grab Anna, but it was no use. Anna tumbled down the stairs without even a scream.

“Crazy…”

Raili’s breath hitched in her throat. Watching Anna throw herself down the stairs, Raili collapsed on the steps, paralyzed with shock.

A maid, startled by the loud crash, rushed out and screamed in horror.

“Kyaaa! Oh, my god! Someone help!”

“M-Madam…!”

Everyone came running at the maid’s scream and stared at Raili and Anna. It looked as if Raili had pushed her.

Anna, who was supposedly pregnant, had fallen down the stairs. Anyone aware of the circumstances would see it as Raili, blinded by revenge, pushing Anna, who was carrying a child.

The butler hurriedly checked Anna’s condition on the floor.

*Ha… you’re crazy, you’re really crazy.*

Raili was speechless, utterly shocked. She slowly went down the stairs to approach Anna. At that moment, Theo grabbed Raili’s wrist roughly.

“Ugh…”

“You! What on earth have you done!”

Theo threw Raili to the floor. He looked down at her, her face blank with disbelief, with an expression of utter disgust.

“I didn’t know you could be this pathetic.”

Sharp words rang in Raili’s ears. She let out a hollow laugh at the whispering voices and the contemptuous gazes of the servants.

“Ha… haha.”

Anna, feigning unconsciousness, saw Theo rushing to her side to check on her. She turned her head slightly and smiled subtly at Raili.

* * *

As Anna regained consciousness, the Duke’s residence buzzed with activity and concern. Raili left her room to observe Anna, a strange curiosity pulling her.

Through the slightly open door, Raili stared at Anna with a dumbfounded expression. Anna was lying on the floor, crying, a mirror image of Raili’s own grief from months ago.

“Anna, you’re not fully recovered yet.”

Theo gently grabbed Anna’s shoulder and stroked her back. It was a cautious gesture, as if trying to soothe a frightened animal.

She was daring to act out the heart of a mother who had lost her child. Raili was disgusted by her manipulative charade, her exploitation of genuine pain.

She was trying to imitate her sadness with lies.

Raili had learned from Ren that Anna had bribed a doctor in case something like this happened. But this information was only known to Raili.

She knew that no one would believe her, so she kept her mouth shut, the words like ash in her mouth.

Anna didn’t miss the opportunity and pushed Theo away, stepping out of his arms. Having spotted Raili through the crack in the door, Anna flung the door wide open, as if expanding the stage for her performance.

Anna approached Raili in one stride and whispered in her ear, her voice dripping with venom.

“How is it? No one will believe you now. You shouldn’t have touched me.”

With a dramatic thud, Anna collapsed to the floor. Crawling, she burst into tears and grabbed Raili’s skirt.

“What did my child do wrong…? Was it to get revenge? Madam, it was an innocent child!”

It was so heartbreaking that it was almost physically painful to witness. Raili’s lips trembled with revulsion.

“Anna, calm down.”

Theo said urgently, hugging Anna. Raili remained composed, watching Anna’s performance with cold detachment.

“How could you even think of killing a child…? *My* child?”

“…”

Raili’s eyes grew cold, devoid of warmth. Despite Anna’s theatrics, Raili didn’t waver, and the people watching around them began to whisper.

“Oh my, look at those venomous eyes.”

“That’s why she thought of pushing her down the stairs and killing the baby in her belly. Anyone can see that’s what happened.”

“I didn’t think she was like that…”

Theo frowned at the maids’ gossip. There had been a series of unfortunate events plaguing the Prinz family, and he was worried about the rumors that would spread.

“Stop, everyone be quiet.”

The whispering voices subsided, and the servants lowered their heads, silently observing the unfolding drama.

“Anna, I won’t let this go unpunished, so you need to calm down.”

“You and my child died. By that woman’s hand…!”

“Anna… I know, so please rest. Raili, even if it’s you, I can’t let this go.”

Raili felt utterly drained by Theo’s unwavering stance. She vividly remembered his actions when her own child had died.

She hadn’t forgotten anything. She had engraved every word he had said in her heart, a constant, agonizing reminder.

A stinging pain surged in Raili’s chest. She stared at Theo with eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

“I see. I understand.”

Theo’s body flinched slightly at Raili’s low, warning tone.

Anna continued to press her advantage. This was her only chance to secure her position. Everyone knew that Theo valued children above all else.

“It’s all your fault. If it weren’t for you, my child wouldn’t have died. You hated me from the beginning, and now even my child…!”

“Alright, then. I’ll step down from the Duchess’s position. Everyone here despises me, so there’s no need for me to remain any longer.”

Theo’s eyebrows twitched at Raili’s words. Now that the child Anna was supposedly carrying was dead, there was no longer any reason for Raili to leave the house. He needed her title and connections.

“…Ha. Anna, I, too, am heartbroken that the child is gone… So please calm down.”

Suddenly, Theo changed his demeanor and patted Anna’s back, his touch now gentle and placating.

If he didn’t publicly support Anna, he would face widespread criticism. Regardless of the truth, Raili was the one who had seemingly driven Anna’s child to its death.

“Calm down… Did you say calm down? How can any parent be so indifferent when their child dies?”

Anna lost her strength when she saw Theo’s detached expression. Perhaps he hadn’t even loved her child that much.

*If I had really had a child… my life might have been even more ruined.*

Anna pulled her hand away from Theo and slumped to the floor.

Now that things had turned out this way, her only option was to win over the people of the Duke’s residence, to make them her allies. To ensure they couldn’t abandon her, to guarantee her continued stay.