When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 36

With a clink, Reilly set down her teacup, her expression displeased. “Did you say ‘trample’? Anna, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

Anna retorted, “Who suddenly appears and turns people inside out?”

Reilly simply stated, “Your premise is wrong.”

Reilly rose and walked past Anna to the window.

*Swish.*

As the sunlight faded, blocked by the drawn curtains, Anna flinched. Reilly had closed them, preventing anyone from seeing inside. Anna swallowed hard, noticing Reilly’s changed demeanor.

“Who showed up in the first place, Anna?”

“What… what did you say?”

“I remember it vividly. I was overjoyed about having a child, and the very next day, you and Theo were there, practically gleeful.”

“You… you!” Anna sputtered.

“It’s going to be difficult if you get so worked up right from the start. This is just the beginning,” Reilly whispered, her voice low enough for only Anna to hear. A tremor ran through Anna’s body as the memories of her past actions flooded back, morphing into a paralyzing fear.

From the death of her child to the destruction of everything that had brought her joy, the past events replayed in vivid detail.

Everything she had said about losing her memory was a lie. The only reason she had returned was for revenge.

*Not this time. I really have a child in my belly!* Anna thought desperately.

She could sense it in Reilly’s eyes – this was not the Reilly of the past. This time, Reilly might actually kill her.

Instinctively, Anna covered her belly and stepped back. Reilly didn’t approach, but instead, smiled brightly from where she stood.

“Then you should work hard to protect what’s yours from me. Because I’m going to ruin everything from now on.”

“Ah, aah!” Anna cried, pushing Reilly away and fleeing to her room.

Once inside, she frantically began writing a letter. After summoning a maid and instructing her to deliver it discreetly, she anxiously bit her nails, wrapping her arms around herself.

* * *

“Duke Theo Albert, come out here right now!” The shout echoed loudly, disrupting the morning calm. Everyone in the Duke’s residence, startled, rushed outside, bewildered.

Reilly, asleep in the detached building, was jolted awake by the booming voice.

*Could it be… that voice…*

Peeking through a gap in the curtains, she recognized the Trailla family crest emblazoned on the gate. Her mind raced, trying to process her father’s sudden appearance.

*Why has he been quiet until now…?*

He shouldn’t be looking for her yet. Theo wouldn’t have contacted the Trailla family; he would have wanted to keep everything quiet.

If Reilly’s return caused another scandal, his position would be jeopardized, so he must have tried to keep it a secret.

The answer was clear.

*Anna.*

It had to be her. She must have thought she could get rid of her by summoning Duke Veriter. How foolish. It was absurd that her only thought was to call Duke Veriter here.

Reilly quickly changed her clothes, preparing to go outside. There was no reason to run or hide. The timeline had simply been accelerated.

As she reached for the door handle, she saw Theo approaching Duke Veriter.

*Slap!* The sharp sound echoed as Theo’s head snapped to the side. Duke Veriter’s right hand was covered by a glove.

*Is his arm injured? It looks like a pretty deep wound.* Reilly paused, deciding to observe the situation. She didn’t like that her father had come, but seeing Theo’s reddening cheek was satisfying.

“I’ve been too lenient, and you’re acting without knowing your place, Duke Albert,” Duke Veriter said. “You know that intentionally hiding the Trailla family’s daughter and not informing me is a clear act of deception.”

“Duke Veriter, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve left it alone until now,” Theo retorted, refusing to back down. He assumed that Duke Veriter had only heard rumors and that he could manage the situation since he didn’t know the full story.

“My daughter’s ability! Are you going to claim you didn’t know it had manifested? You couldn’t have been unaware that it would be claimed by the imperial family.”

Theo’s eyes widened. Now he understood why the imperial family and the Duke had been searching for her so desperately. He had simply wanted to keep her power for himself. In addition, Anna’s actions were becoming increasingly unbearable, and he missed the old Reilly. But she was really an ability wielder; he couldn’t believe it.

“I didn’t notice any peculiarities, so it must be a misunderstanding.”

“Everyone knows that you and my daughter are divorced, so why are you keeping her? Isn’t it to exploit her ability! It’s outrageous!”

Duke Veriter let out a self-deprecating laugh before turning serious. Theo stiffened, blocking his path as if he intended to search the residence immediately.

“What right do you have to take Reilly away? She’s here because she wants to be.”

Duke Veriter burst into laughter at Theo’s words. *Staying in this place where she had a miscarriage with his mistress? She must be crazy.*

“Bring my daughter here right now,” Duke Veriter confidently ordered.

Anna, watching from the Duke’s residence, tilted her teacup with a satisfied smile.

*Get out of here quickly. Return to being the abandoned daughter, the useless Reilly.* She wanted Reilly to disappear from her sight as soon as possible.

Kavan, attending to Anna, shifted uneasily. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

A palpable tension filled the air. Reilly opened the door, stepped out of the detached building, and walked towards the two men.

As she approached, Duke Veriter pushed Theo aside and grabbed Reilly’s arms.

“This is going to be difficult,” Reilly said coldly. Suddenly, darkness enveloped Theo, blinding him. He screamed, trapped in the void, but his cries were useless.

Reilly watched Theo flailing helplessly, her gaze fixed on Duke Veriter.

“Instead of coming to find your father! Reilly, I’ve finally found my daughter again.”

“Take your hands off me.”

“Reilly? What kind of manners are those to your father—”

At that moment, an aura rippled around Reilly, engulfing her. The Duke recoiled, his arms burned as if by fire.

Despite the pain, a smile spread across his face.

“Hahaha! The ability! Cough, you’ve saved our family! Now, with this father!”

“That’s right, I have the ability that my father so desperately wanted. I hated it before, but now I think it’s a relief.”

*So that I can bring you to your knees so mercilessly before me.*

Reilly’s blood ran cold as she looked at Duke Veriter. He laughed maniacally, as if overjoyed.

“Hahaha! Yes, you must have realized the power of the ability! This father is all for you!”

“Father always said that, ‘for me.’ Did you really think so? No, it was for the family and for himself.”

Duke Veriter trembled at Reilly’s sharp words.

She had never been able to retort to his words, not even once. Duke Veriter clicked his tongue, displeased by Reilly’s newfound defiance.

“Tsk. Theo, that guy made you like this. He ruined the child. How did I raise you? And now you’re thinking of turning away from this father?”

Duke Veriter’s outrageous remarks continued unabated.

Even while looking at Reilly, who was radiating murderous intent, he was consumed by the joy of possessing her ability.

His mind seemed to be filled only with the hope and desire to regain power with Reilly’s help.

He seemed incapable of rational thought.

“Why did you come so early and hasten your death, Father? I was going to visit you myself.”

“Wh-what are you—cough.”

Reilly looked down at Duke Veriter, who was kneeling in pain, gasping for breath, his hands on the ground. Her hand gripped his neck.

“Wait quietly. It’s not your turn yet.”

Reilly released her grip, looking at her father, whom she wanted to kill even now. Theo’s vision, which had been consumed by darkness, returned, and all the strength drained from his body.

Before his eyes, he saw the Duke gasping for breath, clutching his neck. Theo instinctively knew that something was terribly wrong.

That he had no choice.