To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 55
“Before we forget, we’d like you to review and sign these.”
Paul’s father placed two documents on the table in front of Emily’s parents.
“What is this…?”
“As you can see, these are the annulment papers for Paul and Emily, as well as the invoice for the wedding ceremony and reception expenses. We request full payment.”
“F-full payment?!”
Sophia’s father cried out in surprise at the amount listed on the invoice.
“…This is… outrageous…”
“I understand you might think it’s outrageous. However, we believe it’s only right that the Lemoir family covers these expenses. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“…”
Emily’s father’s hands trembled as he held the invoice. Her mother, seeing the amount, turned pale and looked at her husband anxiously.
“…Dear…”
“…B-but this amount… is different from what we agreed upon…”
Both families had previously agreed upon a set amount for the wedding and reception expenses.
“Ah, I forgot to mention. This includes an additional charge, hence the increased amount.”
“An additional charge? This is the first I’m hearing of it…”
“Didn’t Emily tell you? She apparently asked Paul for a trip after the wedding, so the travel expenses have been added to the total.”
“A-a… trip?”
Emily’s father looked at her in surprise.
“Is this true, Emily?!”
“W-well… I promised Paul we’d go on a trip after the wedding…”
“Why do you keep making decisions without consulting us?!”
“B-but… people go on trips after their wedding, don’t they? I found a wonderful place, and I wanted to go there with Paul…”
Emily, teary-eyed, explained about the trip.
“On a different note, Marquis Alec… did you ever travel with Lady Sophia?”
Paul’s father questioned Alec, who had remained silent.
“…No, we didn’t…”
“Is that so… Then these rumors… were you with Lady Emily…?”
“…Rumors…?”
Alec’s heart began to race as Paul’s father brought up the topic of travel and Emily.
Paul’s father looked at Alec and Emily, then sighed.
“One of my wife’s acquaintances mentioned seeing the two of you on a trip.”
“…”
“Ah…”
“She asked if the woman with you was Lady Sophia. Since she knew what Lady Sophia looked like, she confirmed that it wasn’t her, and that it was Lady Emily who was with Marquis Alec… She’s an avid traveler and has apparently seen the two of you together quite often… We were mortified to hear this… My wife heard this from her acquaintance yesterday at a tea party… and then Paul told us about the close relationship between Marquis Alec and Lady Emily…”
A heavy silence fell over the room. Sophia’s parents couldn’t lift their heads. Emily trembled, her face pale. Alec closed his eyes, the memories of his happy days with Emily now a source of pain. He no longer cared if anyone saw them together.
In the tense atmosphere, Paul’s father spoke to Alec.
“Did Lady Sophia know? About you and Lady Emily?”
“…I believe… she suspected…”
“Is that so…? She must have suffered… just like our son, Paul… betrayed by the person she loved… She married the wrong man.”
“…”
Alec remained silent, his head lowered.
“…F-father… I never agreed to break up with Paul… and… I’m carrying his child…”
Emily, though flustered, smiled and touched her belly, reminding Paul’s parents of her pregnancy.
“Emily… the marquis is present.”
“But surely I can tell Father and Mother?!”
“We’ve heard from Paul about the child.”
Paul’s mother, having listened to her husband and Emily’s father, finally spoke. Emily couldn’t meet her gaze.
“Lady Emily, I never thought you would be capable of such a thing.”
“…I-I’m so sorry… Mother… but… I love Paul…”
“Lady Emily!”
Emily flinched at Paul’s mother’s sharp tone.
“You’re not even apologizing properly! And please refrain from addressing me as ‘Mother’.”
“What?!”
“Do you still not understand? Your marriage to Paul is no longer happening. Paul himself signed these annulment papers… Have you ever considered how he must have felt when he signed them?”
Emily, seeing Paul’s familiar handwriting on the annulment papers, began to cry.
“…S-sob…”
“Paul is the one who should be crying. Since he told us he was breaking up with you yesterday, he hasn’t eaten a thing and refuses to leave his room.”
“…Paul…”
“…Paul… won’t leave his room…?”
Sophia’s father spoke to Paul’s parents.
“…He hasn’t shown his face to us since yesterday… He barely eats… just a few sips of soup… and refuses to leave his room… It’s only a matter of time… but for now, all we can do is wait…”
Paul’s father, his face etched with worry, explained his son’s current state.
“Paul…”
Emily wept. Her mother, sitting beside her, took her hand and comforted her.
Paul’s mother sighed, watching Emily cry. His father continued.
“Lady Emily, are those tears for Paul? Or are they tears of sorrow for yourself, because you can no longer marry him?”
“What…?”
“We know how close you and Paul were. Paul is a kind son who indulged your every whim… But you took advantage of his kindness and betrayed him… No matter how much you cry or apologize, he will never be with you again… because he loved you with all his heart…”
“…S-sob… b-but this child…”
“Can you honestly say that nothing happened with Marquis Alec? If you can, then we will reconsider.”
“…”
Emily was speechless.
“Sigh… Are you going to remain silent again? Lady Emily, are you admitting to the affair?!”
“W-well… they both told me they loved me… so I didn’t think it was an affair…”
“What?! You were engaged! Sleeping with your sister’s husband is still an affair!! What kind of upbringing did you have?!”
Paul’s mother, exasperated, looked at Emily’s parents. Her father bowed his head.
“…We apologize…”
“It’s hard to believe you and Lady Sophia are sisters. However, I’m relieved we found out before the wedding… Forgive me, Count Lemoir, but I’m afraid this might become quite the scandal amongst the nobility.”
“…Yes… I understand…”
Emily’s father’s shoulders slumped, worried about the potential scandal.
“Lady Emily, do you realize how much trouble you’ve caused, not just for yourself, but for your parents and us as well?”
“…I’m sorry…”
“Sigh… I suspect there are other men as well, aren’t there?”
“What…?”
“You’re so good at manipulating men. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were seeing other men besides Paul and Marquis Alec.”
“Th-that’s not true… There aren’t any other men…”
“Oh, I apologize. Knowing you, I assumed there were others.”
“…There aren’t… It’s true… This child’s father… is either Paul or Alec… sob…”
Emily’s mother rubbed her daughter’s back as Emily wept and spoke to Paul’s mother.
“That’s enough. My daughter is reflecting on her actions.”
“Enough? Who’s being cruel here? Madam, were you aware of Emily’s affair with Marquis Alec?”
“…W-well… no… that is…”
“Paul told me Emily hasn’t returned to your estate for months. Weren’t you concerned about her whereabouts?”
“…She contacted us… and told us she was staying with her sister…”
“It’s unheard of to send your daughter, who is about to be married, to stay with a newlywed couple.”
“…We apologize…”
Sophia’s mother could only apologize, unable to respond to Paul’s mother’s accusations.
.
.
.
author note: I hate them all.. her parents included. aarghhh