Deceived, Yet Drawn to You - Chapter 126

No one spoke even after the count’s demand fell into the silence.

Blair’s mind turned completely blank, and she couldn’t continue her thoughts. She never imagined he would desire money this openly. And to use the child in her womb as leverage. Disgust and shame surged through her, making her fingertips tremble, and nausea rose as if her stomach had turned over.

Edmund stared at the count with eyes frozen like frost. Then he slowly shifted his gaze and looked at Isabelle, seated across from him.

Count Twyford was nothing more than a pawn brought forward in the end. There was someone else who had informed him of Blair’s pregnancy and prompted him to voice such a demand.

The true instigator, meanwhile, lowered her eyes and calmly moved her fork and knife, savoring the appetizer as if this conversation had nothing to do with her.

“If you mean a share.”

Edmund, who had set down his wine glass, slowly broke the silence. Despite his relaxed tone, a cold light flickered in his eyes.

“Are you suggesting there is another share to discuss, even after excluding what was already settled regarding the broken engagement with Dorman?”

“Of course… thanks to Your Grace’s generosity, I was fortunate enough to catch my breath once.”

At the count’s shameless words, Blair drew in a deep breath. What had been the price of that generosity? It was her own father who’d offered up his daughter again and again whenever marriage negotiations arose.

“But the current times are far from stable. Preserving my territory of Glassford and maintaining my standing in the capital is becoming increasingly burdensome.”

Count Twyford’s eyes gleamed with greed. Blair shuddered at the sight of that familiar look.

“Wouldn’t it be better for both families’ honor and dignity if the maternal family is in proper standing when the grandchild is born?”

“You seem to be under a serious misunderstanding.”

Edmund, who had listened quietly to his speech, finally spoke.

“As the maternal grandfather of my child, you possess no rights whatsoever.”

“What… what did you say?”

“You will not even see the child’s face until the day you die. What right could you possibly be referring to?”

At the cold reply, Count Twyford faltered, his lips trembling with confusion. Then he slowly shifted his gaze toward Isabelle, and as if something came to mind, he regained a shallow confidence.

“I reviewed the prenuptial contract signed in late spring regarding Your Grace and my daughter. Strangely enough, there wasn’t a single clause concerning the rights or affiliation of the child to be born.”

“In that case… certainly.”

Isabelle, who had been quietly moving her cutlery with her gaze lowered, spoke for the first time.

“The child could belong to either side. After all, the heir carries the blood of both Libert and Twyford.”

It was both a threat and a warning. Since the matter of the heir wasn’t specified in the prenuptial contract, it meant the maternal grandfather could raise the issue of the child’s affiliation and create a dispute if he wished.

“Aren’t you ashamed?”

Blair, whose fingertips had been trembling until now, lifted her head and stared directly at her father with a remarkably sharp expression.

“After using your only daughter, now you intend to use my unborn child as collateral to gain something again. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

A dispute. It wasn’t simply troublesome or inconvenient. If a conflict began over a child who hadn’t even been born yet, even victory would leave nothing behind. Regardless of the outcome, everyone would be worn down.

So it had to be prevented before it could even begin. He must not be given the opportunity to create a problem, nor the right to even speak of the child.

“When did I ever go that far….”

“There will be no place for you in my life from now on, or in the life of my family.”

Blair drew the final line with unwavering firmness.

“You are no longer my father.”

All color drained from Count Twyford’s face. Isabelle, who had been quietly watching him turn pale, lowered her eyes once and rose from her seat. It was impossible to tell whether she left because she saw no further hope for the count, or because she didn’t want to be involved in a conversation descending into mud-slinging.

“Blair… my child. My daughter.”

The count forced affection into his voice and made an expression she’d never seen before. But what showed on his face was neither affection nor pleading, only the greed of someone cornered.

“You haven’t even heard my circumstances properly yet. So what I mean is, at least the debts….”

“No. I can’t give you anything.”

Blair shook her head as if there was nothing more to hear. She knew that if she granted his demand even once, it would only lead to repeated demands afterward. A man who had willingly tried to hand over his own daughter to someone like Isaac Dorman would come knocking on the ducal estate whenever he needed something.

“It seems we’ve heard everything we needed.”

Edmund, who’d listened patiently to the exchange between father and daughter, stepped in and brought the situation to a close.

“The purpose of this dinner appears to have been fulfilled, so it would be best to conclude it here.”

“N-no… wait….”

“Butler, please escort the count to the front gate.”

Count Twyford’s face twisted like crumpled paper. Watching him, Blair felt strangely unmoved. She only felt calm, as if watching something that already belonged to the past. He was no longer family, only a severed tie that had already been dealt with.

The butler and guards who had been waiting stepped forward toward Count Twyford. The count, his face flushed red, glared at the duke and duchess, but ultimately couldn’t withstand the silent pressure. He shoved his chair back roughly and left the dining hall.

Only after the door closed completely did Blair let out a long breath. When she turned her head and looked at the man beside her, their eyes met immediately, as if he had been waiting.

Meeting Edmund’s eyes in silence, Blair realized something. The decision she’d just made was not a light one. And she also understood why she’d been able to carry it through to the end.

***

Night fell quickly. The bluish sky was soon swallowed by darkness, and the scattered stars shimmered faintly, adding their dim light.

Blair stood by the window and looked up at the night sky as if counting the stars. Even after washing and preparing for bed, her pounding heart refused to settle. The events at dinner must have left a deeper impression than she expected.

At that moment, she heard the bathroom door open behind her. Edmund, having just finished bathing, approached her directly, wearing only a robe. Droplets of water fell from his wet hair.

“I told you we should bathe together.”

Edmund whispered lowly as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Earlier, she’d shaken her head and bathed first when he suggested they get into the tub together.

“That would take too long.”

“Is there a problem with that?”

Edmund muttered teasingly and let out a breath tinged with laughter against the back of Blair’s neck. The man who took every opportunity to press his lips to her stomach, which had begun to swell little by little, would hold onto her and refuse to let go whenever they entered the bathroom together.

Then his gaze dropped to the glass in Blair’s hand.

“What’s the milk for?”

“Milia brought it.”

Blair hesitated briefly before adding, “…I told her I didn’t think I’d sleep well tonight.”

“It wasn’t an easy day.”

With his low murmur, a soft kiss landed on her right cheek. It was a touch meant to comfort. Enough that the tension that hadn’t eased even after bathing slowly began to dissolve.

“Thank you, Ed. Thanks to you, I was able to find the courage.”

Instead of answering, Edmund pulled Blair deeply into his arms. The moment she was enclosed against his solid chest, his warmth surrounded her completely. At least in this moment, it felt as if nothing could reach her.

“Can we go to bed now?”

“After I finish the milk.”

“There’s another way that’s more certain to make you fall asleep.”

“…How can you be so indecent at times like this?”

Edmund laughed as lightly as scattering wind and repeatedly kissed Blair’s cheek.

“By the way, Blair. You haven’t forgotten about your regular examination at the Royal Hospital this coming weekend, have you?”