/
“What a louche story.”
Duchess Norma gave a short yet bitterly cold riposte when Mrs. Etman’s story was brought up at the dinner table.
“I can’t believe her, the wife of such a prestigious doctor’s family, was arrested for stealing. I’m curious as to what kind of nonsense this is.”
After taking a sip of wine, she wiped her lips together in disgust at the vulgar story.
“I have to wrap up my relationship with Mrs. Etman.”
Elysee von Herhardt responded similarly to her mother-in-law.
Linda Etman was locked at the police station yesterday night and just got released this noon after Bill and Leyla visited the station, stating they didn’t want to prolong the case since they had already got their money back.
“It’s a shame that Dr. Etman was greatly disgraced by this event. He’s a good person, but should we change our doctor?”
“Since it’s not Dr. Etman’s fault, I suppose we don’t need to. This kind of scandal will quieten down after a while.” Duchess Norma resolutely voiced her unwavering faith in Dr. Etman.
“I hope Kyle doesn’t get hurt by this.”
She showed some sympathy while speaking about Kyle Etman.
“Now that things have turned into such a mess, I regret allowing the child to stay at Arvis.”
Elysee von Herhardt blurted out at the end of her meal.
“Leyla created this whole situation. .”
She looked at Claudine as if seeking an accord.
“Right, I think so too.” Claudine gladly nodded her head. “Although unintentionally, Leyla has ruined the Etman’s household.”
As she said it firmly, Claudine glanced across the table. Although he was a soft-spoken guy by nature, Matthias was unusually quiet during dinner tonight. Nevertheless, he showed no signs of being strange, rather he seemed to be as gentle as ever.
Like the dinner that came to an end, the scandal that had ensnared Arvis manor would soon be forgotten.
Mathias went right to his bedroom instead of going to his study.
He had instructed Hessen to send the spy who tailed Linda Etman to the police station that day. Matthias wanted him to testify against the theft when the postman was scheduled to deliver the documents to the station.
Given the postman’s closeness to Arvis’s employees, he expected the rumors were sure to spread like wildfire.
Everything went smoothly according to his plan.
And the Arvis’s Chef, a well-known newsmonger, played the last key part in helping the postman with his whistleblower tasks.
It was a cliché ending, but Matthias had great fun.
‘Did Linda Etman cry?’
Matthias’s thoughts rummaged for that idea as he turned on the lamp near the window.
‘Probably she did, like Leyla.’
That simple climax added another layer of excitement to his stage play.
The marriage of Leyla Lewellin and Kyle Etman had now crossed the line of no return. Even if there was such a thing as love, their marriage has undoubtedly been ruled out. To keep it short, Leyla Lewellin had forfeited whatever luck she may have had.
Matthias left the window and sauntered to the drink’s cabinet. All of the beverages stored there were still unopened as he wasn’t fond of alcohol.
He took out the bottle of wine closest to him and poured the clear amber-colored liquor into his crystal glass.
‘Leyla’s wings have been cut off.’
Matthias pondered calmly as he turned around, with a glass of wine in his hand.
‘So Leyla will stay inside the cage called Arvis.’
His satisfaction at knowing this fact had outweighed his rude awakening.
Matthias spent a long time staring at his sleeping canary, snoozing in ‘her’ comfy cage. His gaze then wandered to the garden outside the window before returning to the golden liquor in his hand.
His mood right now wasn’t as bad as the one he had on the late spring night when he heard of Leyla’s upcoming marriage to the doctor’s son.
That night was terrible as he remembered when the desire to kill someone took over his head for the first time in his life.
Leyla and Kyle’s love story had a better ending than the death of a person.
Matthias put the drink he hadn’t sipped on the table quietly.
Even without having to borrow the effects of liquor, he was already aware of the way to erase the lump in his heart and his beautiful blues.
He just needed to own her.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
The case of stolen tuition, which made Arvis manor fall into a buzz, came to an end at the peak of summer.
The matter was flawlessly settled, with Bill Remmer getting his money and Mrs. Etman avoiding punishment thanks to his goodwill. Even so, it wasn’t enough to eradicate the consequences and her ruined afterimage from the public’s mind.
“Kyle.”
Dr. Etman slowly opened the door of his son’s room, who didn’t respond to his knocking.
Kyle was sitting quietly in front of the desk. He kept looking out the window even though his father approachied him.
“Kyle.” Dr. Etman called out his name for the second time and tapped him on the shoulder.
Surprised, Kyle turned around. His face was worn to a frazzle.
Dr. Etman slid his hand away from Kyle’s shoulder and leaned on the edge of his desk.
“Your mother is a little better now.” He said.
“
Yes.”
Kyle answered tersely.
Mrs. Etman, who was bedridden from shock after being taken to the police station, drank and ate almost nothing. He was worried as his mother had been suffering from a high fever for several days, but fortunately, her illness had not worsened to a critical stage.
“I’ve been looking for a house for you to stay in Ratz.”
Dr. Etman calmly informed him and Kyle looked stumped.
“What do you mean by
. house?”
“It’s a house that’s suitable for living alone, and it’s furnished
”
“Am I going to College alone?” Kyle asked with a peal of scornful laughter. “Without Leyla? After I hurt her like that
 Am I going to College alone as if nothing happened?”
“I understand how you feel, Kyle, but your stubbornness on this matter will only hurt Leyla more.”
“Father!”
“Let’s accept it, Kyle, that your relationship with Leyla is over. This is the best option for you and Leyla and also for everyone else. Both of you must live your own lives.”
Dr. Etman sounded firm, even bordering on cold, ignoring Kyle’s heartbreaking gaze. The situation itself was suffocating for his son, but precisely for that reason, he needed to address his son level-headedly.
Nothing mattered more than protecting Kyle. He believed that Kyle’s wounds would gradually fade away after leaving Carlsbar, distancing himself from Leyla, and getting acquainted with a new environment at the university.
That was the sole hope Dr. Etman could have for the time being.
“Your mother was at fault, but it doesn’t relieve us of responsibility either. We chose to overlook the fact that your mother’s heart could never accept Leyla. You and I , we were the ones who drove her into that corner.”
“Because Leyla is an orphan and doesn’t have a glamorous background, she cannot satisfy mother’s snobbery, that was why Mother can’t accept her? Is that what you meant?”
“Kyle, enough! Even if she’s wrong, it’s unacceptable to talk badly about your mother!”
“I don’t know anymore. Is she my Mother that I’ve known and loved for so long? And I don’t know why I have to go to college
?”
“Are you going to give up your life because of your failed first love?”
“Leyla
 Do you think she only means that much to me?”
“If that’s not the case, you should strive to be more level-headed. The more you act like an idiot, the more painful it gets for Leyla!”
“But, I’m unable to go alone without her.”
“You, and Leyla, are now past hope.”
“No!” Kyle howled. “There must be a way. Somehow
 If I beg, if I apologize, if I convince her otherwise
”
“Wake up, Kyle Etman! Don’t you already know that’s impossible?!”
Dr. Etman violently quaked his son’s shoulder, his voice rose.
Kyle shook his head in denial. He yanked his father’s hand from his shoulder and fled from the room.
Dr. Etman, who knew where he was going, decided not to chase after him.
Even if it hurts him, he believed, that Kyle had to face reality beyond his hope.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
The weather today was sweltering, but Leyla’s attire was orderly groomed, bordering on stuffy.
Her blouse’s collar was neatly ironed, the buttons clicked to the neck, and her skirt was faultless, without even a single pleat. Not to mention the pantyhose that cocooned her slender legs.
Her appearance didn’t seem to be unkempt at the slightest; even the afternoon sun was diligently bathing the road in its scorching heat.
Her cheeks were flushed crimson and out of breath due to the heat. However, Leyla walked gallantly, keeping her posture upright even after reaching a deserted street devoid of people.
Leyla Lewellin these days earned sympathy from everyone wherever she went. People openly consoled her and spoke ill of Mrs. Etman. They kicked their tongue in the spleen, and few shed tears after hearing her heart-wrenching story.
Similarly, today was no exception. The teacher at Gillis Girls’ High School, whom Leyla met when seeking a teaching job, was the first person to express her pity with a heavy sigh.
‘Indeed, Leyla. You have to cheer up and think realistically for the solution. It’s sad, but what else can you do? Everything had already happened.’
She grabbed Leyla’s hand and said words of comfort repeatedly. Likewise, the familiar faces she encountered in the city did the same.
Her gratitude for them was tempered with some shame. Leyla was at a loss for words and just greeted them cordially with a faint smile on her face.
Every time she did, Leyla tried not to assume things about the vague smiles that flickered on people’s lips. It was fortunate that she didn’t have to dwell on anything else since she was too busy maintaining her straight-grin mask.
‘I wish I could cut you off some slack, but this is the best thing I could do right now.’
Gillis’s teacher gave a sighing answer after consoling Leyla for a long time.
All teaching positions at Carlsbar Primary School had already been occupied. Her last remaining option was to work in a small town about an hour away by train.
Leyla eventually accepted the job after much deliberation. Given that commuting would be too exhausting, she needed to find a boarding house near the school. However, she would be able to return to Arvis on weekends. Perhaps after a year of teaching there, she would be offered the opportunity to relocate to a school in Carlsbar.
Leyla took off her hat for a moment to recover her breath after arriving in front of the Arvis Estate’s magnificent gateway.
She had a harder time dealing with Uncle Bill than anyone else. Uncle Bill always gave her a somber gaze whenever she smiled in front of him. Hence, she couldn’t shed a tear in his presence.
‘Well, this is good news, so I suppose it’s fine.’
Leyla strode along the path in a blue funk. Even if it didn’t mean like she would be saying goodbye to Uncle Bill for good, she felt upset whenever she thought about attending a school that was too far away from home.
As she walked, Leyla tried to make her smile a little brighter. She made her way to the garden, eager to tell Uncle Bill the news as quickly as possible.
The moment she passed under the arching arbor of the rose garden, Kyle was already standing there, waiting for her.
“
 Kyle?”
Leyla’s pupils dilated. Kyle rushed up to her as if he were being chased by something and grabbed her wrist. He seemed to be a completely different person right now.
“Let’s go, Leyla.”
“Go where? Let go of my hand first and then we can talk!”
“Let’s run away from here, just the two of us.”
Kyle’s grip, holding Leila’s wrist, grew stronger.