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Chapter 136
Translator: Yonnee
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After hitting Margaret twice more, Mariel clasped her quivering wrist with her other hand. She was breathing heavily.
In the meantime, Yves Russell, who was standing behind Mariel, spoke grimly.
“You already know who I am, so let me introduce you to this noble lady here. She is the Russell Marquisate’s former matriarch and my grandmother—Elder Madam Mariel. Show respect.”
Yves Russell’s words were the trigger for making Margaret’s face turn all blue.
It was ridiculous to hear that she should be respectful towards the person who had slapped her across the face three times just a second ago, but Mariel was in a high enough position for such a thing.
Even as her shoulders were shaking with anger, Margaret was forced to bow her head.
Mariel shouted at her.
“If I weren’t a powerless old woman, I would have hit you a hundred times more!”
And with a trembling voice, Mariel continued.
“I was wondering what kind of parents this child had. She came here wearing rags, to the point that it was difficult to tell whether she was a boy or a girl, and yet you—? You came here wearing fur and silk? By any chance, did you think that this would make you look beautiful?”
Mariel’s eyes and expression were filled to the brim with wrath and disgust.
If this had been a normal circumstance, Margaret would have already retaliated as her anger reached a boiling point. However, if she were to do that here and now, she might leave this place with her head no longer attached to her shoulders.
All Margaret could do was bow her head even deeper.
“Is that thing inside your mouth a human being’s tongue or a snake’s tongue? No— Even a snake would not do something like this. An animal has the decency to take care of their own offspring, but you? You can’t even rise to the level of a mere beast! How could you lash out with that tongue and ridicule your own daughter? It’s the same as stabbing a dagger right into her chest!”
As if this barrage of disputes was not enough to relieve her anger, Mariel used the fan she was holding to prod Margaret on shoulder forcefully.
Margaret swayed here and there sharply.
Still, rather than through the force of the older woman’s trembling hands, Margaret was staggering because of Mariel’s words.
Finding herself reduced to a human being who was not even as good as an animal, Mariel could not endure any longer. She could not remain in this very spot.
“You, let’s go.”
With a small, mosquito-like voice, Margaret called Jurich.
And as such, Jurich was dragged away weakly by Margaret’s grip as though she had lost all her energy.
The child’s green eyes kept looking around, as if she didn’t know anymore where she was.
Seeing this, Radis felt sorry for Jurich for the first time.
Yves Russell watched the mother and daughter with a gaze as sharp and as cold as an ice shard. He stepped very slightly to the side only to make way for them to leave.
As the two walked away with miserable expressions on their faces, Yves Russell’s low warning reverberated throughout the foyer.
“The only reason you two could leave this place alive is due to the fact that you are related to Radis. If this ever happens for a second time, I do not know if I’ll still be able to tolerate you.”
Radis stared blankly at the retreating backs of those two people, who could not even dare to look up at Yves Russell. They hurried out of the front doors and out the porch.
Margaret always looked so big in Radis’s eyes, and yet now, she looked so small.
Even her small silhouette was swallowed up by the darkness in an instant. And, soon after, the doors closed shut.
Awkward silence blanketed the foyer.
Radis lifted her gaze slightly and tried to look around her.
Since the start of the commotion here, Radis had not seen any of the mansion’s employees other than Allen.
On that note, Allen was there, bowing his head, so she couldn’t see what expression he had right now.
Elder Madam Mariel also had her head turned to the side as she breathed heavily, so much so that her chest was heaving visibly.
And, as usual, Yves had his bangs down, so she had no idea what kind of reaction he had either.
Radis closed her eyes tightly.
If she could choose a time to die, then she would rather die now.
No. Rather than that, she’d do anything at all if she could disappear from this place without leaving a trace.
But such a miracle would not come to her.
As Margaret’s daughter, it was Radis’s job to clean up the mess that her mother had left behind.
Radis bowed her head deeply, rubbing her hands against the creased fabric of her dress.
“I’m sorry for having troubled you all. I apologize immensely.”
Then, Elder Madam Mariel turned her head and shouted.
“Why are you apologizing!”
Mariel stomped towards Radis, who watched as all sorts of emotions overflowed like waves upon waves on Mariel’s expression.
“You poor child…”
Mariel pulled Radis into her embrace.
Shocked, Radis froze up.
But Mariel continued to pat Radis on the back of her shoulder.
The old woman’s hands were infinitely soft, like well-worn gauze.
Her scent was like that as well.
When Mariel drew near, it felt to Radis as if a perfume bottle had opened right before her. It was a perfume that was old, but ever so soothing.
Patting her on the back, Mariel continued.
“I’m the one who’s sorry, Radis. I don’t know how to apologize to you for everything that I said. I’ve lived a life full of regrets thus far, but it’s the first time that I’ve ever regretted something that I said.”
Radis realized that Mariel was apologizing for what she said to her during their first meeting.
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