SMR | Chapter 168 – Novexa Novels

~Chapter 168~

After Bella left, Cedric wiped the smile from his face and took out a scrapbook he had neglected for a long time. It contained information that Cloud had investigated about the Listerwell family.

He had once thrown it away, then later taken it back out and carefully pasted everything inside again. At the time, he hadn’t understood why he was doing that. Only much later did he realize the reason—by then, his interest in Harriet had already gone beyond mere curiosity.

As he flipped through the pages, his hand suddenly stopped.

It was the section with a newspaper article dated June 28, 1866, about the fatal boating accident at Albrecht Park, along with photographs taken at the scene.

‘A face you feel sorry for?’

With his fingertips, he traced the photos labeled victim’s family.

The pictures were old and blurry, but it wasn’t hard to recognize Harriet. He could vividly imagine the pitiful young girl, trembling and on the verge of tears, as if she couldn’t believe what had happened.

A young girl with long, straight dark-brown hair hanging down her back. Even at such a young age, her posture was straight, and her features were neat and refined.

Ten years later, that girl would reappear in high society with a stunning presence. Now, she was undeniably beautiful. And to one man in particular, she was more beautiful than anyone else.

‘The one who stained such a beautiful child with tears… that was you, Bella Listerwell.’

Thinking about how he himself had also been used in Bella’s schemes and ended up hurting Harriet twisted his insides.

It was the first time in his life he had fallen for such a shallow trick, and the first time he had been used for something so despicable. The humiliation he felt whenever he recalled it only grew stronger with time.

“So this time, you’ll be the one used by my plan.”

Cedric flicked the photo of young Bella—crying even harder than Harriet beside her—with his finger and let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

Without his beloved little squirrel lady knowing, everything was proceeding perfectly according to plan.

* * *

“Brrr…”

Harriet suddenly shivered.

“What’s wrong?”

“I—I suddenly got chills. Is someone talking badly about me somewhere?”

“People talk about you badly all the time, don’t they? It’s probably just the change of seasons. This is when it’s easy to catch a cold. Drink something warm and always carry a shawl.”

Roxana offered her advice bluntly.

Harriet was slightly dissatisfied with the implication in her words, but she knew this was simply how Roxana showed concern.

“Don’t worry about me. You should take care of yourself, Aunt. Ever since Grandmother returned to Genoa, you’ve barely slept, juggling nursing her and managing the family affairs.”

“Handling household matters is nothing new, and seeing Mother is something I choose to do. I’ve never needed much sleep anyway. I’m not overdoing it.”

“But still—!”

“Let’s continue what we were talking about earlier.”

Roxana cut Harriet off mid-sentence.

“I heard you attended several tea parties and gatherings and revealed the truth about the past scandals. How’s the atmosphere now?”

Harriet sighed at Roxana’s clear attempt to avoid the topic of her own health, then answered obediently.

“People say it can’t be true, but at the same time, they’re starting to doubt Bella. The fact that no one is openly calling me a liar says a lot.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. Even from what Viviana and Daphne’s group say. Even those defending Bella are apparently being quite defensive.”

Before, people had said, ‘Bella would never do something like that,’ or ‘Harriet is lying again.’ Their attitude had clearly changed.

“Even if what you say is true, people will say everyone makes mistakes when they’re young. And they’ll claim Harriet wasn’t completely blameless either.”

“Wasn’t it just a series of misunderstandings building up over time? Of course, it’s not really my place to say.”

“I’ll remain neutral until I see clear evidence.”

Of course, there were still people who believed Bella was a pure, flawless angel without a shred of doubt. But they were few now—and most of them were men. Compared to the past, when everyone believed Bella was an angel, it was a dramatic change.

‘What is Bella doing right now?’

Harriet wondered whether Bella—now suffering in the same way she once made Harriet suffer—had realized this was her own karma, or whether she had reflected even a little. It was unlikely, but still.

Roxana lifted her hand as if to pat Harriet’s shoulder, then awkwardly lowered it again.

Still, what she wanted to say hadn’t changed.

“A flawless gemstone—with no cracks or inclusions—is so beautiful it’s almost untouchable. That’s why it’s expensive, and why people handle it so carefully to preserve its purity. But once a crack appears…”

Harriet met Roxana’s eyes.

“The value of that gem plummets. The disappointment is just as great as the admiration once was.”

That was exactly Bella’s situation now.

After Bella received the summons, the Listerwell family rushed to contain the damage. But soon after, rumors spread that Bella had purchased Anghelic.

Men who had dreamed of her purity frowned in disgust, while men who had wanted nothing more than to hold her hand cheered instead.

Regardless of the truth, it was a devastating blow to Bella.

“So if you want to reclaim the Listerwell estate, you need to prepare a heavy, decisive strike soon. Can you do that?”

Harriet slowly nodded.

“I’m already preparing something. I don’t know if it’ll work, but I have to try.”

She clenched her fist, recalling the letter she had received from Maurice Declan a few days earlier.

> “…We added a few conditions, but Kypris Shipyard has contacted us saying they’re willing to sell a vessel. At this rate, we expect it can be launched by the end of the year.
—Your colleague, Maurice.”

* * *

Albert was released on bail.

Officially, the reason given was to settle various financial obligations related to his company. But the place Albert rushed to after leaving prison was somewhere else entirely.

“Cedric!”

When Cedric appeared before him, Albert—who had been waiting anxiously—jumped to his feet, his face a mixture of relief and fear.

Ignoring his reaction, Cedric sat down calmly and greeted him as if nothing had ever happened between them.

“You look much thinner. Are you eating properly?”

It was practically a taunt, but instead of getting angry, Albert dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.

“I—I did something unforgivable to you. I was insane! I think taking Anghelic messed up my head. Please forgive me, okay? Please.”

“What’s with you, Albert? Don’t make things awkward—get up.”

“No, no! I—I have to apologize. I’ve really come to my senses! So just once, please. Please?”

There was no anger or humiliation in his voice—only desperation.

“If you help me just this once, I’ll never act arrogant again. I’ll never go against your opinion, and I’ll live quietly like I don’t even exist. I swear!”

“……”

Despite the desperate plea, Cedric said nothing. Only the soft sound of his teacup brushing the saucer broke the silence.

That silence was so terrifying that Albert couldn’t hold back the tears welling up.

“I don’t want to go back to prison. Rotting away in that narrow stone cell, unable to do anything—I’d rather bite my tongue and die right here! Please, sob… forgive me, Cedric…”

Even as a grown man lay prostrate on the floor, tears dripping down, Cedric looked down at him with completely indifferent eyes.

When Albert’s sobbing subsided slightly, Cedric finally spoke.

“I told you. The price for displeasing me would be high.”

“Cedric! Aah—please, just this once! I’m sorry! I was truly wrong! Please, please, please!”

Cedric had lost count of how many times Albert had said please since entering the room.

But he felt little sincerity in it.

When a knife is at their throat, anyone will say whatever they can to escape the moment. And once the danger passes, they wipe their mouth clean and act as if nothing happened.

He had lived through this exact situation countless times before. No wonder it felt tiresome.

‘Even if this situation is one I created.’

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Watching Albert grovel was becoming unbearable. It was time to finally carry out the purpose for which he had summoned him.

“Fine. People make mistakes. I understand.”

“C-Cedric…!”

Hope and desperation swirled wildly in Albert’s lifted eyes.

Cedric dangled bait into that whirlpool.

“But I’ve seen too many people who keep repeating their mistakes…”

“I won’t! I swear! What—what should I do? What do I have to do for you to trust me?”

“Hm… then shall we do a little test?”

He had known things would come to this—even before Bella came to see him.