“Has the master finally accepted that woman, Aria?”
“He’s appointed her as the young lady’s nanny.”
“The young lady seems to follow her quite a bit, but…”
“Not just following, she’s actually calling her ‘mother.'”
After Luke permitted Aria’s ‘temporary’ residence, the servants of the Duke’s household were abuzz with various rumors for a while.
Someone said:
“Surely she’s not really the daughter of the late Duchess, but Aria’s, right? Otherwise, why would she have been raised by her till now?”
There were rumors about the Duke having a mistress, and that mistress being Aria.
However, these rumors gained no traction.
“Nonsense! The young lady and the late Duchess look so alike, how could she be Aria’s child?”
Bonita was such a spitting image of the late Duchess that anyone would believe she was her biological child.
The only resemblance she had to the Lysianthus family was the peculiar pulsating red in her eyes, although they appeared closer to deep pink.
“And anyway, the Duke hasn’t shown interest in any woman other than the late Duchess for the last ten years.”
“Right. After mourning for six years, how could the Duke possibly have another child with another woman?”
“True. With no heirs forthcoming, the Duke will surely raise the young lady as his successor.”
In truth, there was almost no initial suspicion about this little duchess. Rumors that the Duke shed tears for the first time in six years after his wife’s death had already spread.
Thus, the only question remained:
“So what about Aria, that woman?”
What right did Aria have to fill the role of nanny to the precious young duchess, and why did she appear only now?
Unspeakable suspicions grew into bizarre rumors.
“The Duke was acting to hide his grief, and the young lady was hidden away due to a threat from a rival?”
“She must’ve secretly taken the child away. Slyly coaxing the young lady.”
“Does she know black magic or something? Damn, that’s ominous.”
The truth within these rumors was buried.
And the center of all these rumors, Aria, was…
“Pack the whole wheat sandwiches, and don’t forget the tea table. We need an umbrella and parasol for Bonita so she doesn’t get sunburned!”
“Um, Mother. Are we allowed to take these out?”
“It’s okay, it’s okay!”
…casually preparing for a picnic.
Bonita, watching Aria who seemed to own the mansion, fidgeted uneasily.
‘I’m sure it said ‘Staff Only’ there…’
How did she even find the kitchen keys? She knew the perfect quiet time to bring Bonita here.
“Bonita, what would you like to eat?”
“What I want?”
“Yes!”
Aria exclaimed energetically.
Her cheeks were rosily flushed, looking like a child excited about an upcoming birthday.
“Mommy’s lifelong dream was to go on a picnic with her daughter!”
Didn’t you say your lifelong dream was to bathe your daughter, Mother?
Bonita swallowed the words rising to her throat. Aria looked too excited to say such a thing.
And honestly, Bonita was also beginning to look forward to it a little.
A picnic.
Isn’t that a fancy Sunday afternoon activity only for rich kids? Bonita had never been on a picnic but often imagined such grand events.
“Can we really go on a picnic?”
“Of course. Bonita, you can go anywhere in this kingdom. And with some time and procedure, even beyond the kingdom.”
Aria bent her knees and hugged Bonita tightly.
“How about that?”
“Mother, I’ve learned that almost nothing is impossible with money. Usually, impossible things happen because there’s not enough money.”
Bonita, hugged in her arms, thought her mother was making a very accurate observation for the first time.
Even in the poor Westham Street where she lived, any expensive and upscale place welcomed anyone with money.
It was the same with people.
Children with rich fathers often wore dresses with real lace, stylish bow ties, and expensive children’s suits. Even the adults who told Bonita in her worn clothes to go away would greet those children with broad smiles.
Bonita shared her sudden thought with Aria, who immediately frowned.
“They told you to go away? I’ll go there right now and grab, no, what am I saying again!”
Bang bang!
Bonita stared blankly at Aria, who started talking to herself again. Honestly, she couldn’t help but suspect.
‘Maybe it’s time to take Mother to a doctor?’
But what if the doctor cures Mother? Would she return to her old self?
…Back to the state when she was drunk and ruined, projecting her own grief onto Bonita?
“Mother.”
Bonita called out with a tight throat. Aria, staring at the wall and muttering nonsensically, turned her head immediately at the cowering voice.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
The blue eyes were filled only with Bonita.
The overwhelming affection pouring out from her gaze, expression, and gestures took Bonita’s breath away. Her heart pounded.
It was the unconditional love that Bonita had never received before. Her fingertips trembled.
‘Maybe I’m a bad child.’
Even if her mother was really insane, she wished for things to remain the same.
“Ah, it’s nothing. Just that…”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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