Mom's Possessed (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
He quickly offered an explanation before the duke could kill him.
“Oh! It’s just my opinion, so of course… heh! Shouldn’t we ask the young lady first? Ha. Ha. Haha.”
“Hmm.”
The duke stroked his chin. His sharp gaze turned toward Bonita. The way his eyes instantly softened upon meeting hers was astonishing.
“Bonita, what do you think?”
“…Yes?”
“Won’t you give your father the chance to share this wonderful gift with you?”
‘Good heavens.’
It was as shocking as watching a cruel serial killer speak to his pet puppy in a cutesy, lisping voice: “Our widdle cho-cho is so good, isn’t she? Does cho-cho wanna eat? Aww, so smawt!”
Of course… of course! Ed had heard stories about how, when the duchess was still alive, the duke would wag his tail like a dog and follow her around devotedly. But since Ed had entered the ducal household only five years ago and had never witnessed such a scene himself, the shock hit him even harder.
Meanwhile, Bonita was gradually opening her heart to Luke’s consistent behavior.
In truth, Bonita had initially avoided Luke not only because of his appearance but also because of his hostile attitude toward Aria at first.
However, Bonita herself was also deeply curious about this new figure called “father” who had appeared in her changed circumstances. She simply, like most children raised under suppression, hesitated to show it outwardly.
Bonita glanced once at Luke with her round eyes, then quickly turned her head to look at Aria.
“Bonita?”
“May I stay with Mother too?”
Luke stiffened slightly at the word “Mother.” But he didn’t want to lose hard-earned points by correcting her address.
He reluctantly agreed.
“Of course. You may do anything you wish.”
“Then… okay!”
Finally receiving the child’s permission, Luke let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest.
[This is the timeline separator]At the duke’s command, the servants sprang into action. Most of the maids and manservants rejoiced as if it were their own good news that the duke and the estate’s new young mistress would be sharing tea together.
“At last, the young lady must be warming up to His Grace!”
“Right? His Lordship’s face has been unbearable lately. He kept wanting to visit the floor where the young lady stays.”
“It’s been seven years since they’ve seen each other—it’s only natural. Still, this really is wonderful.”
While chattering, the maids hurriedly set up a table and a large parasol in the garden—after all, the precious young lady’s skin mustn’t be touched by the sun.
But when the duke and the young mistress finally emerged into the garden, the maids—who had been chirping like sparrows—stared at the group with curious expressions.
The reason, of course, was the golden-haired beauty who appeared cradling Bonita in her arms.
They whispered among themselves.
“Is that woman the one called Aria?”
“I’ve never seen her before.”
“I heard she used to serve the late mistress.”
“They say the young lady treats her like a mother.”
Indeed, just as they said, Bonita clung to Aria like a baby kangaroo.
The younger, less experienced maids exchanged wary glances.
“But isn’t this common in noble families? After all, the former mistress passed away six years ago.”
“No, the young lady actually called her ‘Mother.’ Nannies are usually just called ‘nanny’—not like that. Unless it’s a remarriage, of course.”
“Hmm. That’s true…”
“Wait. Come to think of it, wasn’t Miss Aria said to be from a noble family?”
“Have you ever heard of the Hilton name?”
“Probably a baronial house—the one that supposedly died out during the plague seven years ago.”
“Oh, I remember hearing about that when I was little.”
The three fell briefly silent.
Though they said nothing aloud, each likely imagined similar things.
Of course, their thoughts and the atmosphere among the three were entirely different—specifically, the duke’s side, unaware of Aria’s true identity.
“Bonita, shall I feed you?”
“Y-yes, please!”
“Here, ah—”
“Ah—”
Luke watched the affectionate mother-daughter pair with a displeased expression—more precisely, he watched Aria.
Unconsciously, he tapped his foot. Though the sound was barely audible, the perceptive Bonita quickly noticed Luke’s irritation and flinched.
Seeing Bonita’s reaction, Aria stared straight at Luke. He sensed her gaze and looked back with a flustered expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You seem displeased about something?”
“Well, of course—”
Luke, about to snap back, immediately noticed a second pair of wide eyes staring fixedly at him.
“—No, not at all. Miss Aria, you seem rather imaginative.”
He swiftly changed his tone.
Aria, having read his entire train of thought, grinned mischievously—a playful, impish smile.
Luke narrowed his brows, struck by a sudden sense of déjà vu.
“You seem completely different now. I never knew you had this kind of personality.”
“People change when something significant happens to them.”
Aria added with a meaningful look.
“It could even be that I’m a completely different person.”
“Nonsense.”
“Has Your Grace never heard of such magic?”
“No.”
He retorted coldly, his expression even sterner than before.
‘Tch.’
Luke clicked his tongue inwardly.
After Elodie’s death, how many frauds had approached him like this? Fake priests claiming they knew how to resurrect her were the more decent ones.
Countless others had spun absurd tales—claiming they were Elodie reincarnated, or that Elodie’s soul now inhabited their body. All of them were obvious con artists with transparent motives.
Quietly, he brought his teacup to his lips.
‘That’s impossible.’
Six years ago.
After Elodie died, he had desperately tried everything—even the most absurd methods—to bring her back.
Yet all three attempts ended in complete failure.
Even then, he refused to give up—but his extreme actions eventually drew the royal court’s attention. It was fortunate they never discovered he was the culprit.
Naturally, even after being discovered, he hadn’t stopped. He’d simply grown far more secretive and cautious in gathering related materials.
Even now, years later, he continued.
No—no matter how many decades passed, he would never abandon Elodie.
If necessary, he’d even start a rebellion.
“Um, Your Grace?”
“What is it?”
His ominous red eyes snapped toward her.
Bonita glanced once at Luke, then at the cake he’d taken only one bite of, and shyly asked,
“Is it… really that bad?”
“What…?”
Luke’s gaze naturally followed to the cake plate before him. Realizing his mistake, he quickly stabbed his fork deep into the cake.
In the next instant, the entire piece speared on his fork vanished—straight into Luke’s mouth.
His cheeks bulged comically full of the messily decorated cake, like a hamster’s pouch. Unable to speak, Luke hesitated, then finally gave a thumbs-up.
“!”
Bonita gasped in surprise, then burst into laughter at his absurdly puffed cheeks and timid gesture—an uncharacteristically carefree laugh.
So moved by her reaction, Luke nearly dropped his fork.
‘She laughed.’
Outwardly composed, the duke was inwardly astonished and deeply touched.
Bonita’s relaxed, natural smile—well, how to describe it? Truly…
‘…She looks just like her.’
It was as if he were seeing Elodie from long ago.
He blinked rapidly, his eyes dry.
Of course, he knew.
Bonita wasn’t Elodie.
Though she was Elodie’s daughter, a child was neither a replacement nor a replica of her parent—and shouldn’t be treated as such.
In fact, just days ago, he’d repeatedly resolved not to view Bonita as a substitute for Elodie.
It wasn’t because she resembled Elodie that Bonita was precious to him. Even if she’d been a boy who looked exactly like Luke himself, he would have loved her just the same.
She was the child left behind by his beloved wife.
Bonita, in her own right, was invaluable to him.
He never wanted to burden her with expectations of resembling Elodie or make her feel pressured to do so.
Just then, Aria handed Luke a fork.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean, ‘what am I doing?'”
Aria shrugged.
“Every time I fed her, you stared so intently—I thought perhaps Your Grace wanted to try as well.”
“That…”
He was speechless.
Not from disbelief, but because she’d hit the nail on the head. Honestly, he had been envious.
Aria gently placed a hand on Bonita’s shoulder beside her.
“Bonita, it seems His Grace would like to feed you some cake. What do you think?”
“Huh? Oh, I, um…”
Bonita looked back and forth between the duke and Aria like a puppy, fiddling with her fingers.
“Hmm…”
A tiny frown creased her forehead in deep thought. Luke waited for his daughter’s answer as anxiously as a condemned prisoner awaiting the king’s verdict—this was the fifth most nerve-wracking moment of his life.
Naturally, the first through fourth had all involved Elodie.
At last, the little judge delivered her verdict—Bonita nodded resolutely.
Luke’s face lit up instantly.
[This is the timeline separator]At that very moment, as the three enjoyed a cozy afternoon together,
“What? Luke has a daughter with that girl?”
The Dowager Duchess of Lysianthus, relaxing in her quiet estate, sharply repeated the question.
Her sharp, raspy tone made the maid who’d delivered the news hurry to explain.
“Yes, my lady. One of the former duchess’s maids arrived with a little girl who looks exactly like the late duchess.”
“What utter nonsense! That child was stillborn! And Luke isn’t the type to have a child with any woman other than Elodie!”
“That is true, my lady, but…”
“It won’t do.”
The dowager duchess huffed angrily.
“How dare they stage a fraud against the House of Lysianthus! I’ll go there myself right now, expose that fake daughter, and kick that foolish Luke right in the backside!”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
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😅😅 They are about to die mentally, sooo exhausting