My Mistress Became My Wife (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Lily entered the bookstore and stood by the entrance, taking in her surroundings with a sweeping glance. Seeing the shelves packed tightly with books and inhaling the distinctive scent of paper and ink brought slight relief to her otherwise heavy and uneasy heart.
It would be nice if there were a place like this in Viscount Benjamin’s Mansion.
Though there was a study, it was exclusively Frederick’s, so Lily couldn’t use it. Even if she wanted her own private study, Samantha wouldn’t allow her to have one.
In fact, there was nothing at all in Viscount Benjamin’s Mansion that Lily could freely do as she pleased.
The brief comfort she’d just felt turned heavy again at this sudden realization, but Lily pretended nothing was wrong as she skimmed through some books before approaching the shopkeeper behind the counter.
“Hello.”
“Oh! It’s been so long since your last visit, my lady. Please come in.”
Recognizing her, the bookseller greeted her warmly.
“I was just waiting for you to come by.”
“For me? Ah, but if it’s about more work, that’s fine—I won’t take it.”
After all, whether or not she worked with Countess Valiman, she had no intention of translating novels for the time being.
When Lily declined, the bookseller frowned in dismay.
“Oh dear. I’ve already told the earl’s household I’d introduce you—they’ll be terribly inconvenienced now.”
“You’ve already introduced me?”
“Yes. They mentioned wanting to expand their business into the Kingdom of Hertha but struggling to find someone fluent in Garta. So I immediately recommended you.”
Earl’s household. Kingdom of Hertha. Garta. Naturally, the shameless face of Countess Valiman begging her for help popped into Lily’s mind.
“By any chance, is the earl’s household you mentioned the Valiman family?”
“No, it’s a different one.”
She’d assumed it would be the Valiman family, but another household?
“Just a moment.”
The bookseller rummaged through a storage cabinet behind the counter, pulled out a note, and handed it to Lily.
“Here—it’s from Earl Stacy’s Mansion.”
“……!”
Lily’s eyes widened in shock as she took the note with a puzzled expression.
“What’s wrong, my lady? Is there a problem?”
“Oh, nothing at all.”
There was a very big problem—but since she couldn’t tell the bookseller, Lily held back her words and examined the note. It bore the address of Earl Stacy’s Mansion and the family seal.
The Stacy family was wealthy, owning numerous mines including gold and gemstone deposits, and the current Earl Stacy held the prestigious post of Chief Royal Secretary.
In other words, he was Lily’s father—and the former Viscount Benjamin’s superior.
Moreover, Kennedy Stacy, Earl Stacy’s only daughter, was the same age as Lily, so the two families had frequently visited each other since childhood, and Lily had been close friends with Kennedy.
More precisely, that closeness had lasted until two years ago, when Lily’s father tragically passed away in an accident.
After her father’s death and the burning down of their mansion, Lily—left alone with her mentally and physically broken mother—had gone straight to the Stacy household first, trusting their friendship.
Though not related by blood, they were as close as family; Lily had firmly believed Earl Stacy would surely help her. Unfortunately, her expectations were sorely mistaken.
“…….”
Recalling that memory anew, Lily bit down hard on the soft flesh inside her cheek. How absurd—it was the same person who had coldly rejected her plea for help, now leaving her a note like this.
Under normal circumstances, she would’ve crumpled the note instantly upon reading it—but she couldn’t, because of what had happened with Frederick before she left the house.
“My business must thrive so I can keep paying for Lady Grace Benjamin’s hospital fees. I’m asking for your help as a favor, my lady.”
Especially remembering how Frederick had masked his threat as a request made Lily clench her teeth.
She recalled hearing somewhere that unlike iron, gold and gems were considered luxuries, making their processing and transportation fees extremely high.
If that were true, then signing a transport contract with Earl Stacy’s household would be far more profitable for Frederick’s trading company than dealing with the Valiman family—and Lily herself would benefit far more from such an arrangement.
Yes. Better to work with people she’d once been close to than with a woman who shared her husband’s bed. At the very least, Earl Stacy wouldn’t trample on her dignity like Countess Valiman had.
Huh. A short sigh escaped her, dissipating like heat haze. Having made up her mind, Lily asked the bookseller,
“Did Earl Stacy’s household say I could visit any time?”
“Yes. They said it’s urgent and asked you to come as soon as possible.”
“I see.”
Then she’d go there today itself.
If she delayed needlessly and the Stacy household found someone else, it would be disastrous. Lily thanked the bookseller and stepped out of the bookstore.
[This is the timeline separator]“The mistress said she’ll be here shortly, so please wait just a moment, my lady.”
After Earl Stacy’s Mansion’s elderly butler left, Lily—now alone—sat upright on the sofa and looked around the spacious reception room.
The golden chandelier and jewel-encrusted ornaments seemed meant to flaunt the Stacy family’s wealth; even the curtains, carpets, and cushions—likely embroidered stitch by stitch by a renowned artisan—looked extremely expensive.
With so much wealth, why hadn’t Earl Stacy helped her and her mother?
Of course, she didn’t believe wealth automatically obligated someone to help—but given their close bond, she’d expected it. Her father and Earl Stacy had regarded each other like brothers, even inviting each other’s families to gatherings, so Lily had naturally assumed he’d help.
Yet Earl Stacy not only refused to assist them but even skipped her father’s funeral.
The Countess and Kennedy had done the same—pretending not to recognize Lily even when they crossed paths by chance.
The disappointment matched the depth of her expectations, and resentment soon filled that void. Staring at the unopened front gate of Earl Stacy’s Mansion, Lily had sworn never to set foot there again.
Yes. That’s exactly what she’d vowed—and yet here she was once more.
So they say you can never predict the future. Lily gave a self-mocking smile as she fiddled with the note the Stacy household had left for the bookseller.
How long had she been waiting like this?
Knock knock—
Just as the tea the maid had brought had gone completely cold, a knock sounded at the door. It opened to reveal a middle-aged woman with her hair neatly pinned up, wearing a smock dress that flowed elegantly along her silhouette. It was Countess Stacy.
“It’s been a long time, Countess.”
Lily rose politely from her seat and bowed, but received no reply—only a faint, sob-like sound.
What’s this?
Surprised, Lily lifted her head just as slender arms reached out and wrapped tightly around her neck. The sudden weight pushed her backward, and she barely caught herself before falling. Blinking wide-eyed, Lily looked down at Countess Stacy, who was embracing her.
“I’m so sorry, Lily…”
A tearful voice echoed faintly. The arms clutching Lily trembled faintly.
“I shouldn’t have ignored you like that… I’m truly sorry, Lily.”
Seeing their mistress in such distress, the Stacy household’s servants secretly wiped away tears or sighed in sorrow—but Lily, the one receiving the apology, felt no such sympathy. On the contrary, Countess Stacy’s display made her feel sick.
Two years ago, when Lily had stood drenched in pouring rain, desperately begging for her mother’s life, they hadn’t even glanced her way. Now, this apology looked anything but sincere—she even doubted its genuineness.
Part of her wanted to grab Countess Stacy’s shoulders and shake her violently, demanding why she’d ignored her back then. Why had they turned away when she’d screamed herself hoarse begging for just one act of help?
She wanted to confront her: “When did you care to ignore me, yet come groveling now only because you need my help?”
But if she did, her plan to work with the Stacy household instead of the Valiman family would vanish like foam. So Lily forced a smile and gently embraced the trembling Countess.
“It’s alright. I was a little hurt back then… but now I understand there must have been reasons you couldn’t help. So please don’t feel guilty.”
“But… but…”
“Really, it’s fine. If I weren’t okay with it, I wouldn’t have come here.”
In truth, she wasn’t fine at all. Even now, she resented them so much that just seeing the Stacy family’s lily crest made her lips tremble—but working with Countess Stacy was still better than working with Countess Valiman, her husband’s mistress. That’s why she’d come.
Yes. She’d simply chosen the lesser of two evils. Both options were equally terrible.
“I truly am fine, my lady.”
Inwardly sneering, Lily smiled gently outwardly as she comforted the Countess.
Seemingly relieved at last, Countess Stacy looked at Lily with a faint smile on her tear-streaked face.
“Hearing you say that makes me so grateful. I’m realizing anew just how kind-hearted you are—your pretty face matches your generous soul. Grace truly raised a wonderful daughter.”
“…….”
Though it was a compliment, Lily flinched solely because her mother’s name had been mentioned—and also because it was Countess Stacy who’d said it.
“Oh! We shouldn’t just stand here—please sit down. It’s been so long; I’d love to hear how you’ve been.”
“Later.”
Lily gently withdrew her hand from the Countess’s grip and continued,
“I came here for work… I’d like to settle that first. We can catch up afterward, my lady.”
“I see. Yes, work does come first.”
Though slightly disappointed, Countess Stacy nodded obediently.
“Then let’s go to the study where he is. This way.”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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