“What do you mean by beyond saving? That’s impossible!” Dylan jumped to his feet in disbelief.
He looked at Malaki, his eyes wide with shock. “Are you saying Gabriel said that? Are you sure it was him? Did you hear it right?”
Dylan thought, ‘How could Gabriel have said such a thing? The Stonor family and the Padilla family were once so close. My grandparents gave everything to help us, and Gabriel and the Duke’s estate have always received their full support.‘
Dylan didn’t need to remember it all himself–everyone in Hasen City knew the bond between the two families. Gabriel often spoke of the Padilla family’s kindness, and for over ten years, they had made it a point to honor their memory by visiting and paying respects every year.
All of these things spoke to the depth of the relationship between the two families.
Dylan thought, ‘How could Malaki be telling me this? That Gabriel said such a thing… How is this possible?‘ He couldn’t believe it. His anger flared as he pressed Malaki for answers, but Malaki remained calm, staring back at him with an emotionless gaze.
Dylan’s emotional outburst suddenly came to a halt. He looked at Malaki, who remained silent, and the absurdity of it all deepened in his mind.
Dylan thought, ‘No, this can’t be right. The Padilla family was always good to the Stonor family, and Caroline was always good to Gabriel. Gabriel was kind to the Stonor family, and especially to Caroline.’
Dylan’s thoughts suddenly froze as realization hit him. He thought, ‘Gabriel had always been kind to Caroline… always… They were inseparable, just the five of us, no illegitimate children, no mistresses, no concubines. That was how it had always been. But then, just over six months ago, everything changed.‘
Dylan thought of Sophie. A bitter, disappointed laugh escaped him. He thought, ‘A bastard child, born two months before Eliza–Gabriel must have been secretly involved with that mistress long before Caroline even carried Eliza. He not only fathered her but also waited until she grew up, bringing her back to the Stonor family under the guise of being the ” daughter of a benefactor.” He spun lies to make us feel guilty and pity her. And all the while, he let us–his five children- remain oblivious. They even allowed her to manipulate Eliza, pit us against each other, until we were left watching as they forced her into a life of seclusion.‘
Thinking back on everything, Dylan felt a cold shiver run through him, his body trembling–either from the chill or from a rising wave of fury, he couldn’t tell.
“Malaki, are you telling me the truth?” Dylan asked, his voice tense with disbelief.
Though Dylan already had a sense of what had happened, there was something about hearing it directly from Malaki that he couldn’t resist.
Malaki didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “Lord Dylan, there’s no need to ask more. From the look on your face, I can see you already know something. Instead of hearing it from me, perhaps it’s time you find the answers yourself.” Dylan’s expression darkened as his teeth clenched. “Fine… I get it.”
The food arrived, but Dylan had lost his appetite.
“Malaki, forgive my rudeness, but I need to leave and return to the Duke’s estate immediately. Enjoy already settled.”
With that, Dylan quickly left the restaurant, his steps hasty as he headed back to the Duke’s estate.
ur meal, the bill’s