"Thank you, Aunt," Scarlett replied, smiling as she closed the photo album. She couldn't bear to continue looking at the pictures, fearing she might break down in tears without realizing it.
"Scarlett, would you like to hear about my family?" Melinda's sudden question caught Scarlett off guard, leaving her surprised.
'How can Auntie Melinda predict I want to know about Gilwynn?' Scarlett fell silent, unsure of how to respond. All she could do was nod, showing her interest.
"You already know that I am the younger sister of the former King Roland Gilwynn, don't you?" Melinda asked.
"Yes, Auntie. I learned about that from my husband," Scarlett replied.
Melinda nodded happily and proceeded to share the untold story of her family with Scarlett. As Scarlett silently listened, she realized Melinda was revealing details that had never been exposed or published by the media. It stirred up an indescribable emotion within her.
After a few minutes of absorbing Melinda's narrative, Scarlett's curiosity grew regarding why King Roland had suddenly abdicated the throne and handed it over to Simon, despite his youth and good health.
Unable to contain her curiosity anymore, Scarlett finally asks her, "Auntie, why did King Roland abruptly abdicate from his throne?" She quickly added, noticing Melinda's stiffening expression upon hearing her question, "I'm sorry, Auntie, please disregard my question..."
Scarlett felt a wave of guilt for asking into such a personal and sensitive topic. She knew it was a delicate matter, and even when she asked Theodor about it, he seemed to avoid discussing the subject.
Melinda bitterly smiled as she looked at Scarlett. She couldn't blame Scarlett for asking such a question because many people had previously asked about it. However, she had always chosen to remain silent, as it was an embarrassing incident to discuss.
"Scarlett, there's no need to apologize," she gently patted Scarlett's hand. "It's just a story from the long-forgotten past…" Melinda paused and took a deep breath.
She continued, "There was an incident at that time that brought great embarrassment, and as a result, my brother's wife, the queen, passed away."
Melinda sighed deeply, gathering her thoughts. "...And my brother blamed himself, ultimately abdicating the throne. He punished himself by isolating himself in the palace for years, which led to his declining health."
Hearing the sadness in Melinda's voice could make Scarlett's heartache. She could sense the embarrassing incident because the royal family was aware of her mother's forbidden relationship with Roland Gilwynn.
"Since then, my brother Roland has had an illness. The royal doctor said it might be a combination of stress and he lost his reason to live..."
Scarlett appeared calm on the outside, but internally, she was in turmoil. Learning about Roland Gilwynn's past pained her deeply.
Now, she was faced with a difficult decision. Should she meet Roland and reveal that he had a child with the woman responsible for his wife's death? The thought weighed heavily on her mind.
Confusion clouded her thoughts. If she were to disclose this truth to him, would that foolish man be even more devastated? Could he possibly succumb to the shock of the revelation?
'Damn, it!! God, why have you placed me in such a complicated situation?' Scarlett couldn't help but curse herself, feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of her life.
Initially, all she wanted was to find her mother and uncover her whereabouts. But now, knowing that her mother had played a role in destroying other people's lives, a mixture of anger, annoyance, and indescribable pain washed over Scarlett.
"Even though Roland is my brother, I despise his past actions," Melinda spoke with a cold tone.
Scarlett remained silent, unsure of how to react. She tightly pressed her lips together, silently praying for this conversation to end soon.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett, I talk too much about my family..." Melinda smiled, attempting to lighten the mood after the somber discussion. She noticed Scarlett's discomfort and wanted to shift the topic. "Let's forget about my foolish older brother. We can talk about something else."
Scarlett forced a smile in response to Melinda's attempt to alleviate the tension. However, her smile was clearly strained.
Worried that Melinda might notice her sudden change in demeanor, Scarlett excused herself to use the bathroom. She needed a moment alone to collect herself and find some solace after learning about the troubling past.
...
Scarlett's steps were heavy as she made her way to the bathroom, her feet dragging along.
ƥandasnovel.com As the bathroom door closed behind her, she felt her knees turn to jelly, almost causing her to collapse. She steadied herself by gripping the wall.
Taking a moment to compose herself, Scarlett caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. She was shocked to see her own pale face as if all the blood had been drained under her skin.
Suppressing the urge to cry, she tried to breathe normally but found it difficult as her chest felt weighed down, as though someone had placed a heavy burden upon it.
This was her worst fear, and she realized that Gilwynn would despise her, because her mother might have caused a family to be torn apart, and a king had to abdicate his throne.
How could she be proud of that?
How would she face Roland Gilwynn?
"M-Mom," Scarlett whispered softly, her voice barely audible to her own ears. "What am I supposed to do now? Can you please come out and explain to me what truly happened? Did you really ruin this family?"
With a heavy sigh, Scarlett closed her eyes, feeling a deep sense of embarrassment as she saw her reflection in the mirror.
After feeling much better, Scarlett reached for her cell phone and sent a message to Xander.
[Scarlett: ] I can't stand it! I despise my parents so much! I truly, truly hate them!
[Scarlett: ] I want to go home right now!
[Scarlett: ] (Cry Icon) (Cry Icon)
Xander was conversing with Allaistar and Theodor when he saw and opened her message. He was taken aback when he read Scarlett's text message and swiftly responded to her.
[Xander: ] Alright. Let's go back home!
[Xander: ] (Love Icon)
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