We're in a Contract Marriage, But I've Imprinted - Chapter 117
He meant to say that he had no choice but to take her in, but he couldn’t continue. Because Henry burst into the dining room, his face pale as death.
“Young Lord! Aah, Young Lord!”
The sight of the normally composed butler of the Duchy stumbling over his words sent chills down Ian’s spine. Instantly, Ian thought something must have happened to his omega, and he was about to rush out.
However, Henry’s next words made not Ian, but his father, spring to his feet.
“La, Lady Nicola has…”
“….Speak clearly!”
Ian’s father’s roar made Ian hold Diers tighter, as the cheerful child began to cry at the commotion. Henry managed to finish with tears streaming down his face.
“She took poison…and has passed away.”
As soon as Henry spoke, both alphas looked at each other sternly.
“….Young Lord, Lady Nicola is at the Madam’s annex.”
Once Henry finally managed to calm down and finish speaking, Ian had no choice but to run there while holding Diers. He noticed his father following, but his priority was his omega.
“Surely she hasn’t done something foolish.”
The shock of his mother’s suicide was short; if she had done something to Melissa, he wouldn’t let it go, even if she was already dead.
As Ian passed the green rose garden in front of the pavilion, he clung to a sliver of hope and paused to look up. Not seeing her on the balcony as during the poisoning incident, he resumed his hurried pace.
His father followed him inside.
“Young Lord! Young Lord!”
Henry followed closely behind and called out.
“I’ll hold Young Master Diers!”
At Henry’s words, Ian finally stopped. He realized that this wasn’t the situation to expose a baby to, even if he was unaware. Ian handed Diers to Henry and sprinted up the stairs.
By the time Ian reached the top, his father had already collapsed to his knees.
“…Nicola?”
While Henry went to inform the others, the family doctor had arrived first and was examining Nicola. Just as the two alphas approached, the doctor shook his head, having just finished his assessment.
“She’s already passed away.”
“That can’t be.”
“Father.”
“That wretched woman, she wouldn’t leave without my permission!”
“…Mel.”
Knowing he needed to calm his father, Ian was distracted by the sight of his omega lying beside Nicola, pale as a ghost.
“Why is Mel collapsed?”
His voice came out harsh. With blood smeared on her hands and clothes, he pressed the doctor for answers.
“What’s wrong with her? Answer me now!”
“Calm down, Young Lord. The Madam has merely fainted. But it’s understandable, having witnessed a death so close.”
“….How could this happen?”
Ian trembled with rage at his mother’s cruelty. The small respite he had felt at dinner, talking to his father about his mother, had swiftly turned to disgust.
“Put her away!”
“Ian…”
His father approached and called out to him, but Ian was in no mood to see his father. The toxic relationship between his parents had ultimately harmed those around them.
“Father, it was you who failed to send Lady Nicola away.”
His omega had suffered from the negligence of the person who told Ian to get rid of his omega. He couldn’t tolerate it any longer.
“Really, you make things difficult.”
Ian attempted to lift Mel but noticed the hand clinging to her. The doctor explained awkwardly.
“I tried to release the fingers, but…”
“Even if you have to break them, you should have freed her. Do I need to do everything myself?”
Ian’s frosty expression made the doctor bow in submission.
“Understood.”
As the doctor reached out, another hand had already grasped Nicola’s.
“I, I will do it.”
The hand trembled vigorously as it tried to gently peel away Nicola’s grip.
Ian couldn’t just watch.
The connection between the dead Nicola and Mel made it seem as if his omega might leave his side forever. He pushed his father’s hand aside and personally loosened his mother’s fingers from Mel.
“Ian!”
“No, Father.”
“But…”
“Do you not see how vile and ruthless she was? And you think it’s okay for such a woman to take my omega too?”
“…”
“I can’t let her end up like my mother. I plan to take care of her properly and send her to a good place eventually. So please, don’t drag me into the issues between you two.”
Ian’s heartfelt plea left his father speechless. He felt he was hearing his son’s true feelings for the first time. It was a matter between the two of them, just as his son had said.
“…Nicola.”
He couldn’t take his eyes away from her pale figure. He couldn’t believe it.
Why all of a sudden? Just a while ago, she had asked if breaking the imprint would mean she could leave with him.
Confused by it all, a maid approached him and held out something.
“This letter fell under the table. It seems to have slipped out from the inside of her dress.”
“…”
He accepted the letter. Unfolding the crumpled paper, he read the few lines it contained and broke down.
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