By Zephyria Mrs. Campbell, who heard the news in the morning, was so enraged that she almost lost her mind. But true to her nature, which became calmer the greater her anger, she didn’t do anything vulgar like throwing a teacup. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She needed to stay calm, especially at times like this. She leaned back on the sofa with her eyes closed, emptying her mind. After some effort, Mrs. Campbell was able to shake off her 잡념 and finally found peace before opening her eyes. She took a sip of her cold tea, put it down, and let out a short breath. The task at hand was clear. She picked up the phone, ordered the Butler to prepare for an outing, and went to the dressing room to get ready to leave.
“Where shall we go?”
The driver asked, and Mrs. Campbell, sitting in the back seat of the car, gave instructions in a dignified voice.
“Go to Hopkins Hospital.”
It was the hospital where Charlotte was admitted. Watching the scenery outside the window quickly pass by, she coldly recalled what she would say to her daughter-in-law.
* * *
Charlotte, who was lying alone in her hospital room, was surprised to see her mother-in-law suddenly visit.
“Oh, it’s alright. Just lie down.”
Mrs. Campbell hurriedly said to her daughter-in-law, who reflexively tried to get up but stopped, groaning in pain. Charlotte looked at her with a tired face, panting. Mrs. Campbell stood upright, ignoring the folding chair next to the bed, and opened her mouth.
“How are you feeling? You look very tired.”
Charlotte’s heart was complicated by her unusually affectionate tone. There was only one reason why her mother-in-law, who was usually cold and ruthless, was showing her such a gentle attitude. Mrs. Campbell paused before speaking to her, who was silently looking down.
“What did the doctor say? Are you badly hurt?”
“They said three of my ribs are broken.”
Charlotte replied in a hoarse voice. Her hesitant voice was full of reluctance. Mrs. Campbell was displeased with her daughter-in-law’s disrespectful attitude, but she pretended not to notice and said.
“It’s fortunate that bones heal if you leave them alone. You can rest for a week and come out, right?”
Charlotte didn’t say anything, but she didn’t agree with her words. Rather, Mrs. Campbell continued, unfazed by the look in her eyes that seemed to say she was dumbfounded.
“The lawyer contacted me and said your intention is important. You’re not planning to keep Gordon there like that, are you?”
“Mother, I’m in a lot of pain right now…”
Charlotte barely managed to say that. It was the best resistance she could muster, but it was only amusing to Mrs. Campbell.
“So? Those kinds of injuries all heal with time. It’s not like this is the first time, is it?”
Charlotte simply closed her mouth at the shameless words. But it didn’t end there. Mrs. Campbell continued to speak.
“If your sister hadn’t been so meddlesome in the first place, Gordon wouldn’t have been so angry with you. Why don’t you take this opportunity to meet your sister? Tell her to withdraw her testimony, it would be even better if she said it was all a lie.”
“Are you telling me to commit perjury?”
Charlotte’s voice rose in disbelief. But Mrs. Campbell frowned and scolded her.
“That’s why you should have managed your sister better in advance. How could you let her testify in court? Did you really not know?”
“I didn’t know.”
This was the truth. Charlotte also learned about it late and didn’t know what to do.
“There’s no way my sister would have told me such a thing.”
Guilt stabbed at her heart as she spoke. Mrs. Campbell said coldly to her deflated figure.
“That’s why you should have behaved yourself better in advance. What can you do now? If you handle this well now, Gordon will forgive you too.”
At those words, Charlotte raised her head, which had been lowered. Her face clearly showed an expression of disbelief.
“Forgive me? Gordon, forgive me?”
Charlotte asked in a voice that trembled wildly.
“I’m the one who was beaten…?”
“That’s why you should have acted better from the start. Why else would he have done that to you?”
Mrs. Campbell sternly scolded her. Charlotte was speechless, and she continued to speak.
“He already has so much to worry about because of the trial, you should have taken care of everything else so he wouldn’t have to worry about it. Now, pull yourself together and try to fix this. It’s your sister’s problem, so you have to solve it. You should be useful at least once, shouldn’t you?”
Charlotte tried to say something, but Mrs. Campbell asked first.
“You haven’t forgotten why Gordon married you, have you?”
Charlotte was speechless at the frosty gaze. Her tongue was as stiff as a stone, and she couldn’t speak. Mrs. Campbell, confirming that Charlotte couldn’t say anything, added leisurely.
“The lawyer will be here soon. Just do as you’re told, and don’t make any mistakes this time.”
After giving her last instruction, she glanced at Charlotte once more and turned around. Charlotte couldn’t say anything as she watched her mother-in-law’s back as she left.
As soon as the door closed, silence fell. Charlotte unconsciously tried to take a deep breath, but soon gritted her teeth and closed her eyes at the throbbing pain. After panting shallowly a few times, she finally opened her eyes and suddenly remembered her childhood. She and Sarah were close sisters. She adored her sister, and Sarah also loved her younger sister very much. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a reasonably peaceful everyday life. Until that day came.
‘Charlotte, how could you do this to me…’The moment she recalled her sister’s face, filled with resentment as she looked at her, a knock suddenly sounded. Startled, Charlotte turned her head, and a moment later, the door opened and a man entered. She was taken aback by the unfamiliar face, but the man walked straight across the room and stood by the bed, speaking.
“Good morning, Ms. Charlotte. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Brown, a lawyer.”
With a practiced motion, he took out a business card, and Charlotte hesitantly accepted it. He must be the lawyer Mrs. Campbell had mentioned. The lawyer continued, seeing her weary expression.
“Would you mind if I spoke with you for a moment? I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“I know what you’re going to say. You want me to forgive Gordon and show him leniency, right? What do I need to do? Just sign the papers?”
The lawyer paused at her sharp question, then shook his head.
“No, not at all. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but my client is not Gordon Mr. Campbell.”
“…Pardon?”
Taken aback by the unexpected words, Charlotte blinked in confusion. Brown continued in a calm voice.
“I’m here on behalf of Mr. Campbell. Ah, Winston Campbell, that is.”
“Winston?”
The color drained from her face at the name. Seeing Charlotte’s pale complexion, the lawyer casually added,
“Yes, he’s instructed me to make a proposal through me. So… I have an offer for you.”
It took her a moment to process his words. After blinking rapidly a few times, Charlotte finally spoke.
“An offer… you say?”
“Yes.”
Brown nodded readily and smiled.
“It won’t be a bad one.”
Caught off guard, Charlotte could only stare blankly at the lawyer.
* * *
Lady Catherine sat across from Mrs. Campbell in the spacious drawing room, and only after the maid had served tea and left did she finally speak.
“I can’t believe Gordon would cause such trouble at a time like this.”
Mrs. Campbell, scooping honey into her tea, replied casually to her daughter’s grumbling.
“He must have been under a lot of stress. It’s understandable, isn’t it?”
“But he should have restrained himself this time. Mother, haven’t you seen? The newspapers, the TV, it’s all over the place. It’s so embarrassing. I’m ashamed to even be a Campbell.”
Mrs. Campbell, having stirred honey into her tea, set down her spoon and spoke.
“We need to contain the scandal plaguing the family.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
Lady Catherine asked, her face brightening. She had secretly expected her mother wouldn’t let it slide, so she was somewhat anticipating this reaction. Mrs. Campbell calmly replied to her visibly pleased daughter.
“We need to cover a scandal with a scandal.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes widened as she strained to hear her mother’s next words.
“Would that be alright, Mother? Still, that’s a bit much…”
Lady Catherine asked, flustered.
“Wouldn’t that backfire on us?”
“We have to take the risk to some extent.”
Mrs. Campbell said, bringing the teacup to her lips.
“Anyway, we need to divert attention from Gordon to gain an advantage in the trial, don’t you think? There’s no point in attracting attention.”
“…That’s true.”
Lady Catherine agreed, but a vaguely uneasy feeling lingered. Her mother must be right. Her mother’s judgment had never been wrong before.
Thinking so, she smiled at her mother. It’ll be alright, this time too.