Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 61

“…Did Epirosa say you were handsome?” Nicholas suddenly asked in a softened tone.

 

It wasn’t true. But Maddux nodded to avoid getting hit any further. “She hasn’t opened her heart to me yet, but she’s told me I’m handsome several times. She couldn’t take her eyes off my face.”

 

“Then why were you kicked out of the room?”

 

“T-That’s… because Epirosa couldn’t concentrate while looking at me, so the designer had to send me out.”

 

“Really?”

 

Nicholas, who had been yelling moments ago, suddenly smirked. His violent and unpredictable mood swings left Maddux’s heart racing in fear. Still, it seemed like Nicholas wasn’t going to hit him anymore, and for that, Maddux was relieved. Maddux quickly got up, taking advantage of the moment.

 

“So, do you think you can definitely win over Epirosa while you’re in charge of escorting her?”

 

“Of course! Epirosa will be completely captivated by me in no time!”

 

“If it’s just talk again this time, you’d better be prepared,” Nicholas spoke ominously, his face showing the same cruelty as his father, Gale.

 

Maddux swallowed hard. But this time, it wasn’t just empty words. He was confident. It’s easy to charm a woman who pretends to be aloof. And if she didn’t fall for it, well, there was always another way.

 

Lady Epirosa, I’ve prepared a trap that will bind you completely. Just wait.

 

* * *

Maddux limped through the lush garden after leaving the mansion. The spot where Nicholas had hit him still hurt. Just wait till I become the in-law of the Blanche family! I’ll crush an idiot like him in an instant! He gritted his teeth. Just thinking about the phrase ‘Blanche’s in-law’ immediately improved his mood.

 

Epirosa, whom he had met for the first time, was far more beautiful than he had expected. She was so pretty, nothing like what Stella said about her being plain. Especially that pink hair. Her hair, as if dyed with care by the gods, matched her delicate and lovely face, making her look just like a fairy. On the other hand, when she gave him that cold stare, she seemed more like an aloof goddess. In some ways, Epirosa was even more captivating than Stella.

 

But my goal is Stella. Compared to Epirosa, who had no proper family and a weak foundation, Stella, who had lost her mother but still had a strong father, seemed like the better choice. Besides, her father had a high chance of becoming the heir of the Blanche family.

 

If I just get Nicholas out of the way, the title will pass to Stella—no, to me! Dreaming far above his station, Maddux chuckled to himself.

 

“Lord Maddux!”

 

Just then, he heard someone calling him from behind. Startled, Maddux quickly turned around.

 

It was under the dense trees.

 

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

 

Stella was standing there. Her glossy red hair swayed gently in the breeze. She was beautiful, but his heart didn’t race like it did the first time he saw her. Instead, Epirosa’s pink hair floated in his mind, overshadowing Stella’s somewhat artificial red hair.

 

“Lord?”

 

Maddux snapped out of his thoughts at Stella’s call. What was I thinking? How could I even think about Epirosa while Stella is right here! He hurriedly approached Stella.

 

Stella noticed the wound on the back of Maddux’s hand and looked at him with a sorrowful expression. “Did my brother treat you too harshly?”

 

“Ah, I-I’m fine.” Feeling embarrassed, Maddux quickly hid his hand behind his back.

 

Stella looked up at him with sad eyes. “Why does my brother insist on keeping someone like Lord Maddux near Epirosa? I mean, I also think you’re… Ne-Never mind.” Stella pretended to be flustered and covered her mouth with her hand. Then, she rolled her eyes, studying Maddux’s face.

 

“What about me? You can trust me and tell me anything.”

 

Just as Stella had hoped, Maddux misunderstood her intentions and became visibly excited.

 

“It’s nothing. Until my father becomes the perfect heir to the Blanche family, I need to be careful.”

 

“I’ll help you. If there’s anything you need, just say the word, Lady!” Maddux exclaimed passionately, clinging to the hope that Stella might one day be his.

 

Stella, though mocking him internally, maintained a kind and gentle demeanor outwardly. “I wish Epirosa would help us with our matters, but she doesn’t seem to like us.”

 

“That’s awful…! It’s only natural for families to help each other!”

 

“That’s why I’d like you, Lord Maddux, to persuade Epirosa. If anyone can win her over, it’s you. No matter how stubborn Epirosa is, she’ll listen to her fiancé.”

 

“Fi…ancé?” Maddux stammered, caught off guard.

 

“For a man, breaking off an engagement isn’t such a big deal, is it?”

 

Maddux nodded as if he had just come to a realization after hearing Stella’s skillful lie. I’ll seduce Epirosa, get engaged, use her as much as I want, then dump her and switch to Stella! If he did this much for her, Stella would surely be grateful and want to marry him.

 

A smile spread across Maddux’s lips. His face was filled with delusional fantasies. Stella’s brown eyes glimmered with scorn as she looked at Maddux.

 

“For now, make sure to secure Epirosa as your woman during the imperial banquet.”

 

“I already have everything planned out.”

 

Maddux whispered to Stella. Hearing his plan, she beamed and grabbed his hand firmly. Maddux’s face turned red.

 

“La-Lady…! Holding hands like this…!”

 

“What’s wrong with it? We’ll only get closer from here. Ah, let’s talk more comfortably. I want to be friends with you. At least for now…” Stella spoke in a strangely suggestive tone. It was as if she was saying, ‘Let’s just be friends for now before we become lovers.’

 

Maddux’s cheeks flushed at her voice, laced with temptation. “Ah, Ah… Sure… Let’s do that, Stella! Hahaha!”

 

From a distance, the two of them appeared to be laughing happily together. If someone overheard them from afar, they would seem like a couple promising their future together.

 

Behind the thick bushes, someone was watching them with cold eyes. He squeezed the branch in his hand, nearly snapping it.

 

“Wise.” Someone called out to him.

 

The large, black-haired man turned with a huff.

 

“Be careful. You might get caught.” Epirosa, with an expressionless face, whispered to him.

 

Wise was a man employed by the Blanche family and someone who had feelings for Stella. He was the same man who had even tried to kill Karen for Stella’s sake.

 

Still breathing heavily, Wise lowered his voice and asked, “Why are you showing me this scene? Are you telling me to give up on Lady Stella?” His voice was filled with defiance.

 

Epirosa shook her head. “Quite the opposite. I don’t want Stella to end up with someone like Maddux. Maddux is all flash on the outside but empty trash on the inside.”

 

Doubt filled Wise’s eyes. “I thought you two didn’t get along that well.”

 

“Even so, we’re family. And I don’t want someone like Maddux entering the Blanche family.”

 

Epirosa pointed her finger toward Stella and Maddux. Stella was playfully tapping Maddux and laughing brightly. Meanwhile, Maddux leaned in close to Stella, whispering something to her. They were so close it looked like they might kiss.

 

“T-That b*stard, I’ll kill him…” Wise gritted his teeth in fury.

 

“Maddux is trying hard to seduce Stella,” Epirosa added fuel to Wise’s burning anger.

 

“I’m not so bold as to desire Lady Stella for myself. But that guy is unacceptable. Isn’t he just a noble in name only?”

 

“I’ve met him in person. His character is vulgar. If those two get together, Stella will suffer. The Blanche family will be disgraced too.”

 

Wise glared at Epirosa with burning eyes. “So, you called me here to separate them. What do you want me to do? Just say the word.”

 

Epirosa chuckled at Wise’s pure devotion. A devotion that could even kill someone. It was a dangerous obsession. But if used well, this cruel and blind devotion could be turned against the very person he loved.

 

“What I need you to do is simple.”

 

“And what is that?”

 

“Steal Stella’s amethyst bracelet without her knowing.”

 

Wise looked puzzled. “How will that help separate them?”

 

Epirosa smiled confidently. “Trust me, it will.”