Chapter 107
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107
“Oh, heavens! What have I done? The Lady’s prescriptions and medical records were all in that bag!”
Most physicians’ bags looked remarkably similar: black or brown leather, a metal-framed clasp, and a sturdy buckle with a small handle. Because of this, it was a common enough mishap for bags to be accidentally swapped when doctors crossed paths.
Had the exchange happened with a colleague they knew, it would have been nothing more than a humorous blunder. But the people they had encountered earlier were total strangers—people whose names and addresses they didn’t know. There was no way to retrieve it.
The only saving grace was that copies of Trisha’s medical records were kept safely at the estate.
“Damn it. My expensive stethoscope and medicines were in there, too.”
“You didn’t lose your wallet, did you?”
At the pharmacy clerk’s worried question, Jasper frantically fumbled inside his jacket. Fortunately, his wallet was still there.
“Thank goodness for that, at least, but this is just my rotten luck.”
He sighed, purchased a few cough suppressants from the pharmacist, and began the walk back. As he did, a strange thought suddenly occurred to him.
Wait, how did the bags get swapped in the first place?
Those people hadn’t looked like doctors. Why would they be carrying a physician’s bag? And why were they carrying it when they stepped out of their carriage?
Of course, there was no one around to answer his questions.
* * *
At that very moment, the medical bag belonging to Jasper Atworth, the Fellon family’s physician, was being picked apart atop a table in the Listerwell estate.
The Listerwell family’s own physician, who had been examining the documents inside at John’s request, finally looked up and nodded.
“Based on these records, I’ve concluded that Lady Fellon’s condition is grave. Though outwardly, there may not appear to be significant changes yet.”
John’s face lit up with predatory glee. “Really? What kind of illness is it?”
“It is a pulmonary disease called Higgs Legato Syndrome. The cough will worsen as lung function gradually declines. Eventually, the patient simply passes away in their sleep due to respiratory failure.”
“That sounds like a peaceful way to go.”
“I would hardly call it ‘peaceful,’ My Lord. The frequent coughing fits will cause a raw throat and chronic headaches. The chest pain alone will be quite severe.”
But John’s opinion remained unchanged. “It’s certainly cleaner than me having to strangle the life out of her myself.”
The doctor’s face paled at the blunt remark, but John didn’t care. What mattered now was that Trisha—Harriet’s sole guardian—would soon be dead.
He dismissed the physician, then grinned, baring his teeth.
“Heaven is truly smiling upon us, Bella. To provide a way to end things between that Harriet brat and the old hag! Now, all we have to do is wait with a peaceful mind…!”
Once Trisha Fellon was gone, seizing what belonged to Harriet would be child’s play. What shield could a young woman possibly use when she had no parents, no guardian, no husband, and no in-laws?
But Bella shook her head. “Wait? How are we supposed to know exactly when she’ll drop dead?”
“She’s going to die if we leave her alone, so why bother with another method?”
“Is Countess Fellon the type to just sit idly by while her death approaches? I’m actually growing anxious.”
Trisha was not a woman who would simply wait for the end. She was likely already making preparations. She might even try to leave Harriet an even stronger shield—perhaps by bequeathing her entire fortune, brokering a powerful marriage match, or securing a guardian as formidable as herself.
I won’t stand for that.
Bella bit her lip, her mind racing through the possibilities until she quickly found a solution.
“That’s it! There is someone who would be desperate for this information. If we leak it to them, they’ll take care of the rest themselves.”
Bella leaned in and whispered a name to her father. John looked at her with a questioning expression for a moment, then nodded vigorously and clapped his hands.
“Bella, how are you so clever?”
He immediately dispatched a messenger to that person, along with a note stating that he possessed crucial information regarding Trisha.
As expected, the recipient rushed over like the wind. John greeted her with a warm, oily smile.
“Welcome, Baroness Marshall!”
“Thank you for the welcome. I came the moment I received your summons. I expect you have very good news to share.”
Lauren Marshall. She was the very rival Bella had in mind—the one person who would be most delighted, yet most terrified, by the news of Trisha’s impending death.
John simply smiled, heightening her anticipation, and led Lauren to the drawing room where Bella was already waiting.
“It has been a long time, Baroness Marshall.”
“Indeed. I believe the last time we met was at my brother Oster’s funeral. You’ve grown so beautiful since then.”
“You flatter me. You must be exhausted from the journey?”
Bella smiled brightly as she offered tea to Lauren. It was a truly guileless expression, one that betrayed nothing of the sinister plan brewing behind it.
However, Lauren knew that from the moment John summoned her with information about Trisha, this meeting was not intended for polite pleasantries. John wasn't the type to waste time on small talk, so he got straight to the point.
“I contacted you because I believe your eldest son, Jaden, deserves to be the master of the Fellon family.”
“That is certainly welcome news, but why the sudden interest…?”
John smirked. “Did you know that my Great-aunt Trisha is suffering from a terminal illness?”
“What? Truly?”
“Higgs… something or other. Regardless, it’s a lung disease. She doesn’t have much time left.”
Lauren’s eyes widened. It was the news she had prayed for, but the thought of Trisha—who had been hostile to her until the very end—made her blood run cold with a mix of excitement and unease.
At the same time, she understood exactly why John had called her. She had heard rumors of the discord between Harriet and the Listerwell family during their last encounter at the Fellon estate.
“Is that senile fox planning to adopt this family’s niece or something?” Lauren ground her teeth, looking as if she were ready to go and finish Trisha off herself. It was exactly the reaction John wanted.
“Given that there’s been no word from the Imperial Aristocracy Bureau, it seems she hasn’t gone that far yet. But who knows? My great-aunt’s judgment seems to have become quite clouded lately.”
He leaned closer to Lauren. “I will help Young Master Jaden inherit the Fellon estate.”
Lauren’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. Unexpected kindness always hid an ulterior motive. “And what do you want in return for this help?”
“Just hand over that Harriet brat.”
Normally, one would be pleased if their niece inherited a high-ranking title, but John had no doubt that if Harriet became the head of the Fellon family, she would immediately turn her blade against him. He couldn't let that happen. He also needed to reclaim the Perilas lands Harriet had seized.
Hearing his terms, Lauren offered her hand with a chilling smile. “I think we can be very good friends, Viscount Listerwell.”
John smiled back and clasped her hand. In his mind, the Perilas lands were already back in his possession.
* * *
On March 15th, with the full bloom of spring in the air, Bella and James finally became engaged.
The news became a far larger topic of conversation than a typical aristocratic engagement. Whether by design or sheer vanity, the ceremony was so grand that people wondered how their actual wedding could possibly top it. Bella, true to her moniker as the ‘Golden Rose of Genoa,’ was dazzlingly beautiful.
However, their story didn’t earn everyone’s envy.
“It seems Bella’s old, nasty habits have reared their heads again,” Viviana said, setting her teacup down on a beautifully arranged table in the Laurel family’s flower garden. “I truly can’t understand why I never recognized her wicked nature before. I must have been possessed.”
“Bella must be wagging that silver tongue of hers again,” Harriet speculated.
Viviana nodded, glancing toward Daphne. “I only found out because I thought Miss Daphne would be made a fool of if no one warned her… but are you really alright with hearing this?”
“I’m fine,” Daphne replied, her gaze unwavering. “I need to know what she’s saying so I can prepare a response.”
Viviana sighed and began to recount the gossip. “Bella apparently went out of her way to bring up Miss Daphne’s name at the engagement party. She claimed she felt ‘concerned’ for you. She even said she felt sorry that Young Master Cheslow seemed to have completely forgotten you.”
“How brazen. Though it’s hardly surprising,” Harriet said, a sharp smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
The rest of Bella’s comments had been equally cunning and malicious.
“She told the guests, ‘Fate works in such mysterious ways, doesn't it? James and I had a brief connection when we were children, and I was quite depressed when he got engaged to Miss Daphne simply because of the business dealings with the Laurel family.’”
Viviana continued, mimicking Bella’s faux-sympathetic tone: “‘I believe Miss Daphne is beautiful and comes from a good family, so I’m sure she’ll find someone else quickly. Didn’t she even dance with some wonderful gentleman at the last party?’”