282.Chapter 282
“You?”
Eliza glanced at Rocco with a calm expression. “Apologies, but there’s nothing on you that interests me, and I don’t need any dogs.”
Though she said this, Rocco still stared at her, not quite believing her words.
“Alright, Rocco. You’ve been in seclusion recently, so you might not be up to date on the recent events. Let me explain,” Gilbert quickly interjected. “This is Your Grace of Bortenland, the first to be granted the title by His Majesty three months ago. She is also the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s estate.” Gilbert emphasized the words legitimate daughter. Rocco paused, momentarily stunned, before realization dawned on him. “You’re the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s estate? The daughter of Caroline?”
Eliza gave a faint nod, her expression neutral. “I am Caroline’s daughter, but I am no longer the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s estate.”
Perhaps it was because of this revelation, but Rocco, who had been on edge and highly alert, finally relaxed.
“So that’s it. I never expected the person Gilbert mentioned, the one who could cure the poison in our bodies, would be you.” Eliza raised an eyebrow. “So you believe me now?”
Rocco gave a respectful bow. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Besides, you’re Caroline’s daughter. The Padilla family‘ s name was once renowned across the land. I’ve long admired them, but unfortunately, I never had the chance to visit. Now, with the Padilla family…” He paused, realizing his words, and quickly apologized. “Ah, I’m sorry, I misspoke.”
Before Rocco could continue, Gilbert shot him a warning glance. Rocco quickly corrected himself, slapping his mouth in apology.
“No offense,” Eliza waved a hand, unconcerned. “If you can trust me now, it seems our agreement can continue.”
“What deal?” Rocco seemed unaware of the arrangement between Eliza and Gilbert.
Gilbert quickly explained, “Ah, right. I didn’t have a chance to tell you earlier, but I made a deal with Your Grace. She’s helping us develop an antidote to cure the poison in our bodies. And in return, we’re helping her uncover the truth behind the death of Caroline and find the evidence.”
“That makes sense.”
Rocco turned his gaze to Eliza. “So, Your Grace suspects that Caroline didn’t die of illness but was killed by Zoie?”
Eliza nodded.
Rocco let out a quiet laugh, stroking his thick beard. “Your Grace is right. Caroline’s death was indeed linked to Zoie.”
Eliza’s gaze locked onto his, and she asked, “What do you know?”
Rocco smirked. “I know a lot. I can tell you anything you want, but unfortunately, there’s no evidence. Would you still believe me?”
“Evidence is just for others to see,” Eliza replied coolly. “I’ve already figured out Sophie’s nature. Anyone capable of raising such a daughter like her must have had their dark side. Mrs. Zoie was certainly no exception.”
“So, you can just speak freely,” Eliza said, her voice steady.
Rocco nodded thoughtfully before speaking. “This story starts with the background of our ‘Lady Sophie.‘ You probably already know that her true birthdate is two months earlier than yours. She’s not technically your sister, but calling her your older sister would be somewhat of an overstep.”
After all, the blood running through Your Grace’s veins belonged to the legitimate heirs of two great families. Sophie, however, was the result of a secret affair between the Duke of Mowbay and Zoie.
With such a background, in any strict, traditional family, she and her mother would have been dead before they even had the chance to be born.
But the relationship between Zoie and Gabriel, the Duke of Mowbay, was far from simple. They had known each other for years, and their feelings for one another had been sealed long ago.
Yet, when the Duke of Mowbay was still the heir, driven by ambition and a desire for power, he chose to abandon Zoie, marrying Caroline, the only daughter of the Padilla family. With the Padilla family’s support, he ultimately achieved his ambition and solidified the Duke’s estate’s position as an indomitable force in the court.
At that point, Zoie, unwilling to accept being discarded, sought him out again and cleverly seduced him for one final night. After that, she disappeared once more.
When news of her finally resurfaced, it was to announce that she was pregnant and on the verge of giving birth.
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282.Chapter 282
Zoie, weakened from years of exposure to toxins, was in no condition to carry the child to term–giving birth could easily cost her life.
But she insisted on having the child.
She loved Gabriel, yet she also hated him. She was willing to risk her life to bring this child into the world.
And as long as her child lived, it would torment Gabriel, making him feel guilty and regretful every single day, until the end of his life.
She wouldn’t forget the woman who had taken the man she loved, either.
Her child would inherit everything she left behind, and then seek revenge–revenge on Gabriel and the entire Duke’s estate. In the end, Zoie got what she wanted. Gabriel, burdened with guilt, brought Sophie back to the Duke’s estate. Sophie, true to Zoie’s wishes, took revenge on the entire Duke’s estate, including Eliza and Caroline.
Of course, that was the outcome of the previous life.
In this life, it wasn’t just Sophie returning for vengeance–it was Eliza as well.
Eliza lowered her gaze. “So, she sent word to Gabriel when she was about to give birth… and then what happened?”
It was too much of a coincidence–Zoie had a difficult labor when Sophie was born, and two months later, her mother also struggled with childbirth.
Though she survived the heavy blood loss at the time, Caroline’s body was severely weakened, and not long after, she passed away.
Rocco spoke, “It’s likely that she poisoned Caroline.”
“What kind of poison?” Eliza asked, her voice steady, though her mind raced.
Rocco hesitated before asking, “When you were still at the Duke’s estate, did you ever see a certain red flower?”
Eliza paused, recalling the gardens at the Duke’s estate. “There was a garden with many flowers–several types of red ones among them.”
Rocco shook his head. “It’s not like the usual flowers you see. It looks more like a wildflower–nothing distinctive about it, no name you’d recognize. It seems so ordinary that you wouldn’t even notice it if you passed by.”
Eliza listened carefully. Her thoughts grew more focused. She sifted through her memories, but even with everything she recalled from her past life, she couldn’t remember such a flower.
Seeing her confusion, Rocco continued, “Well, if you’ve never seen it, it might have been cleared away long ago.”
Eliza immediately pressed on. “Does this flower have any poisonous properties?”
“Of course,” Rocco replied, his expression darkening. “It’s a type of poison that acts like a subtle, almost undetectable drug -dangerous and impossible to defend against.”
His tone grew heavy with the gravity of the words, and even Gilbert, standing nearby, grew tense, his face cold and expressionless.
Eliza’s mind raced, and she instantly understood. She thought, ‘That flower is probably connected to the poison Zoie used to control Gilbert and the others.‘
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