ERTHMB Chapter 155

Even If I Have to Break You

An investigator was someone who dug into cases and collected evidence.

Until then, it had been limited to just a few questions during interrogation, but if Eugene got involved, things would be different. Direct searches would be possible even in places where investigators couldn’t set foot.

Christine’s head whipped toward the window where her room was located. Sure enough, there was a large figure faintly visible.

Christine ran hurriedly without even the presence of mind to lift the hem of her dress. When she arrived breathlessly, nearly stumbling, she saw Eugene standing with his back turned in front of the window.

Christine hastily straightened her appearance and called out to him.

“Eugene.”

Even after his name was called, Eugene continued gazing outside for several more seconds before turning around.

His face, as cold as usual, flustered Christine. If he had come here voluntarily, he surely must have some ulterior motive. Unable to read him at all, Christine grew even more anxious.

She deliberately tried to appear composed, avoiding his eyes as she stepped inside. Even though it was clearly her room, the oppressive atmosphere that made it feel like his space gripped her throat with a chilling sensation.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“Does a son need a special reason to visit his mother?”

“You left snarling that you’d give up being my son, so I’m asking.”

For someone so tense, her voice came out quite evenly. Christine gradually moved toward the display cabinet attached to the wall as she continued speaking.

“Would you like some tea? It’s not proper etiquette to leave a guest standing, and now that I think about it, I don’t believe I’ve ever served you a warm cup of tea with my own hands.”

Eugene didn’t answer, but Christine quickly pulled the bell cord to order boiled water. Meanwhile, she surreptitiously positioned herself in front of the compartment where the tea leaf containers were kept. Her previously swollen chest deflated.

‘He didn’t notice. Act natural.’

With her back to Eugene, she felt like she could breathe a bit easier. The gaze that followed her like that of a predator before the hunt was hard to endure, even though it came from her own flesh and blood. Her back already prickled.

“Which would you like… chamomile? Jasmine? Or should I mix black tea into warm milk?”

Even as she deliberately drew out her words and stalled, this time a somewhat trembling voice emerged. Christine clenched her teeth and moved her eyes quickly.

However, the target she was searching for wasn’t easily spotted. Her anxious expression deepened. Her hand wandered over the colorful glass bottles.

At that moment, Eugene’s voice flew from behind.

“Are you looking for this, Mother?”

Christine whirled around. What she wanted was brazenly held in Eugene’s grasp.

It was the poison that had caused Helena’s miscarriages twice. Eugene had somehow discovered what she’d disguised by coating lucose juice over tea leaves and was now shaking it about.

Right. You came here for this all along, Eugene. You really made a fool of me for expecting something because you’re Aslan’s son.

With no room left to retreat, there was no need to continue the halfhearted act of motherhood.

Christine, who had turned ashen for a moment, changed color to red as she raised her voice indignantly.

“You too… did Helena tell you to do this!”

“That goody-two-shoes only knows how to follow proper procedures; she can’t pull off such unreasonable demands.”

“Don’t talk nonsense—are you going to forsake your blood ties and take that cunning bitch’s side after all!”

A sharp scream-like shout burst out. She was breathing so hard she couldn’t even close her mouth after yelling. Then Eugene finally moved from his spot.

After the cold wind passed, the surroundings quieted. The dull sound of boot heels drummed on the carpet like a heartbeat. Christine couldn’t say another word and followed him with her eyes.

Eugene’s steps advanced leisurely, one by one, like a hunter closing in. Finally, he stopped in front of the fireplace.

Ting—the sound of a tin lid opening created a small crack in the silent space. Before Christine could look on questioningly, Eugene turned over the tea canister he was holding.

The flames that consumed the tea leaves crackled, surging large for a moment before subsiding again. The evidence Christine had tried so hard to hide was transformed into ash, leaving only a sweet fragrance.

“What are you doing right now…!”

“You said I resembled Father, that person.”

Eugene spoke with his eyes still fixed on the flickering flames.

“Yes, I feel his blood still flowing beneath my skin at every moment. Just like now.”

Christine started to approach Eugene but hesitated. For some reason, she felt she shouldn’t confirm his expression. She was afraid she would see Aslan instead of Eugene.

The man who was both the greatest love of her life and her most vicious enemy.

The man she wanted to kiss and embrace while simultaneously strangling to death.

Aslan Evergale overlapped with Eugene’s form. Even though this was the situation she had hoped for, Christine thought that perhaps she was having a nightmare right now.

At that moment, Eugene let out a self-mocking laugh.

“How lucky you are, to have given birth to something like this.”

Returning to reality, Christine felt a shiver run through her entire body. Unable to bear the churning sensation, she rubbed the goosebumps covering her arms as if clawing at them. Still, it wouldn’t subside.

Eugene threw even the tin container into the furnace and slowly turned around.

“The investigator outside will leave today without obtaining any evidence from this place. I’ll assemble a team with the best lawyers, so keep your story straight and don’t slip up.”

He was the same as before. It was the same cold face, remarkably identical to when they first met in the room. It poured out such a chilling and icy sensation that it made her body tremble involuntarily.

Despite receiving such an excessive gift, Christine absolutely could not open her blocked mouth.

Eugene left an answer as if reading her thoughts.

“Consider it the last gift left behind by someone who was so heartless in life, now that he’s dead.”

With that, he left the room.

Christine stood dazed for a while before rushing to the window to check outside.

She saw Eugene shaking his head to the investigator as he moved toward the carriage. The investigator had a suspicious expression but soon placed his hat on his head and followed him.

Shortly after, the sound of the carriage departing could be heard along with faint horse whinnies.

Christine, who had slid down by the window, placed her hand on her still-pounding heart. And she realized.

Ah. You chose to keep that child by your side even if it means breaking her.

Just like him, you love so selfishly.

Inevitably, the corners of Christine’s mouth twisted upward. A tickling mass knocked at her throat, trying to burst out. Christine didn’t hold back and opened her mouth.

“Haha, heu, hahaha!”

Eerie laughter filled with ecstasy and malice rang clearly through the empty room.

****

Time passed appropriately.

Slowly enough to collect oneself, sometimes quickly enough to feel pressed.

And so it flowed until the day of the trial arrived.

Helena entered the courtroom with Ian. She bit her molars, but her lips trembled slightly.

Though they had found the pharmacist who prepared medicine for Christine, contrary to his promise to willingly appear as a witness, he had fled the next day.

Since they still hadn’t obtained clear evidence, Helena couldn’t hide her anxiety.

And Ian was the same. Helena had realized since morning that he too couldn’t maintain a bright expression. Rather than the insufficiency of evidence, he was more worried about her condition.

“Helena, are you really okay? You can demand a divorce without necessarily bringing up the child issue.”

The stillbirth was one of Helena’s deep-rooted traumas. Ian had already watched closely as Helena suffered enough while preparing the investigation.

To him, it felt like she was willingly enduring hellfire. Even if happiness existed beyond it.

The opponent wasn’t just any beast, but a pack of wolves determined to bite until death. During the trial process, situations where they would inevitably rehash the past would certainly arise.

Of course, Ian knew. That Helena was no longer the broken woman he had pulled from the sea. But even knowing this, being worried was inevitable—that was love.

Helena understood all these concerns but cut them off to stop the flow.

“This is something I had to overcome once anyway. If I can’t get through even this, I can’t stand proudly by your side.”

A carelessly tied knot might look fine on the surface, but it was bound to come undone someday. Confirming Helena’s firm resolve, Ian didn’t add more words. Instead, he tightly grasped Helena’s hand and brushed the back of it with his thumb.

Even after sitting in the gallery, Ian continued that soothing gesture. With the rough texture of his thumb—what could it be?—Helena’s tension gradually eased.

Not long after, Christine entered with a triumphant expression. Eugene was behind her too.

Helena followed Christine’s movement and made eye contact with Eugene. His gaze slowly descended to her hand clasped with Ian’s, then rose back up.

But soon he turned his attention to Christine, who was taking her seat at the defendant’s table.

Through long observation, Helena could tell that despite his expressionless face, he was a bit angry.

To Helena, it was rather fascinating that he was only “a bit” angry in this situation. As was the fact that Christine’s nose was raised unpleasantly high.

The unsettled atmosphere soon calmed as the judge appeared.

In the solemn atmosphere, the prosecutor first explained the overview of the case, and using the results of examining Helena’s physical condition and the circumstances at the time, pointed to Christine as the murderer.

Now the turn passed to Christine’s side.

With a clearing of his throat, Christine’s defense attorney stepped before the judge and pulled out a small bottle from within his robes. Its appearance wasn’t unfamiliar.

Just as Helena frowned and tried to look more closely, the attorney spoke.

“This is the medicine Helena Evergale was taking while staying at the Evergale estate.”

Thump—Helena’s heart sank.

Helena could finally understand why Christine’s mouth had curved up so deeply.

“Helena Evergale has exhibited symptoms of mental confusion due to continuous drug use.”

The attorney’s voice drifted far away before returning.

“Due to the resulting severe paranoia, she falsely accused the defendant of murdering her fetus. We assert that this is a clear false accusation.”