Chapter 73: Mother and Daughter reunited. (2)
Lloyd felt Alice cling to him. She seemed to be trembling. She looked as vulnerable as in her dreams.
It was strange, because Lloyd was sure Alice shouldn’t break her indifferent and emotionless attitude, even in her mother’s presence.
Was it different now?
Perhaps living away from mistreatment had made her more vulnerable.
Something that wasn’t bad in itself, since it meant she no longer felt as bad as before.
Still, Lloyd thought it was a cruel fate they reunited now.
In fact, Alice’s attitude now made sense.
She surely remembered the village she came from, and that’s why she got scared seeing they were approaching there.
"Well, I see you got lucky," the woman commented with a sarcastic tone. "I sold you as a slave but you ended up pleasing a rich boy. Ha, do you like your new life as a pet?"
The woman said, while spitting on the ground.
Lloyd felt a terrible urge to punch that woman, however, that wouldn’t be appropriate.
After all he didn’t know if Alice still appreciated or loved her mother.
One could feel love and fear toward the same person, Lloyd knew it.
He didn’t want to end up upsetting Alice, in fact, having encountered that woman was really inconvenient.
"Aren’t you going to respond? Of course not, always acting so cowardly and quiet, I suppose your destiny was always to be someone else’s pet," the woman added with contempt. "Did you come to rub your life of luxury in my face? How pathetic, damn spiteful brat, you just got lucky, let that be very clear! In fact, you should thank me for having allowed you to find new opportunities like this!"
Lloyd felt Alice cling to him more, it was clear she wasn’t comfortable, he couldn’t stay quiet.
"Pfffft, HAHAHAHA, I can’t believe it. Really those are the words you’ll dedicate to your daughter? How pathetic, truly disgusting," Lloyd commented, with a great laugh. "I never thought I’d meet someone so repugnant, how can you treat your own daughter like this? Don’t you have a conscience?"
[+5 V.P]
Lloyd clicked his tongue irritated. It was true he was saying serious things, but they were all true.
Why were they giving him V.P for that?
The mother’s frown deepened. Her expression showed clear anger.
Apparently those words had hurt her pride.
The truth hurts, Lloyd thought to himself. Wondering what that woman would say to "restore her honor."
Honor she really didn’t have.
"Arrogant bastard, don’t talk nonsense. You think you’re better than me? No, you’re not! If I also had money like you, I wouldn’t have needed to sell my daughter," she responded with contempt.
Lloyd felt his guts churn, that woman’s brazenness was despicable.
Especially considering that woman profited by letting the villagers beat and mistreat her own daughter.
That woman was a monster.
How dare she criticize him?
"Don’t say stupid things, even if you had money, Alice would still hate you, or do you think mistreatment is erased with gifts or something? You’re an idiot," Lloyd responded with clear contempt in his voice, while trying to contain his urge to hit that woman.
Alice’s mother gritted her teeth, she seemed increasingly furious.
"You lie! You’re completely dodging! You’re not aware of the strong mother-daughter bond that unites us! In fact, I’m sure if I had money, she’d prefer to stay with me than with you!" the woman exclaimed forcefully, while pointing at Lloyd with an accusing finger.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
Was that woman really that stupid?
Did she really believe Alice would go back with her?
Lloyd didn’t believe it.
He had had a fabulous relationship with his mother, that was undeniable.
Lloyd loved his mother so much he dedicated his life to fulfilling a promise he made her, even if it led him to be miserable.
However, all that was because his mother had been good to him.
Unlike Alice’s mother, Lloyd’s mother was a good mother, if she hadn’t been, Lloyd was sure things would have been different.
For him, it was completely illogical to love someone who mistreats you, though he knew of several cases where it did happen.
But without doubt, this case was different.
Alice would choose him, right?
There was only one way to find out.
A malicious smile drew on Lloyd’s face at that moment.
A twisted idea had filtered into his mind. An idea that would allow him to humiliate that madwoman, and take revenge for what that woman had done to Alice.
Because, while part of him wanted to be grateful to Alice’s mother, for having made the girl a perfect puppet.
Another part of him couldn’t accept that kind of mistreatment.
"Really? You really believe that?" Lloyd asked with an amused and mocking tone.
The woman nodded.
"Yes! Of course," she responded, firm in her answer. "She’s only with you for your money."
Lloyd smiled.
"I see. Alright then, let’s play a little game," Lloyd commented. "Or rather, let’s make a bet. Here and now, first if Alice chooses to stay here with you, I, Lloyd Kaitos, will leave you half my fortune and half of what I earn during your entire life. But obviously, if she chooses to stay with me, I won’t give you anything."
Lloyd affirmed with a malicious smile.
[+75 V.P]
Upon hearing those words, the woman’s eyes opened wide, it was something hard to believe, that was clear.
"I can also leave you a bag of coins here and now, and we stop talking about the matter," Lloyd added with even more malice.
[+15 V.P]
The woman looked at Lloyd with surprise, it was a tempting offer.
Lloyd had in mind she would refuse to make the bet and accept the bag of coins, thus, there would be no doubt what Alice’s mother’s nature was.
However, Lloyd didn’t understand that woman really believed what she said. She wasn’t rational, like the vast majority in that village.
She didn’t wonder if Lloyd could lie, or that Alice might not want to accept.
She only wanted that money and to humiliate that smug brat.
That’s why, the woman’s answer surprised Lloyd.
"I accept the bet," the woman answered firmly.
[+30 V.P]
Lloyd froze.
Was she really going to accept?
Lloyd wanted the woman not to accept, not only to humiliate her, he also wanted to make clear to Alice her mother didn’t love her, and that he was the only one who would never abandon her.
But now, that plan broke.
Now, there was a possibility Alice would go with her mother.
No, that was impossible, right?
"Come on little one, you’ll come back with your mommy right?" the woman said with a falsely sweet smile, while crouching and stretching her arms, as if wanting to receive a hug. "If you come back, I won’t abandon you again. Everything will be like before, before daddy left, when mommy wasn’t so angry. You want that right?"
Lloyd felt nauseous hearing that.
However, he felt Alice’s body had stopped trembling.
[+185 V.P]
"Huh?"
Lloyd turned, Alice had separated from him. Her gaze no longer trembled. She was calm, and her face showed no emotion, as always.
"Heh, yes! That’s it! Come back to mommy!" the woman exclaimed, full of joy seeing Alice had obeyed.
Lloyd froze.
That couldn’t be true right?
Did Alice really believe those words?
Was she really going to go back?
Each step Alice took, made Lloyd more nervous, and at the same time, angrier.
How could it be possible?
Was she really going to betray him like this?
Lloyd clenched his fists tightly, so tight his knuckles turned white.
Not only had his mockery gone wrong, but now he was going to have to give up Alice, and give money to that stupid woman.
Part of him wanted to simply kill her, and then burn that whole village.
In fact, it also crossed his mind to finish off Alice now, before she became strong enough to take revenge.
Though deep down, he felt that was fair, that he deserved punishment for having tried to manipulate Alice.
But then, just when Lloyd was about to lose hope, something splashed his face.
"Huh?" the boy said surprised, while his eyes opened wide.
His trembling fingers approached his cheek, to touch what had splashed him.
It was a red and warm substance.
Lloyd’s heart began to pound hard. His sight became shaky.
Something rolled on the ground, until reaching his feet.
[+550 V.P]
It was a head.
