Villains also get Second chance

Chapter 111: family lunch

In the next six months, I would do my best to find more proof and then get them behind the bars. Then I would be free from all the burdens and face my redemption.

"What do you mean father?" he asked and I smiled.

"I will give you six months to try to get the family you desire," I said and he looked at me with confused eyes.

"You are not that smart as I had thought you to be,'' I said and he pouted, since when did he learn to pout.

"Are you making a pout?" I asked, amazed and he kept his eyes low.

"Mother said I look good this way." he defended and I chuckled.

"Marianne is making you a kid again," I commented and he nodded.

"Yes, her (Marianne) thinking is just opposite of mother(Elizabeth), she always used to say that I should be adult, I should be mature, I shouldn't laugh publicly, she was a very strict mother(Elizabeth) I think she had a lot of expectations from me, father," he said in a reminiscing tone.

My hands clenched, my nails digging into my skin, why would she not train you, my son, after all, she wanted you to take the dukedom in your hands as soon as possible so that she could still be the archduchess while she gets married to that fucking idiot Barron after clearing her way.

That woman had the biggest appetite and she could not be happy with divorce and the properties she would have gotten with that. she could have lived separately, she could have told the truth, but no, she decided to destroy the one who loved her, no she wanted the whole empire. 

Just the mention of her name brought all those old memories like a dam had been broken and could not be handled anymore. It drowned all my senses, that was the reason I was so wary of Marianne and look, what had happened.

Killian looked at me, and realised he had made a mistake, "I am sorry father, I forgot that you had denied me to mention mother in front of you." he wanted to say more but I cut him off.

"We all have expectations from you, son. But my biggest expectation is that you always stay happy," i added and he smiled, 

"You are looking changed today, father," he said and I sighed.

I have not changed my son, it's just I was trapped in my own nightmare for the past two years and finally, my eyes were opened again.

"Now, go and have lunch, or would you like to have lunch with me?" I asked and he nodded.

"Can mother join us too?" he asked and I didn't know what to say, but it was a good way to test the waters, I had to discuss a few things with her anyway.

"It should be her choice, son, not mine. Go and ask her," i added and he nodded with a bright smile.

He walked out of the room and I sighed. I had to find a way to flare Isabella so that she would do something big in the next six months, and for now only Marianne could help me with it.

****************

Marianne POV

"Lina, I have made a list of things I need for the decoration. Go and ask the person working in place of Ian to arrange them by tonight."

"Yes, your highness" 

"Kate, go and ask the chef to prepare three different lists of the menu and then present it to me, tonight"

"Yes, your highness"

"Norma, go and ask the head maid of the duke chamber to check the vacancy of the central garden on this Sunday."

"Yes, your highness."

"Penny, have you sent all the invitation cards to the proper address"

"Yes, your highness"

"Daisy, go and check if all the gifts are prepared and wrapped properly, they should be according to the rank of nobles"

"Yes, your highness"

As they all went away I sighed. I took Killian's education reports again in my hands. Was my anger more than his education? If I would keep my pride at a higher level he would continue to get punished, but if I would go and talk to him then what were the chances that he would listen after I had slapped him thrice.

He was looking apologetic that day though, I bit my lip. I really wanted to curse him for now.

I closed my eyes to take a few deep breaths so that I could think about it again.

"Mother, are you still tired?" asked Killian and I opened my eyes.

I smiled as I shook my head. 

"No, I am good, son, where were you?" I asked and he bit his lip.

"Mother I was wondering, if I would ask you something, would you give me?" he asked and I nodded.

"If it will be in my hands and it would be good for you then I would give it to you," I replied and he sighed.

"Is there anything you can do without putting conditions on?" he asked and I shook my head.

"Fine, I just wanted to know, if I would ask you to do anything would you do for me." I narrowed my eyes on him when he added.

"It is good for me and you can easily do that,'' I tilted my head, as it could not be that simple. If it would have been, then he would have asked directly, he would not have been going in a roundabout manner.

"You do not trust me at all, mother," he said in a pitiful tone and my heart clenched.

"Alright, I would do it for you." I agreed and he smiled.

"I wonder from where did you learn this acting skill? You have changed a lot these days.'' I commented and he nodded.

"I am learning from you mother," he replied seriously, I did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Alright, tell me what is it that you want me to do?" I asked with a sigh, and he smiled so brightly that I would have thought he was going to confess his first crush if he would not have been spending all day in here and from past life I know that he would never let a girl come close to him.

"I want a family lunch, mother."