Lady Sachel sat by the grand window of the Levistis Mansion, her fingers delicately caressing the fabric of her gown as she stared into the vast gardens beyond.
"Leclair…" she whispered, venom lacing her voice. "Once my cherished child. Once… my pride."
Her personal maid, Marie, who had served her for years, stood nearby, quietly attending to her. She had grown used to Lady Sachel's outbursts over the years but still maintained her poise and grace.
"Do you remember, Marie?" Lady Sachel continued, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face her maid. "Leclair was everything to me. He was the perfect son—obedient, intelligent, poised to inherit everything. And then..." Her voice quivered with rage. "He threw it all away for that disgusting person. Augustin."
Marie nodded silently. She had witnessed the unraveling of the Levistis family for years, but she remained a shadow in the background, never speaking out of turn.
"That man, Augustin," Lady Sachel spat out the name like it was poison. "He ruined Leclair. Turned him against me. Leclair could have had the world, but instead, he chose to leave me—his own mother!" Her voice rose as she stood abruptly, her chest heaving with the weight of her anger. "I loved him too much, Marie. That was my mistake."
"You tried to protect him, madam," Marie said gently, attempting to soothe her mistress. "You did what any mother would have done."
Lady Sachel's gaze darkened, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "Yes. I did everything for him. I even orchestrated that accident, thinking it would bring him back to me. But no. Leclair was too stubborn. Too proud. He cut me off entirely." Her fingers clenched into fists. "And now he parades around with that man, Augustin, like everything is perfectly fine. But it's not." Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "It never will be."
Marie remained silent, knowing better than to respond. Lady Sachel paced the room, her thoughts swirling with plans, revenge, and deep-seated resentment.
"But none of that matters anymore," Lady Sachel said after a moment, her tone shifting. "Leclair made his choice, and he will suffer for it. But Adrian..." She smirked, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Adrian is just a pawn, a means to an end."
"Madam?" Marie asked hesitantly.
Lady Sachel turned to her, a cruel smile spreading across her face. "Adrian's only purpose is to temporarily keep the elders of the Levistis family quiet. They expect Ethan to marry, to continue the family line, and Adrian serves that purpose—for now."
Marie raised an eyebrow. "But Adrian... he is married to Ethan. What if—"
"He won't be for long," Lady Sachel interrupted sharply. "Adrian is insignificant, a mere stepping stone. Once my plans are in place, Adrian will be removed from Ethan's life. And then..." Her smile widened. "Anshil will take his rightful place."
"Anshil?" Marie asked curiously.
Lady Sachel's eyes gleamed. "Yes, Anshil. The boy Ethan should have loved all along. A cultured, educated young man from a prestigious family—unlike that illiterate Adrian." She spat out Adrian's name with disdain. "Now that Anshil is back in the country, it's time to put everything in motion. I will ensure that Adrian is gone, and Ethan marries Anshil as he was meant to."
Marie nodded, understanding the gravity of her mistress's words. "What would you like me to do, madam?"
"Tell Juna to keep Adrian under surveillance. I don't want him causing any more trouble. The elders must believe this is Ethan's decision, not mine. Adrian will fade away from Ethan's life, and Anshil will take his place."
Lady Sachel's eyes gleamed with triumph as she whispered softly to herself, "Ethan will finally have a partner worthy of him."
---
Meanwhile, at their home, Augustin sat quietly in the living room, his gaze focused on his husband, Leclair. The room was serene, filled with the soft hum of the fireplace, but the atmosphere was tense. Leclair was stubbornly trying to stand up from his wheelchair, gripping the armrests tightly as he attempted to lift himself.
"Leclair," Augustin said softly, worry etched into his voice, "you should rest. Your body—"
"I don't need rest," Leclair interrupted, his voice strained from the effort. His jaw clenched as he forced his legs to move, though they trembled under the weight of his body. "I need… to stand. I need to walk again."
Augustin's eyes filled with tears as he rushed over, placing his hands on Leclair's shoulders in an attempt to steady him. "Please, just relax. You're going to hurt yourself."
Leclair, sweat beading on his forehead, finally relented, sinking back into the wheelchair with a frustrated sigh. His breath came in ragged bursts as he leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. "I have to do this, Augustin."
"I know," Augustin whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he knelt beside his husband. "I know you're doing everything you can, but… why are you pushing yourself so hard?"
Leclair turned his head, looking down at Augustin with softened eyes. He reached out, placing a gentle hand on Augustin's cheek. "I want to surprise Ethan when he wakes up. I want to be able to stand, to walk up to him and greet him like nothing ever happened. I want him to see his brother strong again."
Augustin's tears spilled over as he pressed his face into Leclair's hand. "But… you don't have to do it all at once. Ethan will be happy just to see you. Don't put yourself through this pain."
Leclair smiled faintly, his expression tender. "I know. But I want to be more than just the brother in a wheelchair. I want to be there for him the way I was before."
Augustin couldn't stop the sob that escaped him as he clung to Leclair's hand. "You've always been strong, Leclair. Stronger than anyone I know."
Leclair leaned down, gently cupping Augustin's face with both hands, his voice low and soothing. "And you, Augustin, are the reason I keep fighting. You've stood by me through everything, even when I was at my lowest. I won't let my mother's words or anyone else's tear us apart."
Augustin nodded, his tears still flowing as Leclair pulled him closer, kissing him softly on the forehead.
At that moment, Declan entered the room, his usual calm demeanor hiding a flicker of concern as he saw the emotional scene before him. He cleared his throat gently. "Uh, boss," Declan said, trying not to intrude too much. "Is there anything you need from me? Or should I give you two some more... time?"
Leclair glanced over at Declan, his usual sharp demeanor returning. "Declan, you've been handling everything with precision. I trust you to continue keeping an eye on the situation."
Declan nodded and quickly left. This couple needs to be