My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess - Chapter 23 - Confession

Angela Blackwood might have, for the first time, been so angry with her son that she left only minutes after she arrived.

And Eric didn’t stop her. Not even once.

Maylie appeared worried, but Eric told her to let Angela go.

The reception hall, which had been buzzing with an argument, suddenly felt too silent as the carriage outside rolled away.

Angela, naturally, didn’t accept the accusation and said Eric could do whatever he wanted with the ambusher.

Chloe was the most shocked person in the hall as she kept staring at the man beside her, her eyes slightly widened.

Eric exhaled a sigh and said, “Let me take you back to your room. You need rest.”

Chloe, still stunned, didn’t object to his decision and simply nodded.

As they got up, Eric told Maylie, “Tomorrow morning, ask the northern Prism Edge commander to meet me.”

The maid gave a brief bow and said, “As you command, Young Master.”

Eric started walking beside Chloe as they stepped closer to the stairs.

For a few moments, Chloe didn’t say anything. But she was human. She didn’t have absolute control over her self-control.

“How… did you know that I have met your mother in the past?”

Eric hummed, somehow expecting the question, as he said, “I know what you think of my mother, but honestly, she is not an evil woman, Chloe. Not generally.”

Taking a brief pause, he extended his arm to the woman who was struggling to climb the high stairs.

Chloe hesitated for a moment before she finally rested her hand on his arm, taking his support.

Eric continued, “When I heard during the interrogation who sent him here… I couldn’t believe my ears. The same woman I treated like a kind goddess all my life was trying to kill someone? Yes, I did not expect that.”

Chloe’s expression turned bitter, but Eric assured her, “But now, I know, Chloe. I know that she has been hiding this side in the name of protecting me.”

Heaving a sigh, he added, “I don’t know exactly what happened between you two in the past, but I know it wounded you. It made you distrust me. And I can’t blame my mother solely for that.”

Reading her mood, he turned to look at her. Truly look at her.

Their eyes met. Cold violet met trembling blue.

Eric then said—no, he admitted, “I was a coward, Chloe. A coward to take responsibility for you or tie myself to a relationship. I wanted to pursue my dreams. At that time, I confused myself… thought getting married was getting chained. I wanted to run after my dreams, but in reality, I ran away from my responsibility. I—” cupping her cheek hesitantly, he added, “I… ran away from you. The only woman I have ever loved.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes. Complicated, violent emotions swirled in her chest as she heard him confessing.

She knew the truth, and yet, hearing it from him… “It hurts,” she muttered, her voice trembling.

She held his hand that was cupping her cheek, her nails digging into his skin, but he didn’t flinch as he heard her say, “You left me because you had dreams. But what about me? Did I not have some too? Did I not tell you? Did you not know how important it was for me to stand on my own feet… to be something without my father’s name?”

Her hand crept up his shirt. Holding his collar, she said, “I could have done that even with Charlotte in my arms… if… just if you had been there. I didn’t need the genius Eric whom everyone admired. I didn’t need the noble Eric whom everyone feared and respected. I needed you… I needed my friend, my rival… a-and the only man I ever came to love.”

Eric’s breath came out shaky, his heart trembling and his mind turning numb as he heard those words.

He held her hand softly and said, “Chloe… I-I am sorry… I… I made a stupid mistake… please, just one time, I…”

He was at a loss for words, because even though he was asking for it, it felt absurd.

He had stripped her of everything she had held onto so desperately. Her pride, her position, her dreams… everything.

And for the last fourteen years, she had been struggling to survive in this cruel world alone with that little warrior.

Chloe’s fingers trembled, tears kept pouring, but she refused to wipe them away.

It had been so long. She thought she had forgotten this sensation. That she had forgotten how it felt to be heartbroken.

But, “You reminded me… all of that,” she muttered, her voice clearer now. “Today, I realized your mother isn’t to be blamed… she just did what her son wished… she pushed me… the distraction, away from you.”

Eric’s heart fell, his lips parted, but no word came out. A sore lump caught his voice, and in that moment, he felt totally helpless.

Shaking her head, Chloe said, “Go away, Eric… if I see your face another second, I might leave this place right now, and I swear, I will never appear before you ever again.”

Eric took a deep breath as he saw her turning away.

Chloe opened the door and paused at the threshold.

With her back facing him, she said, “I think we were never meant to be together, Eric. Just when I thought that maybe… there was the slightest chance of us starting anew… you helped me realize why I can’t ever trust you.”

Leaving those words behind, she stepped inside the room and closed the door.

Eric stood there… for a long, long time.

The words she spoke kept repeating in his head. Again and again.

Guilt overwhelmed him.

He had hurt her. Irreversible damage had been inflicted.

For the first time after being reborn in this world, Eric hated himself this much.

Looking at the nail marks on his hand, Eric muttered, ‘I thought… I needed you in my life to give Charlotte a proper family… but I was wrong.’

His heart drummed against his chest as he touched the door before him and said, “I was lying to myself… just so I could get you back, Chloe… because I… still love you.”

Things might be patchy between them, but Eric was sure he would repair this relationship.

Whatever it takes…