Chapter 5: Why Apologize to a Murderer?

Clap! Clap!

“Brazen. Truly brazen.”

Mira turned towards the sound of the clapping and saw an older man stepping forward, his face filled with disapproval as he looked at her. “Lord Cromwell, is this how you've raised your daughter?”

Lord Cromwell was startled by the man's words. Although he was extremely annoyed with Mira, he maintained a calm expression, unwilling to let the guests see how much her actions had unsettled him. His daughter had never once questioned his authority; he had trained her to obey him without hesitation. What was happening today was, in fact, shocking to him, and he could hardly believe that the obedient daughter he knew had suddenly become so brazen in front of their guests.

“MIRA!” His voice echoed loudly through the hall. “Bow down and apologize to the Stone family!”

A look of shock appeared on Mira's face. She hadn't expected her father to support the other party without even hearing what she had to say.

“Father...” she called softly.

“Do it this instant! Apologize to your future husband and his family.” Her father's words left no room for negotiation.

Leono smirked where he stood, his gaze travelling slowly over Mira's body. “Wifey, apologize and I'll let this matter go.” He flashed her a deceitful smile, looking as though he were doing her a great favour.

But what he didn't know was that Mira could see right through his deceit. She had fallen for those smiles once, but that would never happen again.

Under her father's intimidating gaze, she stepped forward, closing the distance between herself and Leono. She looked straight into his clear blue eyes as though she could see through his very soul.

“Why should I apologize to a murderer?”

Her words dropped another bombshell, causing an uproar in the hall. Being called a pedophile might have been something Leono could still manage to explain away, but being accused of murder was an entirely different matter. That accusation had gone too far, and everyone present understood the seriousness of what Mira had just said.

If they hadn't been in the Cromwell Mansion, Mira might have lost her head for making such a statement against a member of the Stone family.

“You were married to Sophie from the Clarister family, a modest family living on the outskirts of the city. You maltreated that woman and beat her simply to satisfy your ego, until you eventually beat her to death. Afterwards, you sent her body back to her family with millions of gold coins as compensation. The Stone family helped you cover up the scandal, but do you really think your past deeds will remain buried forever?”

Mira arched a brow as she revealed the dark truth about the man who was supposed to become her husband.

Her accusation was so detailed that Leono couldn't help staring at her with his mouth hanging open in shock. He couldn't understand how Mira had obtained such sensitive information, especially when the matter had been carefully buried by his family. How could this woman, who had always seemed ignorant of the affairs of the world, suddenly know so much about his past?

“Lord Cromwell, are you just going to stand there and watch your daughter destroy our alliance?” the older man demanded, his voice carrying a clear threat.

Lord Cromwell gritted his teeth as he looked around the room, observing the guests whispering among themselves about the accusation. He had heard similar rumours before but had dismissed them as nothing more than gossip. Now, however, his own daughter was standing before him, making accusations with a level of detail that was difficult to ignore.

He closed his eyes briefly, struggling to contain his anger, and when he opened them again, his gaze landed on Leono.

“Are all the things she has accused you of true?”

“No, no... they're false! I didn't kill anyone. I don't know any Sophie!” Leono stuttered, his earlier confidence beginning to crumble.

“Lord Cromwell, what kind of question is that? Are you seriously going to take a woman's word for it?” another member of the Stone family interrupted, his tone full of disbelief.

Mira gritted her teeth. The matter was getting out of hand, and things weren't going in the direction she had intended. In an attempt to save face and protect the family's political interests, her father might very well side with the noblemen and dismiss her accusations, ignoring the fact that she was his own flesh and blood simply because she was a woman. And her mother? She wouldn't even dare to speak up.

'I half expected this. That's why I prepared this final card.'

“Father... I'm sorry. I was wrong. I thought I knew better.” Mira's voice suddenly changed as she bowed deeply to her father, surprising everyone in the hall. “I'll apologize to the Stone family, but first, I'll apologize to my future husband.”

With those words, she closed the remaining distance between herself and Leono, her footsteps tapping lightly against the marble floor as she approached him. Before he could make sense of what was happening, she leaned into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him as though she had suddenly decided to surrender.

Leono was stunned. Mira's behaviour had taken a complete turn, and for a moment, he wondered whether she had finally come to her senses. But just as he was about to respond, he felt her lips move close to his ear.

“Stay calm and listen.”

Leono remained still as Mira whispered something to him, and with every passing second, his expression changed. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his anger rising as he listened to her words. What he wanted most was to put an end to Mira right there and then, but he knew that acting against her in the Cromwell Mansion, with so many witnesses present, would have serious consequences.

Mira eventually pulled away from him, a smile spreading across her face as she stepped back to a comfortable distance.

“Lord Cromwell, we have overstayed our welcome in your mansion. The Stone family will take their leave.” Leono clasped his hands before him and bowed curtly.

The guests gasped, unable to believe the unexpected turn of events. Only moments ago, Leono had been denying Mira's accusations and demanding that Lord Cromwell discipline his daughter, yet now he was the one bringing the confrontation to an end.

Everyone wondered what Mira had whispered into his ears to make him change his attitude so suddenly.

“The matter concerning the engagement can be considered over,” Leono added, his expression now cold.

Lord Cromwell gnashed his teeth. Leono's statement carried a double meaning, and he understood the political implications all too well. The alliance between the Stone family and the Cromwell family had been ruined, and because of what had happened tonight, there would be no future alliance between them.

“And Mira...” Leono paused, turning his gaze towards her one last time. “Constantly watch your back. The world is a small place.”

With that final warning, he left the banquet hall with the two members of his family.

'The world is indeed a small place. We will cross paths again, Leono, and I'll make you pay for all my suffering. Life has given me a second chance, and this time, I'm the main protagonist.'

Mira dismissed his threat as nothing more than an empty warning, although she knew better than to underestimate him. She had already experienced the cruelty he was capable of in her previous life, and she would never allow herself to become his victim again.