Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 37. I Hate You So Much

Madam Etman froze and looked at Leyla before walking to the chair and sitting on it. He straightened his posture and placed his hat on the other chair.

The different nuances that Bu Etman presented when he saw her today made Leyla feel unsettled.

“You may have just returned from the police station.” Bu Etman speaks first, “How is the investigation?”

“They haven't found any leads,” Leyla said. “But it's not over yet, so I don't want to give up.”

“Well, Leyla. I don't think that's a wise choice.”

"I'm sorry?"

Surprised, Leyla asked once again when the tea she ordered came. An awkward silence ensued between the two until the maid left after carelessly dropping the cup on the table.

“Can I ask what you mean, Bu?”

Leyla broke the silence first.

“Your money, I have it.”

Madam Etman uttered it without the slightest bit of guilt; her gaze was fixed on the boiling steam from the teacup.

Leyla's face was immediately covered in confusion. The words he heard clearly sounded like a delusion.

Bu Etman raised his gaze towards Leyla and again said firmly, “I am the one who stole your tuition.”

“No, that's impossible. How can a man like you do that?”

Her stiff lips tried to smile. Leyla can't understand how Ms. Ethman can make a bad joke like that. However, Madam Etman's eyes felt cold.

“I hid it. I know it's wrong, but I want to prevent you from going to college with Kyle.”

“No, it is impossible-...”

“Yes, it is a sad and cruel theft—theft. Even so, I still do. I want to keep you away from Kyle.”

Leyla's mind became completely empty. A very clear and terrible truth revealed by Mrs. Etman surprises him, and he decides that he can no longer live in denial.

“Leyla, I hate you.”

Madam Etman looked at Leyla. His disappointment and exhaustion were visible in his grayish eyes.

“I hate you so much that I'm sure it's better for me to be a villain than to accept you as Kyle.”'s wife

“M-Mrs. Etman..”.

“I think you are a good girl who knows her place. I've never thought that you're trying to use Kyle as the launch pad of your greed.”

“What do you mean, Mom?” Leyla loudly shook her head. “No, I'm not like that. How could I think that way about Kyle? I-I will never be able to.”.

He was extremely shocked and did not realize his hands were shaking on the edge of the table as well as his entire body started to tremble.

“Are you friends with Kyle for this purpose? Using Kyle to go to college and marry Kyle to raise your humble status in life?”

Madam Etman rebuked and cornered the speechless Leyla even more loudly. Although he knows that Leyla's feelings towards Kyle have remained within the confines of brotherhood or friendship in the past.

Instead her son, Kyle, is in love with her, not Leyla. Leyla wouldn't be caught up in this sassy affair if it weren't for her clumsy son. It was this truth that had always hurt her pride, and was now the reason why she hated Leyla even more.

“My hatred for you has turned me into a thief. I hate you enough to do this, and it will never change. Do you think we can become a family like this?”

“What do you want to tell me, Mom?”

Leyla's voice trembled, but she kept a flat face before Madame Etman.

“You must have known. You are a smart girl.” Mrs Etman said briefly. His eyes shone as cold as an untouched cup of cheap tea, while looking at him.

“If you have anything to say, just tell me,” Leyla said. Her round, teary eyes glittered in the sunlight that shone on her sad face. The ugly face he wanted to hide at this moment.

“You can tell Kyle and the rest of the world that I did a despicable act to stop you two getting married.”

You will never be able to do that– Mistress Etman looks confident through her words because she knows Leyla's personality.

“Kyle would be very disappointed in me if you told him about this,” he read out. “Our relationship will be destroyed, and maybe the harmony of our whole family.”

Madam Etman's expression became even colder as she watched Leyla become stiff.

“Because all this has happened, it makes no difference whether you keep it a secret or tell Kyle everything. You and Kyle won't get married. That's all I want.”

“Do you hate me so much that you have to do this..?”.

“Don't I tell you? I hate you so much.”

Madame Etman got up from her seat and walked away.

“I hate you so much. You encouraged me to take extreme choices; I hate you so much, Leyla.”

Madam Etman looked at her with a sharp gaze. His eyes could not hide his disgust.

“I'll refund you after registration date.”

He swallowed the swear words that were already at the end of his tongue, knowing Leyla must have understood; that he had to leave Kyle without wasting any time or making a fuss.

Madam Etman was about to turn around when she groaned and lowered her head.

“Today, I really hate Mr. Remmer.”

He said,

“Why should he accept you and create such a tragedy in Arvis?”

Those last words.

His eyes froze and then turned to glassy in an instant.

Madam Etman walked out of the teahouse casually, leaving the poor little girl, who did not cry until the end.

Behind him, a tinge of joy and guilt lingered like a shadow on the tip of his toe as he walked.

He saw Leyla.

Her petite body was crouching under the dried kapok tree that was blooming on the roadside towards the manor.

Matthias, who was peeking out the car window, recognized his figure. All he could see was his back, but he felt sure it was him.

“Isn't the girl under the tree like Leyla?”

The driver frowned while paying attention to a girl he seemed to know.

Mark Evers, the Duke's aide, was also wondering so much that his voice was filled with worry.

Meanwhile, their car approached Leyla who was cowering on the ground. Leyla quickly stumbled and straightened rigidly as she sensed their impending approach. She lowered her head so deeply that they could not see her swollen face, but it was obvious that she was not okay.

Afterwards, Mark Evers continued to look out the car window before turning his gaze to the back seat. He reluctantly asks his Master, but his eyes are filled with hope that they can stop his car for a moment and help Leyla.

The driver's thinking seemed to be aligned and he continued to slow down the car's speed.

Matthias looked out the car window at the slow-moving scene outside. Leyla was leaning against a tree trunk with her head bowed.

She cried.

Matthias was sure of what he saw on his face. No one else in the world has a better understanding of Leyla Lewellin's tears than her.

Matthias. He shifted his gaze from the car window to where his answer was.

His assistant was unable to add any more words, only a sad expression on his face. The driver also accelerated the speed of his car to comply with the wishes of his Master.

Matthias enjoyed Leyla's tears as much as he always did.

It comforts. But, she wanted to monopolize her tears for her own pleasure.

The idea that others should intervene to create such entertainment is not fun.

The car left the scene, leaving Leyla alone with her tears, and immediately stopped at the entrance of the Mansion.

Matthias came out of the limousine, with a face that looked more relaxed.

'Linda Etman, has she already taken action?'

That was the only explanation she thought of for Leyla to cry until her shoulders slumped. And his guess seems right. It was evidenced by Hessen who approached him with a concerned face.

“Master, there is something I want to report.”

He spoke silently in a soft voice as he walked beside Matthias.

“This is an unbelievable story; I'm at a loss for words..”

When the voice of his capable butler, who rarely panicked, trembled slightly, Matthias knew that Madame Etman had lived up to her expectations.

“I'm going to the office.”

Matthias said it in a soft, no-nonsense voice.

“Cold in summer, huh? It was all because of that damn thief that you got sick like this.”

Said Bill walking around Leyla's bed.

She became worried when Leyla said that she was sick and after she saw her sleeping earlier last night.

Leyla says she has the flu and will recover with a little rest, but according to Bill, her condition does not seem to be improving.

“You can't be like this. Mr. Etman..”.

"NO."

Leyla tried to get out of bed as Bill turned around. He shivered even with his thick pajamas, although the weather was relatively warm since it was early morning, he looked like he had just been sick overnight.

“No, Uncle. Don't do that.”

“I just want to call the Doctor because you are sick? Wh why? Did you fight with Kyle?”

"NO."

“Although you had a fight with Kyle, but Dr. Etman..”.

“Uncle, please.” Leyla's hands wet with cold sweat groped Bill's clothes. “I just need a short break. Therehewas. Please let me.”

“Leyla... ..”.

“I think I'll get well soon. Pall-please?"

Bill could no longer be stubborn in the face of his desperate request. He had a hunch that it must have something to do with Kyle, but he wasn't in the place to uncover it.

He reluctantly nodded, and Leyla looked relieved at that moment. Bill could feel a burning pain in his heart when he saw him lying limp on the bed as if he had fainted.

“True, eat well! Sleep tight! I should have said that!” Bill shouted loudly, “I'll clear things up. I'm almost exploding now!” He pulled the stitches of the blanket in a careful motion that contrasted with his rough hands and then placed a wet towel on his feverish forehead.

“Don't worry, dear. Even if I can't catch and kill the thief, I'll pay your tuition a certain way.”.

"Uncle."

Leyla's weak voice mixed with her hot breath.

“Please stay here. Don't leave me alone.”

“You think negative again.”

“Sorry, Uncle.”

“Omong blank what are you talking about?”

“It's because of me.”

“If you keep saying that, I'll be angry. I will definitely be back.”

Bill thought Leyla was lying and babbling, then let out a long sigh that silenced her. “First, rest, Leyla. I'll be right back."

Bill closed Leyla's bedroom window and closed the curtain.

“I'm stuffy.. Please open a little.”

Leyla who was shivering in the cold, asked him once more to open it. His stubbornness remained even when he lay weakly on the bed.

Bill had to give in to his stubbornness for the umpteenth time. Once again he rolled up the curtain slightly and opened a part of the window, and finally, Leyla closed her eyes.

“If your fever does not come down at night, whatever you say, I will call Mr. Etman. Understood?"

He threatened her, but Leyla remained silent as if she had not heard him.

Bill then reluctantly leaves the house, leaving Leyla asleep like a log.

He hurried away, determined to finish the work today as quickly as possible