Summer Is For Falling In Love
17. Caring

Miel took out her pocket notes and opened each of her sheets with a posture that resembled a detective.

"I already know what the cause is, Mr. Holland," said Miel, then pretended to justify the location of the glasses he was not actually wearing.

"Don't beat around the bush and say it in one paragraph, I've paid you dearly" Holland said, flipping over his paperwork, ignoring Miel by his side.

Miel sighed. "Not cool."

"So?" Holland closed the working documents and looked at Miel with a serious spotlight. Two days have passed since Miel investigated what happened to Demian, along with a compelling reason why Demian was afraid of Olivia.

Holland was convinced that his actions were normal, he just wanted to know what threat Olivia posed to make a five-year-old mentally shaken.

"Are you sure you want an explanatory paragraph when what I'm investigating is even more?"

"Tell me."

"You should know what happened five years ago, on the day of Young Master Demian's birth."

Holland breathed. "From there?isn't that too much? I have a stack of jobs here."

"Will you or not? I don't care if I don't explain, I've also received payment up front."

Holland again sighed. "Whatever, say it quickly."

"Well, this is when Lady Olivia gave her son a name, it was Demian which means submissive. With that name, Mrs Olivia wants the Young Master to be a submissive person who will obey every ego of Mrs Olivia.

"Then at the age where the Young Master had learned to walk, Madam Olivia directly crammed the education of the Young Master on basic etiquette. Of course you know that etiquette is learned when it has entered the age of six or seven, but the age of the Young Master is two and a half years. It was a little unbelievable, but Young Master Demian could process the lesson a little.

"At the age of three to five, Mrs Olivia taught Young Master the lessons that an eight-year-old should take. Starting from reading, writing, dancing, etiquette, language, and so forth. Of course, the most interesting thing in this study is about punishment."

"Punishment?"

"Yes, Mr. Holland. If Young Master could not master the lesson taught by Madam Olivia, Young Master would not hesitate to be beaten or starved, even Young Master had been seriously ill many times because of the punishment. However, Mrs Olivia was never deterred from giving the same punishment so that's why Young Master Demian felt afraid of Mrs Olivia."

Miel uttered her final sentence lightly and lowered her head briefly.

However, Miel raised her head when Holland made no sound at all.

"Miel's."

Miel even jumped up when Holland saw her sharply, even the maid started to goosebumps because Holland's gaze was so horrible.

"Call the woman here."

"Soon, Mr Holland!"

Miel retreats from Holland's study and walks briskly down a giant hallway. He patted his thumping chest because only this time had such a stressful experience. Although Holland was a cold person, the man could still be categorized as a gentle man to Miel. However, seeing how furious Holland is about Olivia, Miel wishes only the best for the woman.

"It turns out Mr. Holland was just shy." Even Miel came to new conclusions about what Holland felt about her son. "Mr Holland loved Young Master, but was held back because the Young Master was the son of Lady Olivia as well."

Miel sighed before continuing her steps.

...***...

"Mr Holland asks you to meet in his study" Miel said, bowing her body to Olivia.

Despite being rude to Holland, Miel remained professional with the others.

Olivia, who was teaching Demian etiquette when she drank tea in her room, was immediately shocked.

"What's? Holland asked me to meet?!" cry out Olivia happily. "Servant! Find a better dress! And Demian, learn that fast!"

Miel was speechless when she saw Demian's figure. Wanting to be seen from anywhere, Demian looked pitiful with a reddened and bloody wound on the back of his hand, tears held desperately to slide, until his body ended in a fierce tremor.

"Mrs Olivia" said Miel. "I think changing clothes will take longer, while Mr. Holland wants you to be there as soon as possible."

"really?" Olivia seemed elated, as if she was unaware that her presence there was not to dig her own grave. "All right then!"

Olivia ran into Holland's study. For Olivia, this was of course happy because Holland who called her to his study was the first thing Olivia had experienced, until the woman was very excited.

The speed of the door of the study quickly signified how enthusiastic he was.

"Lake in."

Olivia cheered inwardly as Holland asked her to come in instead of come out. Due to the excessive feeling of excitement, Olivia smiled widely until the two corners of her lips ached.

Olivia entered the room without closing the door, then approached Holland quickly. The man was no longer sitting at his desk, but was looking at the refreshing panorama from behind the window.

"Holland!"

A cold look instantly swept over Olivia, but Olivia tried to ignore it.

"Holland, what's—"

Plaque! The sound of a slap echoed, making Olivia's smile vanish.

Olivia touched her throbbing cheek. "Holland?"

Holland looked at Olivia with a look of disdain and wrath. "Are you crazy, Olivia?"

"Holland?" Olivia looked shocked. The pain in the skin of his cheeks made his hearing slightly buzz, and his face felt numb from the spreading pain.

"You are the most disgusting and despicable person ever, Olivia," Holland said in a low voice.

"What's? Why?" Olivia, who was conscious of her shock, approached Holland's body and pulled her arm. "Did I make a mistake? Explain it to me, Holland! If you don't tell me, I won't understand!"

Holland brushed aside Olivia's hand on her arm.

"What you did to Demian, I know everything, Olivia. How dare you destroy a child just because of your ego!"

Both of Olivia's eyes were rounded. "A-What? I don't understand, Holland. I don't understand what you're saying!" Olivia chuckled stiffly, her two eyes were already glazed over, ready to plunge tears from her eyelids.

"There's no need to pretend to be stupid anymore, Olivia. I already know how you treat Demian and you call yourself a mother?"

Olivia's body trembled with mixed feelings that engulfed her. Olivia was afraid of Holland, but was also angry.

Holland frowned. "That's wrong? Olivia, stop defending yourself by handing over your mistakes to others!"

"Holland! You're saying do I dare to call myself a mother? Yep! I dare! At least I was on Demian's side for the past five years, but where are you?! Even how many times have you met your son alone can still count fingers, and you want to be pretentious in defense of that child?!"

"Olivia, don't turn the topic around! I just want to punish you for forcing your ego on Demian! He's tormented because of you, Olivia! He's hurt!"

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't do this!"

"I've told you, stop handing over error—"

"You've always been hard on me to reach, Holland! The only person in your eyes is that damn woman, that fucking Esther! I have no other choice!"

Holland, angry that Esther's name was being cursed before him, raised her hand to Olivia.

"What do you want to do again, huh?! You gonna slap me again? Hit me? Just hit me!"

Holland's hand that was in the air came to a halt and clenched tightly. "Olivia, stop your torture on Demian."

Olivia chuckled in annoyance. "If I stop educating her, will you take a glance at me? No, right?"

"Demian is not your pretty doll that you can arrange as you please. He's a child, a living soul, Olivia!"

Olivia exhaled furiously. "I know! However, didn't Demian happen so well now?! He can even be etched at a young age, he is intelligent, and skilled. Thanks to who, Holland? My blessing! I was trying to polish that ordinary stone into a diamond!"

"Olivia!" scream Holland. She's fed up with Olivia's defense. Holland just wants Olivia to feel guilty, and then take responsibility for her own actions. However, Olivia is not deterred and feels that what she is doing is the right thing.

"Of course if Demian is valuable, you won't let go of the boy, will you?!" olivia snapped, she confirmed herself even though the smallest corner of her heart was trembling uncontrollably.

"Deliverance ...? What do you mean, Olivia?"

Olivia's breathing was hunting and the tears that were being held finally shed. "Demian will be your successor, Holland. If he was talented early on, then of course you would choose him to be your successor, wouldn't you?"

Olivia finally revealed the purpose she harbored with a pitiful face. Her tears trickled hard, her lips muttering indistinctly as if she had gone mad, even advancing to grip both of Holland's arms.

Holland laughed angrily after learning of Olivia's intentions from her actions towards Demian.

Holland pulled the strands of Olivia's hair roughly, making the woman stir.

"Don't draw your own conclusions, Olivia," Holland said coldly.

Olivia's body was shaking violently.

"Who said that Demian would be my successor? Even if your son is a diamond, I'll keep throwing him away with you. Don't you already know this fact? I will throw you away after I reach for the peak that will not be shaken, I will become a noble family that will not be able to be touched by other lowly nobles, then throw you away."

A pair of red beads Olivia shook violently. Now, Olivia was really scared. Holland did continue to display her cold figure to Olivia, but this time the intention shown seemed to intend to pounce on Olivia's body to death.

"I married you because I wanted my own influence not to waver. For the 21-year-old Duke, I knew that I was too naive to be immersed in such a dangerous world. Therefore, I need help from Riquetti. Withdraw as much influence as possible, then throw you and your son away."

Olivia's whispers were clearly heard in the quiet room. Her sweet face turned silly quickly.

"T-No," isak Olivia.

"After throwing you away, I'll marry Esther. It is our descendants who will be the successors of Floral. Even if Demian was a rare diamond, I wouldn't have chosen him."

Olivia's body was limp, she finally fell to the floor and sobbed violently until her body shook.

Holland only looked at the extremely pitiful Olivia with a cold gaze before passing through her body, leaving the suffering Olivia alone.

...***...

"Young Master Demian! It will soon be your sixth birthday! Are you happy?" ask the waiter cheerfully.

Other waiters also enliven the atmosphere by planning a simple birthday party that will be held between them only.

Demian smiled at his servants. "Thank you so much, I'm so happy."

Seeing Demian's sweet smile make the servants melt, they are more enthusiastic in planning a birthday party.

"We're just joint-venture for the ingredients to make the cake!"

"Who's in charge of the decoration?"

"Just me, me! I'll make some fancy decorations!"

"Hey, you have to save money!"

Demian laughed seeing the cool servants by himself. Demian was blessed by the good people around him, excluding his own mother's cruelty.

However, ever since Olivia was called Holland to her study, Olivia no longer taught Demian those cursed subjects, even just glaring at Demian when the two passed each other and missed a reprimand.

Inevitably, Demian feels that Holland has done something until Olivia finally keeps her distance. Not only did it heal the slight festering wound in his heart, Demian could also feel a calmness that he had never dreamed of. For five years of his life, Demian had been injured, treated, and re-injured. Trapped in the same cycle until he felt desperate and resigned to fate. However, Holland had stretched out his hand, pulling Demian out until he could break out of the torturous cycle.

"Did you love me, huh?" demian asked himself.

However, the festive situation just disappeared and turned silent. As Demian raised his head, the servants had already surrounded him.

"Of course, Master Duke loves you, Young Master!"

"Really, right! Master Duke just didn't know just how to show his affection!"

"That's absolutely right, Young Master Demian! How could Master Duke not love you? You are so charming like this, Master Duke will also be devastated in time!"

Demian chuckled, the smile she displayed was so mesmerizing. "Thank you, I'm also sure that you love me."

Yes, Demian is sure. In the corner of Holland's heart, the man must have loved her. If not, then why does the man care about him?

...*** ...

The fun fact of the novel is a spin off from my other novel, Look at Me, Your Majesty! The novel is in the orange app, but there is already an e-book version! You can check in the google playbook with the same title to read it, or see the preview first for some sheets can also loh! we can be sure that the progress is not much different from this novel, heheh. yeah, it's a promotion. Because my ambition is to be rich, so I sell books, aamiin.

July 2nd, 2023