Free Web NovelChapter 230: Free (2)
Ian tucked the gun away now that he didn’t have any use for it. He would search the pond Layla spoke of but if Noelle was there, he would let her rest wherever she was now. He might not have given her the burial that she deserved but he wouldn’t make up for it by always remembering Noelle.
Ian exited the dining room which was now a bloody mess and started to search for Victor. Despite what Victor said, Ian already knew that he would not react well to his mother dying.
Though Ian did not want to traumatise Victor with his mother’s death, Ian could not leave here without Layla being dead. She would not keep her mouth shut and it would be bad for the two of them if she were to be placed to run the estate. That and for all Layla had done throughout the years.
"I remember when you would sneak and come to me out by the cottage," Ian heard his mother. For a moment, he had forgotten that she was here.
"You were such a cute child. You are still a little cutie now."
Victor smiled, trying to keep his mood up with Ivy’s distraction. "I must find the poison bottle fast."
"Do you believe what your mother said?" Ivy asked, knowing about what happened thanks to Victor. She didn’t trust Layla.
"It will be where she said it is. Out of the two of them, my mother cared most about my health. My father was more focused on his heir. I know that she loved me a lot," said Victor.
Ivy nodded her head, agreeing with him. "I do not see eye to eye with the woman but I know that she loved you. You were her only precious child. She did terrible things with your best interest in mind. While she loved you, she was cruel to others and I am not speaking of myself."
"I know that she was a monster to others. I am not sad that she has passed. I am angry that she did not admit to her actions. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders but I am still in a weird place," Victor said, not knowing what the feeling was.
"Well, your parents just died. Though you are free, it will take some time to get used to this change. Why don’t I go find this poison you speak of? I never thought I would say that ever in my life. Excuse me," Ivy said, hurrying off to leave Ian alone with Victor.
Victor now noticed that Ian was present. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"I am the one with the gun and the experience using one. How could I be hurt? Are you fine, Victor? I warned you that it would be like this," said Ian. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"I am fine. I just need a moment to get used to us, well me not having my parents. You still have your mother," Victor said, a little jealous.
"You can have her if you want," Ian offered.
Victor’s eyes widened at the offer. "You mustn’t let your mother hear. You should be glad to have your mother. She is better than mine."
"Well, your mother was what the devil used to walk around in this world so it is easy to think that my mother was better. Do you want to have a drink with me?" Ian proposed as they both needed something to relax them.
"Don’t you want to go see if Noelle is by the pond? I cannot think of anywhere else that was changed up. Well, other than the cottage which caught on fire, but that was my mother’s doing. And the garden was rearranged over the years. Someone would have stumbled upon a dead body if he put her in the gardens," said Victor
"Part of me wants to place her somewhere better but the other part does not want to disturb her, so I have a favour to ask. Promise me that you will take care of this estate. Keep every part of it beautiful so that wherever she is, she is at least resting well. I do not have the strength in me to stumble upon her remains," Ian said, the realisation she was coming affecting him now.
Ian had known that with no word from Noelle, she was dead but he had been holding on to some hope that she had somehow managed to make it out of here and was living quietly to not bring attention to herself.
Victor looked at the floor. He had not realised at first that for Ian, he had also lost a mother. "I can do that favour for you as long as you come here to have dinner with me once a week. This estate is quite large for one person."
"Don’t worry. As soon as news comes out that you are the new lord, women and their families will come here pretending to mourn when they are looking to get your attention. Be mindful that if you pick an annoying wife, I am not coming here," Ian said, moving to lean on the wall.
Victor smiled as he wouldn’t put it past Ian to do just that. "I don’t plan to get married yet. During all of this, I had to follow your lead and depend on you. I want to be able to take care of myself. I must since you will not always be around. Your time will be split between your work and Scarlet."
"If you give me plenty of nieces and nephews, I can watch them here while you are with Scarlet."
"I recall you having a dog and it went missing the next day. Why should I entrust you with a child? I wouldn’t let you watch a fish for me," Ian answered. He might trust Owen before he trusted Victor. A big child like Owen should know what children like. freēwebnovel.com
"I can do well. I’ve had other pets that are still somewhere around here. I can let them inside now. About that drink you spoke of, are we having it now?" Victor asked, ready for it.
"If you are smart, you would throw away everything here and buy new ones. You are not short on money to do it. You need to be safe as there is no telling what was tampered with since my mother is here. We will go to my bar once we set up everything here for the town guards. Come on," Ian patted Victor’s back.
"So, does this mean I can have more than a glass and a half now? I am deserving of it with the night I’ve had. Just two glasses?" Victor asked, trying to be reasonable since Ian didn’t like him drinking.
Ian decided to let Victor have his fun. Being drunk and happy tonight was better than walking around thinking about Layla. "Two and a half. "
