FIDWTGM!

C2

I doubted my own ears when I picked up the low voice I hadn't heard in a while.

'Huh? Did my father just answer me back?'

Putting the shock aside, I clenched my teeth when I processed his words.

'Mikhail, that bastard! He said he was busy because of a training session but that was all a lie?!'

Any lingering affections I had for him quickly disappeared. He really was unbelievable to the end. I had a sudden urge to curse him out but quickly waved away the thought.

'Calm down, Juvellian. It's all in the past now.'

My chance at a second life and numerous part-time experiences were the main driving forces behind my ability to remain calm. As I was recalling the times where I had to control my facial expressions when dealing with rude customers, my father interrupted my thoughts.

"You've returned home early today."

'Ah, it seems that I have. '

Come to think of it, I was always out stalking Mikhail so I usually came home late at night. Today, however, I returned earlier than usual because I came straight after breaking up with him.

'Should I just tell him the truth?'

As was the case in the original novel, it seemed like my father put a lot of trust in Mikhail as his subordinate. He had often called for Mikhail and seemed to pay him a lot of attention. He was probably nominating him to be his successor since his only daughter was so useless.

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. In the past, I was always too nervous to talk to him, afraid that he would hate me if I said something wrong.

Now I realized, while searching through the memories of my past life, that there was no use in trying to be loved by this man. Facing my father with the blue eyes I inherited from him, I spoke concisely, "We are no longer together."

Though it wasn't explicitly said, it was clear my father knew who I was referring to, seeing as how his face became distorted.

"Why?"

A short but sharp question.

But I understood. You wouldn't have had to worry about a successor if you made a competent man like Mikhail your son-in-law. And since that is no longer possible, I would be upset too if I were in his shoes.

But no matter what, my love life is something I will decide myself.

"I do not wish to spend the rest of my life with someone who doesn't love me."

My father's face scrunched so quickly that it was scary.

You ended things with such a competent person simply due to your useless pride?

Was the reprimand that my father's fierce gaze seemed to imply.

Although my heart sank, it no longer hurt. I was no longer a child who got hurt by words they didn't want to hear.

"Father, I wish to marry someone who can love me. I want to be happy."

To tell the truth, I was actually thinking of remaining single for the rest of my life, but it may be better to put up a facade like this for now.

Like in the original novel, if I leave my father's sight, who knows when he'll hand me the dagger. I only realized it now that indifference was better than being cruelly abandoned.

'I'll stay out of your way and live quietly, so please leave me alone like always'

If it was before, this sad thought would've made me cry. But now, even if it felt like I was missing something inside, I didn't care. I stared at the back of my father, who had turned away without saying another word.