The Villianess's Redemption (HYUNJIN ff) ✓

5.Unveiling the Past

Chapter 5: Unveiling the Past
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Y/N ’s POV

After the incident at the Hyunjin estate, the carriage ride home was tense. Leeknow, sitting beside me, was unusually quiet, his brow furrowed with irritation. I knew a lecture was coming, and I braced myself for it.

As soon as we arrived back at the mansion, Leeknow turned to me, his expression stern. "Isabella, what were you thinking today? Your reckless behavior could have ruined everything."

I lowered my head, feeling the weight of his disappointment. "I'm sorry, Leeknow. It was an accident. I never meant for any of it to happen."

He sighed, shaking his head. "You need to be more careful. Our family's reputation is at stake. We cannot afford any more mistakes." Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone at the entrance of our mansion.

Feeling the sting of his words, I entered the mansion, only to be greeted by Mary. "Lady Isabella, you have received a letter," she said, handing me a neatly folded envelope.

The letter was from Rosalia, my former friend and ally. As I read it, my heart sank. Rosalia was willing to forgive me and welcome me back into her circle if I agreed to help her with a new scheme. I sighed in despair, knowing that I could not return to my old ways.

Desperate to clear my mind, I decided to explore the Devereux estate's attic. Navigating through the dusty, cluttered space, I uncovered old portraits, family heirlooms, and other forgotten relics of the past. It was there, hidden in an antique chest, that I found an old journal belonging to Isabella's mother.

Flipping through the journal, I discovered the complex social expectations and pressures her mother had faced, which provided insights into Isabella's own upbringing. As I read, a slip of photograph fell out from between the pages. It was a family portrait with two young men in it. I studied the picture closely, trying to recognize the faces.

The journal entry next to the picture revealed her mother's deep regret about nearly arranging a marriage between Isabella and one of the son of the Seo family. She expressed how grateful she was to Leeknow for standing up for his sister, preventing what could have been a disastrous union. Her warning about the Seo family's manipulative and deceptive nature struck a chord with me.

I remembered from the novel how, at the age of 17, Isabella had been nearly engaged to Seo Changbin to solidify their family's power. Isabella had despised Changbin so much, but her parents had emphasized the importance of duty. Feeling trapped and powerless, Isabella fell into a deep depression. It was Leeknow who had noticed her suffering and convinced their parents to call off the engagement.

Clutching the journal to my chest, I decided to keep it with me. It was a piece of Isabella mother and be a good guiding material in this confusing world. With a heavy heart, I returned to my room, determined to learn from her mother's wisdom and avoid the pitfalls she had warned about.

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Hyunjin’s POV

After ensuring Eliza was comfortable and safe, I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and worry. I went to see her in her room, and she greeted me with a smile. "Hyunjin, it's nothing big. Please don't worry."

I frowned, still concerned. "Why did you approach Isabella, even though you knew about all the rumors?"

Eliza's smile widened. "I believe she's misunderstood. I wanted to get to know her better. And besides, the incident wasn't her fault. It was just an accident."

Her kindness always amazed me. "You have a big heart, Eliza," I said, feeling a warmth in my chest.

Leaving her room, I bumped into Seungmin, Eliza's brother. His face was a mask of anger as he grabbed my collar. "Hyunjin, you promised to protect her and be by her side as I was not gonna be able to make it to the event.How could you let this happen?"

Before I could respond, Jeongin appeared, pulling Seungmin away. "Eliza wouldn't be happy if she saw this. Calm down."

Jeongin turned to me, apologizing for Seungmin's behavior. "Sorry about that, Hyunjin."He then looks at Seungmin. "Come on Seungmin,Let's go check on Eliza."

Before leaving, Seungmin looks at me once again "If you really want to be with her, you better take better care of her or else I will never approve of your relationship with her."

After his warning, they both left, and I was left standing there, feeling a bit dazed.

Jisung found me shortly after, his usual grin in place. "What happened?" he asked.

I explained the situation and he laughed. "Seungmin's so protective, sometimes I forget he's actually younger than Eliza."

"Who was that guy with him again?" Jisung asked, scratching his head.

"Jeongin......." I reminded him. "He was an orphan abandoned by his parents, and Eliza's family took him in. The three of them grew up like siblings."

"Ah, now I remember. Silly me........ always forgetting about things." Jisung said with a nod and laughs. "Let's go for a stroll in the garden."

And with that, we headed out, trying to shake off the tension of the day.

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The Next Day

Y/N ’s POV

The next morning, I came downstairs to find Mary dressed up, ready to go somewhere. "Where are you going, Mary?" I asked.

"I'm heading to town to buy some groceries and necessities for the house," she replied.

"Can I come with you?" I asked, eager to escape the confines of the mansion. Mary agreed, and I quickly changed into something more suitable for a trip to town.

The town was bustling with activity. As Mary busied herself selecting groceries at the market, I excused myself to stroll around and take in the sights. The vibrant atmosphere was a welcome change from the somber mood at home.

I wandered into a small store and bought a beautiful nightdress, feeling a small spark of joy at the purchase. As I made my way back to Mary, I heard a commotion near an alley. I was about to walk away when I heard Hyunjin and Eliza's names being mentioned. Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to investigate.

Hiding behind a stack of crates, I saw two men having a secretive conversation. One of them looked familiar, "Where have I seen him....??" I whispered to myself.

I soon realized he resembled one of the men in the family portrait from my mother's journal.

"We cannot afford for the plan to fail at the upcoming ball," the man said with an evil smirk. "Everything must be executed perfectly."

As I strained to hear more, a voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Eavesdropping on other people's conversations is a crime you know."

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