Kyla, the Ghost Hunter

Krauss' past (chapter twenty-eight)

As the only child of the prestigious Krauss family, I tried my best to do my part for the company. But there was a time that there was nothing else the company could do to regain after a calamity that hit the town. Our factories were destroyed and many employees died. There was only one thing that came into my mind to help us. That was to marry Lady Katherine, the beautiful daughter of the Leonne family, which I have admired ever since.

I tried courting her but it seemed that she had no interest in me. So I had to talk with my parents to settle an arranged marriage with the Leonne family to help us survive. I thought it would be for the better. Until on the night of our wedding…

" Richard, you know I didn't want any of this to happen", she said.

"In time, I know you'll learn to love me, Katherine," I said as my fingers landed on her hair.

"Don't touch me" she said with such a tone.

I didn't want to hurt her. But there was this certain feeling inside of me that driven me to use force upon her. The next thing I knew was she was crying. Crying so pitifully beside me. Full of bruises on her face and her body. I was afraid.

I kept Katherine inside our room for a very long time. Her personal butler, Jack, was the only one who comes in our room else of myself. There were already rumors about them having an affair yet I did not believe this until I saw them with my own eyes.

One busy morning, I went back to our room for I have forgotten my coat inside. It was to my surprise that when I was about to open the door, I heard Katherine laugh. It was already a long time since I heard her laughter. She barely even smiled when we were together. Then, as I slowly peeped in…

"Jack, you're so hilarious. Stop it." she giggled. They were beside each other at the couch. It seemed quite unpleasant for a butler must not be seated beside their master.

"You should smile often, my lady. It will help you gain strength." Jack responded.

"Well, as long as you're still with me, I think I can smile often enough." She said. Their eyes met and in a moment of silence, they became closer to each other and kissed.

That was when I slammed the door open and anger filled up my whole self. Now I know why she requested the butler to stay in our mansion is because she really did have a secret affair with him. She betrayed me.

After a month, Katherine declared that she was pregnant. I was pretty sure that the child was mine for I haven't seen the butler come near her frequently. My love for Katherine grew and it seemed that she was also learning to love me as well. But on the day she gave birth, our child suddenly disappeared. Katherine died a day after her birth as well as her butler, Jack. Some servants witnessed that they saw Jack carrying a suspicious bunch of cloth with him while running out of the mansion. I suspect that they hid my child somewhere or maybe gave her to someone. They did it to revenge after me. My happiness, my dear Katherine and our child...they're both gone. After what happened, I lived my life miserably. I also had tried to marry again yet I always thought of Katherine. She haunts me in my dreams and when I close my eyes, I see her crying face.

That's why I am a bit relieved now, Kyla. That I have seen you. I may not have confirmed it yet but I would like to think that you are my long lost child. Thank you for being friends with Karl. Thank you for coming to see me.

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Those were the words of my father, Richard Krauss. Okay, so now I've heard the stories both sides. What is bothering me right now is who to believe in. Jack seemed a bit mad while we were on our way home. Karl was also asking me a lot but I wanted it to be kept with me and my father. The story of his past is one of the things that he did not tell Karl. Maybe because he doesn't want Karl to see him in that perspective. Its been a long tiring day. I hope everything goes well by tomorrow. I wonder what'll happen to me by the next days to come.