The Last Timeline...

0.4 Memories of Her

Duke Carmichael's POV:

To think that Mara would actually... do it... I just can't believe it.

"Duke Carmichael, what can I do for you to accept me as your child? What can I do to get the privilege of calling you 'father'?" She asked, tears flowing ceaselessy.

"I will never consider you my daughter. I never once considered you to be my child before and certainly it will remain that way until death."

I remember her running away from me, after feeling shock and pain. This was right after Loralei came in the picture.

Loralei was my child from a mistress while I was still married to that woman. I hid her so well but I had to brag about her when she came to transfer in the high school due to her light magic.

I was so proud of her but neglected Mara. One day, she confronted me about it. I saw the pain in her eyes but didn't mind it. How I wish I did.

I wish I knew how much my words mattered to her. I remember another time when she was 7.

"Mr. Manetails, why did you have to die?" She was crying over a dead old horse that should've been put down ages ago.

"Cut it out. Why are you crying over a dead horse? It's just another horse!" I pulled her away from the stable where that horse used to stay in.

I dragged her inside the mansion and I pushed her inside her room when we got there.

"Dad... it hurts. My knees! Dad, they're bleeding!" Her knees and socks were dyed red, slowly spreading into the carpet.

"Do I look like I care? Make sure I won't see blood the bext time I visit. Also, it's Duke Carmichael, not dad. I am not your father!"

She lowered her head as she began to stand up. "Yes, sir. I won't matter in the end, right? I'm just a pawn to you. Just like that dead horse, just another one to you. A statistic. I'm just one among the hundred thousands counted as the statistic. You'll never know the tragedy of losing just one because you never cared enough to try to wrap your brain around a single death. You'll never care about me, right? You'll never realize the tragedy until it hits you."

Her tears touched the ground, erasing the blood stains in the carpet... but I didn't notice it. I rushed towards her and started to beat her until she laid there, unconscious and bleeding. It puts me to shame that I enjoyed it.

It was the first time I've ever held my hand against her and it became a habit.

"You know, you're a pawn? Well, that's great! I'm sure you won't mind being in a political marriage, then. I hope you enjoy being with your new fiance."

I walked away, feeling cathartic, similar to how I felt when I sent her away. It felt so good.

Now, it feels terrible, like being condemned to death.

"What are you doing here, Dolores? I remember exiling you."

I stood face to face with a familiar woman. I clenched my fists as I fought the urge to hit her.

I was caught off-guard when she attacked me and cause a great deal of pain while pinning me down.

"You were always a fool, Nabal. You lost the one who was willing to do just a little bit more than the rest. You always relied on her, without even noticing it. Now... with her gone... you'll experience the consequences. I won't hold back my rage from destroying you. If it wasn't for my daughter, I would've brought down your house into ruin."

Her voice was filled with venom. I can't really blame her.

Pain smeared my body slowly. Her soft chuckles interrupted into a psychotic laugh. "I'll make sure you pay, you fool. To think thay I loved you at one point... it was really foolish! Don't worry. I'll get my revenge. A little homicide might be tempting but I can't get caught and ruin my plans. So... I'm giving you a warning... come at me at your worst. I'll come out on top. Let's see what this useless woman can really do, shall we?" She released my hold and began to walk away.