WHERE DREAM AND REALITY MEET (2)
“What’s going on?”
As soon Hugo stepped inside, he sensed the unusual atmosphere in the house. And he found his daughter crying, with the rims of her eyes and nose red. Her amber eyes that were like her mother’s were filled with tears and when she met his eyes, her shoulders shook even more.
It was both loveable and pitiful. With a faint smile on his face, Hugo bent down and stretched out his arms to his daughter. Evangeline glanced at her brother and mother once, then she slowly walked to her father. As she wiped her flowing tears with the back of her hand, her steps towards her father gradually grew faster. Evangeline ran into her father’s arms and threw her arms around his neck.
“Waaaaaa!!”
Hugo gently patted his daughter’s back as she sobbed on his shoulders. He hugged Evangeline and stood up before turning to look at his wife. He nodded at her, telling her to leave this to him then he headed to the receiving room.
Who knew how such a small body was pouring out so much tears, but Hugo’s neck was quickly soaked as his daughter buried her face in it. He sat down on the receiving room couch with his daughter in his arms and simply patted her back, not saying anything and just letting her cry as much as she wanted.
When the child’s cries turned to snivels, Hugo asked his daughter.
“Do you want water?”
Evangeline nodded her head. Hugo got up, still carrying her, walked to the table, poured out some water and brought it to her lips. Evangeline quickly gulped down the water while hiccuping from the aftermath of crying.
Hugo returned to the couch, sat down, then he spoke to his daughter who was sulkily sitting on his lap.
“Eve.”
“…”
“You don’t want to tell me what’s going on?”
Evangeline shook her head.
“…Elder brother…stopped Jude from coming.”
“Damian drove Jude away?”
“Jude didn’t come. But I heard elder brother made him not to come.”
Hugo was able to grasp the entire situation with her brief explanation. He had gotten increasing skilled in doing this as he raised his young daughter who wished to express many things with her limited but sufficient vocabulary.
He remembered telling his wife not to allow the boys into the ducal residence anymore. And when he said that, his wife had told him:
[You can’t just stop the children from playing together all of a sudden. If you forcibly take Eve’s friend away from her, she’ll be hurt. Let me try to make Eve understand even if it takes some time.]
He felt his wife had a point, so he told her to do as she saw fit. There was no way his wife would unilaterally stop Jude from coming to visit without talking to Evangeline. And even if Jude was truly restricted from visiting, it had no relation to Damian. Hugo thought Eve had misunderstood something.
“Eve, did you ask your mother why Jude didn’t come to see you?”
“…No.”
“Your brother didn’t do it.”
“Elder brother said he did it.”
“Then Damian is also mistaken. Damian can’t stop Jude from coming to visit. Only your mother and I can. I have never stopped Jude from coming here, and your mother had never done so as well.”
“…”
“Did you cry because you were upset Jude didn’t come?”
“…I…yelled at elder brother…and…mother got angry…”
Seeing Evangeline slurring the end of her sentence and hesitating, Hugo sensed that there was something more to it than just crying because she was scolded by her mother.
“And?”
“…I talked back to mother.”
Oh dear. Hugo chuckled. He might have to placate his wife next after his daughter.
“Eve. You have to apologize to your mother for acting rude to her, and you also have to tell your brother you’re sorry for misunderstanding him. Okay?”
“…Okay.”
* * *
When her husband carried her daughter to the receiving room and the cries slowly petered out, Lucia heaved a sigh of relief. She realized her daughter who she only fought to raise up well, had now reached the age to confront her and express her own opinions. It was an admirable but lonely feeling.
“It’s my fault, mother. It seems she’s angry because she can’t play with Jude.”
“Jude? What about Jude?”
“Didn’t you take measures to stop Jude from coming here anymore?”
“No. If you suddenly separate two children who’ve always played together, it will hurt them both, so I was going to give it some time and make them both understand. Today, Jude didn’t come but I was not notified about it and this had never before. I was about to send someone to the Marquis residence to see if anything has happened. I guess Eve heard something strange somewhere.”
Displeasure flashed in Lucia’s eyes. For a young child to get such news, it was very obvious where the source came from. It was the close servants waiting on her. Lucia had always instructed them to be careful with what they say around the child. It seems she couldn’t just let this incident pass. She had to imbue caution into the servants once again and severely scold whoever was responsible for spreading this rumor.
“Even though you’re innocent, you became the target for Eve’s anger.”(Lucia)
“No. Eve is right. I don’t have the right to stop Eve’s friend from coming to our house.”(Damian)
“If you don’t have the right, then who does? You did it because you’re worried for Eve. Go up and get some rest. I will sent Eve to apologize to you later.”
“I don’t think you need…”
“Wrong is wrong, Damian. You cannot just accept everything Eve does. Both you and your father, you only know how to say she’s pretty. I’m worried she’ll grow spoiled at this rate.”
Damian didn’t agree with his mother’s worries. He believed Eve would grow into a lady more thoughtful, lovely and beautiful than anyone else.
‘Afterall, she is mother’s daughter.’
* * *
Damian lifted his head at the sound of someone knocking on his door. It was obvious who it was, so Damian told them to come in with a smile on his lips.
The door opened and Evangeline poked her head in through the crack of the door. It seems she planned to carefully look around the room but found herself staring straight at Damian who was looking at the open door.
Evangeline flinched in surprise, then she hesitantly entered the room with a bashful smile. The rims of her eyes were still reddish due to her crying earlier. Damian’s chest squeezed with pain as he was once again reminded of the sight of his sister crying before.
“I’m sorry.”
Evangeline was startled to hear Damian’s apology since she had come here to apologize to him. Evangeline stared at Damian, her eyes asking why he was apologizing to her.
“I’m sorry for telling our parents that Jude shouldn’t come anymore, Eve.”
“…But it wasn’t your fault that Jude didn’t come today.”
“I know. But I still insisted on what I thought without even talking to you. Next time, I will definitely talk to you first.”
“…Nn. I’m sorry too, for yelling at you. I was wrong.”
The two of them reconciled pretty quickly.
Evangeline skipped down the stairs in a happy mood. Her mother was tough sometimes, but Evangeline really loved her mother a lot. She held a book in her hand, wanting her mother to read it to her.
It seemed like Evangeline was going to jump into the receiving room, but she quickly stopped when she looked inside the open door. Her parents sat side by side on the sofa. She couldn’t hear what the both of them were talking about. Her mother’s face was filled with smiles, and her father was looking at her mother with very affectionate eyes.
Her mother said something, and her father smiled then kissed her mother’s lips. This was a sight Evangeline had seen several times already, so after seeing the familiar affectionate sight of her parents, she turned around.
Translator’s Corner:
* Wow. Gentle Hugo is so…wow.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 67 - December 21, 2024
- Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money – Side Story 21 - December 14, 2024
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 66 - December 14, 2024
Whoa wait, what’s going on? Eve was only 7 yo *cmiw* and was already being considerate? Can’t wait to see you being a grown up and your father being busy chasing away your suitors 🤣
And I’m so in love with Hugh in this side story, so mature in his own way.
Much love for Miss Ruby & ShadowDog!
I’m more worried that she’ll go: “Oh I know what comes next, time to make myself scarce.” lol.
What could those 2 lovebirds be teaching their children I wonder. 😛
Guess in the Taran family, sex ed comes early.
That was the first thing come to mind actually 😂. Like at previous side story, I wonder whether the kids heard Lucia’s scream or not.
Thank you for the update ❤
I agree with Lucia’s philosophy that you should raise your children to be thoughtful and address potential spoiled attitude.
Eve is doing well to understand for a little kid too.
As usual Damian is the sweetest lil bean~
Hugo is such a lovely dad.
They’re a perfect family!
Oh my… Servants huh? Instilling things huh? Huh? Huh?
ALSO How often do they have that pink atmosphere at even their 7 year old knows to give them privacy?!?!?
Many thanks
Looking back to the time when Hugo haven’t met his wife yet as compared to this present where he handles his daughter calmly & professionally😅… the difference is like a vast ocean😂
These side stories of this family is just so lovely, heart fluffy, adorable and sweet. Its like a daily vitamin!✨ Lol
Thank you so muchie for the release!😘
Yep
Whaaattt, she is so cute>.< She sad because she talk back to her mother and even gave them privacy. How can I raise my future child like that?
Be like Lucia and find a husband like Hugo ❤️❤️
life goal
So. So. Cute. Thanks for the upload! 🙂
THANK YOUUUU FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS A BUSY DAY YOU GAVE US AN UPDATE ❤️❤️ ILY 💕💕💕
I always grateful that the author still doing the side story of Lucia… All of this side story are Awesome and SuperSweet, Thank you so much author, I luv you❤
And I’m grateful for the translator too, thank u so much for taking your time to translate it❤
Thanks for the new chapter!
Hugh acting like a father was kinda sweet and calming . Damian is such a good boy but for him to never even once thinking about himself really gives me a sadden heart. I hope when the time comes to pursue his love he will become more confident and love himself .
Thanks for the chapter! 😘
Wow … the couple raised both children very well. I am very proud.
That’s really how children is. I remember when i was around 6 y.o and crying because how frustrating it was that seems like no one understand my feeling. And then my dad came and took me out to buy a balloon.
Eve had Hugo wrapped around her little finger for sure.
Thanks for the chapter !
Damián es igual que su padre biológico. Se preocupa mucho por su hermana porque ama a Lucia piensa que Eva va a ser igual.
Me preocupa que Eva crezca demasiada mimada y no tenga la sabiduría de los demás Taran
I completely agree but I do think 🤔 that even though Eve might be a little (a lot) spoiled by her brother and father. She will still grow up sensible and wise because of her mother ♥️.
Oh my god!! The sweetest ever!!💕💕💕
Thank you, Miss Ruby and ShadowDog!!
Hugh being a father to his daughter is truly a wonderful sight. His “hands off” approach to Damian’s upbringing is such a contrast. But that’s just how he is. 😆
Awww! That was so sweet, Hugh has really grown! And as always Damian is just the best!! Lucia, you are an awesome mama!
Thank you, Miss Ruby and ShadowDog! 💜💜💜💜
Ahhh love 💕
God, Hugo-daddo. Can you adopt me please??
For me it’s ‘Hugo is so… wow’
😂
This couple gets more in love every day 💖
Thanks for the chapter!
Wow. Crying Evangeline makes me want to hug her 😭