Lady Misfortune: Daddy, I'll Be A Righteous Villainess!

Lady zones out for a moment as Maximilian heads back.

He had spared her one last smile along with a pat before disappearing into the end of the hall. His expression at the time, soft and sincere, lingers in her mind. He had really changed ever since she met him seven years ago.

She recognizes this character development as one that only Sarah and Regina should be capable of bringing about. Never in a hundred years did Lady think she would be able to cause this huge of a shift in Maximilian's personality. 

He was a cold, calloused man – a man without a heart. Rarely could he understand how empathy and kindness work. It was hard to get along with him – harder to comprehend what he was thinking. But this was not to say that he was a hopeless case.   

Lady knew that there's always been a loveable, compassionate side in Maximilian. 

"Do you want to stay here for a while, Lady?"

She's hauled back to reality by Sarah's call, eyes drifting away from the direction Maximilian left off to. With a small, quiet hum in response, Lady turns around to find her and Hartigan standing by the drawing room. 

"What about you, guys? Aren't you going back yet?" Lady inquired.

"I was thinking of getting a breather for a moment," Sarah replied.

"Me too. It's becoming a tad too stuffy back there," Hartigan piped.

That piques her curiosity.

For some reason, their plans aligning don't seem like a coincidence. She narrows her eyes and studies their expressions, wondering if there's more to this arrangement than they're letting on. Then again, they've been alone together for hours now. Maybe they've enjoyed each other's company so much that they decide to stick together for a little bit longer, which begs her the question if she's actually interrupting without her knowing it.

But that presumption was quickly discarded when both of them simultaneously added, "You may join for us if you want!"

"Oh, wow, umm…" Lady blurted out, slightly taken aback.

"Thanks for the offer, but are you sure you want me to?"

"Why not? I think it's a good idea…" Hartigan said before heaving a sigh.

"Your thoughts were written all over your face, you know. We're not like that, so quit jumping to conclusions."   

He musters an unimpressed look. She straightens up and smiles nervously.

"I-If it's not a bother, I'll join you then."

And out, they went.

Lady keeps mentally hitting herself the whole time. She just made a vow to stop interfering in other people's relationships for the sake of the story's plot. Hartigan already made it clear more than once that he's not romantically interested in Sarah. That means she can no longer continue playing matchmakers.     

But she wasn't lying when she said she wanted them to get together. Regardless of the fact that they're the female and male leads, she can tell that they have all the potential to be the endgame couple, especially now that they're the only love interests she's actively supporting in the present. 

'No, that's not for me to decide anymore! I should just leave them alone already!' she grimaced silently while lightly slapping her cheeks.

Everything's going to be fine. There's no need to worry.

Creating their respective happy endings is up to them now. They'll make their own choices without anyone controlling their situations for them. Simply cheering them on is the best thing to do from this point on. 

"It's such a lovely evening, isn't it?" 

Lady resists the urge to brood some more upon hearing Sarah's comment. 

She's looking up at the night sky, admiring the starry view. The soft gleam in her eyes coaxes her to do the same. She tilts her head up, a smile forming on her face. It's kind of surreal to think that they're currently stargazing beside each other.

Things are really beginning to move in a different direction. Still, it's a welcomed experience that can hopefully turn life for the better. 

For some time, the three of them stay at the balcony, taking pleasure in the cool breeze. Right below them is the mansion's courtyard that leads to the front gates, providing them an exquisite display of its massive flower field.

Moments later, they catch sight of a red classy sedan rolling in. 

Their gazes trail after the vehicle as it drives closer and closer. It appears that someone has arrived very late for the celebration.

"Are you still expecting a guest at this hour, Lady?" asked Hartigan.

"I don't think so. The car looks familiar, though," Lady responded.

It isn't long before they get an answer, but instead of enlightening them, it only gives way for more questions. They all watch in anticipation as the occupants inside step out of the automobile. Almost instantly, they're knocked for six. They were certainly not expecting to see these people.

"U-Uncle… Cecil?"   

Lady feels her breath get caught in her throat. Maximilian wouldn't want Cecil here. Penelope and Benedict wouldn't like it either. Hartigan spares a worried glance at her before looking at Sarah who almost staggered from shock. But it wasn't Cecil she was gawking at.

Rather, it's the woman next to him – a pink-haired, red-eyed woman whose staggering beauty has not only struck them dazzled but has also rendered them puzzled.

"Mom?" muttered Sarah in a weak, wobbly voice, throwing both Lady and Hartigan off guard.

As if it's loud enough for those below to hear, the person in question raises her head up in their direction. They did not have enough time to react, and though they're in no way prepared to have this encounter, they had no choice but to meet her gaze. Her face brightens up in what appears to be delight, but there's also an eccentric glint in her eyes that's hard to miss. 

"That's… your Mom?"

In terms of physical appearance, Regina is just as Lady expected.

As for the air she gives off, however, there's something not right. She must have quickly picked that up after recently getting involved with those kinds of individuals – those who seemed decent and innocent at first but were actually far from that. Of course, she's not trying to judge her. It's just the vibes she's sensing from her – as well as the fact that she's not supposed to be in there in the first place, and with her uncle of all people no less. 

Cecil and Regina appearing together already feels like a red flag to Lady.

Not even a day has passed since she decided to allow fate to do its thing. But it seems that destiny is just that eager to carry out its ultra-grand plans.

And now, Lady ends up in another hodgepodge. 

---

'What in the goddamn planet is she doing here?' was the only thought that's running through Sarah's mind as Regina sauntered inside the party venue along with Cecil.

It was such a big shock, of course. Everyone was quickly compelled to them – 

Not only because a married man had brought a different woman to his niece's birthday, but also because said woman was a face they'd never seen before yet still managed to attract all their attention. 

Sarah has no idea what's going on. There's no way Regina should be here.

But whatever it is, so long as her mother is in it, she can never be at ease. 

"Hey, you…" someone called all of the sudden, making her swerve around and come face-to-face with Fallon.

"That's your mother, right? What's she doing here? And with my uncle, too?"

"Beats me…" Sarah breathed deeply, ignoring how frank and blunt he was being.

"Judging by the way you're asking, I take that you also think this is fishy."

"Let's just say I did some background check on you."     

"Oh, really? Why am I not surprised?"

"For what it's worth, I've done that to everyone at school."

"Are you trying to make me wary of you or something?"

"Not really. I just want to make sure I can trust those who try to get close to my friends and family."

As he says that with a knowing tone and expression, he shoots a look at Regina who is now taking part in a conversation with Maximilian. His unsmiling face tells both Fallon and Sarah that he's displeased with her grinning one, which is further proven when he averts his eyes and shoves his hands in his pockets.

That's a sign that he doesn't want to entertain no one any longer. 

"I'm sorry. I don't have any idea at all…" Sarah apologized.

"We don't see each other that much since she likes to go out all the time. She also never told me that she knew one of your family members. That's why I have no clue at the moment too."

"I have my suspicions, you know, but I don't want to offend you…" Fallon replied.

"The truth is, that uncle of mine has recently voiced out his plan to divorce his wife. With that in consideration, showing up in an important family gathering together with another woman would create a scandal, which I'm pretty sure he knew.. Now, this might sound rude, but I just can't help but think that they're in that 'type' of relationship."