The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 137
“…Oh.”
So thatâs why he sneaked in after dinner and lingered around.
Roxelyn recalled wanting to hold hands and sleep together, thinking that since she had returned to her childhood, she might as well do things she couldnât do before.
Roxelyn nodded.
âPlease tuck me to bed like this often.â
She added this in the hope that the original Roxelyn would receive the same care once she returned.
âOthuhwise, I might gwow up thinking you hate me, leave home, and die.â
â…What kind of thing is that to say to your parent?â
âI just thought you might hide in that gloomy basement again. Stop wallowing in self-pity. There awe mowe pitiful people than you…â
Roxelyn yawned softly and closed her drowsy eyes.
She felt sleepier than she did as an adult, perhaps because her body was weaker or simply because she was younger.
Soon, Roxelyn Bellion’s breathing became steady.
Zerti watched her chest rise and fall rhythmically and carefully placed his hand on her heart.
Thump, thump, thump.
He could feel the small but strong heartbeat under his palm.
âSheâs alive.â
His child was alive. She hadnât died yet. Even touching her, holding her hand, wouldnât kill her.
“âŚHave you ever wegwetted having me?”Â
“…What?”
“Itâs nothing special. I just always wanted to ask. Of couwse, I canât die for you, and I know I was bown anyway.”
Zerti Bellion wasnât a fool. He knew what kind of answer the child was seeking.
âRegret… no…â
From the start, that womanâs death had been his fault, not Roxelynâs. Perhaps it was even his fault that his child was born so weak.
Roxelynâs mother had refused to take the antidote despite being poisoned by Zerti Bellion, because the antidote contained ingredients harmful to the child she was carrying.
Zerti Bellion had tried to find a solution but ran out of time.
She chose the child.
Due to delaying the antidote for just a day or two, Roxelyn was born, and her mother died.
Zerti Bellion had tried his best to slow down the poison, but his immature control had failed.
So, Roxelyn might have been poisoned even as a fetus.
Roxelynâs frailty and frequent fevers were likely all his fault.
âThereâs no way I regret it. Having you is a blessing to me…â
Zerti Bellion whispered softly as if he were being drawn into something.
When he first heard that the child was coming, he was so happy and worried that he couldnât sleep at night.
âAre you okay with me being your father? Have you ever resented that Iâm your father…?â
He closed his lips tightly.
Roxelyn, who had already fallen asleep, wouldnât hear him.
He knew that, but the words slipped out regardless.
Only when the darkness fell did Zerti Bellion allow himself to be a bit more honest.
With no one listening, he voiced his true feelings.
Even though he wanted to be honest, he had never complained about not being able to express himself.
Nonetheless, he cherished the affection the child had shown him.
He never expected to hear words like âI love youâ or âI like youâ from her.
After all, he had never truly given her any semblance of love.
In his single-minded determination and desperation not to kill her, he had only ended up making her feel lonely.
“…I love you too, my baby.”
He finally expressed his true feelings.
As he gently brushed aside Roxelyn’s fallen hair and stood up to leave the room, Roxelyn’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
“…”
“…”
Their wide-open eyes met in the air.
Zerti Bellion’s indifferent face started to turn red. Roxelyn let out a deep sigh.
âI didnât think it would be this hawd to heaw my fathewâs sincere wowds.â
â…Canât you speak more cutely, appropriate for your age?â
âPicky, arenât you?â
Roxelyn squinted as if to say, âWhat are you expecting?â
âDaddy.â
Zerti Bellion, who was rubbing his face in embarrassment, froze and looked at Roxelyn.
â…What?â
But seeing her indifferent, dry eyes, he hesitated.
It was as if a wooden puppet was speaking.
âI have resented you.â
The room fell silent.