Page 77 of Villainess's Redemption
A snort escaped Rosalind, clearly unimpressed.
“I was jealous,” I pressed on, the words tumbling out now. “Terribly jealous of you, Rosalind. I was jealous of how easily you could get the attention and love of the one man I wanted all my life.”And soon from another man I had been involuntarily thinking of nowadays.“How effortlessly you could win over everyone around you. I could never measure up to you.”
I walked over to the chaise and sank down, suddenly feeling the weight of years of resentment and regret. Rosalind’s eyes tracked my every move, wary as a cornered animal.
“You know,” I continued, staring at my hands, “I was relieved when your father was stationed in Valeraine and your family moved away.”
Rosalind whirled around, her eyes flashing. “Is that why you targeted my father? Because we returned?”
I shook my head, meeting her gaze steadily. “No, I targeted you. I stole the brooch from you. That’s it.” The lie tasted strange on my tongue, but recent developments might prove my lie was, in fact, the truth after all.Funny how fate works sometimes.
“Why didn’t you say anything to Noah when you knew I was lying about the brooch?” I asked, genuinely curious. If she wanted, she could easily have proved me a liar.
Rosalind scoffed, crossing her arms. “Say whatever you want, but I know you’re not innocent. I’ll prove it. And as for your question, unlike you, I’m not jealous, and I won’t stoop to your level. Never.”
I leaned back, a humorless chuckle escaping me. “Not jealous? Oh, Rosalind, we both know that’s not true. You’re human, just like the rest of us. The difference is, I’m admitting my faults.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What game are you playing, Ilyana?”
“No game,” I said, spreading my hands. “Just the truth, for once. I’ve done terrible things, things I can never fully atone for. But I’m trying to make it right.”
“And I’m supposed to believe you’ve had a sudden change of heart?” Rosalind’s voice dripped with skepticism.
I stood, smoothing down my gown. “Believe what you will. But ask yourself this: why would I confess to stealing the brooch if I didn’t want to make amends?”
Rosalind’s brow furrowed, confusion warring with suspicion in her eyes for a split second before the cold suspicion won. “What do you want from me?”
“Understanding, perhaps. Forgiveness, eventually. But for now?” I picked up the brooch from where I’d set it on a side table, holding it out once more. “I want you to take what’s rightfully yours.”
Rosalind’s hand twitched as if she longed to both snatch the brooch and throw it on my face but was holding herself back. “And if I refuse?”
I shrugged, setting the brooch down between us. “Then it stays here, neutral ground. But know this, Rosalind - I’m donewith lies and schemes. From now on, you don’t need to worry about me backstabbing you.”
A tense silence stretched between us, broken only by the soft ticking of a nearby clock. Rosalind’s eyes darted between me and the brooch, her internal struggle plain on her face.
Finally, she spoke. “How can I trust anything you say?”
I met Rosalind’s incredulous stare with a smile and shrugged. “You don’t need to trust me. And good luck trying to find anything against me,” I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I might have changed for the better, but don’t ever come after my family.”
Rosalind’s eyes narrowed, filled with disdain as she scoffed. “Don’t worry. I’m not like you.”
“Good.” As I turned to leave, a wicked impulse seized me. At the door, I paused and glanced over my shoulder. “Oh, and Rosalind? I approve of you and Noah.”
The look of utter bewilderment on her face was priceless. I couldn’t help but laugh as I swept out of the room, the weight of years of lies finally lifting from my shoulders.
Laurel was waiting for me in the corridor, her eyes searching my face. “You look… happy,” she said, sounding surprised.
I paused, studying her expression. There was no disgust, no malice - just curiosity and something that looked suspiciously like pride.
“You don’t hate me, Laurel?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. “For what I’ve done?”
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “No, I don’t.”
“Why?” I pressed, genuinely confused. “I’ve been horrible.”
Laurel’s smile widened. “Well, I don’t have an answer for that either. Maybe it’s because it’s easier to keep being a bad or good person when you’ve grown up that way than to actually change yourself and become a completely different person.”She reached out and squeezed my hand. “I really respect that strength. And I believe you can do even better.”
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