Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Michael looked awkward. He didn’t think Elspeth would want to see Helena this soon. “I told you, your mother is in a bad state. If you see her right now, you might worsen her condition.”

It was a bad excuse, but Elspeth didn’t care. She said directly, “I’m a doctor as well. I can treat her. I promise I won’t worsen her condition. I know my way around medicine.”

Michael looked very upset. He had almost forgotten Elspeth was a doctor. “But every doctor’s treatment is different—”

Elspeth interjected, “You think I would harm my own mother?” Michael shut up.

“I’m going to be married in ten days, aren’t I? I have one condition. I must have the freedom to see my mother for the period before the wedding, or I will not marry no matter what.”

Elspeth’s determination backed Michael into a corner.

He asked tentatively, “Are you sure you want to marry?”

Elspeth came up with a little plan, and she put on an innocent smile. “Of course. Why won’t I marry someone better? Besides, Callum lost his memories, and he doesn’t love me anymore. Staying with him is only a waste of time. I should marry someone better.”

If she says so. Michael didn’t believe her fully, but he said, “Sure. You can see your mother, but you can’t take her away. You must stay in that yard.”

Elspeth’s eyes shone. “Of course. Take me to her.”

Michael asked his butler to take Elspeth to the secluded yard on the west side of the residence while he returned to the company.

onto the path laden with fallen leaves and branches, and she lamented. It had been years since she saw her mother, and she wondered what her mother was like now. Everyone said she looked a lot like her mother. I’d like to see how beautiful she is. I also need to check on her condition. She stopped the butler from going further. “I’m going in alone. You guys wait for me out here, or you

“But the master said we

I’m meeting with Mom alone. If that’s forbidden, then all bets are off.” She was threatening the

ask the master now.” He and his men left the

the path was no longer covered in dead leaves and branches. Instead, it was thoroughly swept. Just when she was about to

“What are you doing?”

down around this girl because Elspeth gave her the necklace. She thought the

ask what your name

gaze darted

given the necklaces to that

Elspeth to show up again. She panicked, but she wasn’t

a sharp look. She forgot? “Take me to her, and give

“I thought you were going to get married.

my question? Wait a minute… “You… didn’t give

her head violently.

you should know where

days later, they were nowhere to be found. She didn’t mind, thinking that Elspeth would never return anyway, but reality

her before he died and a gift from her mother. Losing