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.

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

like these terms. “But the master said

just ruin my reunion. Tell him I’m meeting with Mom alone. If that’s forbidden, then all bets are off.” She was threatening the butler, but Elspeth wouldn’t

butler sighed. “Fine. I shall ask the

daggers. She stepped forth and noticed that the path was no longer covered in

“What are you doing?”

let her guard down around this girl

never got to ask what

gaze darted around.

the necklaces to that person as

expect Elspeth to show up again. She panicked, but she wasn’t a good liar, so she

“Take me to her,

said, “I thought you were going to get married. Why

Wait a minute… “You… didn’t give them to her

her head violently. “No.

know where the necklaces

were. She remembered hiding them in her clothes, but two days later, they were nowhere to be found. She didn’t mind, thinking that

before he died and a gift