Chapter 204 Pascal’s Explanation
With just one sentence, Kirenya managed to shift all the blame onto Old Lady Titan, as if she had never held any prejudice against Anne at all - just a kind princess who wanted to help someone in need when she saw injustice.
Dr. Pascal didn't even glance at Kirenya. He was good friends with Duke Skoda and his wife, and had absolutely no fondness for this princess. If it weren't for Anne, he wouldn't have bothered showing up at all. As for whether he would treat Lucida, Dr. Pascal decided to first observe whether this mother-daughter pair was worth his time.
He crossed his arms and stared coldly at Old Lady Titan. "Since someone wants to get to the bottom of this, let me spell it out clearly. After all, most people here stand at the very top of the Soth Empire. I believe after this explanation, no more false information should spread."
"Back then, little Anne - that is, Duke Virlet - after she married into the Titan family, Old Lady Titan was in poor health with a bad heart. Anne specifically contacted me, begging me to come to the Titan house to treat Old Lady Titan. But heart problems can only be managed, not cured, so I stayed to help care for this lady. As for medical fees, this old lady never mentioned them. Instead, she repeatedly demanded I take care of everyone in the Titan family. I only reluctantly agreed for Anne and Duke Skoda's sake, and ended up staying for three years."
"For the first two years, the Titan family at least kept up appearances and treated Anne fairly well. But knowing full well the family was in debt, they still demanded that Anne use her dowry to cover everyone's expenses while also managing family and estate affairs. I was very unhappy about it then, but Anne said since she had married in, helping out was her duty, so I let it go. But when the terrible news came from the Virlet family, not only did the Titans show no sympathy for Anne losing her family - except for Trion and Mrs. Merry, the others didn't even offer basic concern."
Dr. Pascal let out a cold laugh. "What's most ridiculous is this Old Lady Titan. She told others before that she was by Anne's side the whole time after Anne lost her family. When Anne needed to handle her family's funeral, the old lady demanded she finish Titan business first. And when Anne finally left, no Titan went with her to help."
Old Lady Titan swayed as if about to faint, but Dr. Pascal only watched her performance with disdain. "And after that, the Titan family's attitude toward Anne completely flipped. The whole bunch of them couldn't wait to snatch away Anne's dowry and the Virlet family's assets. When Anne refused, they actually dared to demand that Anne sell her body to gain benefits for the Titan family. Old Lady Titan, I'd like to ask you - where did you get the nerve to demand such a thing from a duke's daughter?"
The crowd erupted in shock, everyone's faces showing disbelief.
"The Titan family humiliated Duke Virlet like this - no wonder she went to His Majesty to beg for a divorce."
"A humble viscount's son being able to marry a duke's daughter was already his good fortune. How dare they covet the dowry? Even if Duke Virlet hadn't inherited the title then, her mother's Kivara family backing wasn't to be trifled with. How did they dare?"
"They probably thought that once a child from a great family marries out, they're completely abandoned. What lowly thinking. Poor Duke Virlet - how much did she suffer in that wretched Titan family?"
Anne felt the gazes around her, but her expression remained unchanged - still dignified and beautiful, like a rose standing tall despite wind and rain, and the thorny kind at that.
Old Lady Titan swallowed with difficulty. The accusations from those around her left her hands with nowhere to rest. "I didn't... I really didn't..."
At this point, how could she dare admit she really had planned such things? These nobles who prided themselves on their noble birth would completely exclude the Titan family from their social circles.
But compared to a powerless viscount's wife with no good reputation, everyone was much more willing to believe Dr. Pascal's words. After all, this doctor was famous for not fearing the powerful - he wouldn't bow his head even before His Majesty, and always spoke his mind.
Some people present had attended the last tea party and heard Dr. Pascal explain once before, though he hadn't been as blunt then. They had already been inclined toward Anne, and now they found the Titan family even more hateful and shameless, deciding they would definitely cut ties with such a family after returning home.
"Whether you did or didn't isn't something you can deny with just one sentence now."
Dr. Pascal said coldly, "Not only that, your Holden begged Anne to marry him back then, personally promising he would only have her for his whole life and wouldn't take any mistresses. If he hadn't sounded so sincere, Sophia wouldn't have agreed to let Anne marry Holden. But what happened? That boy went off to war for three years, didn't send a single letter home for the last two years, completely ignoring Anne. When he came back, he immediately used his military achievements to petition His Majesty to allow him to marry another woman. Is this how the Titan family raises its children?"
"I told Anne to divorce Holden immediately—he left during the wedding, so she could remarry without judgment. But Anne wanted to confirm his feelings first. Then that brat dared criticize and humiliate her over some Candy. Why shouldn't Anne want a divorce?"
"When I first left the Titan family, it was indeed because I couldn't stand looking at you people's faces - every single one of you like shameless bloodsuckers, wishing you could drain Anne dry before kicking her out. Did you ever think - do you even deserve that? Anne took care of you for three years, managed everything top to bottom for you, and it was so you could lord it over her? This really makes this old man furious!"
Anne smiled helplessly at Dr. Pascal. "Don't be angry, it won't happen again."
Dr. Pascal glared at Anne, then continued with a frown, "Later when I went back there, it was because Trion came to beg me. I remembered this child had spoken up for Anne a few times in their family, and she was willing to organize medical records for me in exchange for me treating the old lady. I only agreed after considering it."