MTLNOVEL Chapter 657: At any cost.
After breakfast, Morgan didn't linger in the main house. Instead, he retired to a separate wing of the estate —close enough for convenience, yet private enough to grant him the peace.
The room was quiet, sunlight filtering through half-drawn curtains, casting long shadows on the floor. As he rested on the armchair, a soft knock broke the silence, drawing his attention.
Turning his head, he called. "Jones! No need to knock, just come in."
Mr. Jones stepped inside and bowed respectfully. "Old Master," he greeted, before glancing at William, who stood at a nearby shelf. They exchanged a silent nod —one of mutual respect.
Morgan studied Jones's expression and immediately picked up on the worry etched across the butler's face.
"You seem troubled, Jones. What's wrong?"
The old butler hesitated for only a second before speaking, "Sir, I am concerned about Ms. Martin's stay. Her presence here is clearly for an evil intention. She is here to create a wedge between the young couple. If she stays any longer, she might succeed in sowing seeds of doubt and misunderstanding between them. She had already started it and —"
Morgan's eyes narrowed slightly. "She has already started it?"
Mr. Jones gave a firm nod. "Yes. She is trying to pass herself off as the girl the young master once loved. And with the young lady's memories gone … it could create misunderstandings."
Morgan remained calm. "It won't." As if he had his reasons to believe in that.
Mr. Jones, for a moment, didn't understand. And out of genuine worry, he asked, "But sir, we can't be certain on that. What if she really succeeds? Although the young master has loved the lady for all his life, their relationship is still new. It hasn't even been that long since they married. If the lady starts believing Ms. Martin's words, even slightly, it could crack."
The butler's worry wasn't without reason. It was true. Relationships built on fragile beginnings could easily be shaken —and with someone playing mind games, the risk felt more real.
But Morgan didn't look worried at all. He only shook his head. "You are not wrong, Jones … but you are not entirely right either."
Mr. Jones's brows furrowed in confusion. "Did I misunderstand something, sir?"
"You didn't," Morgan replied, his voice thoughtful. "You judged the events correctly —Selene is trying to cause trouble. But what you failed to notice is how Arwen is responding to it."
The butler tilted his head slightly.
"Arwen isn't unaware of Selene's tactics," Morgan explained. "She is watching it all —carefully. She is giving Selene enough rope to hang herself. She is allowing her to try, to play her games … but not because she is weak. But because she is confident."
Mr. Jones didn't look surprised; rather, he thought back every time he saw Arwen and Selene facing each her. Arwen's words had made him think, but he wasn't able to understand them before. But now, it made sense.
Even when Selene had played her cards well, Arwen hadn't reacted with jealousy or shown any hint of insecurity. She had remained calm, even amused, at times.
"So, does that mean she hasn't believed her at all?"
Morgan gave a smile. "If she had, she wouldn't have let go of the chance to eliminate Selene completely when I offered her the had. She instead took the chance to make me agree to let her stay. She has her plans in her mind."
It just took him a moment to study her. Although Arwen's thoughts had remained unreadable, Morgan could still trace a few things. Like, she was using Selene for something.
"Sir, could she have recovered her memories?" Mr. Jones thought for a moment. If that had happened, of course, Arwen wouldn't have believed in Selene's lies.
Morgan's gaze turned deep. He seemed in thought. He doesn't know it all, but he knows Arwen has forgotten a lot.
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Meanwhile, at the same time, back in Selene's room —
She lost her calm after returning to her room. The pillows and cushions were all torn off, and their feathers were scattered around the room.
It was looking like a total mess.
"Ms. Selene," Carla spoke in a worried-laced tone. "Please calm down. We can't let others see you in such a vulnerable state. Please hold a little."
"How could I, Carla? How could I stay calm when everyone around me is just making me lose my damn control? Arhhh!" She grabbed another pillow and hurled it on the floor. "You weren't there. If you have been, you would have seen how that senile old man presented Arwen to be the rightful future matriarch of the family. Does she even deserve it?"
Carla shook her head. "No, Ms. Selene. No one deserves it more than you. Old Master Winslow might be forced to accept her. After all, we all know how much he loves his grandson. He would agree to anything he says."
Selene didn't believe that. Morgan Winslow didn't look like he was forced to do anything of that. If anything, he looked, then he looked like he had been waiting for the time for far too long.
"No … no," she felt losing it all. "Nothing seems to be working the way it should. Why? Why, Carla? Why?"
Carla flinched but didn't leave. How could she bear to leave? She had treated Selene as her own.
Thinking for a moment, she thought of something and said, "Ms. Selene, I think it's working."
Selene looked at her, and she nodded.
"Yes, it's working. Or else, why would that woman agree to let you stay here?" She had the chance to send her off today as well when Morgan was on her side, but she spoke up and made Selene stay, which meant only one thing —
"She must have believed your words and is looking forward to finding out the truth. As long as you make her believe more, she will leave. Hasn't she already promised you that?" Carla reminded her.
And Selene paused at her words, thinking again. Yes, Arwen had promised her. As long as she prove it, she would have to leave.
And Selene would make her leave … at any cost.