Chapter 154: Judge First, Ask Questions Later.

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Judge First, Ask Questions Later.

Chapter 154: Judge First, Ask Questions Later.

"I thought that things would only continue like this, but I was wrong. My father’s wife eventually found me, and I guess that’s why I ended up getting kidnapped."

"They were supposed to kill me, but I guess I was lucky because they decided I was more useful alive." At this point, her voice turned a bit hollow as she recalled certain dark memories she wished she could forget, and although she tried not to think about what had happened during her time with the traffickers, some horrid memories still managed to surface.

Nevertheless, feeling his comforting touch.

Sasha wiped away her tears before stepping back and looking at Osborne, her eyes still a little red while she tried to regain some of the composure she had lost after speaking about her mother.

"All I’m asking is that you please take me to meet my father..." Sasha said, knowing how ridiculous her request sounded, especially since she was asking a stranger who had already done more than enough for her, but she still couldn’t bring herself to return home alone when the people who wanted her dead might be waiting.

"I know it’s a difficult request to make, but I promise he’ll reward you generously."

"So please..." Sasha bowed in front of him, her hands clenched tightly as she waited for his response, knowing that this might be her only chance to return to her father without putting herself in danger again.

"Please don’t leave me...." She pleaded.

---

Silence filled the area. The longer it persisted, the more nervous Sasha became. The only sound she could hear was that of her rapidly beating heart as she awaited his answer.

"Even if you do return back to him, what do you intend to do?" Osborne suddenly said.

"What?"

"You want to end the pursuit and persecution. How exactly do you intend to do that?"

"I... I..." Sasha struggled to find an answer, her lips parting slightly before closing again as she tried to think of something to say, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t come up with a reasonable solution.

’He’s right... How am I supposed to stop someone like her anyway... She clearly has more political power than Father within the family. If I return, she could even use Father’s own act against him.’

The thought of returning to her father’s household had filled her with hope when she first brought it up, but now that she was being forced to consider what would happen afterwards, she couldn’t help but feel that she had been too naive.

Her father was still alive, and he had continued sending her letters and allowances even after her mother passed away, which meant that he hadn’t completely abandoned her, but that alone didn’t mean he could protect her from his wife or the other members of his household.

After all, if he had been capable of doing so, then why had he allowed her and her mother to live in hiding for so many years?

"I don’t know..." Sasha reluctantly said.

Osborne turned silent, seemingly taking his time to consider her answer, although his thoughts were already moving towards the possibilities that her return could present.

"Then I’ll tell you now: if you have no intentions of becoming his successor, I suggest you discard your thoughts of reunion."

"Becoming his successor?" Sasha was taken aback.

She had never considered such a possibility, nor had she ever imagined herself occupying such a position. As far as she was concerned, she was simply the daughter of a nobleman who had been unfortunate enough to be born to a maid rather than his wife.

Could she even do such a thing?

No, even if she could, would she dare?

Becoming his successor would mean going against her stepmother in earnest, and considering everything that woman had done to her and her mother, Sasha couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if she discovered that she intended to take away the position her own children were supposed to inherit.

Would such a woman even let her live another day if she learned of such things?

The thought alone was enough to make her feel uneasy, causing her to lower her head as her fingers slowly tightened around the fabric of her clothes.

’Good... You’re hesitating.’

Osborne observed her reaction without saying anything, finding her hesitation to be a rather natural response considering the situation she had just been presented with.

’It’s only natural to hesitate when placed in such a difficult situation. Only a fool would charge into danger without a plan.’

He wasn’t expecting her to immediately accept his proposal, nor did he particularly want her to do so, because if she couldn’t even think through the dangers of challenging her stepmother, then there was little reason for him to invest his time and resources into developing her.

Besides, he had no intention of throwing away a perfectly good opportunity simply because Sasha was too frightened to make a decision.

’If I can turn her into a proper countess, then I’ll get one step closer to getting my revenge on those heartless witches...’

Osborne secretly gnashed his teeth at the thought of Rebecca and Rachael, remembering the suffering they had inflicted upon him and the way they had treated everything as though it were nothing more than a harmless game.

He had no intention of forgetting what happened, and if the opportunity presented itself, he would gladly make them experience the humiliation and helplessness they had once forced upon him, even if only a fraction.

Of course, there was no reason to rush things, especially when he now had an opportunity to establish another source of influence outside the Roosevelt household.

"If you truly wish to end your suffering, that’s the only way to do it."

"But she’s..."

"What she is isn’t important," Osborne stopped her before she could finish speaking.

He understood what she was trying to say, as her stepmother was the legitimate wife of the count and the mother of his other children, which naturally gave her a considerable advantage within the household, but that didn’t necessarily mean she was untouchable.