175 THE UNTOLD STORY OF LADY ASHA 2

Now it was Zoe's turn to be shocked as she almost spit what she was drinking. She felt a heavy feeling on her stomach as she digested the outrageous news that Lady Dolores just uttered right now.

She put back the cup that she was holding down the table and brushed her hair to her side.

"D-do you mean my mother lived here? And she is a Terran?!" She blurted with an incredulous face. 

Lady Dolores drew in a deep breath to compose herself. It seemed that the news about her mother being dead devastated her.

"To be honest with you, I am not really aware of that. She just showed up at my doorstep as a baby in a basket with a note on her side. It said in the note to never remove the necklace that she was wearing…"

Zoe's hand flew to her chest and fiddled with the pendant.

"Can I see it, if you don't mind, my dear? I just want to make sure that you are really her daughter." Lady Dolores asked her in a pleasant note.

Zoe didn't think twice. She brought out her pendant but she didn't remove it from her neck. 

Tears started to form within Lady Dolores' lids again. But she immediately wiped them off and sniffed.

"You are indeed Asha's daughter. I would never forget that intricately designed necklace even when I sleep." 

Lady Dolores expressed pleasantly after she gave a crisp nod. She continued to relay the story of her mother.

"As I said, the necklace was mentioned in the note. And there was also another one."

Zoe's eyebrows furrowed as she leaned forwards.

"It was to not allow her to associate with the royal family."

Zoe's eyes widened at the second warning. It is also what Lady Dolores warned her about before leaving their residence way back when she treated Lord Adrian.

"Can I ask if you have an idea why it has a note like that with her then?" Zoe asked as her body posture perked up in curiosity.

"Of course, I tried to. I even tried to trace who brought her to our home. But I wasn't able to. Still, I knew right then and there that your mother is special. That is why I obliged to that instruction until she ran away."

"She ran away?" Zoe reiterated, making sure that she heard her correctly. She leaned back and darted her eyes away, thinking about possible reasons why she would do that.

"Yes. I tried to keep her away from the royal family. But maybe it was her fate to be acquainted with them. She tried to keep it away from me, but I learned from the other ladies that she was secretly meeting with the now Duke Andras and King Artair. And then after a few days after I learned that, she disappeared."

Lady Dolores waved her hand as if fanning herself and extended her hand to reach out for a glass. Zoe picked up the pitcher of water and poured it out for her.

After Lady Dolores drank from it, she put down the glass and continued on with the story. "However, she left a note that said she was going to look for her parents. And I have nothing to worry about. But after that, she didn't come back anymore."

Zoe's face turned gloomy and her shoulder drooped at her mother's untold story. "I didn't know that my mother suffered that way during her younger years." She uttered unconsciously in a soft tone.

Not wanting to offend her mother's caregiver, she quickly knelt down on her feet with her head on the ground. "I apologize for my mother's action. And I also express my gratitude for taking care of her even though she's a complete stranger."

Lady Dolores couldn't help it anymore. She bursted out in tears as she stuttered. "I treated her like my own daughter. I can't believe she would die just like that. It's my fault. I have been a bad mother to her. I always scold her and I haven't even said that I appreciate her existence in my life even once. Perhaps, if I had been more loving, she would still be alive now!" 

In a fraction of a second, Zoe stood up and quickly came to Lady Dolores' side to rub her back. Lord Adrian immediately jumped to his feet as he heard his grandmother wail. The space was open between them and loud commotions could be heard if anyone's ears would be sensitive enough to anticipate it.

"Grandmother!" In a fast speed, he ran to her side and replaced Zoe in caressing her back. 

With all possible haste, Zoe stepped backward and apologized. "I- I'm sorry for disturbing your family with this news. I shouldn't have come here. Forgive me, madame, my lord." 

Zoe was about to walk away when Lady Dolores grabbed her hand. "Where are you going? Where are you staying right now?"

"We're staying at an old cabin far from here. And as to where I'll be going, I'm really not sure yet, madame." Zoe's head bowed down after breathing out a heavy sigh.

"Can I request a favor from you, Lady Asha?" Lady Dolores now grabbed her hand and pressed it firmly, making Zoe and Lord Adrian look at each other in a dazed look.

"What is it, madame?" Zoe fixed herself so she could listen properly to Lady Dolores' request.

"Why don't you stay here so I could help you out with whatever you need?" 

"Madame!" Zoe took a step back and bowed her head to her waist level.

"This is the least I could do for my poor Asha." She wobbled as she thought of her death again. 

Lord Adrian comforted her grandmother as she patted her back gently and agreed with her.

He was sitting at the armchair where Lady Dolores was sitting.

"Our family's full support is with you, milady." He smiled at her.

******************************

The bitterest tears shed over graves 

Are words left unsaid

And deeds left undone.

Let's not shed those tears for our loved ones and shower them with our affection while they're still alive.