The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 155: Broken Heart

Jessamyn’s heart fell seeing the state of the house. The beautiful stained glass window next to the door, the one Joar was so proud of, was shattered. Glass fragments were scattered among the flowering plants that lined up in front of the windows.

Furniture from the house had been thrown out, into the flowerbed, left to soak in the rain. Rather than having a fountain, Jessamyn and Joar had decided to grow flowers in front of their door, and now, almost all the plants they had lovingly planted with their own hands were squished and ruined.

The sight broke her heart. Seeing them destroyed was like seeing their memories trampled underfoot. The once vibrant and welcoming home now looked like a storm had swept through it.

The servants stood nearby, looking nervous and helpless. Jessamyn’s eyes filled with tears as she surveyed the damage.

"How?" That was all Jessamyn could manage to speak before sorrow choked her throat.

The servants looked at each other, hesitant. "The Dowager Countess visited here yesterday and she—"

Jessamyn raised her hand, gesturing for them to stop. Of course, it was Emily. Who else?

When Jessamyn’s family had no place to go, she offered them a place to stay in the cottage that Joar left her, mostly for the sake of her little brother. Emily never let her forget that Jessamyn was the reason her brother lost his title, hurting her in every way she could without even considering that Jessamyn had every right to throw her out from her property.

Although Jessamyn had wanted to throw Emily out, she couldn’t bring herself to do it, taking responsibility for the state of her brother.

Now, her family had gotten back their title as she agreed to marry Jerrick. They got their castle back and even then, Emily’s bitterness knew no bounds.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The overwhelming sense of loss made her feel as though she was drowning. Everything Joar had left her, everything she had tried to preserve, was now in ruins.

Jessamyn walked inside the house, her heart sinking further with every step. The living room was a chaotic mess of overturned furniture and scattered belongings. The kitchen cupboards had been emptied, their contents strewn about, and broken dishes littered the floor.

With a sense of foreboding, she made her way to the pantry. She had stored a set of dishes there—the first fine porcelain set she and Joar had chosen together for their home along with the silver cutleries. Each day, they shared meals on those beautiful plates, a symbol of their life and love. To her distress, the entire box was missing.

Her pace quickened as she rushed to her bedroom, which she had kept locked, knowing Emily would try something of this sort. When she saw the smashed door, her heart nearly stopped.

Jessamyn walked in, eyes wide with horror. Their bedframe was pulled out, the mattress torn and ruined. Her jewelry, every piece she owned, was gone. Even her shoes, the special ones she had collected over the years, had been stolen.

Her knees buckled, and she sank to the floor, feeling the weight of the devastation. Everything Joar had left her, every tangible memory, seemed to have been ripped away.

She wanted to cry but she couldn’t. Her sorrow was above crying. She felt numb.

What did I ever do to that woman to deserve this?

Jerrick, who had followed her, knelt beside her. He didn’t have to assume what she was thinking for her expression said everything he needed to know. He wanted to do a lot of things off the top of his head, but for now, he decided to stay by her side.

His face was a mix of concern and determination. He reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

Jessamyn took in a deep breath and brought out her smile. She tried to stand up but her knees didn’t cooperate. "I apologize. I cannot host you here today," she said trying hard to stand.

Jerrick held her hand to help her up.

"I’ll ask..." Jessamyn didn’t look at Jerrick and looked outside. "I’ll clean it first before..."

She then walked to the servants and asked them to bring Jerrick to the Beaumont Castle. She didn’t want Jerrick’s pity. This was her life. She wasn’t even surprised that Emily would go this low.

"I am sorry," she told Jerrick once more before getting inside her room. Leaning on the closed door, she stared at the floor.

Remembering the coins she stashed under the bed, she rushed there. Joar had made a hidden tunnel under their bed that led into the Great Green Forest. In the tunnel, there was a small room filled with rather expensive items that he left for her. She didn’t find out about it until after his death.

She knelt on the floor beside the bed and pulled the rug under the bed. The entrance to the tunnel looked undisturbed and she let out a deep breath.

"What’s there?"

Jessamyn fisted her hands hearing Emily behind her.

"Is it where you hoard your gold?" Emily asked. "I knew it. I knew you were hiding your money from us. I tried to look for it yesterday but couldn’t. Now look who got caught!"

"Why did you do this?" Jessamyn asked spreading out her hands. "What happened to the silver and gold cutleries and the~"

"I sold them all. Can you believe it? That ungrateful son of mine refused to fund me. Even the servants refused to obey my orders. I had to do everything myself! I need to uphold my status as the Dowager. I needed the money. What are you going to do with all this? Joar’s dead and you’re marrying my son-in-law. You won’t even need this house anymore. Not every widow is that lucky..."

Jessamyn fisted her hands. The utter shamelessness on Emily’s face and the lack of remorse angered Jessamyn.

’Your son-in-law? Wasn’t Joar your son-in-law, mother?" she asked walking closer to Emily.

Emily could only scoff. "He was just a Count while my daughter was married to the Archduke. You stayed a lady but she became the Archduchess. My daughter—the one everyone called an orphan became someone even a Baron’s daughter had to curtsey. She made him fall head over heels for her. He grieved for her for years only for you to seduce him to~"

"Your daughter?" Jessamyn asked.

It must have slipped her mouth for Emily’s face paled for a moment. But as If it was a mirage, the shock disappeared only to be replaced with a conceited smirk.

"Do not pretend you didn’t know it. You always knew, didn’t you?" Emily scoffed.

Jessamyn chuckled as she didn’t know what else to say.

"Are you going to complain to my son-in-law? His house is still filled with Imogen’s portraits and memories. When he wanted to marry my daughter, he built a castle for her! What did he do for you? He doesn’t even have the heart to change the décor my Imogen made!"