The Swordswoman’s Revenge Story after Rebirth

Chapter 181: The Truth Revealed

As Marley’s accusations echoed through the room, Prudence remained stoic, her face betraying no emotion. “Nonsense,” she said coldly. “Before Prunella died, she held my hand and told me to comfort Geoffrey. This was witnessed by many. How dare you slander me with such baseless lies? And if this is true, why did you wait until after her death to speak up? What do you intend to achieve? Your intentions are obvious. If Natasha believes these deceitful words from a mere servant, it will truly disappoint me.”

Marley’s teeth ground together in fury. “Back then, I had no idea. After Prunella’s death, I was thrown out of the estate for not serving her well enough. By a twist of fate, I met Samara, who already suspected you. She believed you were afraid of her investigation, so you had her dismissed. After Samara left the Duke’s estate, she found Sean, and through a clever trap, got him to reveal the truth. Samara and I learned everything. When Sean realized he had let something slip, he rushed to warn you, and you sent people to kill us both. We fled for our lives, barely escaping. Several times we should have died, but somehow we survived. Surely, it was Prunella’s spirit that protected us, ensuring we lived to come back and testify against you.”

Prudence’s face remained impassive. “Utter nonsense.”

Natasha’s eyes snapped open, and she turned to the trembling Sean. “You speak now.”

Sean dropped to his knees with a loud thud, pleading, “Natasha, I was tempted by money. I was used. Please, forgive me, Prudence.”

“Speak the truth, Sean,” Natasha’s voice was ice-cold. “If you tell the truth, I will not hold your crimes against you. But if you hide even one word, I will have your head.”

Sean swallowed hard, his voice barely audible as he confessed, “Yes, Marley is right. Back then, Prudence asked me to come to the estate to treat Prunella’s condition. But it wasn’t to help her—she wanted me to secretly add cold, toxic herbs to her medicines. Besides the prenatal pills, Prunella was also given medicinal soups daily. We agreed that after three months, I would be paid and leave, but when Prunella survived past three months, Prudence insisted I continue until the fetus was lost before paying me. I thought it was hopeless to save the baby, so I added even more poison to the medicines. The pregnancy wasn’t going to last, and I was certain of it. But then, Prunella survived six months, and I began to fear—maybe this was fate. I couldn’t continue, so I suggested she take a break and go to the estate to rest. Samara became suspicious and started looking through the medicine residue. I was terrified, so I told Prudence, and she used Prunella’s trip to the estate as an excuse to get Samara thrown out. I left the prescriptions with Prudence and fled. If Prunella had stayed at the estate, I believe she would have been fine. But she returned home, continued the same medicine, and when it came time to give birth, her blood couldn’t sustain her. She bled out… but the baby survived.”

Sean’s voice trailed off, unable to continue.

Geoffrey, who had been listening, could no longer contain his fury. He surged forward, his face twisted with rage so intense it seemed to burn him from the inside out. His body trembled as he gasped, “Is it true? Did you kill Prunella? Was it you?”

Prudence’s expression remained calm. “No.”

“You’re lying!” Geoffrey’s fist collided with a nearby tree with a sickening crack. Blood spurted from his hand as his eyes blazed with venom. “You’re lying! Just now, I heard you tell Priscilla that you spent ten million to have Isolde die by my hand! How could you be so heartless?”

“We never said that,” Prudence suddenly chuckled, turning to Natasha. “You brought all these people here just to frame me with lies, didn’t you? Sixteen years have passed. There’s no proof left. Of course, anyone with power can make their own truth. Go ahead, call the authorities and have me arrested. The Sharp family has been covering everything for so long, it’s clear you’ve got everything under control.”

But Natasha slowly shook her head. “No. Why would I waste time having you arrested? That would be too easy. I intend to keep you alive, to torture you slowly. However, I will report your crimes to the authorities. You’ve secretly sold off the Sharp family’s assets, tarnished their reputation, and your grandson faked his death while you escaped. The government needs to investigate.”

She raised her hand, her eyes glinting with sharpness as she looked at Geoffrey. “Kolton, take Geoffrey to Prunella’s grave. Let her spirit see the man she chose to marry—the man who slowly pushed her and her daughter to their deaths. Then, have your two brothers turn the Duke’s estate upside down. Take everything that belongs to Prunella—her belongings, her tablets, severing all ties with the Langley family.”

Kolton answered, “Yes, Mother.”

Geoffrey staggered forward, his face twisted in agony as he looked at Prudence, the woman he had respected for most of his life. His voice was raw with heartbreak. “The biggest mistake of my life was calling you mother.”

Suddenly, Garrett rushed in, dragging a person behind him. He tossed Xavier to the ground with a cold glare. “Take this fraud to the grave too. Let him tell Prunella that her daughter was a curse.”

Xavier trembled in terror and immediately dropped to his knees, begging. “It wasn’t my fault! It was Prudence who told me to say these things! Please, Garrett, spare me!”

Geoffrey’s eyes burned with rage, and he lunged at Xavier, kicking him savagely. “You’re a liar, Xavier. How could I have trusted you?”

Xavier was sent sprawling to the ground, spitting blood. “It wasn’t me! It was all Prudence! She said if I called Isolde a curse, I’d be paid one million! I was just greedy…”

He crawled forward, trembling, and begged Prudence, “Please, Prudence, you have to help me! You told me everything would be taken care of, that I wouldn’t be implicated. You faked illness to have Geoffrey send Isolde away, then hired assassins to kill her! I had no idea about any of it! Please, you have to fix this!”

Geoffrey, his body shaking violently, spat out blood and suddenly threw his head back, howling to the heavens. “Prunella! What face do I have to see you again?”

Without another word, he turned and threw himself at the stone wall, intending to end it all.

Kolton’s hand shot out, grabbing him with iron strength. “If you’re going to die, you’ll die in front of Prunella’s grave,” he said coldly.

With that, Kolton dragged Geoffrey away, and Garrett followed, a blade at his side, his hand instinctively resting on it.

Prudence calmly returned to her seat, her expression one of cold indifference. She looked at Natasha, a mocking smile curling on her lips. “How ruthless, how cruel. I had no idea you were such formidable people. I’ve underestimated you all these years.”

Natasha, finally showing the exhaustion of the long battle, let out a painful sigh. Her face twisted in torment. “I should have killed you long ago, Prudence. If I had known the truth, if I had known you were capable of such vile acts… I would have stopped Prunella from marrying into the Duke’s family. I would have killed you then.”