Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Searching For A Sense Of Familiarity
Declan stood at the threshold of the bedroom, his towering and broad frame casting a faint shadow on the door panel. Turning the handle, the door creaked softly as he pushed it open.

Yet, somehow, the soft sound seemed too loud in the silence enveloping the room.

The stale air hit Declan once he opened the door, signaling the absence of life inside. Faint dust also lingered in the air, almost making him cough.

Frowning, Declan hesitated to cross over the threshold. His gaze fell on the silhouettes against the faint light streaming through the sheer curtains. The room was dimly lit.

‘…how long has it been since her last time here?’

Declan tried to remember the last time Lariette occupied this bedroom, the one assigned to her once she appeared a decade ago. She moved out to live on her own years ago and rarely returned.

Exhaling a sigh, Declan pushed himself to step inside. The sole of his home slippers landed on the dusty marble floor. He tried not to inhale the musty air too deeply.

‘This is way smaller… than I thought.’

Declan slowly strode toward the center of the bedroom, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings. His chest tightened at what he saw.

Lariette’s chamber was significantly smaller than Stephanie’s and the others’ rooms. It was also simple, with nothing too elaborate adorning the bedroom.

A simple queen bed stood against the wall, its sheets neatly tucked but dulled and dusted with time. Two plain bedside tables stood on each side of it, having nothing on their surfaces.

Turning his head around, Declan’s eyes fell on a wooden wardrobe, tucked in a corner. He couldn’t help but compare it to his and his siblings’ massive walk-in wardrobe.

‘Even the study table and bookshelves… are simple.’

Declan zeroed in his gaze on the study table that sat near the window, untouched and forgotten. The bookshelves next to it were filled with books, all from Lariette’s high school and uni.

And…

“…her certificates.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Declan paused opposite a wall. Thinly-framed certificates of excellence were hung there, some of them were similar to Stephanie’s.

Declan walked closer, his eyes slowly glazed from one frame to the other. All of these were proof of Lariette’s high achievements in high school. A few of them came from her university.

Not even the glorified Stephanie had this much despite being in the same high school as Lariette. The latter also enrolled way later because she was already sixteen when she was found.

‘She… she tried to show these off, but…’

Declan painstakingly forced himself to remember the faint memories of years ago. If he recalled it correctly, Lariette did try to show them her achievement certificates and grade papers, but none of them were interested.

It was very different than Stephanie. Once she showed her recent accomplishment, they immediately showered her with praise.

Declan also remembered that Samantha framed each of Stephanie’s certificates and grade papers with gold rims, all were hung in the library.

“Haa…”

Exhaling a sigh, Declan rubbed his face with both palms, sensing new waves of regrets crashing on the shore of his heart. Being here once again reminded him of how badly they had treated Lariette from the first moment she appeared.

Declan acknowledged that they fed Lariette and gave her shelter and even monthly allowances, but they didn’t care about forming even the slightest bond with her.

Declan didn’t dare to imagine how lonely Lariette was. How many times had she taken refuge in this room when the others had forsaken her presence?

Declan knew they had no one to blame but themselves if Lariette refused any form of reconciliation.

Shaking his head, Declan let out a shaky breath. He swept his gaze across the room once again, trying to find any sense of familiarity, but he failed.

With a heavy heart, Declan walked away from the bedroom. He carefully closed the door, shutting it with a faint thud. The stale air was shut behind the door.

Declan made a mental note to find the head housekeeper. The maids should clean Lariette’s bedroom regularly even though she no longer lived here.

Letting the bedroom accumulate dust wouldn’t be allowed anymore.

Declan raked his fingers through his hair, feeling a heavy sense of guilt bearing on his shoulders. After giving another look at the closed door, he finally headed to the other end of the hallway.

Stephanie’s bedroom.

No matter what Stephanie had done, Declan still cared for her. He had watched her growing up from a baby until now, being a young lady.

Unfortunately, Stephanie ruined herself by straying to the crooked paths. Declan could only advise and nudge her to improve herself instead of sinking deeper.

Knock! Knock!

“Phanie, can I come in?”

Declan knocked on the door, also talking to the small intercom on the wall. Stephanie’s room, like the others—except for Lariette’s—had a short hallway connecting the door to the bedroom area.

The vast area made it hard for anyone inside to hear people at the door.

“…come in.”

Stephanie’s voice, slightly hoarse, echoed from the mini speaker. Declan smiled in relief. At least she didn’t turn people away like usual.

Once Declan walked past the short hallway, he saw Stephanie lying on the couch opposite the flat screen TV. A drama was played there, but she didn’t seem to pay much attention to it.

Sitting on a single couch next to Stephanie’s, Declan quietly assessed her. She looked as worn-out as Samantha, but sadder.

Stephanie had always kept her appearance pristine whether she was inside or outside the house. But, now, her messy blond locks and unkempt clothes showed no traces of her love for beauty.

“Why don’t you and Mom go on a trip? Stay away from here for a while. How about going to Sicily?”

Declan’s suggestion was met with a frown from Stephanie. She abruptly sat up, her eyes shooting daggers at the man.

“Why? Ashamed of me now? You think I’ll just ruin more of our family’s reputation, huh?”

“I don’t mean that, Phanie,” Declan heaved a sigh, feeling a headache threatening at the back of his mind, “Go and have a change of scenery. You and Mom need it.”

Stephanie quickly shot back, enraged with Declan, “No! I won’t go anywhere! I haven’t settled my issue with Matt!”

Declan’s eyes widened, surprised by what he heard. Stephanie’s obsession with Matthias exasperated him. He thought she had learned her lessons.

Holding back from unleashing his anger and frustration, Declan took a deep breath. Once he parted his lips, his voice became dangerously low with a clear hint of finality.

“You’ll leave for Sicily tomorrow with Mom. Pack your bags.”

“W-wait! Dec! Please! Get Matt to meet me first!”

Without waiting for a response from Stephanie, Declan rose to his feet. She shouted from behind, desperately calling for him, but he didn’t stop walking until he was out of the room.

“Haa…”

Declan shook his head, unsure of what he did. He hoped Stephanie wouldn’t keep being stubborn, yet she still saw nothing was wrong.

Would she ever change?

And… unfortunately, all this happened because they cajoled her without any limits.