Chapter 2 Autumn Awakening Chapter 2 Autumn Awakening : Autumn rain carried the chill of winter . Frost covered the morning ground . 60 +10 Free Coins After several days in a coma from her fall , Fiona , the fourth daughter of the Niven family , finally woke at dawn . The household was already alive with commotion . " I heard they caught the man who pushed Ms. Fiona into the water , " a servant whispered . " Mr. Niven interrogated him through the night and beat him bloody . Still , the man wouldn't confess who was behind it . " " Even if he dies , what of it ? Whoever dared harm Ms. Fiona deserves nothing less ! " The chatter outside reached her ears . Inside , Fiona's heart was filled with conflicting emotions , but joy outweighed them all . She had returned six years into the past - before her marriage , before the years of cold neglect . This time , she would not suffer . Her previous life had been outwardly smooth but filled with regrets she could never shake . Now she had the chance to set them right . " You're still weak . Why are you sitting up without a cloak ? " Her mother , Meryl Sutton , entered carrying a tray of medicine , frowning at the sight of Fiona in only her underclothes . She set the medicine down , reached for a snowy fur cloak , and bent to wrap it around her daughter . Before she could , Fiona's arms wrapped tightly around her . " Mother , " Fiona whispered , her voice breaking . In her past life , she had few regrets , but one of them was dying before her mother . Meryl had already endured the grief of losing a son . To lose a daughter , too , Fiona could not bear to imagine it . Meryl stroked her hair , eyes glistening red . After a moment , she pulled her closer . " Don't be afraid , my dear . Whoever tried to harm you , I'll see them dragged into the light ." But Fiona froze . In her past life , Meryl had indeed discovered the culprit - Eleanor Yates , her father's concubine . Yet the only witness was silenced before testifying . Lacking hard proof , Eleanor was punished but not properly condemned . The Niven Estate could not afford to offend Meryl's powerful family further , so the matter was 1/3 14:34 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 2 Autumn Awakening 60 +10 Free Coins smoothed over . Her father , Zachary Niven , blamed Meryl for being ruthless . Their marriage crumbled . Peace left the household . Children never came again . Later , Fiona's only brother , Vincent Niven , died . Meryl's health deteriorated day by day . Apart from the rare moments when she looked at Fiona , she was distant , hollow , consumed by grief . And all the honors her brother had fought for fell into the hands of the main branch of the family . As for the man caught , he had once been Eleanor's lover before she entered the household . That was why he had refused to expose her . Fiona only learned the full truth after her marriage , after it was too late . Even knowing the truth , her relationship with her father was never mended . This time , she would not let history repeat itself . " Mother , I want to see Father , " Fiona said softly . " Your father is on his way . He rushed back the moment he heard you'd woken . He'll be here soon . For now , take your medicine . " Fiona accepted the medicine , draining the bitter liquid . Just then , steady footsteps approached . Her father entered , still in his official robes from the ministry , tall and stern , though his gaze softened at the sight of her . " Fiona . " " Father . " She smiled through her tears . " You've suffered ." Zachary's voice cracked . The man who never flinched at the sight of bloodshed had wept several times these past days . " You owe your life to Lord Soren and Mr. Xavier . If not for their intervention , I dread to think what might have happened ... " He couldn't finish . They had come so close to losing their precious daughter . Fiona's heart ached at the mention of Soren . In her past life , she had loved him truly , even if he had never returned it . But the name Xavier puzzled her . She didn't recall him . In her memories , she had only been told she was rescued by Soren and a son of the Luthor family , though she had never met the latter in person . " Mr. Xavier Luthor ? " she asked . " Xavier just returned to Jexburgh this month . You wouldn't have met him . Once you're well , your mother will take you to the Zonfrillo Estate and the Luthor Estate to give thanks , " 2/3 14:35 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 2 Autumn Awakening Zachary explained . : A 60 +10 Free Coins Fiona didn't want to see Soren again . But gratitude could not be avoided . She nodded . " And the man who pushed me ? Did you learn anything ? " " His mouth is stubborn , " Zachary said with a cold laugh . " But I'll deal with him . " Fiona hesitated . Catching her hesitation , Zachary softened . " Speak freely , Fiona . You never need to measure your words with me . " Fiona lowered her gaze . " Father , that man ... he was Mdm . Yates ' lover . Could she have been the one who ordered it ? " By speaking first , she placed the suspicion squarely where it belonged - not on her mother . And since the affair between Eleanor and the man was real , even if the evidence was thin , Eleanor could hardly escape punishment . Color drained from Zachary's cheeks . " What proof do you have ? " " I once saw them in an embrace , " Fiona answered . In her previous life , she hadn't underst what she had witnessed before her fall - the man had called the woman " Ellie . " Only later d she realize that Eleanor's given name was precisely that .