TCPFLBW l CH 01

Episode 1
My Husband Died

My husband died.
With no warning whatsoever—one day, he just suddenly died.
If he had even a known illness, I might’ve had some idea and prepared myself for the day he’d go.
But no, he really died out of nowhere.

And before the funeral was even over, a lawyer came to see me.

“According to the will, all of Baron Vansenne’s property is to be inherited by Miss Selena Lowell.”

Selena Lowell.

That wasn’t the name of my husband’s eight-year-old daughter.
She wasn’t some secret sister of his either.

The woman named Selena Lowell was someone I had never seen before—a stranger, pale and delicate like a lily of the valley.

She gave me a sympathetic look, softening her eyes.

“It’s unfortunate, truly… but this is what the will says. I’m sure you understand.”

I had no idea he had a mistress.

Now a widow, I stared at her intently.

None of this makes sense.

If he had a mistress, why did he marry me in the first place?

The inheritance part is even weirder.

Even if he wanted to leave me out, why didn’t he leave even a gold ring to his only daughter?

Something was clearly off.

But the will had been officially notarized and there wasn’t a single flaw in it.

As I stood there unable to argue, Selena took something out of her bag. I forced myself to stay calm and asked:

“What’s this?”

“A train ticket,” she replied with a sigh, after briefly furrowing her eyebrows in an exaggerated show of regret.

“As you probably know… once an inheritance is settled, direct family members who didn’t receive anything must leave the town.”

It was more than just a rule—it was a kind of local tradition.

Those who inherited wealth would often give travel money to family members who didn’t—especially the kind who might cause trouble.

Why?

To politely but firmly say: Please leave. Don’t make a fuss. Just go quietly.

It was an unspoken social rule.
I knew that.
But I still pretended not to, and asked again,

“A train ticket?”

Selena stepped closer and whispered quietly:

“Just so you’re aware, a guardsman is waiting at the gate to escort you to the station.”

A warning, basically.
Don’t try anything. Just leave quietly.

“I even got you a first-class seat,” she added, raising her brows like she was doing me a huge favor.

“Most people only get the cheapest tickets, but I couldn’t live with that. It didn’t feel right.”

I swallowed a bitter laugh as I stared at the hand she held out to me.

“There’s also a bit of consolation money inside to help you get by for a while.”

Should I ask her who she thinks she is, taking my husband’s entire fortune?

No.
The truth was, my husband and I had only been married by name for a long time.
Everyone in town knew that.

And besides all that, I didn’t want to make a scene.

“At least let me pack a few clothes.”

“Of course.”

After hearing that, Estella headed toward the stairs.
Then, a gentle voice called from behind.

“Pack the child’s clothes, too.”

The child’s?
Puzzled, Estella turned around. Selena tilted her head slightly.

“You have to take the child with you. You’re her mother, aren’t you? I mean, legally, you are Baron Vansenne’s wife.”

In other words—Selena was saying Estella should take the child.
Estella glanced down at the little girl standing awkwardly in the corner of the first floor, clearly unsure of what to do.

The girl looked nothing like Estella, whose expression was always cold and stern.
She was soft and warm-looking, like a child wrapped in sunshine and spring.

“Mother,” huh…

Estella wasn’t the type to feel affection for a child she barely knew.
She hadn’t even spent enough time with her to form any kind of bond or attachment.

After all, she’d only been the second wife of that widower for half a year.
Was that even enough time to develop any kind of feeling?

Just then, the lawyer spoke firmly to Estella.

“Legally, Mrs. Estella is still the guardian of Miss Ayla Vansenne.”

In other words: if she didn’t take the child, there would be legal consequences.

Estella paused to consider.
Should she just throw it all away and walk out?

That thought briefly crossed her mind—but she quickly steadied herself.

“No. I promised myself I wouldn’t live like that anymore.”

So she had to endure it.
Besides, Selena hadn’t come alone—there were six people on her side.

If Estella wanted to kill them and run, that might work.
But knocking them all out and escaping? That was unrealistic.

“Don’t worry,” Selena said sweetly. “I packed enough for the child too.”

Estella looked at that pleasant, fake smile and felt the urge to leap down the stairs and slam her knee right into that shameless face.

But she held herself back—
Because just then, her stepdaughter quietly approached and gently took her hand.

“……”

Estella’s eyes naturally dropped down to the girl.
This is insane.

She looked at the girl holding her hand, then said in a flat tone,

“Don’t grip my hand so tight.”

“…Okay.”

The girl loosened her grip a little, but her hand was still damp and sticky with sweat.
Estella tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling and climbed the stairs.

When they reached the hallway, she spoke calmly to the girl.

“Don’t pack the things you like. Pack the expensive ones. You’re a smart kid—you know what I mean, right?”

The girl nodded and disappeared into her room.
Estella stood quietly for a moment, looking at the closed door, then turned to head into her own room to pack.

And just like that, she became a widow with a child.

* * *
The train was noisy and dirty.
Whenever coal fired up the engine, it coughed out thick black smoke in all directions.

So, even cracking the window open just a little to enjoy the view let in that sharp, sooty smell.
It was unfamiliar—not unbearable, but certainly not a scent anyone would be curious to keep smelling.

That’s why Estella had kept the window shut the whole ride.
But apparently, while she’d dozed off for a moment, the child had opened it again.

“My throat hurts, so I’m going to close the window.”

The child, clutching a bunny doll given to her by her now-deceased father as a birthday gift, nodded reluctantly while still staring out the window.

Estella shut it without a second thought.
Still, even with the window closed, the girl remained standing on the seat, leaning against the window to keep watching outside.

“Is it interesting?”

The child quietly nodded, hugging her stuffed animal tightly with both hands.

“When someone asks you something, you answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”

“…Yes.”

“Good. That’s how you do it.”

Once again, silence settled between them.
Estella briefly considered making small talk to fill the quiet but dismissed the thought.

What’s the point in asking?
It would only make her grow attached.

Leaning her head against the train’s window, Estella simply sat there, feeling the train shake beneath her.

It’s shaking a lot.
Whether it was the train or her uncertain future, her stomach churned.

Why does everyone like this stuff so much, anyway?

She sighed about how people these days were obsessed with “new and modern” things, then let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

At least this train has a destination.
She didn’t. No final stop, no clear direction.

I thought things would change once I got married.
It wasn’t a love match, but still—she had hoped, just a little.

People always say marriage gives you stability, a family to ground your wandering heart.

She had foolishly believed that, even though it was a marriage based on nothing more than paperwork, maybe, over time, she’d build something like a family.

But life had laughed in her face.
Estella Rivers’ life remained just as unstable as ever.

As her thoughts spiraled deeper and deeper, she suddenly felt a tug at her skirt.

“Um…”

She slowly opened her eyes to see the girl looking back and forth between her and the door of the train cabin.

“I think we’re almost there…”

Estella just stared silently, and the child added softly,

“The train… is slowing down…”

At eight years old, she understands speed?
Just like her father—sharp and smart.

He didn’t even leave her a single coin, even though she’s so much like him…

He may have been a cold man, but Estella had thought at the very least, he would take care of his own daughter.
Clearly, she’d been wrong.

She looked again at the girl.

He was always holed up in his lab.
So when had he even had the time to start something with another woman who wasn’t his wife?

Should I try to find out more?

Her thoughts were starting to spiral again when the girl tugged on her skirt once more.

With a sigh, Estella stood and pulled down the travel trunk from the luggage rack.

“Let’s go.”

She handed the child her own small suitcase.

But it was too heavy for an eight-year-old, and the girl struggled with it, grunting softly.

“Give it here.”

Estella took the heavy suitcase and instead handed her a small bag designed to look like a grown-up’s handbag.

Just then, the train came to a stop.
And Estella stepped off the train with the girl at her side.