My Unchosen Ex Chases Reborn Me (Soren and Fiona) novel Chapter 276

Neglected 276 Summary

Fiona reassures her mother, Meryl, that as long as they are together, any place feels like home despite the tense situation surrounding them. Meryl expresses concern over Prince Zephyr fleeing to Southmere and Roxanne’s pregnancy, which Fiona has quietly supported with healing herbs. Fiona firmly states that Prince Zephyr’s interest in her is tied to her father’s recent promotion, and she refuses to marry him to protect her family from dangerous political plots, valuing safety over royal favor.

The contrast between Xavier’s genuine care and Zephyr’s distant, perfunctory gifts weighs on Fiona’s mind. While Xavier’s attentions bring warmth, she worries about his reckless nature and wishes he would protect himself better. Meanwhile, the fighter Xavier was supposed to find for Fiona remains missing, adding to her unease. When relatives arrive at the manor with extravagant gifts, Fiona instructs her mother to return everything, wary of owing favors that could jeopardize her father’s precarious position.

Meryl sends the steward to refuse further visits, emphasizing caution to prevent rumors about Fiona’s illness from spreading and causing suspicion. Fiona’s icy reception of the relatives stems from painful memories of being abandoned by them in a past life when her mother was wounded, a betrayal that deeply shaped her distrust. She recognizes that her father’s demotion was orchestrated by someone within their own family, heightening the sense of danger around them.

As time passes in Southmere, Fiona receives a letter from Xavier describing the palace’s tense atmosphere and noting that key noble women have left Broadmoor, making the situation more precarious. Xavier promises to visit soon but says nothing about the missing fighter, leaving Fiona anxious. She recalls a harrowing night when she saved an injured stranger who warned her to stay back, their tense interaction underscored by fear and the threat of scandal if their encounter were discovered. The chapter closes with Fiona grappling with the weight of their secret and the uncertain future ahead.

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276 Homecoming Shadows

“As long as I am by your side, Mother, any place we find ourselves feels like home,” Fiona said softly, a faint smile touching her lips despite the tension in the air.

Meryl let out a slow breath, her brows knitting together with worry. “If only Prince Zephyr had not fled to Southmere. Roxanne’s situation still unsettles me deeply.”

Before leaving Jexburgh, Fiona had discovered that Roxanne was expecting a child. Out of respect—and because of her connection to the Fourth Prince—she had quietly sent a few parcels of healing herbs, hoping to provide some comfort from afar.

“Mother, Prince Zephyr’s interest in me stems solely from Father’s recent promotion,” Fiona replied firmly. “If I marry him, Father will be pulled into Zephyr’s dangerous plots. We’re safer keeping our distance. Even if I never marry at all, what does it matter?”

Meryl’s shoulders relaxed slightly. In these turbulent times, the safety of her husband was far more important than any royal favor. She had already lost too many sleepless nights worrying about Zachary’s wellbeing.

“As for Xavier, he seems willing to wait,” Meryl said thoughtfully, recalling the young man bustling about just before their departure, behaving almost like a son-in-law already.

In stark contrast, Zephyr had only sent a few perfunctory gifts through servants, as though afraid that Fiona’s supposed “illness” might somehow be contagious.

Fiona sighed, a mixture of warmth and unease stirring within her. Xavier’s attentions made her feel cared for, yet a small voice inside whispered doubts. He drifted through life as if untouched by consequences, indifferent even to his own fate. She wished he would protect himself with the same fierce determination he showed for her.

Her thoughts shifted to a more urgent matter: the fighter Xavier had been hired to find on her behalf was still missing.

That very evening, a stream of relatives arrived at the old manor, their faces wide-eyed, their arms heavy with lavish gifts. Fiona couldn’t help but taste the bitter irony. In her past life, she and Meryl had been healthy and strong, yet Zachary’s demotion had cast them aside. Now, despite her supposed “grave illness,” these same relatives appeared, showering them with riches so extravagant that even a lady born in Jexburgh found them excessive.

Fiona’s voice remained steady and calm as she instructed, “Have the servants return everything. Accepting such gifts binds us to favors we cannot afford to grant, and Father cannot afford a single misstep.”

Golden afternoon light filtered through the lattice windows, casting warm stripes across the parlor. Meryl gathered the folds of her midnight cloak and turned to Pearl, who stood nearby with her hands folded. “Pearl, send the steward with the return gifts,” she said, her voice soft but firm, velvet wrapped around steel. “Tell those relatives that Fiona is ill and cannot receive company. They need not trouble themselves with further visits.”

Her tone held none of the coldness Fiona had displayed earlier; it was pure caution. Should rumors about Fiona’s mysterious ailment reach Jexburgh, suspicion would spread, and the girl’s harmless lie might be twisted into treason.

Pearl bowed once, silent and precise, then slipped away to carry out the order.

As the footsteps faded, Meryl’s gaze returned to her daughter. Concern softened the fine lines around her eyes. “You have always cherished family above all else. Why greet them today with such icy reserve?”

Fiona offered a small, almost playful smile, brushing an imaginary speck from her sleeve. “Mother, wasn’t it you who taught me to be wary of strangers?”

What truly soured Fiona’s heart toward those distant relatives had little to do with her current life and everything to do with the previous one. In that timeline, they had dismissed Meryl outright, treating her concern as a nuisance. She remembered begging them for help when Meryl was wounded, yet every door had slammed shut. Even the kind smiles vanished the moment her grief became inconvenient. It was in those darkest moments that she had truly learned the warmth—and the coldness—of human nature.

That stretch of days had been the bleakest of her former life, so harrowing she still hesitated to summon the memory. Back then, each sunrise felt like a cruel rumor, and every night a sentence with no hope of pardon.

Only in this lifetime had she come to understand the truth: her father’s demotion was no mere misfortune. Someone within the Zonfrillo family had helped push the blade.

The weight of her words hung between them, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the walls of the quiet room.

Conclusion

The chapter gently explores the delicate balance between trust and caution that Fiona must navigate in a world fraught with political intrigue and fractured family ties. Her unwavering commitment to protecting her loved ones, even at the cost of warmth and closeness with distant relatives, reveals a deep well of resilience beneath her composed exterior. The shadows of past betrayals linger, shaping her wary approach to the present and underscoring the theme of survival through vigilance and measured restraint.

Amidst the uncertainty and whispered rumors, Fiona’s quiet strength shines through, illuminated by moments of tenderness and unspoken fears. The promise of Xavier’s arrival and the unresolved mystery of the missing fighter leave a subtle tension in the air, reflecting her internal struggle between hope and doubt. As the chapter closes, the interplay of light and shadow mirrors Fiona’s journey—one marked by courage, guarded vulnerability, and the enduring hope for a safer, more honest future.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of loyalties and secrets that surround Fiona and her family. As the shadows of past betrayals linger, Fiona’s cautious heart will be tested by the arrival of unexpected visitors and the silent threats that accompany their lavish gifts. The delicate balance between trust and suspicion will grow ever more fragile, forcing Fiona to navigate a perilous path where every gesture may conceal hidden motives.

Meanwhile, the unresolved mystery of the missing fighter looms like a silent storm on the horizon. Xavier’s impending arrival stirs a mixture of hope and unease within Fiona, as unanswered questions about his true intentions and the dangerous world he inhabits begin to surface. The emotional undercurrents between them hint at complexities yet to unfold, where protection and vulnerability intertwine in unpredictable ways.

Amidst this, the quiet return of noble figures to Jexburgh signals shifting alliances and rising tensions that could ripple through their fragile peace. Fiona’s memories of past hardships will clash with the present, compelling her to confront not only external threats but the shadows within her own heart. Readers can expect a chapter rich with subtle revelations and emotional depth, setting the stage for challenges that will test the bonds of family, loyalty, and love.