- Dad, where did Mom go?
"Hm..." the Duke frowned. "Son, we've been through this before," he replied dryly. "Don't you remember the conversation we had two years ago?"
"Sorry, Dad, but I was little then," Richie smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"Oh..." the man sighed sadly. "Richie, your mother... she left us."
- What do you mean she died?
"No," the man shook his head slightly. "Let's just say we had some misunderstandings that weren't easy to resolve."
- Dad, I'm already an adult. You can tell me the whole truth.
"Even if she's unsightly?!" the Duke raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"Yes, father," the boy nodded seriously.
"Well, perhaps you're old enough to know the truth," the man thoughtfully rubbed his chin with his right hand. "You see, your mother wasn't the best person. She was the kind of girl who preys on rich men. At one not-so-pleasant moment, I discovered that she was using... hmm... how can I explain this to you?"
"Dad, tell me straight! I'm quite smart and quick-witted. You don't think a stupid person could learn ahead of the school curriculum, do you?"
"Richie, I'm proud of your success, but don't get cocky. Alright, I'll tell you how it really was. Your mother used special pheromone-based drugs to make me fall in love with her. Do you know what pheromones are?"
"Yes, Father," he nodded gravely. "Animals secrete pheromones to attract the opposite sex. I've even heard there are perfumes with pheromones. But how did you know about that? You mean, Mom used similar products?"
"She admitted it herself once," the Duke replied sadly. "She hoped I'd understand, so she stopped giving me those... um... medications. But it turned out that I saw the light and realized we never loved each other."
- And me?
The transmigrator was afraid that since his father had gotten rid of his mother, he might also get screwed over with the inheritance.
"What about me?" he continued. "You don't love me either?!"
"What are you saying? What are you saying, Richie!" the Duke objected. "I love you with all my heart. You are my son, the Rich heir, the future seventh Duke of Westminster. The fact that your mother and I separated has not affected my love for you in any way."
- But then why do my sisters live with their mother, and I live with you, and not with my mother?
"That's a difficult question..." The man closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose with the index finger and thumb of his right hand. Adjusting his glasses, he continued, "It just happened that way with Monica... Out of boredom, she started an affair with the gardener, and I couldn't bear such an insult. In the end, we divorced, and Jessica and Lisa stayed with Monica. I completely provided for your sisters' well-being. And your mother... She's a fortune hunter..."
The man stood up from the table and walked over to the child. He gently hugged his son and patted him on the head.
- Richie, just don't be upset by what I'm going to say.
"I won't, dad," said the boy, glancing sideways at his father.
"You see, Laurie was interested in you as a tool to get the Rich family's money. No rich man is immune from such a fate. When my mind cleared and her deception was revealed, we had a huge argument. I told her Laurie wouldn't get a penny. In the end, she packed up all her belongings, grabbed some jewelry and quite a few valuable antiques, and then disappeared into obscurity."