Even though the Morrigans clearly hated Jeffrey’s decision, none of them dared to go against him. Jas looked torn. I could almost feel his thoughts twisting through him. He didn’t want Camilla tied to Julian. That bond would destroy whatever good was left of Julian’s na. But he also kept glancing at the gift Jeffrey gave earlier the jewelry set reserved for soone the family truly welcod. That alone said everything about who the house wanted beside Lewis.
If I ever carried Lewis’s child, the entire line would shift. Everyone could see that.
So Jas had his own plan. Keep the baby. Cut Camilla loose. That way Julian could hold onto so place in the legacy without being chained to her. It was all strategy with him. Always angles. Always gain.
But Julian... he was done.
He didn’t lift his head. He just let himself be taken to his room, quiet and empty.
The Morrigans were escorted out next. Once the door shut behind them, Jeffrey turned to .
"Riley," he said, voice low but steady, "you really don’t like Julian, do you?"
There was no point pretending. The truth was already out, clear as day. I t his eyes.
"No, I don’t. I’ve heard everything he’s done... and tonight, I saw how he and Camilla acted. Betrayal like that on a wedding night? In a place like this?" I shook my head. "I couldn’t pretend I didn’t see it."
Jeffrey listened the whole ti without interrupting. Then he gave a slow nod. "You’re a good person, Riley. I can tell." His tone shifted firr, older, guiding. "But now that you’re stepping into this family, your voice carries weight. What you say, how you react... it reflects on all of us. Tonight was just family watching. Imagine if outsiders were here. The damage could have spread far."
He wasn’t scolding . He was warning like soone who cared what happened next.
"I understand," I said quietly. "I’ll be careful."
So of the tension in his shoulders eased. "I’ve heard about what happened with your own family... the Ashbournes." His expression softened. "Whatever they put you through, you won’t face anything alone here. If anyone treats you unfairly, tell or Lewis. And don’t mind Lewis’s cold face he feels more than he shows."
Sothing warm moved through . more like being seen after years of walking in shadows.
"Thank you, Jeffrey," I whispered.
He gave a small smile. "Now, focus on the banquet arrangents. Think of it as a first step. Soon, this ho will be under your care. Our n deal with outside threats. Inside this place will follow your lead."
"I won’t disappoint you," I said. "Lewis is a good man. I’ll stand with him... always. By the way, is there a the for the banquet?"
Jeffrey thought for a mont. "You and Lewis never had a formal engagent, and after everything the family just lost, a full wedding wouldn’t be right. The banquet is our way of announcing you as Mrs. Hale."
"I’m honored," I said softly. "I’ll make everything perfect... Dad."
His eyes ward. "Good. If you need anything, speak to Gune. He’ll handle the details."
"I will."
When I stepped out of his study, the cold air brushed against my skin. Snow had finally stopped, but the night still felt sharp.
Gune was unbelievably patient with . He spent the whole afternoon walking through everything that ca with running the Hale estate. Staff schedules, supply logs, old agreents, even the quiet rules no one wrote down but everyone followed. He explained it all without rushing, like he was passing on sothing sacred.
When we finally finished, he placed a heavy ring of keys in my hand.
"These open the family vault," he said calmly.
I stared at the keys. The vault?
"Are you sure I should hold onto these?"
Gune dipped his head slightly. "You’re Mrs. Hale now. This cos with the role."
The title... it sounded elegant, but holding those keys made it feel real. Heavy. A single mistake could ruin trust built over centuries. I tightened my grip and silently promised not to fail.
By the ti everything was in place, darkness had already wrapped around the estate. Quiet.
It was ti to see Camilla.
I asked the kitchen to prepare chicken soup, then carried the bowl myself, with a maid nad Jane trailing behind . Jane was small, jittery, but her voice could shake walls if she wanted. Exactly what I needed.
We reached Camilla’s room. Jane tapped lightly, then pushed the door open.
Camilla lay curled on the couch, pale and drained. The sharp-tongued, confident woman I rembered... gone. The heavy circles beneath her eyes told their own story.
How fitting.
She used to stand beside Julian with that sa delicate face, pretending sweetness while cutting into whenever no one was watching. Back then, I was always tired, always hurt, and she was always glowing.
But now, the roles had flipped.
Her glare snapped to the mont I stepped inside. "What are you doing here?"
I kept my expression gentle, the sa way she used to fool others. "You haven’t eaten all day. I brought chicken soup. It’s warm. Please have so."
She stared at the bowl, fighting between pride and the obvious weakness in her body. Hunger won. Her hand lifted.
I leaned in slightly, my voice soft. "You should eat. You need your strength. I heard your heart isn’t doing well... and if sothing happens during surgery losing both you and the baby wouldn’t all your sacrifices go to waste?"
Her face drained of color. She understood imdiately.
Even soone like Camilla still had so instinct to protect what she carried. That much, at least, was real.
She gripped the bowl so tight her knuckles whitened then her expression twisted in rage.
Without warning, she flung the steaming soup at .
"You disgusting woman! How dare you say that?!"
The burning liquid splashed over my hands and chest. Pain stabbed through so fast I gasped and stumbled backwards, collapsing onto the floor.
"Aahh!" The scream tore from before I could swallow it down.
Jane rushed in, horrified. "Oh no! Mrs. Riley! What happened?!"
The skin on my hands was already turning bright red. My dress clung to , soaked and burning. Tears spilled down my face not only from the pain, but from knowing exactly what this scene would trigger.
Jane’s voice rang down the hall. "Help! Soone help! Mrs. Riley’s been burned!"
Footsteps thundered toward the room.
Camilla froze, panic flickering in her eyes. This wasn’t what she expected. She thought it would stay between us.
"Stop pretending," she snapped. "Just get up."
Too late.
The room filled quickly.
"What happened here?" Jas demanded, marching in. His eyes locked onto curled on the floor, clutching my burning hands, and his jaw tightened.
I looked up at him through tears. "I... I only wanted her to have so soup. She hadn’t eaten. I didn’t an anything bad. She just threw it at ..."
Julian rushed in next. His gaze moved from my hands to the shattered bowl on the floor. Anger ripped through his features.
Camilla opened her mouth to defend herself, but he didn’t let her.
His palm cracked across her cheek in one sharp, brutal motion.
"You heartless woman!" he shouted. "What were you thinking?!"
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