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Chapter 126
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Another sleepless night, another interminably long day to survive. The dull, tedious cycle started to become Ava's new reality. It was almost noon by the time she woke up. She turned to the window and gazed outside, into a day as dull and gloomy as her heart. She glanced at the mantle clock on the commode, startled to see how late it was. Suddenly she realized, Polly had done all the house chores and her job since they returned home. With a little pang of guilt, she rolled out of bed and washed her face. She stepped out of her room to find that the kitchen had been cleaned and lunch was already served. Across the room, Polly was kneeling in front of the hearth, trying to start the fire.
"Drat! It won't start. There's not enough sticks in here."
Polly wiped out a mist of sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand, smudging ashes over her damp skin.
"I'll get them." Ava put on a shabby cloak and a pair of old leather
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Disgraceful Chapter 127
Polly darted a glance at her stomach and shook her head in shock. "Don't tell me that you've slept with him?"Ava turned her gaze away and bit her lip."Jesus!!! What were you thinking? How could you let him do that thing to you?!!!" Polly shouted, the plate clattered noisily as it landed on the table.Closing her eyes in desperation, Ava ran her hands through her hair, a helpless sob escaped her as she buried her head in her palms. "That was foolish of me. I thought he really loved me, and I thought we were going to marry soon.""Goodness!!! How could you be so stupid?!! You know what men are like. Especially a man like him. Men are fickle, bouncing from one woman to another on a whim. There's only one thing they're after. Novelty, and novelty fades fast.""How was I supposed to know he was a liar and a cheater? He proposed me wit
Disgraceful Chapter 128
"Oh! There you are!" Polly's shout interrupted, startling Ava at once. She turned to see Polly rushing toward them. Shoving Ava aside, Polly pounced on Magnus and clasped him heartily."Look who's paying us a visit! Nice to see you, lad. What a pleasure!""Nice to see you too, Polly." He smiled, welcoming Polly in his friendly embrace. Polly squeezed him tight for a second, then pulled away and gave him a wink. "You lovebirds must have a lot to catch up. But there's something I need to ask her. A moment, please."Polly snatched her arm and marched her to the house. At the doorstep, Polly paused to turn to Magnus and pointed at him. "Be right back. Just stay where you are."Once they were inside the house, Polly slammed the door shut and turned around to face her. Her flashing eyes briefly brushed over her stomach."Don't you dare s
Disgraceful Chapter 129
She shrieked in surprise when he reached under the water, his strong arms wound around her body, one hand came beneath her underarm to cup the underside of her breast, while the other slid beneath her bent knees. The water sloshed over the rim of the tub, spilling onto the floor and soaking his sleeves as he lifted her out of the tub.Water dripped from her hair and body to the wooden floor as he carried her across the room. Carelessly he threw her onto the bed. His eyes never left hers as he stood by the edge of the bed and began to shed his clothes. One button was undone, followed by another, and his tanned, haired chest peeking from the opening of his clothes. In no time, the rest of his clothing and his boots were heaped on the floor. With all the courage that she could muster, Ava turned to look at him.His powerful shoulders swept down to a pair of sinewed upper arms. His trunk was shaped to perfection with a brutal swell of muscles be
Disgraceful Chapter 130
He stiffened and paused. His gaze darted down to her belly and his hand fell away."I'm carrying his child."Rolling away from him, Ava pulled the blanket over her body and wrapped it around her, tucking the heavy fabric under her arms."I'm sorry. At first I thought to keep it from you, but I can't."She saw a vein in his neck ticked with a hint of rage."You intended to deceive me into thinking the child is mine?" His voice was as cold as ice."I'm sorry, Magnus. I didn't want to lie to you. I just... I was afraid I would lose you if you know the truth. But I can't keep it from you anymore."Jaw tensed in a grim expression, his gaze lifted to her face."How many we
Disgraceful Chapter 131
Ava gasped, momentarily at a loss for words. She never thought that Magnus would have spilled this out."You don't need to worry. I want nothing from you. I made a mistake and I'll bear the consequences myself. It has nothing to do with you.""Don't be so inconsiderate, Ava. It's not only about you and me. You shouldn't refuse me if you care enough to give our child its right to legal existence.""And what do you mean by that?""Marriage. It's the only way. We have to get married real soon."Marriage. The word itself or the fact that he still insisted on trying to delude her, stunned her. But she was no fool. She wouldn't trust him an inch."You wouldn't want to marry a woman who had given you a child. What makes you think I will believe that you would marry me f
Disgraceful Chapter 132
"I believe there's some mistake here. I assume Miss Banks is experiencing some misleading symptoms, but she is definitely not pregnant.""What?! But... my period is almost three weeks late, and I'm usually pretty regular." She blurted, completely shocked of the unexpected outcome."There are many other reasons for missed or late period, Miss. It's actually quite common among women of your age. In your case, I suspect a sudden weight loss that might throw off your period. I suggest you come back if you still haven't gotten your period in two weeks."Saying nothing in response, Ava looked away in shame. Aware of her perturbation, Ashton promptly said, "Doctor Engelbert, this is a very personal and private matter, and it will have to remain confidential. Do you understand?""We'll take good care of it, Your Grace." The doctor bowed solemnly. Mrs. Engelbert who was standing beside her husband lowered her
Disgraceful Chapter 133
"Easy, it's me."She froze at the sound of the deep, familiar voice. Immediately the intruder removed his hand from her mouth and turned her around to face him."It's alright, it's alright..."Ashton said as he cupped her face with both hands. Too shocked to respond, Ava offered no resistance when he pulled her into his arms and cradled her tenderly against his chest."I can't stop thinking about you, about what happened yesterday. I came to tell you I'm sorry. I'm terribly sorry."For long stupefied seconds, she was dazed by his unexpected appearance, and his drastic change of behavior. She remained still with one side of her face pressed against his chest. His heartbeat pounded beneath her ear, reverberated through her as it had been when he held her after they had made love. The memories, and the pain of it, filled her with sudden anger. She twisted free from his embrace, but he caught at her wrist, hold
Disgraceful Chapter 134
With a shocked gasp, Ava pulled away and slammed the door shut but Roger was faster. Quickly he wedged his foot against the door and pushed heavily forward. The door swung open, sending her staggering back several steps. The next second, his hands shot out to grab her neck, his fingers digging into her throat so deep she couldn't breathe, gulping for air like a fish washed ashore. Obviously pleased to see her in pain, Roger shoved her over the wall and followed after her, pinning her against the stout bricks with his weight."Do you miss me, love? Don't say no because I do. You look so ravishing I can take you here and now. I've missed you that much."He squeezed her breast through the thin fabric of her gown. His hot, fetid breath struck her skin as he grunted lustfully into her ear. Turning away her head in disgust, she wondered how she had let him kiss her several times in the past. She shrieked when he ripped the top of her gown, revealing her white,
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Disgraceful Chapter 187
Carrying the old, unsent letter in his hand, Ashton took a determined step to Lord Carlton's bedchamber. The door was left slightly opened, as to make it easier for the servants to hear if the lord rang the bell. He stopped in front of the doorway and peered inside. Through the narrow opening, he could see his uncle across the room, sitting on the wheelchair by the window, gazing out into the wintry garden outside."Do come in."The lord called without glancing his way. Despite the head injury, his uncle hadn't lost his usual alertness, and the wheelchair didn't make him look less forbidding. He was very fortunate the injury didn't cause him any permanent damage, and though he hadn't quite regained his normal strength until this day, the doctor said that he would no longer need the device in a couple of weeks.Lord Carlton turned in his wheelchair to face him as he entered the room."What is it?"His uncle
Disgraceful Chapter 186
Present DayWhen Ava peered into his chamber this morning, she found that he'd been able to get out of bed without any help. He stood in front of the mirror with a brush covered with lather in hand, meeting her gaze within the reflection. He paused, watching her breeze into the room and walk toward him."Oh, you're up already. Do you feel any better today?"She asked casually."Very much so. I think I'm going to have some fresh air. I'm tired of being confined in this room."Stopping within a foot from him, she glanced at the shaving equipment on the dresser."Let me help you.""There's no need-""Sit over there."She ignored him, motioning him to sit on the sidetable. Obediently, he did her bidding, half-sitting on the edge of the sidetable. With a brush, she smoothed the lather evenly ove
Disgraceful Chapter 185
For a moment, she was quite bewildered by his request, but then she realized, by asking her to do so, he was trying to be completely truthful to her, to share his darkest secrets with her, no matter how sordid and shameful they were, to let her see the ugly side of him and to trust her without reserve.She settled back into the chair and took the letter from his hand. She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, clearing her throat before she started reading,"Dear Carlton,I hope you will understand why I choose this way. I can no longer carry on in this fashion. It's not that I don't love you enough to go on. No words can express how much I love you. I die a little inside each time I see you. You can't imagine how difficult it is for me, but we both know that this is the best for us. I know you can't desert your family, and I don't blame you, for I can never do that to my son eith
Disgraceful Chapter 184
Several hours later..."This is unspeakable. I can't believe it."Magnus' voice carried clearly across the hall. He turned around abruptly, wild sparks shooting from his eyes as he gazed furiously at the woman sitting in an armchair on the other side of the room."For Christsakes, why would you do this, Mother. How could you?"Lady Cecily stared into the void without so much as a word. Her eyes devoid of emotions, her refined feature as hard as granite.Sitting in a wheelchair pushed by a servant, Lord Carlton entered the parlor. Behind him are two of the guardsmen. Shooting a bitter look at his wife, he uttered with a composed voice."You'll be up before the magistrate to face the legal consequences of your crime. I've sent words to the authorities. The Constable will pick you up at first light."The lady took the notice with a pr
Disgraceful Chapter 183
With soundless steps, Ava sneaked her way to Lord Carlton's bedchamber. The door was slightly opened, allowing a shaft of light from inside the room to spill out into the dark corridor. Stopping by the doorstep, she peeked into the room through the small opening. In the middle of the large bed, the lord lay as white and still as death. A candle burned in the nightstand, casting a dim glow in the gloom of the chamber.Drawing a long, fortifying breath, Ava slipped into the chamber. Crossing the room, she moved around the bed and sat in the chair nearby, gazing regretfully upon the lifeless face.To have a death on her conscience was too great a burden to bear. Perhaps she was a fool to think that to confess her sin and beg forgiveness from the insensible victim would give her a little comfort, but she just couldn't help it."I'm so sorry, My Lord." She began."I thou
Disgraceful Chapter 182
There hadn't been much progress on Lord Carlton's condition the following day. He remained unconscious, only a faint pulse indicated there was life in there, yet it hung by a tenuous thread. In the morning, Doctor Haynes returned to check on him. Ashton asked him if there was any hope, and the doctor shook his head slightly in answer.In contrast to her dramatic reaction over Lord Carlton's condition the day before, Lady Cecily showed little interest in taking care of her husband. Instead, it was a loyal servant that had worked for the family for nearly fourty years who seemed to care deeply about him, feeding him with broth and water every hour, and applying soothing balm to his chapped lips. When she had finished her gentle ministrations, the old maid would kneel beside his bed and folded her wrinkled hands, praying for the master's recovery.Inside one of the sitting room in the secluded West Wing, Ashton stood gazing into the fire where
Disgraceful Chapter 181
Ava blanched upon hearing his oath. She'd never heard such ferocity in a person's voice. Quick to notice her sudden pallor, Ashton took her hand, murmured some excuse to Aunt Cecily and Magnus, and led her out of the room."Your hands are so cold," He looked down at her hand in his hold with concerned frown. Too overwhelmed with distress, she let him take her to her chamber upstairs."Nobody will know about it." He said once the door closed behind them, and when she remained mute, pale and cold with fear, he headed to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy. He made her finish the drink in two long swallows, and took the empty glass from her trembling hand. Setting the glass in the nearest sideboard, he placed his hands on her arms, forcing her to look directly into his eyes."Listen, I've told the guards never to breathe a word about it to anyone. I'll replace them immediately. Don't be afraid, I won't let anything bad happen to y
Disgraceful Chapter 180
The next thing she knew, Ashton and the guardsmen already moved with mad haste to save Lord Carlton's life. By sheer luck, one of the guards had managed to get a wagon from a local farmer to bring the wounded lord home. She fixed the bandage and tried to slow down the bleeding, doing the best she could without further question, since the severity of the lord's injury left no time for explanation. Unfortunately the process of removing the lord from the building into the vehicle and the rough journey back home seemed to worsen his condition. Once they arrived home, a servant rushed to fetch the new doctor. During the wait, Ashton could hardly think of anything else. He was too distraught with fear, not certain Lord Carlton would survive another minute. Thankfully, within minutes the doctor arrived with his nurse."I'll do my best."Doctor Haynes promised before closing the door to Lord Carlton's bedchamber.
Disgraceful Chapter 179
It seemed like the matter was urgent and highly confidential, Uncle Carlton didn't even leave his name on the message. Pulling the top drawer, he slipped the note beneath the piles of documents and rushed out of the room.*****By the time Ava returned to the study, an empty room greeted her. A sudden sense of premonition settled over her, and she instantly suppressed it. He might have retired to his chamber, or he might have been doing some other activity in another parlor somewhere in the house, she told herself. Still, she couldn't help but quicken her pace as she rushed through the house, desperate to find him as soon as possible."Edward, where's my husband?" She asked when she came across the butler in the corridor. The butler halted and bowed."His Grace has left the house a few minutes ago, Your Grace."Her heart immediately missed a beat."What?! Where?""I
