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Chapter 143
Despite her resolve to face her new family with her head held high, Ava found herself sighing in relief at the sight of the empty table when she stepped into the dining room the next morning. The prospect of facing her new relatives was thoroughly disconcerting, even more so when she knew they were not entirely pleased to welcome her.
A male servant seated her next to the big chair at the head of the long table, which seemingly belonged to her husband. As she waited for the food to be served, she glanced nervously over her shoulder at the door, half expecting somebody would appear there.
She was beginning to regret her decision to go downstairs. Polly had offered to send her breakfast to her chamber, but she declined. She decided to face her new family instead of avoiding them. She was mulling over her foolish decision to show up on her own when suddenly a plate landed on the table with a loud clattering noise. Startled, she turned to find a
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Disgraceful Chapter 144
Ignoring the maid's panicked apologies, he cursed his own negligence. He should have Amanda removed to one of the room downstairs. He should have fastened the balcony door with a bar."Amanda,"He called softly, as if she was a scared animal that must be approached slowly and steadily. His heart stopped when she turned her head and spun around to face him. Moonlight cast a ghastly shadow over her wounded face. She peered at him with a cold, menacing look."You lied to me. I will have to live with this ugly scar for the rest of my life."Despite a rising surge of terror, he attempted a firm yet gentle voice as he carefully took a step forward."Get down, Amanda. Let's talk inside.""I don't want to listen to your shit!!!"She yelled loudly, making him stop with a start."What will all the men think of me now?!!! They will say I'm a monster...""You're still beautiful
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Sometime later, rumpled and sated, Amanda crawled atop him like a drowsy cat. Purring in satisfaction, she snuggled comfortably against his chest."Promise me you'll never try to hurt yourself again."He said, staring idly to the ceiling. She turned to look up at him."Why does it matter to you?""Because I truly care about you."The simple words seemed to touch her, because she went still. After a long moment, the pensive look replaced by her usual playfulness."I forgot how good it was."She drew circles on his chest with her fingertip, and smiled as she noticed what the careless touch did to his body."Did you miss me when I left?""Yes." He admitted reluctantly. It was strange that they could talk about their feelings like this. In the past, they had never talked to each other after lovemaking. Yes, they did talk during the torrid session, but it w
Disgraceful Chapter 146
When he finally managed to get away from Amanda and returned home, he was glad he met nobody but some scurrying servants on his way to his chamber. Once the door closed, he settled into his bed. He'd never felt so weary, so lightheaded, so spent. And so terribly wretched.A faint odor of his male substance mixed with Amanda's feminine musk still lingered on his skin, clinging to his nostrils. He left her house without taking a bath, knowing that it would only lead to another torrid session in the tub. Amanda was talented and she knew how to please him more than any other woman. But this, his secret tryst with Amanda, no matter how righteous the purpose was, could never be justified.He cursed himself for his lack of judgement. If only he could turn back time he'd never given Amanda access to an extravagant sum that she could buy a horse. He shouldn't have lavished Amanda to a large extent. No.
Disgraceful Chapter 147
"It smells like hell!"Amanda complained once the cover of the pot was removed. A strong herbal odor wafted through the air. They were in a large salon in the French house, sitting on a velvet upholstered coach."Try it. It works wonders."He showed the faint, faded line across his palm, persistently convincing the reluctant Amanda to try the Gypsi medicine. After a good long while, finally she allowed him to apply the ointment to the stitched wound."Let it absorb for a while. Don't touch or wipe it."Amanda crinkled her noise and started complaining again, but he insisted, carefully smearing the foul cream all over her wound."You'll look just the same as before. You'll forget you ever got this wound."To his great relief, the stinking medicine decreased her mood for amorous act. When he first arrived, she had pulled him down to kiss him and climbed onto his lap, but now she was reclining on
Disgraceful Chapter 148
"No," She pulled away from his touch abruptly, startling them both."Not like this. Not here."Hastily she slid down the desk and retreated a step away from him, her hands slightly trembling as she adjusted her robe. This didn't feel right. There was no honest passion in his touch, no fierce, genuine urgency. It felt like he saw her as another duty, another chore to get through."I... I think I'd better go. You still have a lot of work and you need a good rest afterward. See you in the morning."And without waiting for his reply, she fled out of the room.Something was terribly wrong. She didn't have any concrete proof, or even clues of what was wrong, but every instinct in her told her that he concealed something from her. She determined to find out what was behind his strange behavior and she wouldn't stop until she got to the bottom of it.*****Ava awoke to a light kiss on he
Disgraceful Chapter 149
Later in the evening, Ava checked her reflection in the mirror, and couldn't help but feeling satisfied with what she was looking at. She looked fine, to say the least. Today she was feeling beautiful. Her flawless face was fresh and glowing, her black hair tumbled in glorious mass over her shoulders. She was wearing a muted purple nightgown. The shade flattered her pale skin and accentuated her eyes. Entirely happy with her look, she stepped out of the bathroom and into her chamber.Ashton was sitting in the middle of her bed in his silk dressing gown, leaning against the headboard with a book in his hand. When their gazes met, he tossed the book aside. Eyes locked with his, she climbed into bed and came toward him. She wasted no time in showing what she wanted. Without a moment's hesitation, she unfastened his robe and pushed it off his shoulders. In return, he ran his hands up her smooth haunches, pushing the hem of her nightgown up over her hips to cup her b
Disgraceful Chapter 150
Alone with her restless mind, Ava gazed at the night outside her window as she listened to the minutes ticked away in the quiet. She was lying on the far side of the bed with her back facing the door. She put on a dozen layers of clothes and wrapped herself in the thick blanket to shield herself from unwanted attention. She didn't want him to touch her tonight.Though, came to think of it, her desperate attempt to protect herself was ridiculous. Since it was well past ten and her husband hadn't come to her, it was clear that he wasn't keen to spend the night with her. In fact, he was actually putting some distance between them since their fight this morning. He left the house rightaway, though he returned home shortly. He buried himself in work the whole day, which was only another excuse for avoiding her. The thoughts disrupted when the adjoining door creaked open behind her."You awake?"
Disgraceful Chapter 151
"We can't see anything from here."Several yards away from the back of the French house, Ava peeked out from behind a bare tree. A row of windows in the upper part of the house above a stone wall silently greeted her. She had been spying the house for almost one hour, waiting for an unmarked coach to arrive at the back gate, with its inhabitant hidden safely inside.Her eyes ached and she blinked away the blurry mist. She hadn't gotten much rest since all night long her suspicion had been eating away at her. Now from where she stood, with barely a glimpse of the happenings inside, imaginary vision of what could possibly happen behind the walls flashed repeatedly through her head. Bile rose in her throat. She'd leave him rightaway if her suspicion proved to be true."I don't get it. What the hell are we doing here?" Behind her, Polly griped between chattering teeth. The weather outside w
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