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Chapter 156
The word "jail" seemed to strike instant terror into Amanda's heart, because her crimson face instantly drained of all colors. He stared down into her pallid face from hard, uncompromising eyes.
"Choose wisely, Amanda. If you give up now, I will let you go and you don't have to bear legal consequences for your offence. You will get nothing, but you will still have your freedom and possibilities. In jail, you will most likely lose it all."
******
The pale winter light peeked through the slit between the curtains in Ava's chamber as morning crept over the quiet mansion. In the middle of her bed, Ava rolled over to her side, biting her lips restlessly. She'd been staying wide awake all night, not so much as thinking about sleep, knowing that somewhere in Amanda's house, a woman was confined, perhaps terrorized and tormented as well, alone with no one to save her. Everytime she'd closed her eyes, Eleanor's terrified face flashed through h
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Disgraceful Chapter 157
A shout from behind startled her. Gasping, Ava turned to see Ashton rushing in. Roughly he snatched the piece of paper from her hand and crumpled it before throwing it back into the fire."These are my personal stuffs. You shouldn't go through it."He hissed, turning blazing eyes on her."Why I shouldn't see your stuffs? I think we've vowed before God to share anything we have with each other.""Listen carefully. This house and everything in it is yours to do as you please, but I'd rather you leave my personal things alone.""I want nothing to do with this house. All I want is you committed to me.""You know I'm committed to you.""I've committed myself, to being totally honest with you at all times. Is it too much to ask the same from you? If you're truly committed to me, then you should be completely open and truthful with me. If you still keep secre
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After so much disturbance in the first days of their marriage, Ava could finally enjoy a few days of peace without disruption. Except for Lord Carlton and Lady Cecily, nobody dared to be hostile to her in her husband's presence, but just when she thought she would finally be able to breathe easy, a sudden news dashed her hopes. It happened one fine morning when she was taking a stroll down the garden with her husband."A ball?"Ava repeated the words in horror, staring unblinkingly at Ashton, who just announced that he'd ordered the household staff to arrange a ball in her honor. Not expecting such an unenthusiastic response, he stopped walking and looked down at her with a slightly perplexed frown."That's absolutely unnecessary."Ava shook her head, horrified by the idea of having to be displayed in front of the crowd of nobility."It's a family tradition.
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"Don't forget, you once said your uncle is like a father to you.""He is, and I will always respect and honor him, but that doesn't mean I will tolerate his unacceptable behavior, especially where my wife's well being is concerned."She shook her head, appalled by the idea."It may seem like the most possible solution now, because you are mad, but you'll regret it later.""The only thing I'll regret in life is if I fail to protect the closest person to me."Ava opened her mouth to reply but then subsided. She knew that at this point, whatever she said wouldn't stop him from doing whatever he deemed necessary. Once Ashton took a resolved standpoint, nobody could change his mind. He had always held fast to his point of view, and never wavered between two courses of actions. Now all she could do was to try to defer the decision."All right, but I ask you to consider this matt
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Stung at the unexpected jab, Ava was temporarily speechless. Just then, the woman's husband came wrapping her arms around his wife. Perfectly unaware of what just happened, the man nodded and led the woman away. The woman flashed her a scornful glance a moment before leaving. Ava froze, too dazed that she was unable to react until she felt Ashton's hand on the small of her back."I told you it's not as tough as it seems. Actually it's quite easy, isn't it?"She tried to think of a direct, clear way to tell him, but none came to mind. Another peer came to greet them and she stood beside him as still as a statue. Though she directed her gaze straight ahead without really looking at anyone in the crowd, she could feel the burn of curious eyes around her. Just as the growing tension became excruciating, she caught a familiar face amidst the crowd.It was Lady Byrne, gawking at her as if seeing a ghost. When their gazes met,
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Soon as Amanda disappeared through the door, she dropped into the coach, laid her head on her crossed arms, and burst into sobs."Darling, are you alright?"Lady Byrne's voice startled her and she looked up to see the lady regarding her with concerned frown. The lady gasped at her tearful face."You poor thing! Come here my dear."Sitting beside her, the lady hugged her and stroked her hair consolingly."I heard everything. That's complete nonsense. Don't listen to that slut Amanda. Nothing comes out of her mouth but lies.""But how-" Ava gasped, then faltered."I was just about to come in when I saw her talking to you.""Mrs. Puck?" Ava's anxious gaze swept around the room, worried that another person might have heard the shameful conversation."I can't find her. Perhaps she has returned home without me. Anyway, you shouldn't listen to that dirty whor
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Soon after Amanda was gone, Ashton wasted no time to search for his wife, andbefore long, found her with Dowager Countess Byrne in a sitting room. He stopped by the door and stood listening to their conversation.He almost choked when he heard Ava spilling the whole story of Amanda's scheme to the countess. Not only he was taken aback, he was also terribly embarrassed and strongly disapproved of her openness in such private matters. But he knew at this point he couldn't interrupt without humiliating himself or anyone. He'd never understand the ways of women. They tended to confide personal secrets in their friends, something that he, and most men, would never do.Much to his surprise, the countess was vehemently on his side. The older woman strongly supported him in her opinion and firmly convinced Ava to trust him and not to doubt his f
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The day began as usual in the Bailey's large countryhouse. Shortly after daybreak, the kitchen was already filled with the delicious aroma of smoked bacon and eggs with freshly baked toast, for the family would start the morning, as any other, with a hearty yet humble breakfast.With a dissatisfied frown on her face, Amanda stared down at the messy scrambled egg and overcooked browned potatoes in her worn tin plate. Her mother, a plump, middle-aged woman with hair the same shade as hers, walked around the table with a plate of sautéed bacon. She took a seat next to her husband, who was stuffing a huge piece of toast into his mouth."You want to eat that food before it gets cold."Mr. Bailey motioned at the untouched food in her daughter's plate. Shaking her head with narrowing eyes, Amanda let out a desperate sigh."I've lost my appetite even before I taste it. This food l
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Mystified by the strangeness of it all, he flipped through the pages, quickly reading through the book, and immediately froze, rooted to the ground as what he discovered in the pages snatched the air from his lungs. Totally unforeseen, unthinkable, and unbelievably devastating, the long-buried secret revealed in the book struck him as a bolt from the blue. It was as if his entire world had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye.Heedless of all else but one thing on his mind, he took the picture and notebook with him, rushing out of the study and right to his chamber. Without thinking, he tossed several random clothes into a valise before snapping it shut. After having his things brought down by his valet, he threw on his winter coat and bounded downstairs."Have a carriage readied for me as soon as possible."He ordered the butler, who seemed more than a bit startled."Pardon me, Your Grace, but Mr. Ingwald is still wa
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