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Chapter 170
Two stories above the main entrance to the manor, Ashton stood waiting by the window, observing the snow-covered frontyard below through the frosted windowpane. A gilded carriage with Vermont monogram was waiting by the portico, ready to deliver Lord Carlton and Lady Cecily to their new house. Beside him, Ava turned to look into his face. Though he refused to share his true feelings about it with her, she knew that it wasn't anger or pride that was keeping him from saying goodbye, but the unbearable sight of his family stepping out the house for the last time.
"Won't you bid farewell?"
Ava asked, but instead of answering her, he turned around and left. At first she thought he was going downstairs, but he walked past the stairs and headed to one of the parlor that overlooked to the formal garden inside. She followed behind him but halfway down the corridor she halted and waited.
Ava knew she shouldn't interfere with his family affair,
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Disgraceful Chapter 171
Ava stood rooted to the spot, her mind reeling at the unforeseen disclosure. Her surroundings seemed to fade into a distant space and sound as reality began to sink in."It was him who took me to your cottage. He was there hiding outside the window, watching when I attacked you. He should have showed up earlier in your doorway while I supposed to be hauling you out of the house. Who would have thought you'd trick me and threaten me with a loaded gun and locked me in the damned closet? So he waited until you left and set me free. Luckily you hadn't gone far into the woods, we could still track you down. You know the rest of the story. I dragged you out of the forest and he came out of nowhere, just at the right time like the white knight he pretended to be.""Now you know what kind of person he truly is, my love. He is a lying, manipulative bastard." Magnus scoffed, his face revealing an expres
Disgraceful Chapter 172
He was silent for a moment, and she waited in bated breath, half expecting he would deny it and give her a sensible explanation, but he drew a deep breath, and a remorseful look crossed his face."You must know, I've had it on my conscience ever since, and I'll regret having betrayed our vows every day that I'm alive, but I did it only to save her life. She had a terrible accident, she fell from her horse and got trampled on the face. She got a really nasty gash right in her cheek and the doctor said she would never look the same again. She attempted suicide and endangered her life many times. I had to convince her that I still cared about her. The only reason I did it was to make her believe that I wouldn't leave her, to keep her from hurting herself. At the time, I didn't see any other way. I couldn't let my child lose her mother."Ava's face instantly blanched at the confession. Though she had expected it, but to hear it directly from his
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When it started to drizzle several hours later, they stopped by a tavern for a temporary shelter and a warm meal. Magnus told Ava to wait for him in the tavern, while he went to look for a hackney coach that would be more suitable to continue their trip. They were a few towns over now, far enough to take a short break, however Ava told herself to stay alert at all times. Observing her surroundings at a glance, she sipped her tea, her numb fingers curling around the steaming cup.A icy blast rushing in as the tavern door swung open, and Magnus swept into the room. At the rare sight of such a fine male, two young maids shook in delighted giggling, whispering to each other in girlish excitement. Ava immediately rubbed her arms against the cold air. Magnus hurried toward her, draping a cashmere shawl around her, apparently he'd just bought it from a shop nearby."Thank you." Ava said, touched by the unexpected attention. He moved around the tabl
Disgraceful Chapter 174
One day laterIt was well past dinnertime when the hackney coach screeched to an abrupt halt. Ava snapped from her half doze and stretched her aching back and limbs. She straightened up and blinked away her sleepy haze, gazing out the window to see where she was.It appeared she was stranded in the middle of nowhere, because other than a stark building, the rest of the place was an overgrown wasteland. The carriage door opened, and she stepped out into the cold, moonless night, tipping her head back to peer at the dingy lodgings before her.Situated far from the lively downtown and shadowed by tall trees all around it, the lodgings was definitely not an ideal place for a young woman to stay the night, but she didn't have much of a choice, since the hour was late and the next accommodation was several hours away. The driver slightly warned her about the possible danger of r
Disgraceful Chapter 175
The man slumped atop her, eyes wide open in shock. His friend startled and cursed, reaching inside his coat to pull out his gun. Then another shot exploded, louder than before, followed by a dull thud, and then an eerie silence.Trembling from shock and fear, Ava wriggled away from beneath the lifeless weight atop her, fresh blood soaking the front of her chemise. Across the room another man sprawled dead on the floor, bullet deep in his brain, a splatter of blood dripping down the wall behind. Had she not too overwrought over Ashton's condition, the horrible sight would have made her faint, but she barely paid attention to the result of her desperate act as she crawled out of bed and toward the man who was now lay motionless by the feet of the bed."Oh, God. Please don't let him die. I didn't mean what I said before..." She whispered brokenly as she peered through the dark to see his face. Half of the side of his face covered in blood, drip
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A look of surprise crossed his face, only for a fleeting moment. The next second he shook his head,"Sweetheart, I know you are deeply shocked, but such incident is not uncommon in that kind of place. It doesn't seem personal to me. Besides, I have no enemy.""No, I heard one of the men say, their job is only to kill you, and make sure it looks like a robbery. If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, it could never have occurred to me that it was a murder attempt."She paused to emphasize her point."Someone wants you dead."His brows knitted into a perplexed frown."Well, I can hardly imagine who, or why.""Think of someone who hates you enough to want you to be settled, someone who will benefit from your demise."She considered her words for a moment, knowing that it was a serious accusation to make, especially without sufficient evidence. But the moment she started to think of who was
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He bounded downstairs in breakneck speed, rushing through the house, and screeching to a halt when his eyes caught her, standing on the terrace with her back to him. He was immediately flooded with relief to see her unharmed, but still frantic with worry that there was a gunman somewhere in the house.Then he noticed her stance and several empty bottles stood in a row on a wooden stand across the garden, and his racing mind began to register what was happening.No attack. No murderer. It was only Ava practicing with her gun."Oh, have you just woken up?" She asked when he came out to the terrace, and suddenly became aware of the noise she'd made."I'm sorry, it seems that I woke you.""Never mind that. Honing your particular skill?" He gestured at the gleaming weapon in her hands."I never thought I'd see the day I'd use it to shoot a real, living man, or two."She
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"Halt!" She shouted suddenly, startled both men as she jumped out of her seat and turned her gun at the doctor."Hands up this instant!!!"Doctor Haynes snapped his head around to see her aiming the gun at him. Immediately standing up, he raised both hands, palms out, his face turned pale. Ashton leapt to his feet, knocking his chair down onto the floor. With the muzzle pointing directly at the man's face, Ava moved forward."Don't come near!" Ashton called out, stopping her in her track."Let me," He moved around the desk, carefully approaching the man."Be careful! He concealed a weapon beneath his coat!"She warned him, and turned her gaze to the doctor, who seemed to be completely taken aback, his eyes bulging in absolute disbelief."Don't move an inch, or I'll shoot."Swi
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