AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have told the truth.”
“You have told the world, and they did not ask.”
“Because they did not know to ask!”
“No, because it is disgraceful. Not only have you made my life public without my permission, but you have also all but accused the magistrate of covering up Fitzwilliam’s misdeeds—”
“Did he not do so?” she asked. “You went to him twice! You told him of Marcella, and still he did nothing!”
“You gave him no time! I told him of Marcella only yesterday, while you were publishing this!”
“Had he done something the first time you went, we would not be in this position now!” She had gone mad. Truly, there was no other explanation for it, and I was at a loss for what to say.
“With these papers, you have left us all open to ridicule and danger. You believe your arrow was fired at Fitzwilliam to shame him from society, but, Aphrodite, his whole life has been like this, and he cares not. You have grazed an already vicious animal. What do you believe he will do now? He shall deny it all and then retaliate!”
“Is that not what you already fear he will do? You have men walking the grounds at all hours of the day and night fearful of this vicious animal, leaving many to wonder why. Now, at the very least, everyone’s eyes shall be on him. Let them be wary. Let them watch him as you do. If he cannot be jailed, then let his life feel as though it is a prison. I do not care! Someone needed to speak, for it is wrong for the innocent to suffer in silence!”
“And what shall this get us?” I asked, seeking to reason with her. “Marcella is still in that home with him. The past is still the past. Nothing has changed, except now we have become entertainment for further talk. Now all the world will know that my father was a fiend who spawned a villain. Will that not reflect on me? On Verity and Gabrien? Are we not your family and, thus, more important than the justice you seek to gain for some girl? You have exploited our family and dishonored us to the world.”
“I just—”
“If it was the deeds of your father, your blood, would you feel compelled to act so rashly?” I asked, shaking my head. “This was selfish and cruel of you. You have ripped us open and have given us no place or time to hide our faces.”
“Evander—”
I held up my hand, begging her to keep her distance. “I have nothing more to say to you,” I said and turned from her, slamming the door behind me.
I hated my father, but at the same time, he was still my father. And while he had failed to show my siblings or me the love a father ought, he had instilled in me at least one good thing—the importance of honoring our name. It was ironic to me that while I thought him to be a shameful example, I nevertheless wanted to mend the name of the Duke of Everely. I knew it would take time, but with Aphrodite beside me, I had been certain that day would come. Now, once more, I found myself engulfed by the wretched stench of the past.
“Evander!”
It was a shout that seemed to echo through the whole house. As I glanced out the window, I saw him—Fitzwilliam—out front, yelling as my men fought to hold him back.
“Evander!” he screamed once more.
Oh, bloody hell!
I knew he would come. It was only a matter of when, and he apparently had chosen immediately…just like a wounded bear. Previously, he had at least the thinnest desire to be respected in the eyes of society, offering fake smiles and pleasantries on demand. Now with the curtain lifted to reveal his true nature, he would not hold back. I was sure of it.
“Evander—”
“How many times must I remind you and your mother that you are not welcome here?” I asked as I stepped out the front door.
“You no-good bastard!” he screamed. The guards held him back against his thrashing. “Now you dare not even face me as a man?”
“Make way for him.”
“Your Grace—”
“Make way,” I repeated. When they did, Fitzwilliam wasted no time rushing toward me.
“It is not enough that you have everything!” he sneered grabbing me. “That you were left everything that ought to have been mine! Even my daughter is in your godforsaken hands!”
“This is your doing, not mine. The fact that you still believe anything ought to be yours is the problem. Now release me at once!” I snapped.
“Why? Why is it not mine? Because my mother was unwed. For that mere fact alone, I was thrown to the side for an arrogant, condescending man such as yourself? By a mere technicality, all my life, I was thrown to the winds. Not one thing was left to me. All I had was this name and even that you seek to destroy!” He all but spat in my face.
“Why is it you always think yourself the wretched one?”
