Chapter 166
Read ahead of public and coin chapters ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊ GoM kofi ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊
The color slowly drained from Vanessa’s lips that had been smiling as if nothing were wrong.
‘Did Uncle know from the very beginning?’
Perhaps he had. Otherwise, it made no sense for a man of such stature—a duke, no less—to be staying in Gloucester. If that were the case, then naturally… that contract must have been her price.
Vanessa let out a dry, brittle laugh. That was absurd, completely insane.
After all, it had been her who first proposed such a relationship to “River Ross.” No matter how calculating her uncle was, he couldn’t have anticipated that far ahead and lured a duke into it. And even if he had known the man’s true identity, the idea that he would allow a duke to remain in that shabby storage shed…
‘No way.’
A possibility struck her out of nowhere, stealing her breath. What if her uncle had discovered their relationship and used it to blackmail the duke? What if the duke had simply been caught in the middle?
It was a disturbingly plausible theory. Her reflection in the carriage window had turned pale—no, worse than pale.
‘There’s no way to know right now.’
Where have things gone wrong? Or… had all of this truly been nothing more than a misunderstanding? Until she heard the truth directly from the man himself, nothing could be proven.
The gardener, Mr. Ross, had likely just been dragged into it. And that subordinate of his…
‘What if that man really is River Ross?’
She sighed, trying to piece together the faint impression of him from her memory. If nothing was certain, then postponing judgment was the only rational choice for now. Letting emotions take over would only cloud her decisions.
So she needed to separate her feelings from all of this—
“So, Theo. When did you come up with that name?”
“A long time ago.”
Separate them?
She let out another hollow laugh.
Looking back, there had been moments when he hinted at his true identity. He must have believed she would never notice. How ridiculous she must have seemed, falling for him so helplessly, knowing nothing.
Perhaps this, too, was a pathetic hope that the man who had deceived her all summer would finally tell her the truth.
Even if that hope proved wrong, she needed at least a little time to end things properly. With dignity. As people who would continue living in the same society, so long as neither of them left Ingram.
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
After a full day and half another, the car finally came to a stop in front of a grand hotel in Linden. Vanessa gazed at the building quietly. It stood like the pinnacle of wealth itself.
The Ratz. The name River Ross had mentioned in passing.
Her body was so exhausted she could barely lift a finger, but she stepped out of the car without showing any sign of it. She steadied herself once more—pushing down the urge that had told her, over and over on the way here, to turn back.
“Wait here, both of you. I’ll be out shortly.”
She politely declined the bellman’s offer to carry her small handbag and headed straight to the concierge.
A neatly dressed man greeted her with a bright smile.
“Hello. How may I assist you?”
“I’m looking for someone. The last time I spoke with him, I was told he was staying here.”
For a brief moment, concern flickered across the man’s composed face. But he quickly masked it, picking up a pen and paper.
“If you can provide a description and a name, I’ll see what I can do.”
“The person I’m looking for goes by the name ‘River Ross.’ Black hair, blue eyes, tall—and he’s with the navy. My name is Vanessa.”
“……”
“Please deliver that message to the Duke of Battenberg. Tell him a woman named Vanessa is here, urgently looking for River Ross.”
* * *
The hand signing the reviewed documents moved without hesitation.
The crimson glow of the fireplace flickered across the man’s refined cheek, lighting it warmly before dimming again as the flames subsided.
The old butler, watching his master—who had barely slept for days, consumed by work—couldn’t hide the worry in his eyes.
As if sensing that gaze, the young duke lifted his head leisurely.
“It seems you have something to say to me, Norman.”
