The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 182
Rebecca bit down on her lip hard.
Getting help from her husbandâŚ
As if her husband could ever be of help.
Knowing that full well, he was mocking her.
There was no way to sway Duke Bayern once he had made up his mind.
Trembling with humiliation, Rebecca glared at Nina, who peeked slyly out from behind Ash as if mocking her.
No doubt todayâs events would spread through rumor.
In the end, Rebecca left the gathering without gaining a single thing.
Her social life was slowly, little by little, becoming stained by the shadow she had brought upon herself.
* * *
âMy lord, the Madam says Duchess Nord has arrived and asks that you notify His Grace, Duke Bayern, immediately.â
Ash had been enjoying tea and light conversation with Count Crest in the study.
At the maidâs urgent message, he rose without hesitation.
The moment he caught the scent of rosemary on the breeze from the back garden, his gaze sharpened, fixed on Nina.
He had seen it more than once. That anxious light in her eyes, appearing unconsciously each time she drank tea.
Ash stepped down from the carriage with Ian asleep in one arm. His mood, like the dark sky above, was distant and pitch black.
The rosemary tea, deliberately placed on the table.
The malice that scent implied.
Just the thought of his wife gripping the teacup so tightly in front of that woman stirred a rage he could not put into words.
ââŚI already had no intention of letting her live, but now sheâs begging to be put down.â
Even if the attempt had failed, he never wouldâve let it go.
And yet, Nina had actually collapsed after drinking that aphrodisiac.
As he considered whether it was better to take down Duchess Nord or Marquis Crewe firstâŚ
He hadnât expected to see that scene play out again at the party.
âYou must be tired. Please go in and rest.â
After watching Nina slowly blink and nod, Ash sent her to the bedroom and made his way toward Ianâs room.
ââŚUncle.â
But Ian, whom he thought was asleep, stirred and spoke.
âYouâre not asleep?â
ââŚI just woke up.â
âGo back to bed.â
Patting the boyâs back as his sleepy eyes blinked up at him, Ash continued into the childâs bedroom.
He planned to tuck Ian in, then stop by his office briefly.
Thanks to Duke Nordâs habit of picking fights whenever he got bored, Ash had started quietly collecting âpotential leverageâ.
He intended to review some of those materials tonight and maybe sketch out an entertaining plan.
And to think that Duchess Nord had the audacity to linger around, practically confessing she was the culprit.
A woman clearly out of her mind, and in front of his wife, no less. She needed to be dealt with quickly.
ââŚUncle, but you and Aunt are married, so why donât you share a bedroom?â
It was just as he was laying Ian down on the bed.
Ash froze for a moment, completely caught off guard by the question.
âWhatâŚ?â
âCount Crest and his wife share a bedroom.â
ââŚâŚâ
It was an innocent question, the sort a child might naturally ask.
But Ash had never once considered how to respond to it, and now he was at a loss.
He closed his eyes with a weary groan.
If they were a normal couple, of course they would.
But he and Nina had fastened the very first button wrong.
They were not a couple whoâd built their relationship the usual way⌠How was he supposed to explain that?
He couldnât tell Ian that their marriage was anything but beautiful.
ââŚSome people just sleep better alone.â
That pitiful excuse was the best he could come up with.
After pulling the blanket over Ianâs round, shining eyes, Ash stepped out of the room.
A married couple not sharing a bedroom.
âI didnât expect to hear that question from IanâŚâ
His mind, which moments ago had been firing with rage and strategies for tearing down House Nord, suddenly went blank, like stone.
But as he passed the hallway window and glimpsed the moon hanging in the sky, he remembered Ninaâs face, pale as that bluish moonlight.
He had made a silent promise.
That no one would ever hurt her.
Even if it was a vow she hadnât heard, it was one he had to keep.
Late that night, the door to his study opened with unmistakable purpose.
