Chapter 1410:
He was leaving because this wasnât a prison. The Swain villa lacked true freedom, but it offered comfort. Harlee had what she neededâfood, drink, and a roof over her head. That was why he could afford to let her stay while he worked to uncover the secrets. Still, his mind was never far from her safety. So, while he played along with her plan, he had to ensure Nola had no chance of returning to Baythorn. Time was of the essence.
As Harlee watched him leave, a quiet smile tugged at her lips. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, allowing the soft pull of sleep to take over. It wasnât that she was unconcernedâit was just that the pregnancy had made her especially drowsy lately.
Meanwhile, in the reception room, Lucius and Nathaniel had only been conversing for half an hour, but the tension between them had already erupted into a storm of shouting and cursing.
Nathaniel, his face contorted in rage, picked up his cane and deliberately smashed Luciusâ prized teacup to the floor.
âLucius, wake up from your delusions! If Nicola had wanted to marry you, she would have done it ages ago. Havenât you figured it out yet? While you thought she was missing, she was still in contact with us. Sheâs been ignoring you just to spare you some embarrassment!â
Lucius clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding together. He wanted to snap back, to retort with something sharp, but Nathanielâs words cut through the air like a dagger. The truth unraveled in front of himâNicolaâs death had never been tied to Nathaniel. In fact, Nicola had merely taken a journey around the world, somethingâ¦
She had chosen her own path. Nicola had even sent postcards and small gifts from each place she visited. The photo tucked in Nathanielâs wallet? That was one of the postcards Nicola had sent during her travels.
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The moment Lucius learned the truth, it was as though a thousand blades were slicing at his heart. The woman he had loved with all his being, the one who had consumed his every thought, had orchestrated an elaborate ruse just to escape him. Her scheme wasnât designed to hurt him. It was simply meant to make him give up completely.
In that instant, it felt as if the weight of the world had come crashing down on Lucius. He had been tricked, deceived by everyone around himâlike a fool strung along by his own trust. A tidal wave of hatred surged through him, not just aimed at Nathaniel, but at Nicola and the entire Sanderson family. Why? Why had they trampled on his feelings like that? Why had they kept the truth from himâjust from him?
Luciusâ fists clenched tightly, slamming down on the table with a force that made the air between them tremble. His gaze locked onto Nathaniel, his eyes burning with raw resentment, palpable and fierce, like a predator stalking its prey.
Nathaniel noticed the shift in Lucius, his face stiffening as he narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze cut through Lucius with a sharpness, as if reading a book of secrets Lucius wasnât prepared to have exposed.
But Lucius, ever the master of control, quickly swallowed his emotions, hiding them behind a carefully crafted smileâa smile he had worn so many times before that it had become second nature. He wouldnât give Nathaniel the satisfaction of seeing his pain, or worseâletting Nathaniel laugh at him. He couldnât afford that. Not now. It was far too embarrassing to admit that he had sought revenge on the wrong target. So, no, he wouldnât reveal any of it. Thankfully, only Harlee knew part of his plan, and he could still pretend as if nothing had ever happened.
Lucius spoke in a low voice, âWith todayâs technology, you can Photoshop anything. Nathaniel, what evidence do you have that Nicola didnât like me but liked you more? You even married another woman. Ha-haâ¦â
Nathanielâs expression grew more intense upon hearing this.
âYeah, I know what itâs like to suffer from unrequited love. But I knew when to let go. I didnât try to manipulate her with threats of death. Nicola was willing to be honest with me, but not with you. She even went to the lengths of creating a perfect lie. Do you know why? Because you emotionally blackmailed her. You pushed her to the edge, and in her desperation, she came to me to sort things out.â
The sneer on Nathanielâs face was unmistakable. If not for saving Harlee, he wouldnât have wasted a single breath on a man as radical and repulsive as Lucius.
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