Chapter 25 Jealous
+8 Pearls
“He’s just a friend. I’m a free woman and I have the right to make my own friends. The feud between you and him does not have any bearing on my freedom. Follow the contract and stay out of my personal affairs.”
For some reason, Conrad’s anger didn’t seem to have a tipping point. The flames of fury burned brighter, and he clenched his teeth, the veins on his forehead throbbing. The air around him was getting cold, and bitingly so. It felt like everything was freezing up. “Are you trying to test my patience?”
“I’m just abiding by the rules in the contract. You came up with every single clause, didn’t you?” Angela had lost her mind. The scratch on her dignity made her forget about her fear. All she wanted to do now was to fight the unjust overlord.
Conrad hissed once more. He cursed himself for this oversight. He should’ve banned her from getting in touch with any shady individuals, and even if they had to talk, they should have put a few yards between them. “Fifth clause. You are not allowed to do anything that might bring harm to the child. Getting in touch with Christopher will put the baby in danger.”
Angela was shocked. He’s saying Christopher will hurt the baby? No. I don’t believe that. Back when they were on the trip, he risked his life to save a bunny who fell into a trap. He was nice to a bunny. There’s no way he would hurt his own nephew, “I don’t know what made you think Christopher is dangerous, but I trust he won’t hurt the baby. I never planned to tell him that I’m pregnant.”
After a short pause, she turned the tables. “If you ask me, your fiancée, Wilhelmina Prescott, is the bigger threat here. She’s been suspecting me of faking the abortion. She has tried to sabotage me more than once. Even now, she can’t tolerate my children. I don’t believe for a second she’ll treat them well in the future. I think you should call the marriage off.”
She brought it up on purpose to let him have a taste of his own medicine. You’re the boss. Be an example. No double standards. Rules for me and for thee.
Something in Conrad stirred. He had never planned on marrying Wilhelmina. Sooner or later, he would cancel the marriage, but not at the current time. “You’re negotiating?”
“Yes. If you want me to cut off contact with Christopher, you’ll have to call off your marriage with Wilhelmina. That’s the only way to keep away from the people both of us perceive as risks. It’s a good suggestion, so consider it.” She flung his hand off and ran out. Angela was sure he couldn’t do it anyway, so that would stop him from restricting her freedom.
Darkness flared in Conrad’s eyes. How dare she negotiate? She knew she couldn’t get through to me, so she turned her attention to Christopher, or is she using Christopher to make me cancel the marriage so she can be my real wife? He thought it was the latter, for there was no way Christopher was the better man. A sneer curled his lips. Scheming, are we? I almost fell for it.
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11:52 Mon, Nov 25
Chapter 25 Jealous
70%
+8 Pearls
Lana had made dinner when Angela came home. She bit down on her meat and casually asked, “Mr. Christopher came over and asked for a custom–made necklace. He doesn’t get along with Mr. Conrad, it seems. What happened between them?”
Well, if you’re asking… Lana wasn’t going to keep it a secret. Angela should know more about the family so she could plan for herself and the kids.
“Half–brothers share no love between them. They’re mostly rivals. Old Mr. Heathcliff was a philandering cad, so he has a lot of lovers. When his wife gave him four girls in a row, that gave him the perfect excuse to find another woman to give him an heir. Still, despite his philandering ways, the madam’s power in the family was never threatened, until he met Mr. Christopher’s mother.”
Lana paused for a moment and pouted. “That woman was a cunning one. Had Old Mr. Heathcliff wrapped around her pinky and made him start a divorce with the madam. Even after the madam gave birth to Mr. Conrad, Old Mr. Heathcliff still wanted to get a divorce so he could marry Mr. Christopher’s mother.”
Angela took a deep breath. Aristocrats. Nice on the outside, rotten on the inside, but that’s not the point. “Has Christopher’s mother been living abroad all these years?”
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