quick be
Chapter 9
Lately, Olivia noticed that Aiden had become unusually busy and was rarely seen.
That brought her a sense of relief–she had started to fear him
Fortunately, once Aiden finished his business, he formally proposed to her family. That finally put her heart somewhat at ease.
But on the way back to Norfolk Manor after their engagement ceremony, a group of black–clad men suddenly ambushed them, surrounding her and Aiden from all sides.
The two of them were tied up and taken to the outskirts of the city, locked separately in two rooms.
A thug with a twisted grin leaned toward her and asked,
- d. “Only one of you gets to live Aiden or you. Who do you choose?”
A bloodied blade pressed against Olivia’s throat. Her mind went blank with fear.
When she didn’t answer, the knife moved forward, grazing her neck. A thin line of blood beaded up, sending her into a terrified scream. “Don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me!”
The bandit, sneered. “If I don’t all you, then Aiden dies. You sure you want to let him die?”
Olivia shrank back, head lowered, saying nothing.
Just then, the door creaked open. Aiden stood at the threshold.
Olivia went pale. She whispered in shock, “Aiden. I can explain…!
“There’s nothing to explain,” Aiden said calmly. “People are selfish by nature. It’s normal that you’d choose to save yoursell. One tool like Cecilia is more than enough.”
With that, he turned to the men. “Give her a bowl of rue tea and send her back to the Baker family.”
It was only when the thugs obeyed him without hesitation that Olivia realized the entire scene had been orchestrated by Aiden.
She screamed, “Alden! You can’t do this to me! I’m carrying your child!”
“So was Cecilia***
That single sentence sealed her fate.
Ola knew, in that moment, she was finished.
The bandits dumped the just–miscarried Olivia at the Baker family’s doorstep. The very next morning, Aiden broke off the engagement. He told them, “Olivia was violated by the bandits, she had lost her virginity.
Olivia’s parents wept as they apologized to Alden, then locked her away in the back courtyard, forbidding her from ever stepping out again. But Alden, ever the man of benevolence, told them it wasn’t Olivia’s fault, but the bandits“.
Why punish a woman for a crime she didn’t commit?
He asked, if men could err without consequence, why must women pay the price with their chastity?
Using Olivia’s case, he pushed through a now law forbidding anyone from imprisoning women under the guise of virtue.
And once again, Aiden’s name resounded throughout the land.
As for Olivia—ber reputation Lay in ruins. Everyone knew she had been defiled by bandits. Her mind unraveled, she became hysterical, unhinged. One night, she throw herself into the lake. By the time her body was found, it had been torn beyond recognition by the fish.
After that, Astley began to spiral. She lived in constant dread, unable to sleep through the night. Only in the quict of the church could she find moments of rest H
Her Lace prew haggard; she looked nothing like herself.
In the blink of an eye, the anniversary of my death arrived.
Terrified, Ashley went to the church early, determined to spend the night kneeling before the god’s statue,
Care Into the night, footsteps echoed behind her ones she knew well. It was her son, the boy she had carried and raised
She exhaled a shaky breath of rellel, but the moment she turned around, something cold was pressed into her hand.
Lind brief
Sharpened Gleaming with cold steel.
Chumar
Alden gripped her wrist tightly, the blade pointed directly at his chest.
Aiden, what are you doing?!”
He gave a faint smile “Mother, you’ve not been well lately. I found a famous doctor. He said the only cure is heart’s blood from a close relative. Tonight, I’ll draw that blood for you myself.”
With those words, he drove the blade into his chest. Blood gushed out in a crimson spray, but Alden’s expression didn’t even flinch. Instead, he pulled out a bowl from his robe and caught every drop until it was full.
He brought the bowl of warm, metallic–smelling blood to Ashley’s lips, his face full of concem. “Drink, Mother. If you don’t drink, how will you ever
Ashley clamped her lips shut, shaking her head and sobbing.
Aiden tilted his head, confused. “Is it not enough? Then let me give you more.”
He pushed the dagger deeper into his chest.
Ashley couldn’t take it anymore. She broke down crying, “I’ll drink! I’ll drink!”
She downed the entire bowl, every drop twisting her insides with pain and nausea. Alden stayed in the church with her for seven days, feeding her his blood each day. By the seventh day, he was so weak he could barely stand.
He said to Ashley, “Mother, please remember.. your son bled himself dry to cure you”
By now, Ashley had lost the strength to speak. She only muttered over and over under her breath, “It’s Cecilia… Cecilia has come to kill me…” Aiden gave her a faint smile, then dragged his failing body back into the city. He walked, slowly but purposefully, toward the city wall, The guards recognized him and allowed him through without question.
He climbed to the highest point of the wall, from which he could see his holiday villa in the d
in the distance.
Alden curled his lips into the barest smile. He said nothing. With no hesitation, he leapt
The wind howled as it wore through his robe, messed up his hair, and scattered the pile at letters on the desk back at Norfolk Manor.
Each page was densely covered in Cecilia’s handwriting.
*Whis goes around, comes around. Retribution always finds its way.”
“Cecilia.. does this feel fair to you, now?”
