Chapter 4

The gentle, obedient Margaret who had once endured everything had died three days earlier at that christening party. What remained was someone who would reclaim justice for herself.

My first stop was Emily's courtyard. She lay in bed with swollen eyes and a worn face.

Emily struggled to sit up when she saw me. "Maggie..."

Her voice was hoarse and weak.

I pulled over a stool and sat by her bed. "Emily, focus on your health. Leave the affairs of the estate to me."

She looked at me with guilt and awkward dependence in her eyes. Then she grabbed my hand and burst into tears. "Good child, I wronged you before. Our Graham family wronged you terribly."

I neither pulled away nor comforted her. I only said calmly, "It's too late for that now.

"What matters is keeping Graham family steady so outsiders don't laugh at us."

She nodded again and again. "Yes, yes. You're right. Everything you say is right.

"Maggie, from now on, this family is in your hands.

"The household signet and treasury keys are with me. You..."

I cut her off before she could finish. "Emily, those things should have been mine from the beginning. You favored Lily before, and I chose not to fight her over them.

"But now that both you and Lord Graham are bedridden, do you really mean to let a woman of shady origins and children of questionable bloodline run Graham family?"

My words were cold and sharp enough to pierce straight into her heart.

Her face went red, then white, before it all collapsed into one long sigh.

With shaking hands, she fumbled under her pillow and drew out a heavy ring of keys and a token. "Take them... take them all."

I accepted them. They were heavy in my hands, the authority to run Graham family, the very thing I had wanted for four years and never been allowed to touch.

And now, like that, it had returned to me.

I rose and bowed. "Please rest, Emily. I'll take my leave."

Then I turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation. I had returned to my courtyard when a servant came to report that Lady Lewis had arrived.

I raised a brow. Perfect. I lifted my coffee and blew gently across the steam. "Let her in."

Lily came in looking worn and pale, panic lurking in her eyes. For once, the three children were not with her.

She froze when she saw me, likely surprised by how calm I looked. Then she bit her lip and dropped to her knees. "Margaret..."

Tears fell the moment she spoke. "Please save me. Save the children. They're innocent."

I took a sip of coffee and said nothing.

She crawled toward me on her knees, reaching for my skirt, but Hazel blocked her without a word.

Lily wept even harder. "Margaret, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have fought you for his favor or challenged you.

"But I did it for Lord Graham and for the Graham family. I only wanted to give him sons. I never knew it would turn out like this."

She cried so hard that it almost looked sincere. Once, perhaps, I might have softened. Now all I felt was disgust.

I set down my coffee cup with a crisp clink. Her sobs cut off at once.

Looking straight at her, I spoke slowly, my voice quiet but every word clear. "Lily.

"Do you really think that now Lord Graham is unconscious and Mrs. Graham is bedridden, no one in this house can still deal with you?"

She jerked her head up, terrified. "No... that isn't..."

I gave a cold laugh. "Drop the fake act. You didn't come here to repent. You came to test me.

"You wanted to see how much I know and how I plan to deal with you."

Her face drained white.

I stood and walked over, looking down at her. "You want to know? Fine. I'll tell you."

I lowered my voice until it was barely more than a whisper. "Whose children are those three bastards?"

Her whole body jolted as if struck by lightning. She stared at me, lips trembling, unable to say a word.

I crouched down, gripped her chin, and forced her to meet my eyes. "Talk."