Chapter 10
I really underestimated just how relentless Andy could be.
And I had no idea how much his influence in the Capital had grown over the past five years—he was practically untouchable now.
The very next day, my so-called "husband" became the biggest mystery among the Capital's elite.
Everyone was desperate to know who could possibly have captured the heart of Southbank's most successful businesswoman.
And just what kind of man was he, whose son had caught the King's Tutor's attention, yet still dared to turn him down?
My garden was practically being worn down by all the spies sent by the noble ladies of the city.
With the excuse of delivering visiting cards and gifts, they tried every roundabout way to fish for information about my mysterious "husband."
I turned them all away, saying, "My husband prefers peace and quiet; he really doesn't like being bothered."
The more I kept things under wraps, the more their curiosity burned.
Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the Capital.
Some people whispered that my husband was an overseas mogul whose wealth could rival nations, always elusive and impossible to pin down.
Others claimed he was a reclusive religious leader who vanished into the mountains, leaving the world behind and never meddling in worldly affairs.
The most outrageous rumor making the rounds? That he was a descendant of the old royal family, his identity so sensitive that no one dared breathe a word about it.
Listening to all the rumors my butler brought me, I just found them hilarious.
One lie always needed a dozen more to keep the story straight.
And now, I was in so deep, there was no way out.
I couldn't be bothered with all that gossip.
The Merchant Summit was just around the corner.
I put all my focus into prepping Aurora Fabrics for its big launch in the Capital.
Scouting locations, overseeing renovations, stocking up inventory, and recruiting staff—I was running myself ragged, pouring everything I had into the preparations.
I kept myself so busy, hoping the endless work would drown out my worries and numb the chaos inside.
But late at night, when everything was still and I watched Mallory sleeping peacefully beside me, that uneasy feeling would creep back in, reminding me I couldn't escape it.
Andy didn't come around anymore.
It was as if he'd disappeared from my life entirely.
His carriage stopped showing up outside my house.
I felt relieved, but somewhere deep inside, I couldn't shake off a strange, unexplainable sense of loss.
I figured he must've given up on me.
But three days later, Darell showed up again.
This time, he didn't bring any gifts, and he didn't kneel in front of my carriage.
He simply handed me a folded note, polite as ever.
"Ms. Chasey, the King's Tutor asked me to give this to you," he said.
He looked calm, almost confident—like he knew exactly what was going to happen next.
Something felt off.
I unfolded the note.
Not a single word.
Instead, what I found was a full-blown investigation report.
Every detail of my life in Southbank for the past five years was laid out, clear as day.
It started with how I rented my very first little courtyard in Southbank.
Then it went on to detail how I dyed my first bolt of Heaven's Teal fabric.
And finally, it traced every step of how Aurora Fabrics gradually expanded across Southbank.
Not a single detail was left out; every little thing was laid bare, crystal clear.
But the most damning part was that the report made it crystal clear: for the past five years, no adult man had ever been a constant presence in my life.
My so-called "husband" had never existed at all.
The paper slipped from my fingers.
My face must have gone pale. I probably looked like a ghost.
Darell pretended not to notice how shaken I was and just continued speaking, "The King's Tutor said he doesn't blame you for deceiving him.
"He knows you're still angry.
"He also said that since you don't want to see him, he won't come around to bother you anymore.
"But Mallory is still his flesh and blood—no one can change that.
"He's already petitioned the King, asking to personally become Mallory's tutor, teaching him all the classics and how to rule a country.
"The King's edict will probably show up tomorrow."
With that, Darell gave a respectful bow and walked away.
I stood there, frozen, a chill running through my whole body.
Andy, you really are something else.
What a masterstroke—he went straight for the root and left me with nowhere to run.
He wasn't chasing after me anymore.
Instead, he went straight for my son—just snatched him away without even looking at me.
Now he's using the King's power and his role as the King's Tutor to turn the screws on me.
Defy the King's edict, I'm basically going against the King himself.
But if I accept it, I'll have to stand by and watch my son spend every day with the one person I least want him around.
It meant Andy and I would be bound together all over again, whether I wanted it or not.
He had me all figured out—he knew every single one of my weak spots.
He knew I loved my son more than anything in this world.
He knew I'd never let my own grudges ruin my son's future.
Becoming the King's Tutor's disciple was an honor that countless people dreamed of.
Why would I possibly say no?