Chapter 4
Edward's study was ablaze with light.
Michael Shaw set a thick stack of investigation reports on his desk.
"My Lord, the investigation is complete," Michael said respectfully.
Edward flipped through the pages one by one, his expression growing more grim and his complexion paler with every line.
It chronicled all the hardships Evelyn had endured these past few months.
She was thrown out of the Grant Manor, penniless, forced to huddle in a cold corner of the street.
When she realized she was pregnant, she started washing clothes for others just to survive.
Her hands were swollen and red from soaking in water all day, and even then, she could barely earn a few pence.
Later, she met Maggie—the only one who showed her any kindness—and it was Maggie who taught her how to make cotton candy.
Every single day, Evelyn would get up before dawn to boil sugar and set up her stall, not making it home until late at night, barely able to stand from exhaustion.
She kept at it, rain or shine, never missing a single day.
Every sentence in that report cut deeper, stabbing straight into Edward's heart.
Turns out, while he was basking in his new marriage, his real wife was out on the streets, struggling to survive—carrying his child and enduring every hardship alone.
He wasn't even human.
"Who was in the Grant Manor the day she was thrown out?" Edward's voice was so hoarse it was barely recognizable.
Michael kept his head down, answering respectfully, "My Lord, you were at the front lines, and your mother had gone back to the countryside. At that time, only Mrs. Summers was in charge of the household."
Charlotte!
Edward's eyes burned with a rage so intense it was almost frightening.
He sprang up, kicked the study door wide open, and headed straight for Charlotte's quarters.
Charlotte was sitting in front of her mirror, fixing her hair, when Edward stormed in, his face twisted with rage. She jumped in shock.
"My Lord, what's going on?"
Edward landed a sharp slap right across her face.
Charlotte was sent sprawling to the floor, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Why would you do this to her?"
Edward's eyes blazed red, wild like an enraged lion ready to tear the place apart.
"You faked those separation papers, didn't you?
"Throwing her out—that was your idea, wasn't it?"
Charlotte was trembling uncontrollably, but she quickly regained her composure.
Her tears were streaming down her face, looking pitiful as she grabbed onto Edward's leg, clinging desperately.
"My Lord, I didn't do anything!
"Evelyn left on her own! She said you didn't love her anymore, and she didn't want to be a wife in name only.
"She says she's in love with someone else and asked me to let her go, so she could be with him!
"Those separation papers? Evelyn had them ready long before! She planned it all along!"
She was crying her lungs out, acting like she was the real victim here.
"I know Evelyn was your first wife, and you've always had a place for her in your heart. But you can't just accuse me without any proof!"
She looked up at him through her tears, her tone soft and cautious, but every word was laced with poison.
"And besides... who even knows where that baby in Evelyn's belly came from? It could be anyone's bastard.
"Please, don't let her fool you, My Lord!"
Edward froze.
Charlotte's words doused much of his fury like ice water.
Right, the child...
Evelyn's words echoed in his mind, cold and absolute—'It's none of your business.'
Could she really have done that?
No.
Impossible.
Evelyn wasn't that kind of woman.
But what if...
Edward's heart was in chaos.
Guilt over what he'd done to Evelyn and the gnawing feeling he'd been betrayed raged inside him, battling for control.
In the end, guilt overwhelmed everything else.
No matter whose child it was, all the suffering she'd endured was because of him.
He had to make things right for her.
*****
The next day, Edward returned.
He saw my stall—now even more shabby and makeshift than before.
He also noticed the cloth wrapped around my hand, stained with blood.
His eyes flashed with deep guilt and pain, impossible to hide.
"Evelyn, you need to stop working here."
Before I could respond, he marched over and started packing up my stall like he owned the place.
"Come with me. I'll give you a better life."
He spoke as if he was doing me a huge favor, like I should be grateful for his charity.
I glared at him, planting myself firmly in front of my stall.
"My life—good or bad—is none of your concern.
"I don't need your so-called pity.
"What, you think the baby in my belly is just some kind of leverage for you?"
I got right to the heart of it.
Did he really think I'd go back to him, thinking I'd become important just because of the child? That I'd use this baby to win privilege and favor?
What kind of person did he think I was?
"Listen up, Edward Grant.
"This is my child. Mine alone.
"Even if I end up begging on the streets, I won't ever let you touch him—not even once!"
My emotions were running wild, and a faint, heavy pain tugged at my belly.
A sudden wave of dizziness washed over me.
Bits and pieces of memories flickered through my mind.
I caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure, moving gracefully with a sword under the moonlight.
A familiar tune lingered in my ears, haunting and soft.
What was that?
I held my forehead, my face pale as a sheet.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Seeing me like this, Edward grew anxious and reached out, wanting to steady me.
But I abruptly shoved him away, forcefully.
"Don't touch me!"
My resistance was so intense that his hand froze mid-air, awkward and uncertain.
Edward stared at my pale face, and in the end, he finally backed off.
He took out a heavy pouch of coins from his coat and placed it quietly on my stall.
"Just take it, and look after yourself," he said.
After that, he gave me a lingering, deep look, then turned and walked away.
I grabbed the pouch and, without hesitation, hurled it at his back as he walked away.
The pouch hit the ground with a heavy thud, scattering a blinding shower of coins.
"I told you, I don't need it!
"Go spend your money on your new wife—let her buy all the makeup she wants!"
Edward stopped in his tracks.
He didn't turn—just stood frozen for a long moment. Then, footsteps heavy, he walked off and disappeared around the corner.