Chapter 3

As soon as Grace finished, the crowd erupted in murmurs.

Audrey's face shifted. Emotions flickered across it too fast to read.

She hadn't expected this outsider to actually bring up the royal court.

If this scandal reached the King, what would be left of the Evans family's dignity?

But now Audrey was trapped. There was no graceful way out.

If she backed down now, it'd make it look like the Evans family really was throwing its weight around and framing an innocent.

I glanced at Grace, who was clearly loving the drama and stirring the pot. Gotta hand it to her. She'd got guts.

They wanted drama? Fine. I'd give them drama.

I took a deep breath, and my back, once straight and proud, suddenly slumped. All the fight was drained out of me, like their power had finally crushed me.

I stepped forward to Lydia, reaching out to gently lift her from the snow, my movements soft and careful.

"Lydia..." I murmured, my voice lingering with affection and resignation.

She froze. My sudden shift caught her off guard. She even forgot to cry.

I reached up and brushed the snowflakes from her hair, my gaze overflowing with tenderness and agonizing conflict.

"Since you're dead set on marrying me—even willing to throw your reputation away for it—if I still try to back out now, I'd be worse than scum," I said, my voice laced with helplessness and a touch of self-mockery.

Lydia just stared at me, her eyes wide, totally stunned, and nodded.

"Hon?" she blurted out, almost in disbelief.

I let out a sigh, turned to face the crowd, and raised my voice.

"Lady Evans is right. I was the one who messed up," I said, putting on a look of regret.

I fixed my gaze on Lydia, my eyes burning with intensity.

Then I asked, "Lydia, that night was so rushed. All I remember is that when we were together, you had a red birthmark on your lower back, just like a little flower in full bloom. So striking. I've never forgotten it. Am I right?"

The whole crowd erupted in an uproar.

I was actually spilling our bedroom secrets right out in the open!

Lydia's face turned beet red. She didn't have any birthmarks at all.

But now that I'd already admitted to hooking up with her, if she said she didn't have that birthmark, wouldn't that mean nothing ever happened between us?

To make everyone believe we really had been together, she had to play along.

Lydia dropped her head, her face red with embarrassment.

"Hon, you really do remember. Yes, that's right," she mumbled, totally flustered.

When she called me "hon," a cold flash of murderous intent flickered in my eyes, but I still managed to pull off the sweetest smile.

I turned to Audrey, gave her a formal, sweeping bow.

Then I announced loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Lady Evans, since Lydia holds such deep affection for me and remembers even our most private moments so clearly, there can be no doubt this child is mine."

Audrey frowned. She still sensed something was off. But seeing me finally give in, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Since you've admitted it, then come back to Evans Manor with us..." Audrey said, her tone firm.

"No!" I cut her off, my face set with unwavering resolve.

"Evans Manor is the Prime Minister's home, and Lydia is his cherished daughter. If I just follow you back like this, isn't that beneath her? With all this gossip swirling around, if I don't give her a proper status, even after the baby is born, people will keep talking," I declared, my voice ringing with conviction.

I grabbed Lydia's hand, my fingers trembling with emotion.

"Lydia, I'll give you the dignity you deserve. You'll be my wife, properly. I'll ask His Majesty to grant us a royal wedding. Then no one can ever whisper about you again," I said, my voice full of determination.

I turned to face the palace, standing tall and resolute.

"Let's go. We're heading straight to the palace to see His Majesty. I'm going to ask him to grant us a royal wedding. I want the whole world to know I'm marrying Ms. Evans the right way," I declared, my voice ringing with pride.

Audrey was completely stunned. She tried to stop us, but the crowd was cheering us on.

"Dr. Parker's got guts!" someone shouted.

"That's real courage! Owning up and taking charge," another person chimed in.

"A royal wedding? That's a huge honor. Lord Evans will gain so much respect," someone else exclaimed.

Grace snickered from the sidelines.

She finished her meat pie and gave a little clap.

"Alright. Since everyone's so eager, I'll just go with the flow and bring you all to the palace," she said, her tone playful.

She held up her signet ring for everyone to see.

"Let's go, Lady Evans. For a happy occasion like this, I'm sure His Majesty will be glad to give his blessing," she added with a sly grin.

Audrey stared at the signet ring, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

She finally realized things had spiraled beyond her control. But now she was trapped. There was no way out.