Chapter 3
"It's not your fault," I said, shaking my head. "I was the one who misjudged him."
Alistair used to act so gentle and refined around me, the very picture of grace and virtue.
I thought he would be the one for me.
But in the end, it was all just a facade.
No, maybe it wasn't even an act.
Maybe his gentleness was never meant for me.
Jayden walked in, his face still grim.
"Father has already gone to the palace to see the King," he said.
I nodded.
With such a scandal breaking out, it was inevitable that the King would be alerted.
This was no longer just a matter of family ties. It had become a showdown of honor between the royal family and the Chancellor's Estate.
"That bastard Alistair!" Jayden slammed his fist on the table. "How dare he humiliate you like this! I'll make him pay for what he's done!"
"Take it easy, Jayden," I said, pouring him a cup of coffee. "He's not worth getting upset over."
My calm composure caught both Jayden and my mother off guard.
They probably thought I'd be crying, making a scene, or even losing all hope.
But I didn't.
In my previous life, I was so obsessed with the so-called marriage bond that I let Alistair humiliate and neglect me again and again, draining all my strength.
In the end, I was confined to a cold, lonely chamber, fading away in misery.
Alana became his one and only, enjoying all the attention and admiration.
And I was nothing but the wicked, hated original wife in their love story.
Having been reborn, I won't repeat those mistakes again.
Love? Please.
What did that even mean to me now?
What I crave is power, prestige, and a status so untouchable that no one could ever shake it.
If Alistair couldn't give me that, then I would seize it myself.
"So, what are you planning to do next?" Jayden asked.
"Wait," I replied, blowing on my coffee. "I'll wait for news from the palace and see how the Thomas family reacts."
The Thomas family didn't waste any time.
Less than an hour later, a servant came to report.
"Miss Williamson, the Thomas family sent someone with a message for you," the servant said.
"What did they say?" I asked.
"They said... the Duke was so angry at you he coughed up blood. Alana hasn't even changed her clothes, tending to him non-stop, and he's still out cold," the servant stammered.
My mother's face went pale with rage. "He's got some nerve! He made this mess himself, and now he's trying to pin it all on Elsie!"
I let out a mocking laugh.
He used the same old trick.
Playing the victim, fishing for sympathy, and pinning everything on me.
So the whole world will think I was the jealous, cold-hearted wife who drove my husband to cough up blood.
"Anything else?" I asked.
"The butler from the Thomas family said the Duke told him that if you return now and apologize to Alana, he'll forgive and forget," the servant stammered.
"Apologize?" Jayden shot to his feet, furious. "In his dreams!"
I raised my hand, signaling for him to sit down.
"Go tell the Thomas family." My voice was quiet, but the chill in it could freeze the air. "If they want me back, sure.
"Let them send a lavish palanquin carried by eight men, and have Alistair come to the Chancellor's Estate himself—begging for forgiveness. Otherwise, forget it."
The servant nodded and left to carry out my orders.
My mother looked at me, her face full of worry. "Elsie, this really means there's no chance to fix things between you and the Duke."
"Mother," I replied, locking eyes with her, my voice steady, "ever since he brought Alana into the house with me, we were done for."
It was better to get out of this mess now than keep sinking deeper.
Father didn't get back from the palace until late at night.
He brought back the King's edict.
The King was livid about the whole mess. He issued an order, scolding Alistair for his reckless behavior and putting him under house arrest for a month to reflect on his actions.
As for the Williamson family, the King offered words of comfort and showered us with treasures.
This was the King's method of playing both sides.
He punished both sides equally, showing no favoritism.
He soothed us without letting the royal family lose too much face.
I saw it coming. The King's response was exactly what I expected.
"Father, I have a request," I said.
"Speak," he replied.
"I wish to part ways with the Duke," I said.
Dad looked at me, silent for a long moment.
Everyone knew what that meant for a woman.
From now on, I'd be an abandoned wife.
People would gossip and judge me, and finding a good match would be nearly impossible.
"Have you really thought this through?" Father's voice was rough and full of concern.
"I have," I answered firmly, not a hint of hesitation. "Better to live freely at home than be humiliated day after day at the Duke's Estate."
Father closed his eyes and let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Fine," he uttered only one word.
But it brought tears to my eyes.
This was my family.
No matter what I choose, they were always behind me, supporting me.
Early the next morning, an even juicier rumor spread like wildfire across Regalville.