Chapter 210
Under the eaves, a pillar concealed Fiona’s gaunt figure.
Though wrapped in a thick cloak, the cold rising from deep within Fiona’s heart still left her chilled to the bone.
In the cool shade, Nicolas and Willow were laughing and chatting intimately, and his every gesture had clearly crossed the line of brotherly affection.
Fiona thought bitterly, ‘As a woman, how could I not recognize what that meant?‘
While she was heartbroken and furious, Fiona dared not dwell on it any further.
‘This… this is a scandal too terrible to even name,‘ Fiona thought, her heart pounding. ‘If anyone ever found out, the entire Monson estate would be disgraced.‘
What made Fiona even more desperate was the chilling realization that no one would believe her.
Fiona thought bitterly, ‘My mother–in–law dotes on Willow, and the Duke of Suffield trusts Nicolas implicitly.
‘As the future heir, he can’t afford any blemish on his reputation.
‘If I ever spoke my suspicions aloud, they’d just dismiss me as a jealous troublemaker, and I would be banished from the Duke’s Estate just like what they did to Athena.’
Fiona’s eyes reddened as she suppressed the bitterness in her heart. Without a word, she turned and left.
Before she knew it, Fiona found herself standing before Starling House.
Gazing at the courtyard before her, Fiona pressed her lips together before stepping inside.
Gwen was surprised by her arrival and quickly stepped forward. “Lady Fiona,” she greeted.
“I came to see Lady Maraget,” Fiona said softly. She wasn’t even sure herself why she had come–perhaps Margaret was the only clear–sighted person in
this estate.
Gwen was reluctant to let Fiona in at first, fearing she might disturb Margaret’s peace and quiet.
Just then, Margaret’s voice sounded from within the room, “Let her in.”
Gwen stepped aside, letting Fiona enter the chamber.
After some time of recuperation, Margaret was mostly recovered.
Margaret smiled kindly at Fiona and asked, “Why are you here today?”
Margaret knew that her granddaughter–in–law, Fiona, had always been timid and unassuming. She rarely ventured beyond the inner courtyard as she devoted herself to her husband and child.
If there was one truly unambitious soul in the Monson family, it was Fiona.
Fiona lowered her head, nervously wringing a handkerchief in her small hands as she forced a strained smile, “You have been unwell for so long. I wanted to visit, but I was afraid of disturbing you. Now that you’re better, I’ve finally come to pay my respects.”
Her eyes were still red–rimmed, and the perceptive Margaret immediately saw at a glance that Fiona had been wronged.
For Fiona to have sought her out, she must surely have a favor to ask.
Margaret replied kindly, “How thoughtful of you. How has Cedric been these days?”
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“Cedric just recovered from a cold a few days ago, but he’s lost weight again and has been having restless nights. Seeing him like this makes me heartbroken and anxious,” Fiona said anxiously.
60%
As she spoke, a deep distress crossed Fiona’s face. Cedric had been frail since birth, and he was more fragile than other children. As such, he had always been a constant worry to her.
Fiona had come to visit Margaret today, but deep down, her real intention was to leverage Margaret’s connections to seek a prescription from Athena for
Cedric.
Margaret let out a knowing “oh,” immediately grasping Fiona’s true purpose.
She contemplated, ‘Athena has already severed ties with the Duke’s Estate. If we try to get in touch with her again, it would only put her in a difficult
position.
‘Both Fiona and Athena are dear to me. As the legitimate eldest grandson of the Monson family, Cedric is naturally a child that I cherishes deeply as well.
Maraget’s heart aches for him, knowing that he carries the future of the Monson lineage.
After pondering for a while, Margaret sighed softly, “I just happen to have something I want to send to Athena, and you’ve come at the perfect time. Please take this box of cake to her for me. Out of respect for me, I believe she won’t refuse you.”
Overjoyed, Fiona immediately dropped to her knees and bowed to Margaret. “Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling with gratitude.
“However, you must keep this strictly confidential. Is that clear?” Margaret cautioned gravely.
Fiona nodded earnestly in response, “I understand. I promise I’ll never cause any trouble for you or Athena.”
“Go on,” Margaret replied.
Fiona bowed respectfully and said, “I will take my leave now.”
Clutching the pastry box, Fiona summoned for a nurse to carry Cedric, and together they departed the estate.
As soon as Fiona stepped into the front courtyard, Nicolas and Willow appeared before her as they walked side by side.
From a distance, Fiona could see Nicolas and Willow laughing and chatting intimately, showing not the slightest hint of discretion. Nicolas even reached
out to adjust Willow’s cloak more snugly around her shoulders–a gesture so tender it stabbed at Fiona’s heart.
‘Nicolas had never once looked at me with such tender eyes,‘ Fiona thought bitterly, her heart clenching with each step.
‘My heart hurts so much I can hardly breathe,‘ she thought desperately.
As soon as she saw Fiona, Willow greeted her warmly, “Willow, are you heading out?”
Fjona merely fixed her gaze on Nicolas and let out a deliberate, measured huff of disapproval.
Fiona’s accusatory, resentful gaze made Nicolas shift uncomfortably.
Noticing the swollen redness on the back of her hand, Nicolas belatedly recalled her injury and asked perfunctorily, “How’s your wound?”
Fiona’s heart shattered into a million pieces in that instant as she thought, ‘If we hadn’t run into each other in the courtyard, he wouldn’t even remember
I was hurt.
‘All he ever sees is Willow.‘
Jealousy and resentment surged in Fiona’s heart as she dropped all pretense of politeness for the first time. Fixing Nicolas with a cold, distant look, she said icily, “Thank you for your concern, Lord Nicolas. It’s perfectly fine now.”
“Lord Nicolas?” Nicolas frowned in displeasure.
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It was then that Nicolas saw the icy detachment in Fiona’s eyes, it was the same look Athena had worn when she first returned to the estate.
‘T’d figured with Athena gone, the estate would finally settle down.
‘But, even Fiona is starting to act up now,‘ he thought with annoyance.
Feeling that his masculine pride had been thoroughly provoked, Nicolas fixed an even icier glare at Fiona. He snapped with disdain, “If you’re well
don’t have your maids running to report such trifles to me.” enough to be out and about, then clearly your injury isn’t serious. And from now on,
With that, Nicolas strode away without a backward glance.
“Nicolas?” Willow asked, utterly bewildered. She couldn’t understand how things between them had suddenly turned so tense.
Willow flashed Fiona a quick smile before hurrying after Nicolas.
On the other hand, Fiona stood frozen in place before a sharp pain shot through her palm. Only then did she realize her nails had dug deep into her flesh.
She thought bitterly, ‘So this is how awful it feels to be disregarded.
‘Just a little of Nicolas’s coldness, and I’m already on the verge of breaking down.
‘Then, how did Athena feel?
‘Everyone in the estate treated her with nothing but hostility, deceit, and exploitation at every turn. How on earth did she ever survive it all?‘
With concern clouding her eyes, Lina softly murmured, “Lady Fiona.”
Lina thought sadly, ‘Poor Lady Fiona. Lord Nicolas neglects her, and even the child she bore is neglected. Yet this is Nicolas’s flesh and blood.‘
Cedric’s cries from within his swaddling blanket jolted Fiona back to reality.
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Fiona said to Lina in a strained voice, “Let’s go.”
With that, Fiona left with Cedric. At this moment, Willow caught up with Nicolas and timidly asked, “Nicolas, did you and Fiona have a fight?”
Nicolas felt a sudden surge of intense irritation, and he snorted coldly, “Who knows what had gotten to her?”
Nicolas thought irritably, ‘Fiona’s world used to revolve around me and she was constantly by my side. I don’t know when it started, but now she’s just like Athena, always acting all high and mighty. Not only does she give me the cold shoulder, but she’s constantly pulling a long face. What a nuisance!‘
Willow let out a noncommittal “oh,” her eyes glinting with calculation. “Maybe Fiona just felt a bit stifled in the estate and went out for some air. Don’t take it to heart, Nicolas,” she said.
At Willow’s words, it suddenly dawned on Nicolas.
Fiona was never one who went on outings, yet just now, Nicolas had seen her leave the estate with her entourage of maids and nurse. She was even carrying Cedric in her arms.
Nicolas frowned and wondered, ‘What on earth is she up to?‘
Nicolas hated losing control. As such, he summoned an attendant and ordered curtly, “Follow Lady Fiona. Find out who she’s meeting and what she’s up
to.”
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Chapter 211
