If someone carelessly connected the dots between Margaret’s child and the adopted child, a lifetime of doubt would hang like a tag on the child.

Inevitably, Riviana would also be viewed with suspicious eyes.

Bake frowned. Either way, it was not beneficial to have Margaret standing out now.

“If we run away now, we’re admitting the rumors are true.”

“The rumors are already as good as true. And soon, your belly will continue to grow. Think of it as leaving a little earlier than planned.”

“……”

“You surely don’t want to mark the child with a stain of injustice, do you? Even if you can’t pass on a good lineage as a mother, you shouldn’t block the child’s future.”

Bake looked down at Margaret, not hiding his annoyed expression.

Even though she was a woman, her quickly reddening eyes moved his heart in some way.

But today was not the day.

Looking at Margaret’s expression, it didn’t seem like she would be able to enjoy it, and Riviana was deep in thought at the mansion.

Who knows? Comforting and soothing his disturbed wife, another opportunity might arise.

He was satisfied with the fact that he had held his wife, but he had no memory of it due to his drunken state, which was regrettable in many ways. This regret could only be relieved if he had another opportunity soon.

Of course, without alcohol. Completely sober.

Bake naturally remembered his wife’s thin, long neck and licked his lips.

By all accounts, he had seen many women, but none had as beautiful a line as his wife.

Even after getting married and giving birth to a child, Riviana was still beautiful and still stimulated the man’s conquest desire. It was not without reason, when men gathered and talked about women, she was always the topic of conversation.

In addition, the conversation ended with jealousy and envy towards the final victor who won her.

“……what about you?”

“Me?”

“You’re the father.”

“That’s why I’m doing my best to solve this problem. Like a father should.”

“……Normally, a father would worry first. No, before that, you wouldn’t have waited this long to visit.”

Margaret habitually embraced her belly. The more she spoke, the more miserable her situation seemed, and she didn’t want to say such things.

But it was unfair to stay silent. All this time, Bake had only blamed her for the accident and never once showed concern.

“Why have you been so dissatisfied lately?”

“It’s not dissatisfaction, it’s stating the obvious.”

“What’s obvious? What’s obvious?”

“That”

“This was an accident, wasn’t it?”

Bake pushed back his falling hair and sighed deeply.

He had been patient because of the child, but seeing her become increasingly confrontational, it seemed necessary to assert his stance once.

“Maybe it wasn’t a mistake. The child happened to be conceived after your husband’s death. The timing was too perfect to call it coincidence.”

“……”

“Don’t think I don’t know anything. There’s a limit to how much I can ignore.”

“……Knowing all that I have done for you, how can you say such things?”

“That’s why I’m enduring. There are many submissive women, but it’s hard to find one who listens as well as you. I’m also getting old, so I need a successor.”

Under the bright lights, Margaret backed away from the vividly sparkling red eyes.

She had only forgotten for a moment, but Bake was never weak. He was a man who could do anything to achieve what he wanted.

No matter how wealthy he was, he couldn’t overcome the barrier of social status. The fact that the son of a merchant became the Duke of Creighton and lasted so long in the social world was no simple coincidence.

“Let’s maintain a proper line and not upset each other. You know there are many women who can bear my child besides you, don’t you?”

“……You treated Meriel well.”

At the mention of his daughter’s name, Bake paused for a moment.

But that was only for a moment. Soon he opened his mouth to Margaret again with the same intensity as before.

“I can do the same for the child to be born. Of course, your actions can change my position.”

“……”

“Stay away for a while. I’ll call you when things quiet down.”

As if she had never shown annoyance, Margaret tightly closed her mouth at the sight of Beike, who was showing a soft smile on his lips.

When can I return?

Margaret harshly closed the window towards the now invisible monastery.

The fact that she had to avoid like this was unpleasant, but she was more scared. Beike told her to take a break for a while, but she was not sure whether he would call her back.

While she was away at the villa, if Liviana had enticed Beike hard, her place would have disappeared.

“If it’s going to be like this, I’d rather…”

Margaret looked down at her own hands quietly.

Quite some time had passed, but she still vividly remembered the stranger’s heartbeat that she could feel from her hand.

It was her first murder.

But it was not the end. Similar events could be repeated at any time.

“But not now. Don’t let emotions rule, think calmly.”

It would be more than happy if Liviana, who is a thorn in the eye, disappears, but for now, it was too risky to target the life of the Duchess of Creighton. Unless it’s a sure opportunity, it’s an act that can’t be attempted.

“Think positively. If you think about it well, it’s not bad.”

In the end, the opponent was Liviana.

Even if she made a fuss about revenge, she was a noble bloodline that grew finely from the roots. There would be a limit to what she could think of even if she had been through a storm.

In the end, Beike will be intact, and all that will be left is Liviana’s resentment. And if that happens, eventually Beike will let go of her hand.

If not, on the contrary, Liviana might let go first. It was common for someone who was driven to the brink to give up their life.

The shimmer of her lightcolored eyes stopped for a moment.

Margaret slowly raised her head and stood up straight.

There’s no need to be afraid. On the contrary, this was an opportunity. Thinking so, her trembling gradually calmed down.

Margaret tried hard to soothe her trembling body.

Due to the habit of being submissive, she unknowingly lowered her body, but that was a wrong action.

She was a body that contained Creighton’s successor, and she needed to be confident accordingly. It was a promise she made to herself.

Heeeing!

With the cry of a horse, the carriage shook violently.

Margaret, who was caught off guard, quickly reached for the wall decor.

“What, what’s.”

“What are you doing now, eek!”

“That guy, surely that, keug!”

She wanted to ask what was going on, but her body stiffened at the desperate scream that echoed.

Margaret instinctively crouched down, wrapping her lower abdomen.

She could not know what was going on outside, but one thing was certain.

Those outside were enemies.

‘Please, just pass by. Please.’

Like a cornered mouse, Margaret clung to the corner of the carriage, trembling violently.

The noise outside quieted down after a while, but she didn’t dare to check the situation.

She also couldn’t be sure. Whether the outside quieted down because of her own people, or the opposite.

That’s when it happened.

With a clattering sound, the sound of the carriage door opening was heard.

Only belatedly did Margaret realize she had not locked the carriage, she tried to stand up but fell back down. Her legs had lost strength and she couldn’t move.

All she could do was look up at the man visible through the wideopen carriage door.

That’s when Margaret’s eyes met his.

“Hello.”

The man smiled.