Free Web NovelChapter 18: Don’t Lose Heart
SOPHIA
As Jace limped toward us, his expression flickering between jealousy and fury, Duke Stonehart stepped in front of me, blocking me from Jace. I peeked around his shoulder, fingers clenching his jacket.
Jace’s pants were ripped, one knee raw and bloody. I could feel the heat of his fury all the way across the ship.
"Where do you think you’re taking my wife?" Jace’s voice was practically a growl.
"That privilege won’t be yours for long, Mr. Willowmarch," answered the Duke with complete confidence. "I’ll take her to the capital and ask the emperor for a decree."
"To divorce me?" My almost ex-husband laughed, and the cold sound made fear scrape up my spine. He’d never cared about me before and this new possessiveness was rather frightening.
"Not divorce. Annulment," I said, shuffling a little to the side of the Duke. "We’ve never consummated. It’s only been three months since we wed, well within the timeframe for an annulment. It will be like we were never married."
"I don’t agree. We’ve been engaged since we were children. You spent two years planning the wedding. You sent me love letters incessantly." He stopped a couple of feet from us. "You can’t just stop loving me. I don’t believe it." He crooked his finger. "Sophia, come here."
"No." Perhaps I was a bit of a coward. I ducked back behind the Duke and grabbed his jacket. I felt his back muscles tense as he put his hand behind to hold my waist.
"I don’t want you, Jace!" I yelled.
"Do you want your family?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Pagemoores rely on the Willowmarches for economic opportunities. How much debt does your family owe? Most of your monthly allowance goes to pay your family’s financial obligations. Your brothers aren’t married. They need money for betrothal gifts and bride prices. And your mother ... her life’s work is the literacy program, isn’t it? Teaching underprivileged kids to read is such a noble cause. One that she would not have without Willowmarch money."
I felt resentment bloom in my heart. "You dare to use emotional blackmail?"
"If it means that you’ll return to my side, then yes."
"If your only card is money," said the Duke. "Then you might as well fold. I have more money than you. In fact, the Stoneharts have more money than nearly everyone. Sophia will never have to worry about herself or her family."
I dared to peek out again. Jace immediately focused on me, his features twisting in anger. "She’s already mine."
"But you don’t want me!" I cried. "You’ve never paid the slightest attention to me. Penelope is the one in your heart. She’s been by your side for seven years. She has more power and prestige than I do because of your neglect."
"I will right the wrongs of our past," said Jace. "I will send Penelope away."
My eyes felt hot as tears formed. He really wasn’t going to let me go. Why? Why? It made no sense. He didn’t love me. Was this possessiveness? Of course. That was exactly right.
I was just one of his possessions. He didn’t want the Duke to take his toys. But I was not a toy. I was a human being. A woman who had loved him. Maybe he didn’t have the benefit of a past life, but I did. And I knew full well what the future held if I stayed married to Jace Willowmarch.
"It doesn’t matter if you send your lover away," I said. "You’ve already broken faith with me. There’s no turning back."
"Penelope and I are innocent!" roared Jace. "She’s my savior, Sophia. I cannot abandon her. But I will removed her from Amaranth Manor. She won’t disturb you anymore."
"If you think that, you’re incredibly stupid," I said. "Penelope hates me. She wants to be your wife. Why not let me go and marry her?"
"She’s not worthy!" Jace drew in a shuddering breath, his face red from repressed rage. "She’s a maid, Sophia. The only reason she’s able to enjoy my company is because she saved my life. That is a debt that must be paid." frёeωebɳovel.com
Did he really believe the nonsense he was spouting? He could’ve given her a sum of money, arranged a marriage, sent her to school, lifted her out of poverty in her own village. There were a hundred ways to pay a life-saving grace that did not include ambigious companionship for seven long years.
Jace’s disloyalty to me, his insistence on keeping Penelope at his side, his arrogance, his heartlessness ... all of it built the pathway to my murder. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
I would not let that happen again.
"You’ve made your choice," said the Duke. "Why cling to the wife who doesn’t want you?"
"She loved me once. She can love me again." Jace’s expression was pure stubbornness. "You’re just rebelling! You’re angry with me. All I have to do is coax you, right?"
"What is wrong with him?" I muttered. "You think he’d be thrilled to be rid of me."
"You are a treasure," said the Duke in a low voice only meant for me to hear. "One that he didn’t cherish. He doesn’t deserve you. Do not be swayed."
I realized then that the Duke was actually worried I might return to Jace. But I had already made up my mind. Whether or not Jace divorced me, I would belong to Duke Stonehart. If that meant living in scandal, then so be it. I would never let others dictate my life again. I had died once because I wanted too badly to be loved, to be cherished. I had no bottom line. No boundaries.
Jace could take and take and take, but did he give?
No, never. Any affection he had he gave to Penelope.
I would never again sell my dignity for a few crumbs of love.
"I won’t go with you," I told Jace. "You may think you can turn over a new leaf and be a good husband, but you’re lying to yourself. You are who you are. That won’t change."
"But you’ve changed," said Jace. His fists were clenched at his side. "You’ve changed so much. Why can’t I?"
"She wore a different dress," said the Duke. "Not a different personality. She let herself shine instead of hiding her light behind the dark clouds of your neglect. The only thing she changed was her love for you."
"You really do see me, don’t you?" I whispered.
"I always have," he whispered back.
