Free Web NovelChapter 50: Jealousy (3)
"I’m going to ruin his life," Naomi muttered, looking on as the strange man returned to Scarlet’s side. He didn’t know who he had insulted and Naomi would have him apologising soon. "Where did she find him?"
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Naomi gritted her teeth upon hearing Preston’s voice. "Why are you here now? You should have been here earlier to say something to the man who insulted me. You’re always so slow."
"What man? Who insulted you?" Preston questioned, ready to defend her.
Naomi wasn’t impressed by his eagerness as she knew he would say a few words and then call upon guards to deal with who had insulted her. Naomi knew not to expect much since Preston never had to raise his hand at anyone other than a servant but would it be so bad for him to use his hands to defend her just once?
Naomi had witnessed men with status quick to defend who they loved so why did Preston need to be one of the cowards?
"Don’t get yourself so excited just to do nothing. He’s over there," Naomi said, pointing to Scarlet. "Who is that man?"
"That is who you are talking about? I heard the man around Scarlet is Lord Kingsley’s son. His bastard but-"
’What?" Naomi asked, her shock evident in her tone. "That man right there is related to the Kingsleys?"
"Don’t forget the bastard part. He’s the oldest son that was in that little scandal years back. His mother was a servant who seduced Lord Kingsley. I need to look into what else happened as so many years have passed and I was young then. I’m told he looks a lot like the lord," Preston said, trying to get a good look.
"He must be entering the battle to be the heir as Hank is speaking about so much that it is starting to hurt my ears. I thought I should be close to Victor but now I might need to be close to this Ian fellow," said Preston.
Naomi couldn’t believe her ears that the man she thought was a nobody was the son of a lord. Why care about him being a bastard if he might inherit a lot of money and a title? Had she known this, she would have been a bit nicer to him.
Naomi glared at Preston for being so late to tell her this. If he had remained by her side a little longer like she asked him to then this wouldn’t have happened.
"Avert your eyes," Preston warned as it wasn’t a good look for her to glare at her husband. "I’ve given you the pleasure of doing what you please but now it is getting a little out of hand. I hope you didn’t cause trouble. Did you?"
"How was I supposed to know that he was a Kingsley? I was kind to him but that man was rude. It’s fitting that he’s a bastard," Naomi replied, no longer interested in Ian’s title.
Preston shook his head as Naomi was clueless as ever. "You weren’t to approach any of the men here without me by your side. You said you were going to speak with a friend and now you’ve caused trouble. What if Hank takes this son to be under his wing? I could have gotten close to him."
"We both know that won’t happen. Do you not see him sitting beside Scarlet? She’ll fill his head with awful stories about you so you can’t get close. It’s better to stick to Victor. He is the legitimate son and well-loved by his parents. I’m sure his mother won’t allow him to lose to a bastard," said Naomi.
"I don’t care what his mother wants. What matters is what Lord Kinglsey intends to do but you’re right," Preston answered, turning his gaze back to Scarlet. No matter what he did she was always there to block his path. "She will fill his head with lies."
"How is it that she gets to have these men?" Naomi wondered. She had used every trick she could think of to get Preston while Scarlet easily gathered men worth something. "Why does he want a divorced woman who can’t have children? He’s wasting his time with her."
Preston stared at Ian whilst having different thoughts. While many found her useless, there were still men who wanted her. There was no ignoring that Scarlet was pretty and with her having trouble getting pregnant, there were jokes that you could enjoy nights with the beautiful woman and not face any responsibilities.
Others thought she only needed a little bit of training with the right man to have a child.
"I will have to fix whatever you have caused today. I want to be close to him for his ties with the Kingsley and we need to be close to whoever is with Scarlet. She won’t get involved in helping him impress his father so I will offer my support. I just need that estate in exchange," Preston said.
Preston’s mood changed as he watched Scarlet speak to Ian. Something about her being happy made him angry. Now, when she was married to Jack, and when they were children. She always had everything and he couldn’t shake the jealous feeling.
"I want to see her hurt. Where is the man you said you had convinced to court her? You said he was excited at the thought of being with her. I hope you got him to promise to keep his mouth shut about you," Preston said as he couldn’t have anyone saying he set Scarlet up.
Naomi smiled as she thought of her plan. "Don’t worry. I didn’t go up to him and tell him to attack her. I just dropped a few hints that she is desperately in need of a man and must be lonely. As a concerned relative, how could I be blamed for him thinking that meant to force himself on her? I didn’t know of the rumours that he is no different than a dog in heat."
Naomi couldn’t wait for the show. She hoped that it would happen here as she was well aware that he was invited and this was the best place to get news of it going around. The fall of Scarlet Collins would be grand and not even her parents would be able to save her.
"She’ll wish she was kind to us after this. I might be kind to pity her a little and go around her to see how pathetic she is. How long will she pretend to be bold by showing up to these parties? I would have left the moment I arrived and saw Jack here with Beth."
Naomi now remembered something she had sent to Scarlet to upset her. Her name was not on it so Preston couldn’t be upset with her and Scarlet couldn’t come after her.
"I don’t want to stand here looking at her. It’s time that we rejoin the others and witness whatever fun comes out of this party. It is time that I show off my wife. I’m tired of hearing them speak only of Jack’s woman," Preston said, taking Naomi’s hand to lead her to take the spotlight from Beth.
