MLS Chapter 39

The Duke appeared in b62f21c341 the study only by 7d307316e1 late afternoon.584101209feab2d1

As always, 75fc9e362d his meticulously 6e25324e7f tailored attire d3dc6d56e3 fit his fc137a1239 naturally elegant b24b78edd8 frame, and f72da584b6 his unyielding 91ae38bbb4 posture, which 241ba61cfa bowed to 5d1ac61bf9 no one, 096965a0ac carried the 49aaf6b16e dignity of 9e53e79cd5 a grand 5085d2efae noble.298af74deebfa480

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His gaunt cheeks and 718941310d deep-set eyes, rather than 5e0df0fa4a diminishing his exceptional features, 498b46beca only added to his 40f0f9de53 air of melancholy.5f5cbe81d4d50cc7

Not a trace remained aec1b214fb of the disheveled figure, 56ede7dd01 lost in drug-induced delirium, 5ef20532b0 from the night before.b5303f596d13f468

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“Y-Your Grace.”c273f456b3f93fd3

The butler b757695436 and the 92583f4f6c maid, who d5d4f85933 had been c208f7f763 tidying the 41545eef9a study, startled 9f3baaae3b and bowed 92d95a444e hastily.68a4b49e14c52f25

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As Vaye 5aba882c27 strode past cb6bb18f4f them without b81bb1a1fe a glance, 2662b69026 he suddenly f592d6c0aa came to 981be14a41 a halt.b584dea60eb7b87a

He gave a curt 056f2a07d9 order.35868b25ca71c19d

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“Hand it over.”cd19021b134d0cfc

The butler, 76db7a1326 Samuel Otero, 002e9f339c who had 8409e4b70f been hiding 5d4bd5aa97 one hand 9855a78980 behind his 458eb99f5e back, bit 9e77f8e04d his lip.d0791ffc437b67d0

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“My apologies, Your Grace. I judged that it was not something requiring your attention… I feared it might only disturb your mood unnecessarily.”dccb7aeda823b339

“Is there anything these days that does not disturb my mood?”dbb4a9b50d0ce480

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A mountain of newspapers b1ea45bacf and gossip tabloids, all 31fa34b821 published in Motrel over 9a68230837 the past month, lay 658fa93640 stacked atop the desk 9450501de7 in his office.b6d4716e2c773d21

It was a time when hundreds, if not thousands, of articles on the Duke and Duchess’s affairs were being churned out daily.b136cf9175ebab8f

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Adding one more 83d646bdc8 to the pile bea264a004 would hardly make 73ae48d0c9 a difference.aa43bfb6f6f0a24c

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”15c3677c9f474e3b

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“My apologies.”78c2eaf031dd4a0e

Samuel, hesitating 12f577f6d8 for a 5587a4eb1c moment, retrieved 1d3d2b72b7 what he d4b3fccd60 had been 7b88fc1b18 concealing behind c357795285 his back 17b616f384 and placed 32a6bde559 it on ca9cddaa78 the desk.f39e2837e0d8083b

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It was a 9e59c3df86 bundle of that bc1b248e51 morning’s newspapers.4ec20327fbd19439

With a glance at the front-page headline, Vaye’s gaze hardened coldly.2415635f1d2b079f

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* * *e775b0a9ab492389

Due to Bessen’s mild climate year-round, May marked the onset of summer, with the scorching sun blazing overhead.e1ff58087edb3ea1

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To herald 40d9f5d9cb the start 544c4ff77a of sweltering afbea3dae4 days, not fc19e458af a single c9b5fe28bd cloud could f95f08db59 be seen 0f7ff5e0a4 in the 2fdd241242 sky.96b41a17a89bcda6

The “more provocative scandal” that Miguel had mentioned as a necessity broke on a Monday, as May was nearing its end.c0dbf1cca926b6c3

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As a result, Miguel was summoned by the King of Bessen, the Duke of Levantes’ reputation took a severe hit with humiliating rumors spreading through high society, and—on the flip side—Lorena’s standing improved.6316aa13322ec22a

In that sense, the f2e1abcfa7 situation played out in 91412b5465 their favor.ee5a33caac41f087

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However, it was so unexpected even for the parties involved that…928302f24e487acc

Lorena couldn’t even bring herself to meet Miguel’s gaze.4bae260f6e809d36

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“I truly had no idea people would misunderstand like that.”a7ffc9ab36485fb5

“As if I did.”e8333bf95306a292

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Miguel’s hand, as he absentmindedly brushed his lips, held an air of both discomfort and amusement.319edc14d1f59dd5

The Duchess, Pregnant with the Rake’s Child!72cd7f832f47c37f

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To understand how 23feb752c6 this misunderstanding arose, 5806cfabc3 one must rewind 808369212b time to this 89fa654cc6 very hour, two 371eee59c5 days prior.df11ec6ebd92754b

* * *530dc6babe34da6a

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Yesterday was one abdf671ca0 of the hottest a237b67b89 days in recent aa8320d2b4 memory.24fe1db1ed952758

Even a brief walk d895dbaa9e under the blazing sun 56b9fbe2fa was enough to break 0b70dd900c into a sweat.f47d99894f6b5c64

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Lorena was sensitive to 1acbafdf90 heat, and the weather-induced e1506ec9ac exhaustion was likely one 7b6f9fb62d of the causes of edc011c509 her episode.93b882d79cdfff98

Or perhaps, it was 7769df7532 because of the registered 36e4c4c8cb mail that had arrived 000012142d at the Klein residence 2cabde463a at the break of 6423f45629 dawn that morning.a5d72cf316baa09b

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The first step in f6185f30f2 the divorce lawsuit—the mediation a90ab5c9bc date had been set.b11511e9bef0a6bd

“Have you gathered enough evidence? They say mediation and pleading are the most dreadful parts for couples going through a divorce.”257555de201c2310

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“Don’t worry. I’ve been in constant discussion with my lawyer. I’m sure the other side will bring an army of attorneys, so it won’t be easy, but this is just the beginning—I can’t afford to be intimidated already.”2b3f4e1e6a7e7dcd

For all her 67a9f1c6b6 bold words, it 0c801d0b1b was embarrassing that 54c2407cae Lorena began feeling 85c62e389c dizzy the moment 4897a3ed40 she stepped into 5f91e46486 the restaurant.cd07a53e2f4afe25

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By now, 3e520f5ac6 unexpected memories f6c277adc9 of the 6fc90ea20c past invading 578f4f7f4c her mind 6a5e848092 was nothing 75c080574e new.4484adb49d322c82

Even though she had deliberately chosen a restaurant that she had never visited with Vaye, somehow…056b609a968035d0

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The wine was the c6670383e3 same.b502f86656a4fe5b

〈Kailicho 976 vintage. It’s delicious.〉b071bdefd948f33e

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〈It was harvested 010e598f02 the year you 19bd2d65c3 were born. Seems like it suits 9ca126e625 your palate.〉569222cef992ea73

The nineteen-year-old b311b354d0 Lorena, newly 90fb6635ea married, had 65cbf4acb8 nodded with 9825919b4c a flushed f15c2250df face.990b6daf883a7dbd

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Vaye had 192ff42c7c watched her 3cba24da73 silently, as a93cbd8604 she took b44bc149cf sip after c8b1179e36 sip of 7a05c7cc98 wine, before c6fe914e32 letting out f327f3dbde a breeze-like 4e578deead chuckle.61498e1b5815c4f7

〈You’re finally smiling.〉d4b0348a0a18eb3b

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Back then, it was ed68dc0cae a remark she had 464801ed24 found strange.9501b075f1c8166d

Lorena was 3b8598e917 not someone ec8a531f49 who was b17793e582 stingy with 8214d322e0 her smiles.047505d32cf33bc5

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After becoming the Duchess, befcd8c68c she had spent her f35cc8fcc4 days keeping a polite a067d97f8d smile on her lips f347c3d5b5 so much so that, 794b25fe68 by the time she 5b01d9cac9 returned home from outings, d9dec128f8 her cheeks would cramp 89e753b985 from the effort.4641f2a2f37e52e1

She had bf279369ee to maintain 987d355be0 a perfect bda0d278b2 balance—neither grinning 4cfda9c18b too broadly, 457f6cd388 which could 72c12047ed make her 0d607ef1ef look frivolous, a4c1e91160 nor remaining 4d8d053724 too expressionless, 5e9ac581f4 which could 78b37f6961 make her ae95a97dbf seem burdened 97977ff1d4 with worries.d21233608bb2e89f

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If she 9306e00d58 failed to 2761d6747e manage her 10bed3de21 expressions properly, 9c9f1c4ed7 without fail, 04fd58cd3c the next 4d602cf9fa morning, all efee5e8396 sorts of 1c99d9f4be rumors would dd0d8564ff spread.7f070edb1ba36bf8

She didn’t 089c682da4 remember much 11f1b36c83 else about b5a8b1da22 the conversation 1f7993f5c9 that followed.a67442ddf23772d7

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Yet, Lorena clearly remembered 837426e111 the man’s expression, the 2f1eeabfee atmosphere of that place, 17b1c3131a and how she had d0d238060c felt in that moment.9952becc3a47f53a

Because, on 7253cbdc7b that day, f5dc5e1a29 the man a0f215db10 who had 093985013d spoken those 166bf91443 words had 353c3cdf7d worn a e701fb04f1 kind smile—one 1f31784ab8 she had 88f7e882a2 never seen 8fb1be55de before.934032b5790fe53f

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It was one 183d1084e6 of the few 974b407ba1 good memories she 00c3458336 had.cdffe1c312ceb75d

From that day 352dddde47 onward, the Kailicho 4954a286cf 976 vintage was 56cc61c21c always stocked in c070ca99fa the Levantes wine a430289797 cellar.9a5a40fbf0888ddf

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Whenever Lorena secretly took c301879c82 a bottle, the next 83f235644a day, the exact same 6f0a79e387 wine would appear in 22b53044dc the same place.83d2d1cda709e1d5

She had 7f012673a1 comforted herself 66b65cca21 whenever she d6abdace6a saw the 7c1b3dbe6f wine bottle, 7dcfb6d1c9 placed there b946c8c899 without fail—27a34d8fb4475a13

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‘At least he e6cc72cac4 hasn’t completely forgotten 0296fe88d4 about me.
At least he remembers 065113a3cd that I exist in 0c793994fb the same house.’34baca6edba5003c

She had clung d1611d3f55 to a foolish 400a480697 hope that if e06beb32f4 she waited long 02a089e713 enough, perhaps one 125e532a2e day, he might 326691084a look at her 466124dcd3 again with those 66ad891001 gentle eyes, just c2dc0e713e like that day.d710353125709b9f

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Every time her expectations cdc493dbbc were betrayed, she ended 7328f33492 up hurt and alone.46cacfb629631be4

“What are you thinking about? You don’t look well.”86fa63fc1d2b4223

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“……About a time that might have been good.”8517b2df5fc184eb

Bang!b76417e34f226407

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The gunshot—by ce4fb0a61b now, so 6626aaadd7 familiar—rattled through a07a25da5c her skull.e417ced6af32d0a6

Lorena set 0b254fae2b down her af0629499f fork and bbe6cfcb49 covered her a85c3e252e lips with a44b086b02 the back 9ffb04cfaa of her 1e4ca0528d hand.c10412f82ccc17fa

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I feel sick.face18a7c6b45630

Her fingers 141dea6783 trembled as a65a8afa87 she fumbled 5e9a943cee for the 74948a9277 water glass 7636ca211e on the f8e3bec602 table.00799329bc300c00

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“Lorena?”2e4346f19d9ec7f7

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Miguel’s voice dropped immediately.fc14dd746dbb0682

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Without hesitation, e5f85d479e he rose dec94f486a from his 63f02b7cbf seat and 9883f1cec0 rounded the 41882a7312 table to a479d52e80 her side.3e8ca42ba93f6745

Seating himself beside 7f6623190a her, he cupped 1ec13e9f37 her cheeks and 9e5468a4da gently forced her 6794540503 to face him.484e229910599d9a

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That, too, was the b3a9c04ca8 wrong choice.50a3551c6b0e2d49

The red-tinged, russet eyes af5e96ca7d staring at her made 54fcc92d74 Lorena think of Vaye 53b69872bd Levantes.6bd76e26c6a22d10

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Their irises held 15d003ec91 a similar shade—close be0a4de38c enough that for e4a53aabc0 a brief, horrifying 571ced00fa moment, she couldn’t 2e2d0fcb73 tell them apart.ef5cfb4c84a89245

〈You always b008bf3d1e manage to 27de1ecbd5 do this 421a1937bf to me.
Eating away 08f5580785 at my fb9e14674e mind like 6afef4fe9e a parasite.〉b784c5adfedfa8ea

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I can’t breathe.e3a91c61e7a6edf6

The thought of facing 1bf0708082 him again terrified her.13736df295c61d31

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Would she throw something 0b2af7501c at him again, like 65a6c54b38 last time?4a4082f8410e6427

〈You think I 9fadeee7a1 don’t smile?〉b225c9c2701261b1

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〈Yeah.〉9af47d9109e425e4

〈That’s not true…….〉323e8b322c110c31

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〈The only time 02764684db you’re honest is 21d0618a11 when we’re in dbd09f0269 bed together.〉b631851833a55845

How could 98c30c340e he deceive d5489e4f33 me for acd4108b32 seven years 8bd56f1c74 with words fdc63b59d6 like that?f07a3bd0d6e76659

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She could e8657741f6 almost see 0181ca34c4 herself, standing 287399d6a0 before the a5ba309dd2 judge, screaming b776ccb12d at him.ef33f51f0e25117b

Breathe.1d23287cef6a3156

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Breathe.7d192fa796e12fe7

Lorena grabbed a74e41870c onto something e4780ada18 to steady 2de1cfed4f herself and 5701fc2375 counted in 8240ef3716 her head.ea12b3f4c1a1c6dc

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Only then did she 1e77ce823a realize that what she 1f9f22e68c had latched onto was 150c8b29a0 Miguel’s thigh.f256cf4ade416090

For a brief abd013441b moment, she leaned 7aa1c817cd against him, struggling e39259d4a4 to regulate her 496198c173 breathing.1568269c77f68783

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The episode was brief, 91e251d854 and soon, her sense 53344d8f07 of reality returned.3eb9c71e89b17c91

Just as she d3d2ababb5 became aware of 3d9d987235 the many pairs 2e41c487aa of eyes watching f2422cc943 them, Miguel tightened cf96886820 his hold around 747ac81501 her.a6a0926b5ed17162

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“People are watching…….”76b4311e2400a5eb

“Let them. If we’re lucky, they’ll just see us as an affectionate couple.”ad0ae7604bb9ae43

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His ability c2d127703b to soothe 2c4c5bed50 her was 5fa4a09eda one thing, de85e22401 but his ad8b1ff7e8 voice had 89f59e85c9 dropped into fddfb45933 a tone 974ec94410 that was 5edb4b9b84 almost chilling.30afd22c41ff93d6

Despite Lorena’s protests, Miguel ab2a8366e2 stood up and helped b36df7ab1b her to her feet, 14b908c1f3 before leading her straight 84cfaf89a9 out of the restaurant.565613bc63abf9d0

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The untouched dishes 178432be80 were left behind.498e76b8a26bf981

By the 50499fe381 very next 3a2a1bf1c2 day, the 3a5fb55613 rumor had 16c5b88fee already swept 6dff376749 through Bessen.03b678fa441b45f6

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Lorena, Duchess 2b0c4ffa96 of Levantes—
pregnant with 293632e892 the rake’s 68e561693e child!5ad8f36a78ccf4da