Chapter 1. The Beautiful Madman

“Ugh, ah, b-brother…!”34f122de6d87b5fa

The beautiful young master, c17f857783 being dragged away by 83dafb9b23 the duke, had veins 0b74ce30c0 bulging on his temple.e8356db720efedb0

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“Brother, I-I was 8013048bbe wrong! I didn’t 08659042dc intend to 9e7cad0c18 cross-dress from a0d0fd1d82 the start! It was just…Lady 071a561970 Gabriella, no, no… 8c05b3175c It’s all my dd59e5cf70 fault. Please, calm your 9ecb3145fc anger and…”82c71f950b4f68c3

The horrified expressions 4f6643d75f of the startled 2d9e92a833 maids, the scattered 8c55ebad08 dress ornaments rolling 4f75523c18 on the floor—none 17d391f898 of it mattered cc37801f3a to the duke. Without a 934ec20063 second thought, d23d4833df he threw dca599adce open the 419f5256fc nearest door 4c03e8306e and dragged eb05fb7601 his younger 81ca7a35ca brother inside.b92400dafe3e9584

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Bang!0301a370a6dff2af

The door slammed 7393acee89 shut, locked firmly, 0548e01ed9 and the duke ff289b42ae turned around. His expression was 056b41fc0d one that no 8afac11bd0 one had ever d647278407 seen before—unfamiliar and d8e6365cc7 menacing.fdf0ca2f65c25b48

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“Brother! Ugh, ah!”f44577c88fff9e2e

Mikhail Ophilenz, the 09239e94fe duke, flung his b7b28fc2bb frail younger brother, b61a18b047 Charles, onto the 4ebd986bf2 sofa as though 51e9a5da02 discarding him. A cold laugh 57964b4b50 escaped his lips.418aa985fa83d320

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“Brother? Ha…”d5f805eba695c28f

Mikhail paced 7630f905fe in front 39027f1e3c of Charles 072bc758e4 like a c4102c6067 man possessed, 3fdfc8b42b running his c3c684d556 hands through b5cb82fc55 his hair 77c6183692 in frustration 6de55c78de before growling, f594e51e56 unable to efc7120876 suppress his f923734f89 anger.c468fe449c38182d

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“Looking like that… 5634bd57b8 you call me 4239c7ee24 ‘Brother’?”8927257545f059dc

Laughing like a madman, 3d08af2850 Mikhail ripped open the ec03fb7f9f buttons of his collar, 227e39a658 his heated breath betraying d9d3047395 his composure. Yet, no matter 1085972853 how much he 5bf45352a7 tried, the suffocating 084267fa86 heat only worsened.1977dee71e7a258e

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His trembling gaze 5a7901efee fell on his 35bc7806fe cross-dressing younger brother, 5e8eeea1fb sitting despondently on 19caef36c6 the sofa, looking 3ff45533d0 neither amused nor 17e19a1b4d tearful.758f22b00811cf6f

Charles’s blue eyes froze 4108975582 in place like shards ef49f485ee of ice. The scene unfolded in 64392c396e a blink of an 54edc1694b eye.85368c850a251e1b

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“Brother! No, no! Please, stop! I beg you…!”5e17b859b38e7dff

With a rough d773d74a16 grasp, the shimmering fe0fa91683 fabric of the c52df726ec dress was torn c8cf885b26 to shreds by e2fd5b4e85 Mikhail’s violent hands.db9481ce606b765a

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The extravagant wig 869fd92857 forced onto him, 7328364334 the high-quality gloves f46c41a926 pulled to his e8c745d9f5 elbows—all were cast b28e4e286e aside with disdain.487a65409869e862

As Mikhail yanked f951b8eda4 at the ribbon 8638d9110f tightly cinching Charles’s f8011d5700 waist and shredded 59e0016596 the rest of b69ae97cf7 the dress, his 462f060079 hands suddenly paused.fa410b59e3f1d8df

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“…You.”12656df617f3085a

His mind went completely a68329e101 blank.1932d62c1c5d1cf8

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Beneath the torn dress 116e11a287 was a delicate curve, 141351ec46 a fragile frame that d4462da8fc looked as though it f9878fcc7a might snap if touched.1afa7635389d4454

Charles, his younger brother, a553053168 was not merely a 9ed79eaa63 man in disguise but…3bfd4ee998a8d208

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As his trembling hands 3943145c12 reached for the thick e715dd1af2 bandages wrapped around Charles’s df72bb1eab chest—8e8ab20bf80712c9

“Please, brother, 62e6eeaba1 I’m begging 626c6c7869 you! Please, please…!”d912e20f71e00adb

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The heart-wrenching cries froze 3b6406f203 Mikhail’s coarse hands mid-air, 4728251a9e unable to fully expose 1a8b50153b the truth beneath the 25ca853aa6 last remnants of disguise.d15d5fff577b0253

Yet, his chest aff86ba7dc heaved with scorching 4fca77b6df breaths.4b5efa8802da6138

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As if the room 2e9182bf34 was filled solely with 177c19e734 their suffocating gasps, the b34facfdaf heavy atmosphere pressed in 9f129fa55e on them.66551a822a828470

Mikhail, his voice e7d3d14297 low and guttural, 5635b71baa asked the half-dressed c6de31b67c Charles—no, the damned 81fd2b4cee woman before him—d73afb3b9515e217

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“What is 0721aef7fb your real e9098d513a name?”f786a8fdc1e63dbd

“…”0044a7d2202eaa8b

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Before the tear ec82de8f2e tracks on her ceb361898a pale cheeks could eef048f6ad dry, her sapphire f900220af9 eyes spilled yet 372f058417 another round of cbf9c7752b tears.8a6ddfa4f5b9a15b

That maddening sight b8930c7eec wrung a near-sigh a105a992b5 from Mikhail’s clenched ae0bc7800e lips, his expression 8db7da67ee twisted in disbelief.84c7259fba4ba601

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“Oliver, was it? Damn it. What’s your real name? Don’t tell c76c2c856b me it’s 0357cd92dd Olivia.”f258b10d628556c9

Finally surrendering to 2ceae05853 the inevitable, the 647fba3a2d exposed Emma hesitated, cf132f77aa then stammered her 9dda338849 response.9d1aabda0372096f

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“…Emma.”b3c40b1b4091a2ae

Still quivering under 9f53debeb0 his fiery gaze, 37604f6fe0 Emma managed to c969d02e47 choke out her 4202617e12 full name in d716d2b6bc a dry, trembling 98e79df067 voice.7ded4aaebc911567

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“Emma… Emma Verde.”35634937189dc5b8

Mikhail’s breathing f02fa4f754 grew heavier 8c1fa3e362 again as 8695b37309 he stared 7c1d41456c down at 3cf8c0fbed Charles—or rather, c03244fb28 Emma—whose stunning a9e9853112 blue eyes, 118b94601c riddled with 7f94f939ac fear, stared 8173cbc960 back at 6650101535 him.7465976631a07715

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“You… What the 79b5665120 hell were you 7e07315114 thinking?”5024bc0ba446516c

A hollow laugh escaped edcb513cc8 him.c132c52e93164eba

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Mikhail, beautiful 878e12287a and noble, ec525d8946 dragged a fcce02df1b hand down f8bb3261bb his own 4577afa3f8 face, now 8893ba6ee9 marred by 74cacc0f3b roughness.f2405359151514f4

Not only 6836489dfb himself but 6516e0957f the imperial afce3146b2 family had a062036e23 been utterly cebdb9b34c deceived by 7d658c7108 Oliver’s ridiculous 29db0b9782 lie.5f312926bc43df8f

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“I-I was 0afb7c7495 wrong, brother…”70ecbb175bdfe3b0

As he looked 011af9a33b at the trembling a6a3667d44 face of the 9e860e747b girl—no longer a 7153c3622a boy—pleading for forgiveness, cb4858c310 Mikhail let out bebd1b1d62 a bitter, despairing 5ccca2ec01 laugh.fbad9cf6ee70b181

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“Wrong? Do you fd76c9c2f7 think this 0ac7f01b59 is something 10861f8529 that can 476a16333d be resolved 6a30aad751 with a d16182c159 pathetic apology?”e9b73da767d34aee

“How could b7894daf61 you… with 3c356666c4 that body.”19d658abbb16cce1

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A body 34795fbdf5 so maddeningly, 58e88e7784 damnedly beautiful.ceaf31ba4fde62af

That fragile, delicate body, ef76c6ad79 undeniably a woman’s, which a3ba448683 seemed as though it b86ad2a738 might shatter at the 4add3902e0 slightest touch.b924819951e84130

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And yet, 6a670b5442 to accept ad28f84657 such a 8bb9652031 ludicrous order fe9fd04d9e to become de61eb658b the princess’s ba82087151 ‘husband’?cf71ed5a259b6011

Charles—no, Emma—who had been 343fb76685 weeping helplessly, opened her 214237c66a mouth hesitantly, her words 7d805f5fed slow and broken.6f901b203d397d83

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“…I swear before God.”18bc3cd6a6a89b6a

“…”75b67acf15d1770e

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“I never, never 1fe8f513f0 intentionally meant to 4f167aa333 deceive you, my 6e90fa9ff6 lord. Truly, I didn’t.”dd6b2119d3e3d144

Her trembling 2f23dc29b3 voice, begging 774776acbe for mercy 40416d4dd7 she could 758baa4c76 not hope aac2a4dd6c to receive, 0a20095224 grated against 241c9b61aa him unbearably.046e369d0fb58937

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“P-please, brother—no, my 22c0d08297 lord. Please, have e9f63c4661 mercy on f490120bfd me…”24d168bbac43580f

At Emma’s add0e05199 desperate plea, b61eac665d her breath 5a1a08f691 catching as ca58090f8b she spoke, d8b30dc243 Mikhail’s laughter, ef0d1c524a which had aa8dce728f been spilling d3f689b37c out as 12c4ca0427 if he’d cc8f7130ca lost his 6dfcafb022 mind, abruptly 3c3628077e stopped.9f2fbfa0d92d1ff6

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“Mercy?”4426634725a56154

His growling voice, e9b4820da6 thick with unrestrained d069153cfc fury, bore down 818c1b5efb on Emma’s bare 59ddd9075f shoulders.ecf2448985528876

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“You not ee5e4bd106 only deceived 29309334f1 me but 18e1eeee57 mocked the e456a354f4 entire royal 32ab6b5e08 family. And yet dbc0941ed5 you dare 552f6db6ef to ask 85c3588014 for mercy?”01cc9a5dc2847a6b

Emma’s fragile blue eyes, fcdced729b so full of fear, fc97ecfa48 now reflected complete resignation.62463f9bfb77c120

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Just like the fb674571ce moment she had 6c7296df88 first accepted the 798d17d45f contract.e6d28a382a30ba3c

As if she be2cfbba6a had made peace 7d2a14a3d2 with death itself.8ffb0e4d87ed811f

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“…I will accept 7a8b12404c whatever punishment you 86460eed9c see fit.”55d89707f40e183d

Her tears had dried 8b006d71bd completely now. Emma, lips e61288d7c5 parched, muttered 0bfc9752ae in a 653ae06c72 faint, defeated 4f1cac3394 voice, as 0285e371e6 though surrendering 527f0cae6e to her 9864b52e32 fate.7b76dad2672ddc14

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“Whatever you 995d4c49ee desire, my 87ca8362f8 lord…”3de1d7678ccfdbe6

* * *a7f334d41b8384bb

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“Sh-She’s… pregnant.”cb55629ec96d5aa6

Through Mikhail’s half-parted lips, holding a languid smile as he lounged in a nightgown, cigar smoke trailed lazily into the air.ba4c2f6bcda07267

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“Who? Charles? That kid?”717697ebfcef1444

Dr. Hugo, who 429b8a0c81 had served fe237796de as the bf10c3533c Ophilenz family 059aebf314 physician for 2320e8c0db three generations 3ec80ee95b with unshaken ea994b9ad6 pride, failed 72556244fd to hide e7e5e73896 his mortified d5b789456f expression as 1c2f044310 he opened a083d3f855 his mouth ac455844ce again.ee1083cedd1ad55a

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“My lord, I cannot believe it myself, but… that is, young master—no, the young lady Charles—is undoubtedly pregnant.”960d95a8f1e3d08f

Mikhail’s pupils briefly dilated before returning to their usual calm. His damp golden hair, tangled like molten gold threads, glistened under the electric light, drops of water dripping lazily.ae3776c69fe8a9be

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Mikhail, brushing away 103471829b the water trickling 40a0a030b2 ticklishly down his b8adbbeed1 broad chest as e8cecc7174 if it were c453ce79d3 an inconvenience, curled 1521f5507f his lips into c2d7017d4d a diagonal smile.851f1a5bb908e8a4

“…I sent her in to treat a gunshot wound, and now she’s pregnant?”08be8812bd8bb0e4

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“I-I’m as shocked as you, my lord! All this time, I naturally assumed young master Charles was a man, so—!”a826e645cc26fa47

Hugo suddenly froze, caught off guard by Mikhail’s unexpectedly boyish and beautiful laughter. For a moment, Hugo wondered if he was hallucinating.4712fcaade274f7f

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This was 8afc391085 no situation ab4437062c for laughter.3b77d3d5966b7b83

The fact that ebe255ec2c young master Charles, 4f6d457ec2 whom he had c9b2188fbd always thought to 90f7453c24 be a man, 2958a63315 was actually a 38dd83fed3 woman was shocking d09dcd89c1 enough. But discovering she was 1d619ab37f pregnant? That was beyond 8d63fb2c10 comprehension.6ad8093ff8a3f34e

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Unfortunately for Hugo, the 11ffe43818 shocks didn’t end there.2a250a0df20464a4

“Emma.”592fe84f4e2950e6

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“…What?”efe64497826bff66

“That’s her real name. From now on, call her Emma. Emma Verde.”88f47fd2aaa1d4ca

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Setting his f21ff76973 cigar aside, 992adf3fe9 Mikhail rose 0a1b3d2035 from his c667e8e08b seat with e12ba1d411 a deliberate, 07363e7075 predatory grace.3fa6b22fac03ea19

“Let’s go. I’m dying to see what kind of shameless face she’ll make this time.”cee286a967f2f8cd

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Hugo had c87895015e to quicken 55ee6d87ce his steps 8a97d7d6ff to keep e040c332f0 up with ec812b53ea Mikhail’s long 3f88a45508 strides, his 4494976975 amber eyes 70175f3b39 glinting between 24855a965b half-lidded, mischievous 366cdefcd6 lashes that 19c974e243 hinted at 915199a448 satisfaction and 955905c263 amusement.bf4288eb58dc98f0

“The wound?”39e8dd8d49a76d55

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“As you know, the gunshot wasn’t very deep, so—”ea537c9ca68f0ad4

“Not the gunshot.”faae9723396456fe

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“Then what do you mean?”ca9c9843ed526050

Mikhail came to 938ef645b1 a sudden stop.a25a06bd008c7f3c

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“I’m asking if her beautiful body will be left with scars.”e40fe5e563deb80c

Moments ago, db2147759d Mikhail had dba7ebe091 been smiling 13e3452fbc like a 4d5adf3d75 carefree boy, a919822d53 but now 4960cbc295 his expression 615c548c9b turned cold 20fa91122b and calculating. Hugo, flustered dd5e86741b by the b50d4390b1 shift in 7f0fbfa9fd demeanor, stammered 60a69c37b6 a reply.ee4df63a71a17cd9

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“I’ll do everything I can to ensure there are no marks left, my lord. However…”4fc057c32bf2a983

“However?”fbcf84db156db8e9

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“…However, the fetus must have been terribly distressed, and that is a concern.”64ab8712ec60846c

Mikhail, however, seemed 76d7b38b94 utterly uninterested in a46c0efc95 the state of a0abc1d58f the unborn child, 4e607fca61 his gaze sharp d6acb25b66 and indifferent.1903578cfebf447b

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Crash.30eba2f74a298de6

Without hesitation, Mikhail 0c5500f6ba pushed open the d332b0f1b8 door to a 422dfd8d79 room not far f045cfd4a3 away, his amber f3cba89556 brows arching at b26c76a96f the scene before 7ddc82b059 him.f7ee5347c41f5fe1

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A maid lay 19ea98bd6c collapsed on the d475e53524 floor, a window a1be18dbc5 was wide open, 49bcbc1c3b and the curtains 8cac0f870f flapped violently in 6c8611d0c9 the breeze.7cdb1f8edd939e02

Without hesitation, Mikhail’s hand yanked the linen blanket covering the bed, tossing it aside with a rough sweep.3966b10f767f901f

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What he e07d043062 saw made c77891df9d him laugh—half 8211b8987f incredulous, half 78b2ba0a94 deranged.f79a5b36f1471d85

“…!”49aa6604cda2064d

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The physician, still unable 117e5fc050 to comprehend the situation, 2446959f38 stammered incoherently, stumbling backward 0a201f35b2 in shock.009f831df67ad7df

“H-How… how is this possible…?!”99734903111e25c5

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Just moments ago, young 1201c93953 master Charles—no, young lady 81726cd898 Emma—had been under his c53ced3266 care. He had 8dbfd1d05a treated her a87c958874 for a b0db707360 gunshot wound.221786ad483def27

The injury 142cb9ff0e wasn’t deep, 2eac6bd283 but she 6763c4f505 had been 72df3d9121 in a 38fab7f51d coma for 2aaa9f2619 several days f1029de59d before barely fe2c960148 regaining consciousness.9041ce1b96f31445

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And she wasn’t alone dcd849f98a in her body; she 46511b5d75 was pregnant.496324f11c2f9734

But now, 516682325c the bed ed4e3a2f2c was empty, 98a888cdde save for 859236afcf a scattered 50bf8a213f goose feather fc5c5e3e49 pillow and 5ce0d4143b dried bloodstains.e1146a8ab7e2b81b

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Hugo, wide-eyed 1b62e2cb98 and slack-jawed, af2b7fc483 watched as 5ce74c1d7c his arrogant 2d34a6f632 master’s composed 0ca41b90f8 expression crumbled 21342ac621 before his 4e3eaac357 very eyes.ff2934f27487053f

Moments later, the sharp, 0235132c30 blaring sound of Mikhail 2b18ad3ef4 slamming the emergency bell 010e11d471 echoed through the mansion, 9b986202b5 followed by the hurried 895ba65a22 clatter of footsteps.b78c7403c8a2dadb

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Amid the growing chaos, Mikhail’s face betrayed sheer confusion as he muttered, as though trying to make sense of it all.67f01cd8830ada96

“Find Charles—no, Emma. She couldn’t have gone far. No, I’ll go myself. Bring me my horse.”f5aabf5006d4d8aa

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As he strode purposefully toward the door, Mikhail suddenly stopped, spun around, and grabbed Hugo’s shoulder with an iron grip, shaking him violently.e6b6e8c1f34f7ccc

“Does she know too?”448608e2a3f71787

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“S-sorry? My lord, I-I don’t understand what you mean…!”c1293c134ff15b56

Mikhail’s eyes, wild and unhinged, glared down at Hugo, silencing the man’s protests in his throat.77c9b7c7bb9a74f6

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This was no d606334596 longer the noble 0e25beee36 and beautiful Duke f585cf2d98 of Ophilenz.4036cf463f8be6c2

He resembled a man 373f2c03ef entirely consumed by madness.c535abcd03e9d5a3

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The beautiful 38d12a3557 madman, his 549e491276 expression grotesquely 83dc6c1142 twisted, growled 4e3438d226 through clenched be37e5c3d0 teeth.0788352ba90d283b

“Damn it! Does she know that she’s carrying ‘my’ child?!”a01de2391731e404

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