I Do Mind

I wished I could possess the attendant’s body for a moment.

Just long enough to beat Pearl senseless.

“You have to believe me. Stella and Mr. L met alone in private rooms at that club. They’d stay in there for hours. When she came out, she’d even changed clothes. You don’t think they were just sitting around talking, do you?”

As she spoke, she spotted Julian hurrying toward the room.

Her eyes lit up as though salvation had arrived.

“If you won’t believe me, believe my brother. He knows about the affair. He’s her husband. Why would he make up a story about his own wife cheating?”

The duchess signaled to her attendant, who released Pearl.

Julian opened the door, carrying the contract and the talisman.

Pearl rushed to him.

“Tell her, Julian. Tell her Stella was sleeping with Mr. L behind your back. Didn’t you hire a private investigator and get photographs?”

At the name Mr. L, Julian’s expression changed.

He gave his sister a reproachful look.

“How could you tell Her Grace these things?”

My fury suddenly went cold.

They had planned this together.

First, use the fact that I saved the duchess to secure the partnership.

Once she signed, I wouldn’t be useful anymore.

Then the siblings would work together to make me look like a lying, promiscuous bitch.

Make the duchess despise me.

Stop caring whether I lived or died.

And then they could dispose of the girl in the bed much more easily.

A sickening chill passed through me.

Pearl had been overseas all this time. She only came back after I died.

She couldn’t have known about Starlight.

Certainly not Mr. L.

Julian had told her.

While I was alive, I trusted him without reservation.

He was the only person I told about the project.

My letters from Mr. L were in a drawer in my study.

The door had a fingerprint lock.

Apart from me, only Julian could open it.

My love and trust had become the knife he used against me.

How could he be so vicious?

So shameless?

The duchess looked from one sibling to the other.

She still didn’t want to believe them.

“Mr. Whitmore, I saw how much Stella loved you. I don’t think she would betray you.”

He smiled bitterly.

“She didn’t betray me. It’s my fault. I couldn’t give her what she wanted.”

A perfect retreat that was really an attack.

He had all but confirmed the affair while making himself look like a man who endured everything for love.

Cruel and effective.

He damaged his pride to destroy my reputation.

The duchess didn’t look entirely convinced.

But her certainty had weakened.

She sank back into the chair and looked at the motionless woman in the bed with a complicated expression.

Pearl took her chance and moved close.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t want to tell you. I knew seeing Stella’s true face would hurt you.”

She looked full of reluctant sympathy.

“But I couldn’t let you be deceived. Take someone that shameless as your goddaughter.”

At last, she revealed what all this had been leading toward.

“I’ve always admired you. I know you have two sons and have always wished for a daughter. If you wouldn’t mind, you could think of me as your daughter. I’d take such good care of you.”

“I would mind.”

The duchess withdrew her hand from Pearl’s grasp without a trace of expression.