ELLIOTLavinia’s nanny screamed as she was dragged by her hair, gripped tightly in Rossella’s unyielding fist, all the way to the staircase landing."Go find a woman for your son in another house, you wretched hag!" Rossella shouted over Mrs. Elena’s piercing cries as the woman clutched at her own hair, her face twisted in pain.In the midst of the struggle, the nanny’s panicked eyes met mine."Your Lordship, I beg you! The Duchess is accusing me unfairly! I’ve only cared for her little one as if she were my own! She… AAAAHHHH!"A shrill scream echoed as Rossella mercilessly shoved her, sending her tumbling down the stairs—just like I had done the day she arrived with the accountant’s corpse.I didn’t even flinch as her body rolled down, muffled groans escaping her lips, her hands flailing desperately in the air, trying to grab onto something, anything, until she landed with a dull thud in the foyer.My eyes remained fixed on the cold, ruthless woman who descended the stairs at a calm

KATHERINEA maid came once again to inform me about dinner."Bring the food to my room. I won’t be dining in the hall tonight"—nor ever again.I watched her leave with a nod."Nana…""Think it through carefully, there’s no rush. An heir isn’t born in a few hours. Go, take a good bath, relax, and sleep on it. I’ll take care of Lavinia."I sighed and stood up, leaning toward her. I kissed her wrinkled forehead. This woman had been the only mother I had ever known."Silly girl, still as clingy as when you were a little rascal. Go rest, you have tough battles ahead," she patted my hands.I headed to my room. Honestly, my mind was so burdened with worries that it felt like it was about to catch fire.No one ever said living someone else’s life would be easy. As soon as I closed my bedroom door, a knock sounded against the wood behind me.I opened it to find the servant who attended the dining hall."Excuse me, Duchess, dinner is ready.""Then bring it in," I said, opening the door wider, e

KATHERINE"No, not that elegant dress. Pack more practical things. Yes, yes, that riding outfit is fine." I instructed the two maids packing my essentials for this crazy trip.I walked toward the window while they carried out their duties.The night had deepened outside, so dark that nothing could be seen beyond the shadows cast by the large lanterns.Where was the Duke, and why hadn’t he returned yet?A heavy concern weighed on me. Was he at his mistress’s house? I needed to find out who she was. She was surely a beautiful woman, one who matched his status.Is he in bed with her right now? I raised my thumb to nibble on my nail.Anxiety churned inside me, the insecurity gnawing at me that she could get pregnant and threaten our position here.All I had left was my father’s old house—not even the farmland.Rossella had sold everything. We would be left with nothing.Suddenly, through the night’s mist, I heard the distant neigh of a horse galloping up the entrance path.Without even bl

KATHERINE"I'm just taking a look around the facilities. I can manage on my own, you may leave," I replied firmly, though inside, my heart was pounding."I insist, you really shouldn’t—""Who are you to tell the Duchess where she can or cannot be on her own lands?" The Duke’s authoritative voice made me let out a breath of relief.I had been just about to scream at the top of my lungs."Duke… Your Lordship, I wasn’t—I was only trying to help…" The man turned, lowering his head and dropping his thug-like stance."No one asked for your help, and I didn’t like your tone with my wife at all. Mr. Philip, remove this man from the harvest fields," he ordered mercilessly.His displeasure was obvious, his threatening aura making everyone tremble."Yes, yes, sir," the accountant stammered, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty forehead.The laborer remained silent, about to leave with his head down, but I stopped him."Wait! Before you go, move these bales. I want to see what’s behind a

KATHERINEOh no, no, no—this was terrifying.I was trembling uncontrollably, gripping the bread knife like a deadly weapon in front of me. I sharpened my hearing, moving cautiously to avoid making a sound that would give me away.I couldn’t hear footsteps anymore, but with the chaos of the battle outside—screams, the clash of weapons—it was impossible to tell what was happening.Suddenly, the handle of one of the carriage’s side doors began to turn slowly. My heart nearly burst from my chest, fear tightening around my senses, indecision flooding my mind.It was the door facing the forest—of course, the least guarded side. The fight was happening on the other side of the carriage, out on the road.I straightened slightly, my head brushing against the ceiling, gripping the knife so tightly that my knuckles turned white.I was shaking all over, my eyes locked onto the entrance, debating whether the smarter move was to escape through the other door.Too many choices, too little time. Then