บท 17: Family Trouble (2)
So sorry about the unexpected delay, I had some sensitive issues that needed to be dealt with, but I'll try my best to keep the updates steady from now on. Thank you for your patience ! ♡♡
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Standing at the entrance of the main door, no one noticed the tall looking man who leaned against the hinges of the door. His Amber-brown eyes kept glancing from one woman to the other as they converse without suspecting the presence of anyone in their midst.
He was like a shadow, hidden in the shades of the night, while the other half of his body was visible due to the candles and fireplace that kept burning.
Cassian subconsciously bit his lower lip at the scene in front of him. He was itching to step in and grab the other woman by her neck, squeezing it tight enough to limit her breathing until she no longer struggles for air.
But that was only his wishful thinking.
"I don't like it when people ignore me!" Juliana was at the verge of violently grabbing Elaine's hand, and that was one thing Cassian despised more than anything.
Having people who meant absolutely nothing to him, lay a hand on his mother.
"I don't like it when people use filthy hands like yours to touch precious things that matter to me." The sound of his voice made Juliana pause at her foreseen act.
"Are you interested in losing a finger? Then I dare you to touch her!"
Juliana instantly stopped, her bones freezing from the deep chilly voice that silently threatened her. If there was one person whose voice had this bone chilly effect on her, it was no one else but Cassian.
Turning their attention to the main door, both women noticed the Tawny-dark-haired man who stood there, divided by the darkness from outside and the lights from inside.
He was drenched from head to toe. Water droplet escaped the tip of his hair, but he didn't mind it. His demeanor looked calm, giving him that devil-may-care attitude, but his eyes were saying a completely different thing.
Noticing his gaze, Juliana discerningly kept her hands to herself. She didn't need the young lad to speak before getting the message his glaring eyes sent her way.
"Cas!" His mother jubilated after seeing it was no one else but her son. Her anger had instantly vanished, and a relief smile spread across her pretty face, reaching her beautiful amber-eyes as she left Juliana's side to go meet her son.
"Cas, thank goodness you're alright! My precious son, you got me worried all day, different scary ideas were filling my head when I didn't see you. Where have you been?? You weren't at the Marquees and how come you're terribly drenched?"
Feeling his forehead with the back of her palm, she did the same thing to hers so she could feel if their temperatures match. But to her concern, his temperature was heating up gradually, but none of it was displayed in his visage.
"Cassian you_"
"Go to bed, woman," he said bitterly when the duchess tried to speak, "I know it's almost time for those creatures with broomsticks and Halloween hats to assemble for their meeting, but you don't have to expose yourself tonight."
"Broom_ what? Are you calling me a witch?" The Duchess' folded arms dropped to her side. Her eyes narrowed in shock at his plain audacity.
"I wasn't calling you a witch, I was only describing you." He retorted, "but since you said it yourself, you can come down when we're done, your secret can still be kept safe. I won't tell." He sneered.
"You…!!!." Juliana held her tongue when she met his eyes that openly dared her to speak. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't do it alone. She was among those who secretly feared Cassian and his changeable mood.
"Wait till I tell your father about this," without uttering anything else, she headed up the stairs and was out of sight.
"That woman can be so..!!" Elaine felt like cursing the stupid duchess to her satisfaction, but chose to swallow whatever bitter words she had to say.
Her son was finally back home, and that is all she should care about while it lasted.
"Come inside."
"Wait_Mother." He resisted when she tried to pull him in by his arm.
"I want you to meet someone first." He said before looking into the darkness by his right.
"Come."
"Cassian?" Elaine's brows furrowed suspiciously. She had no idea who her son was talking to, or what her son was trying to say until a young lady suddenly showed up.
She stood beside her Cassian, looking dressed in a white wedding gown. The only issue Elaine had with it was, the young lady was just as drenched as her son who brought her to her doorstep.
"Good evening Ms." Madeline politely greeted with a curtsy.
"Uuuh… Evening dear," Elaine confusedly responded. She looked at her son, as though asking, 'where did she come from?' because she was sure she hadn't seen the lady from anywhere before.
"Who is she?"
"I'd rather have us speak privately, mother." Cassian requested.
"Oh, that is fine but you should change first, you're-"
"Come with me, mother." Holding his mother by her wrist, he took her away from the living room, leaving Madeline to herself.
Once they were out of sight, Madeline let out a deep breath. She calmly gave her chest a pat to calm her racing heart, stealing a peek at the direction where Cassian and his mother followed.
On their way here, right after the carriage had stepped into the upper east quarters, the houses alone were enough to blow her mind away.
The road was good, and she didn't have to deal with the bumps that were quite a problem in the upper west quarters.
She hadn't even stepped properly into the upper east quarters, but was starting to get the vibe of someone who didn't belong in an estate as rich as this. Maybe it's because she's carried that outlook from childhood, and now it was difficult to kick it aside since it was something that had seeped into her bones.
Reaching the Duke's large mansion, she was mesmerized by the building. The gatekeeper hurried to open the gates for them, and when the carriage smoothly made its way in, she looked out the window, falling in love with the sight before her.
They had to hurry out of the carriage due to the pouring rain, while Amadeus chose to keep the carriage where it belonged before coming to meet them.
Staring at the flower ring in her ring finger, Madeline subconsciously fundled it. Looking at the beautiful ring and reminiscing on how Cassian had slipped it into her finger, it was still hard to believe she was now married to 'THE' Lord Cassian.
She had only asked out of pure luck, but he accepted her proposal without giving it much thought.
Before the priest could start the process, she had decided to speak with Lord Cassian privately. She wanted to figure out what was his gain in the marriage.
Someone like Lord Cassian doesn't look cut out for someone who would fall in love at first sight, so what is his gain in the marriage?
Why did he agree to marry her??
Madeline's deep thoughts were cut short when she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly turned around to see who it was, and instantly felt relieved to see it was Amadeus.
She would have been clueless on how to react if it was someone she didn't know.
"Milady, you're here by yourself?" Amadeus questioned with concern, his eyes, looking around like he'd spot Cassian somewhere.
"Yes, I am." Madeline nodded, "he took his mother away to have a word with her, and so I'm waiting for them to step out before doing anything."
Amadeus released a sigh after hearing Lady Elaine had seen them, "I am not trying to scare you but, Lady Elaine can be quite scary when her anger is set loose, I just hoped she hasn't turned her son into a punching bag already."
Meanwhile…
"You seriously went out to get married???" Lady Elaine asked, the fury boiling in her Amber eyes after slapping Cassian right in the face. She took a step back away from him when he didn't deny it. He remained quiet, unfazed by the slap he just received and worse, doesn't seem to regret his actions of marrying a Baroness.
"How could you??"
"Mother_"
"I don't want to listen to your silly excuses!" Lady Elaine shut her son up, nearly raising her voice. "I was here, staying awake and was worried sick about you. I was waiting for you to come home, but you were busy getting married to a stranger, in the middle of the night, without my consent??"
Elaine let out a breath, still mortified by the news, "do you know the importance of marriage? How could you take such a big step, and with a stranger??
Cassian didn't speak back as she continued to scold him. If there was one person he loved and feared at the same time, it was his mother.
"She's not a stranger." He politely responded, but that only made Elaine want to slap him again as her hands were raised to deliver the hit. She instantly stopped herself when he closed his eyes, awaiting the hit, but she forced herself to keep her hands down.
He was currently unwell and if she hits him further, she'll come to regret it when her anger has subsided.
"I don't accept this marriage," she shook her head, "you know what your father is like, you know he won't accept this, and yet you did it, to offend him?? I'm speaking too much, it's decided, she's going back to her home tomorrow. This marriage you had with her, I'm not in approval of this union.
She turned away from her son, wanting to get her head straight. Unbeknownst to her, Cassian's gaze hardened at her refusal. He knew his actions were wrong, and he was willing to admit that.
It's fine if she doesn't accept, but no one has the right to kick her out. Not even his mother.
"Forgive me mother, but she's not going anywhere."
~
Madeline's eyes were fixed on the direction Cassian took his mother to, and she was starting to get worried since he hadn't shown up yet.
"Is she not happy to have me?"
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