As Evelyn stood before Duke Sable, her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. His words echoed in her ears, each syllable a bitter reminder of the fractured foundation upon which their marriage rested. But amidst the turmoil, a steely resolve took root within her, driving her forward despite the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Summoning every ounce of courage she possessed, Evelyn met Duke Sable's icy gaze with unwavering determination. "You want me?" she repeated, her voice tinged with incredulity. "After all these years of neglect and indifference, now you claim to want me?"
Duke Sable's expression remained impassive, his features shrouded in shadow as he regarded her with a cold detachment. "You know what I desire," he replied cryptically, his tone devoid of emotion.
A flicker of realization dawned in Evelyn's mind, a horrifying revelation that sent a chill down her spine. "You orchestrated the assassination attempts," she accused, her voice trembling with anger and disbelief. "All to manipulate me into returning to you."
"Believe what you want," the Duke said coldly, his tone cutting through the air like a knife. "But deep down, you know that I won't bother myself with such petty moves."
"Then who was it?!" Evelyn demanded, her voice laced with frustration and desperation. "Who would dare to threaten our daughter's life?"
"I cannot divulge that information to you, for your own safety," Duke Sable replied, his gaze fixed ahead as if unwilling to meet her eyes.
"My safety?" Evelyn scoffed bitterly, her laughter tinged with bitterness. "After everything you and your family have done to me? Don't make me laugh."
"Enough!" Duke Sable's voice boomed, his patience wearing thin. "I am being kind enough to listen to your nonsense. So decide, whether you will spend the night with me, or watch your daughter suffer further."
His words hung heavy in the air, their implications sinking in like a weight upon Evelyn's shoulders. She laughed bitterly at the cruel irony of their situation, the absurdity of it all almost too much to bear.
"So this is where our relationship stands now," Evelyn remarked, her voice heavy with resignation. "I need to sell my body to my own husband, to protect my daughter."
Duke Sable's expression softened slightly, a flicker of remorse fleeting across his features before being replaced by steely resolve. "You chose this path, Evelyn," he stated, his voice tinged with regret. "And now you must suffer the consequences."
His words stung like a slap to the face, a painful reminder of the choices she had made and the sacrifices she had been forced to endure. But amidst the bitterness and regret, a flicker of determination burned bright within Evelyn's heart.
"You are no longer a princess, Evelyn," Duke Sable continued, his voice cold and unforgiving. "In this isolated castle, you are nothing but my wife. You don't have any other identities."
Evelyn's gaze hardened, her resolve firm despite the turmoil raging within her. "You are right," she replied, her voice steady. "I will do anything for my daughter."
With those words, Evelyn turned on her heel and strode from Duke Sable's chambers, leaving behind the darkness that threatened to consume her and embracing the light of a future forged on her own terms.
As Duke Sable watched his wife walk away, a sense of remorse gnawed at his insides. He knew he had crossed a line, but the desperation to protect his family had clouded his judgment. Now, faced with the consequences of his actions, he felt the weight of his choices bearing down on him like a heavy burden.
Sinking onto his bed, Duke Sable's thoughts churned with turmoil. "I gave you the choice to escape," he murmured to himself, his voice heavy with regret, "but instead, you chose to stay. Now, I cannot let you leave my side, even if it means breaking you into pieces."
His words rang with a twisted obsession, a dark possessiveness that threatened to consume him. "You are mine, Evelyn," he whispered into the empty chamber, his eyes reflecting the depths of his fractured soul.
Meanwhile, in Evelyn's chamber, the new maids appointed by Duke Sable bustled about, preparing her for the night ahead. Gone were the neglectful servants of before, replaced by loyal attendants handpicked by the Duke himself. They treated Evelyn with reverence and respect, their loyalty unwavering in their duty to serve her.
Despite their gentle ministrations, Evelyn remained devoid of emotions, her mind consumed by the events unfolding around her. Tonight, she would share a bed with a husband from whom she had long been estranged, a prospect that filled her with a sense of dread and resignation.
As the maids bathed and dressed her in a nightgown, Evelyn's thoughts drifted to Isolde, her beloved daughter who remained the beacon of light in her darkest hour. Though her heart ached with the knowledge of what awaited her, she found solace in the knowledge that her sacrifice was made out of love for her child.
With a heavy heart, Evelyn resigned herself to the night ahead, bracing herself for the inevitable confrontation with Duke Sable. Despite the turmoil raging within her, she drew strength from the flicker of hope that burned bright within her heart, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love could still prevail.
To be continued....