~Chapter 146~
“Who would approach a man who already has me as his lover? Have you ever seen a woman flirting with James?”
“What…?”
“I know you don’t want to deal with those annoying people. All that bothersome attention will disappear, and even if we break up, it’ll still benefit you.”
Bella smiled, lightly touching her chest with her fingertips.
“Being Bella Listerwell’s lover will become like a badge of honor for you.”
Cedric couldn’t help but laugh at her arrogance.
If anyone else had said this, it would have been laughable, but Bella Listerwell’s name made it different.
The chances of her plan working were high.
“You won’t regret this, Duke.”
Bella extended her champagne glass, as if proposing a contract. If they clinked glasses, the deal would be sealed.
Cedric looked at the champagne glass, which shimmered with the colors of the setting sun, and asked.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this? Breaking off an engagement is something that could be deadly for a woman’s reputation.”
“I’ll say it again. I’m Bella Listerwell.”
She meant that the past wouldn’t be an obstacle for her to marry anyone.
Cedric’s eyes slowly moved from the ruby earrings on Bella’s chest to her face, and he thought the contrast between the red and her green eyes was quite striking.
She was alluring. The fading sunset reflected in her eyes, her curved lashes, and her shimmering lips.
Just then, someone’s voice came from outside.
“Where did the Duke go? The waltz is about to start!”
Cedric glanced at Bella’s glass, then looked outside with a slight sigh.
“I suppose I should go now.”
“Of course.”
Cedric didn’t drink from his glass but kept his eyes on it for a moment, while Bella, not too bothered, decided not to dwell on it.
‘There will be another chance.’
The two of them opened the balcony door and returned to the party. A few people saw them and immediately began whispering behind their fans.
‘Wait, Cedric Kailas is with a woman?’
Harriet was one of those people who saw Cedric emerge from the balcony. She had just seen Lauren leave and the chaos settle down.
Cedric being with a woman was expected, but seeing it firsthand felt odd. However, a bigger shock came shortly after.
‘Wait… that’s Bella?’
Harriet stared, not sure if she was seeing it right, but as Cedric turned toward her, their eyes met.
Harriet, caught off guard, quickly turned her body away, not wanting Cedric to know she had been looking.
“Aunt, may I go get some fresh air? Just for a moment. I think I drank too much champagne and I’m feeling a bit hot…”
Harriet felt guilty about leaving Roxana, who had just gone through the ordeal with Lauren, but she gave the excuse anyway. It felt silly, but she couldn’t bring herself to face Cedric, especially with Bella there.
Noticing Harriet’s unusual behavior, Roxana glanced at her suspiciously before nodding.
“Don’t worry about me. Countess Hastings is here, and I’m not someone who’s easily shaken.”
“I’ll be back quickly.”
“No, go ahead and rest as long as you need. You’re looking flushed; you really might have had too much to drink.”
Though it sounded like a reprimand, Harriet knew it was said with care. She nodded and made her way toward the Duke’s estate garden.
Since this was a high-class event, the atmosphere was more refined than at the Lorrell’s party, and there wasn’t any odd noise, but there were still many guests enjoying the garden.
Harriet avoided them and slipped into a quiet, dark corner, finally spotting an empty bench. She collapsed onto it, exhausted.
“Ha… ha…”
The music from the party floated faintly in the background, but her mind was elsewhere.
‘Why did he go out with Bella?’
Her mind replayed the scene of Cedric and Bella together.
‘What were they doing on the balcony?’
Harriet knew Bella well enough to suspect what might have happened. If Bella was alone with Cedric in a secluded spot, she must have seduced him.
Cedric, usually indifferent toward women, wouldn’t have been able to resist the charms of someone so beautiful.
‘He must have liked her. Did he smile at her? Did he say “see you later”? …Cedric Kailas, you fool!’
A surge of anger rose within her. She also felt a strange sense of injustice.
‘Is Bella trying to steal Cedric away from me?’
The thought made her pause, and then she suddenly realized something.
“Ha… Am I crazy?”
She realized the truth—she couldn’t have been thinking of Cedric as hers.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
How could she have thought Cedric Kailas could be taken away from her?
And even more than that, the emotions she had just felt about Bella were undeniably clear.
‘It’s jealousy… isn’t it?’
For the first time, she hated Bella’s beauty, her alluring figure, and her soft, melodic voice. At the same time, she envied her.
This feeling of defeat, triggered by Bella, was new to Harriet. And now she understood why she felt it.
‘It was me, I’m the idiot.’
The cool night breeze brushed her neck, making her shiver, and her heart felt tight. The fragrance of the early summer garden was sweet and intoxicating, but sitting on this empty bench, all she could smell was darkness and loneliness.
No, it was probably just her imagination, lost in her childish emotions. And that made her feel even worse.
‘I gave my heart to him. What a fool I’ve been.’
She didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to face it. She’d always laughed it off, saying it was ridiculous.
But if she accepted it, then she would have to face endless pain and sadness.
But it wasn’t entirely her fault.
‘Why did I do something so ridiculous? It’s laughable. A Duke like Cedric keeps smiling at me, showing me kindness…’
He even brushed her eyelids when she looked tired, and just recently, he had been so concerned about her.
If he did all that with no intentions, it would have been worth a lawsuit.
Harriet fumed silently and then buried her face in her hands. What was she even doing?
‘It doesn’t matter what Cedric did with Bella. It’s none of my business.’
But then she changed her mind.
‘Wait. What if Bella uses this to stop his investments in my projects? What about the land in Lowerbury? What will happen to the next project investment?’
The more she thought about it, the more she saw Cedric and Bella’s encounter as a threat. And the worst part was, she couldn’t do anything about it.
“Ah, damn it! This is so frustrating!”
She cursed out loud, and it felt a little better. But soon, she regretted it. She heard footsteps approaching.
Harriet tensed, holding her breath, and quickly stood up.
If someone found her in a place like this, it wouldn’t end well. She had to leave first.
Just as she was about to step out from behind the garden trees, a voice called out.
“I found you.”
The man who had taken the lead blocked her path with a smile.
Harriet was startled and almost had her heart jump out of her chest.
“Duke…?”
“The air feels nice, doesn’t it? It was getting a bit warm inside.”
Cedric casually walked to the bench where Harriet had been sitting and sat down as if it was nothing.
He gave her a look, signaling her to sit next to him.
“Why… why are you…”
“Why? Didn’t I say I’d see you later?”
Harriet suddenly remembered his words earlier and realized he hadn’t been just making polite conversation.
Hesitantly, she walked toward him. It seemed odd to just leave, so she sat down next to him, even though she felt uneasy about the seat he had warmed.
Thanks to his jacket, the bench wasn’t cold.
Even after she sat down, Cedric didn’t speak, and neither did Harriet.
They both inhaled the sweet night air, looking up at the starry sky, while the sounds of crickets filled the quiet.
