How To End This Marriage-Chapter 56: Revelations and Redemption
The room was awash with emotion, as my tears flowed freely, staining the atmosphere with my anguish. The wall I had Alex pinned against seemed to bear witness to the torrent of emotions that surged within me.
"Tell me! What are you hiding? I’m sure that behavior is not normal. And why would you cage someone who should be playing, having fun as they wish? Is it because you like her? I don’t think that is the case. Tell me! I demand an answer!" I shouted, my voice echoing with desperation, my tears and anger intermingling.
"Madam! You’re crying?" Alex’s voice wavered, panic etching his features.
"Madam! Please don’t cry! I didn’t mean to hurt you like this. I ask for your forgiveness. This was never my intention. I only wanted to say that..." He paused, as if grappling with his own turmoil.
"What are you trying to say? Is this what you wanted to say, that I’m blaming you for liking her? Is that what you’ve been holding back? How on earth could you think I would take her with me just to make you feel guilty when I only wanted to see her happy? I just wanted her to see the outside world instead of being locked in this mansion," I said through my tears, my words imbued with both frustration and sorrow.
"I understand. Please stop crying. It’s my mistake. I know I made this mistake. I should have been aware of this long ago, but I wasn’t," he admitted, his voice weighted with regret.
His hand reached out to wipe away my tears, but they continued to flow, even more than before. Was it because the love of my life was gently wiping my tears away, or was it because it was the first time we were this close since our marriage? I couldn’t tell, but my heart ached intensely.
"Tell me! What is the reason she is locked up in this mansion? And who is the person who brought her here?" I demanded, my voice quivering.
"Yes, I will explain everything. Please, sit down here and listen to me calmly," he said, his voice soothing as he guided me to the edge of the bed, where he sat beside me.
"The thing is, she is someone’s treasure, entrusted to our care," he began, his words laden with an air of mystery that hung in the room like a shroud.
"Treasure? What do you mean?" I asked, my head tilting in confusion.
"Yes, treasure. The elderly lady who brought her here is the former empress’s personal maid," he explained, and I gasped in astonishment.
"Yes, you understood correctly. The previous empress is no longer alive, and the other wives of the emperor have taken her place as empress. That’s why she was secretly sent here," he continued, unraveling a web of intrigue that I had never fathomed.
"So, does that mean the previous empress was killed by someone?" I questioned, my mind racing to grasp the implications of his revelation.
"It’s possible, but I don’t have all the details, and the maid hasn’t told us anything. She remained silent and raised Vix from childhood. However, we were instructed to keep this matter a secret. When the time comes, she will be sent back to her own palace as a princess, as her life is currently at risk. That’s why she’s locked inside the mansion, without permission to go out on her own," he clarified, each word heavy with the weight of a hidden truth.
"So, Vix is a princess?" I asked in astonishment, my mind struggling to process the enormity of this revelation.
"Yes, she is the first princess of the empire. But she is unaware of this fact, which is why she has been kept in the dark. If anyone saw her face in the palace, it would be a significant problem, and she could be in grave danger," he stated, his eyes distant as he recalled the intricate web of secrets that had bound Vix’s life.
"So, is this why you said she shouldn’t do the chores?" I asked, my voice subdued, as the pieces of this intricate puzzle fell into place.
"Yes, she is a princess, so I believe it’s wrong to make her do things she will never have to do once she regains her place in the palace," he explained, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance, as if he could see the future unfolding before him.
As he spoke, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his face. I felt a surge of guilt for the accusations I had hurled at him. What if all of this had been the product of my imagination, fueled by jealousy and insecurity? What if I had been wrong all along? I needed to ask for forgiveness.
Suddenly, I rose from my seat, determination coursing through me like a bolt of lightning.
"Madam?" Alex looked at me with confusion, his eyes filled with worry. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"Duke, forgive me!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with a mixture of remorse and gratitude.
"Madam! What are you doing?" he stammered as I knelt before him, my heart laid bare.
"Yes, this is what I should be doing. I know I’ve hurt you with unfounded accusations about you and the princess. I didn’t know anything, and I was blinded by anger. But now I’ve realized. I’ve realized all my mistakes. Please, forgive me!" I pleaded desperately, my tears of regret flowing freely.
"Madam! Get up! You shouldn’t be doing this. As you said, you were not aware of the situation, so you acted accordingly. I should have informed you earlier, but this is an important matter for the empire, and this secret cannot be revealed. I should be the one asking for forgiveness," he said, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and compassion, as he helped me up from the floor, the weight of my guilt and his understanding creating an unspoken bond between us.
