The Bride Of The Devil-Chapter 74: The Cost Of Secrets

"Get out!" Alexander shouted, his voice echoing across the room.

Lydia’s smile faded. Her body froze. Her hands dropped to her sides.

"Didn’t I warn you never to step foot in my house again?" Alexander barked.

The room went quiet. No one spoke. The cheerful sounds from breakfast disappeared like they never existed.

Lydia’s voice came out soft, full of sadness. "I... I only came to visit," she said. "Because I missed you all."

"I don’t care!" Alexander snapped. His eyes were cold. "I told you—never appear here again! This is my last warning. Under no circumstances should you come into this house again or try to contact any of my children or any member of this household."

He pointed at her. "This is the last time I will say it, Lydia."

Everyone was still.

No one moved. Even Pyotr, who had been laughing with Ivan just minutes ago, lowered his eyes. Elena stepped forward slowly.

"Father..." she said carefully. "How can you say that? Lydia is our family."

Alexander turned on her like lightning. "I’m the head of this household, not you, girl!"

Elena took a step back.

"And didn’t I tell you to mind your business?" he continued harshly. "I told you to practice your piano so I can find you a husband. Not to speak in matters that don’t concern you."

Lydia couldn’t take it anymore.

Her voice cracked as she spoke. "What did I ever do to you?"

Her eyes filled with tears. Her voice was shaking.

Alexander looked away. "I don’t have time for your tantrums," he said coldly. "So leave."

That broke something inside her.

She stood up, her voice stronger now, mixed with anger and pain.

"I’ll leave," she said, breathing hard. "But answer me—what did I ever do to you?"

Everyone stared. No one had ever seen Lydia speak this way before.

"I have always respected you," she continued. "Even when you took everything from me, I never complained."

She stepped closer. Her voice trembled, but she didn’t stop.

"You took my house. You took my ship. I stayed silent. I never said a word. And yet... you treat me like I’m a criminal."

Her voice rose. "All because I refused to marry the man you chose for me? A man old enough to be my grandfather?"

She shook her head, tears falling.

"You want me to leave? Fine. I’ll leave. But I promise you this—" Her voice broke. "I won’t even come back for your funeral."

With that, she turned and stormed out, crying.

The door slammed behind her.

Everyone in the room stayed silent.

Alexander stood, breathing heavily. He looked around. "Everyone—back to your rooms!" he ordered.

No one argued. One by one, the children and staff left. Elena looked back with pain in her eyes, but she obeyed.

Then Alexander noticed Ivan.

He had been standing quietly through it all, watching.

His face was unreadable. He hadn’t said a word. But something in his eyes had changed.

He looked like he wanted to break every single bones in Alexander’s body.

Alexander stiffened.

He bowed slightly. "Your Highness."

Ivan didn’t respond right away. He looked at Alexander, his face calm—but there was something dark behind his eyes.

Finally, Ivan spoke.

"I understand you are her uncle," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "But you have no right to speak to her in that tone."

Alexander blinked.

Ivan stepped closer.

"She is not just your niece," he continued. "She is the Grand Duchess. My wife."

His voice grew colder.

"Next time you address her," he said, "you will do so with the respect due to a member of the royal family."

Alexander tried to keep his face steady. "I’m sorry, Your Highness, for my rudeness," he said. "But this matter does not concern you. This is my house. And in my house, I make the rules."

Ivan raised a brow.

"You must mean the house you took from her."

Alexander’s lips tightened. "I didn’t take anything. The house belonged to my father. When he died, my brother Dmitry took it. When Dmitry passed away, it was mine by law."

"Because Lydia is not a man," he added. "So, by tradition, I inherited it."

He crossed his arms.

"Unless Lydia gives birth to a son who can claim it, it remains mine. So, Your Highness... I would appreciate it if you left my house."

Ivan turned, as if to leave.

Then he stopped.

He looked at Alexander again. "My lord," he said calmly, "you’ve been trembling since you walked in. Why?"

Alexander blinked, confused. "I... I’m not trembling."

Ivan looked straight at him. His voice was low now. Quiet. Cold.

"I’ve interrogated many people in my life," he said. "And I’ve learned how to sense fear. I’ve learned how to smell secrets."

Alexander’s face twitched.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Ivan took a step closer.

"I don’t care about your secrets," he said softly. "You can keep them."

Then his voice turned sharp.

"But what I won’t accept is you treating my wife like she’s nothing."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"You can shove your house and your ships down your throat if that’s what you want. I have no interest in taking them from you. Don’t worry about that."

"But if you ever forbid Lydia from seeing her cousins again..."

He stepped even closer. His voice dropped into a threat.

"...then I will get interested in your secrets. And trust me—I will find them."

His voice was ice. "Even if I have to rip them from your throat."

He turned to leave.

But then Alexander said quietly, "I know I’m cruel... but I’m only doing what’s best for her."

Ivan stopped.

He looked over his shoulder. "Doing what’s best for her?" he said with a bitter scoff. "No. You’re not helping her."

"You’re ruining her."

He walked out.

Alexander stood in the hallway alone, his hand shaking by his side.

He wasn’t lying. In his mind, he truly believed he was doing what was best for her.

But in that moment, the only thing Lydia felt was betrayal. freēnovelkiss.com

And the only thing Ivan felt... was the burning urge to protect her.

No matter what it cost him.

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