How can I possibly fall in love with a man I just met?
Besides, Aunt Portia might not agree to let him replace Levant too.
She decided to walk away. Yet, she barely took a few steps forward before she turned around to glance at the bodyguard again.
“Ms. Ankins, what’s the matter?”
“I’m fine.”
“Should I get him tied up to receive punishment?”
“No, it’s not necessary!”
It was only then did Daphne continue her way to Levant’s room.
Levant was swamped with work at the moment, so he had no time to entertain her. Not taking her confrontation about the kids seriously, he only gave her a perfunctory reply before asking her to leave.
Unable to stand his indifferent attitude, Daphne snapped, “Levant, I suppose you understand it very well that I’m much more important to Aunt Portia than you, and I’m going to be your future wife. Are you sure you’re going to continue giving me the cold shoulder?”
Levant’s face fell as he went lost in thoughts. In fact, she’s got some point there.
Lady Musgrave is my foster mother and she isn’t related to me by blood. Perhaps, it’s true that Daphne, her niece, does matter more to her.
But, so what if that’s true?
It’s up to Sir Musgrave to decide his successor.
Also, I know exactly who’s on his mind.
The dukeship will be mine as long as I get to marry Nicole!
“Levant, answer me now!”
At that moment, Levant decided to make his stance clear to Daphne.
It would actually do her good too – the earlier he told her that he was going to pursue Nicole, the earlier Daphne could stop wasting her time on him.
“Daphne, I suppose it’s no secret to you that I have no romantic feelings for you. In fact, I don’t think we’re suitable for each other.”
I don’t think we’re suitable for each other.
That was the verdict Daphne received after five years of painstaking effort.
All at once, her mind was flooded with memories of how hard she used to try pleasing him and ingratiating with him.
She suddenly realized how sorry and cheap she had been in the past five years.
The pent-up frustration of not getting her love reciprocated had turned her into an aggressive and overbearing woman.
Seems like I’m nothing but a sickening presence to him now!
“Levant, remember what you just said to me! I hereby announce the death of my old self because I won’t ever try to please you so hard again in the future!”
After the angry outburst, she turned around and stormed off.
Watching her back as she went, Levant’s eyes were tinged with desolation and resignation.
A relationship can’t be forced. I can’t make myself love you, but I really hope you find a man who can.
At the same time, Daphne ran back to her room as fast as she could.
Once she was inside, she banged the door shut and yelled at the maids standing outside, “No one is to come inside! Just leave me alone!”
The maids exchanged wary glances as they stood by the door obediently.
One step at a time, she made her way to the dressing table. She reached out to touch her own reflection in the mirror and found that she could hardly recognize herself anymore.
Ever since the first day she moved into the estate, Aunt Portia had told her she was the future duchess. Her life had since been confined to Levant from that day.
She had wasted five years of her youth working her way toward becoming the future duchess and trying hard to please him, the future duke. Have I been doing the right thing?
Is the thing I’ve been working for so far what I actually want?
Her eyes darkened as she wiped away the tears that started streaming down her face.
I want to be the future duchess! But as to Levant…
There’s really nothing much I can do to change how he feels about me.
Perhaps, it’s time I make some changes to my plan!
…
In the meantime, Evan was putting on a terrifying-looking human skin mask which could transform him into Yoda.
John’s heart was pounding hard as he witnessed the entire process.
It was thrilling to watch how a person could look so completely different thanks to a human skin mask.
“Mr. Seet, why are you in disguise?”
“It’s because the person who tried to murder me has yet to pay the price for his sin!” The menace in Yoda’s eyes was intense.
John stared at him wide-eyed in consternation. “Mr. Seet, are you saying that the plane crash was planned? I knew it! Plane crashes generally don’t just happen for no reason at all and I knew you wouldn’t be that unlucky! Do you know who’s behind it?”
Yoda nodded.
“Who’s it?” John pressed on.
“It’s Mr. Levant from the Musgrave family!”
“What? Why did he want to kill you? If that’s the case, aren’t you staying in the villain’s lair now?”
Finally, John realized the reason why Evan needed to go around in disguise.
That was because he needed to avoid being discovered by Levant!
“I haven’t gotten to the reason why he did that. So now, I’m going to leave it to you.”
John went speechless in response.
Mr. Seet, don’t you think you’re overestimating my intelligence? How can I possibly find out anything when even you yourself are stuck?
