Never Have A Child

The face expression on the face of Meredith changed instantly.

She had begged Lucas and Nathan to accompany her here because she knew that she would never be allowed here alone in the middle of the night in the name of her own dignity. Even if they took her in, she would not get the chance to meet Garrison. He was a disciplined man. But if Nathan would ask, Garrison would oblige even if he did not want to.

She wanted to see the woman who had brought havoc in the palace by herself. The viscountess, whom she had sent was not able to bring a satisfactory reply. Greta, who had always been around, was pale and scared of this woman. Just what was she.. She had tried her best to dig about this woman and only found that she was a naive child who had only lived a sheltered life. Then how was she able to scare every pawn Meredith had sent in the palace.

"Is that so? I am glad that Rowan understands that you are going to be his step mother." she nodded with some force but she could not show her bitterness on her face as Garrison was closely watching their conversation.

"There seems to be a mistake in your words, lady Meredith." Ana was still the daughter of the marquees, she had to address the princess as your highness but if she was the archduchess then her position was equal to the princess, and call her by her name.

The way she addressed her shows that she already took her as the wife of Garrison that made Meredith paler as she held her dress tightly while staring at Ana.

"I am going to be his mother. You do not need to add unnecessary adjectives to the word." She was telling Meredith to not call her step mother, who bought an amused look on the face of the princes but Garrison's eyes narrowed on the woman.

"Aah! I see. But isn't that the truth, Anastasia. My sister went early, or else.." she shook her head as she took a deep sigh, "but i am sure that she would be happy to know that you are working hard to take her place. After all, it is not easy. Everyone in the empire knew how much My brother in law loved my sister.

I was afraid that you would live a miserable and secluded life after marrying him. But I am relieved that is not the case." It looked like she was concerned about Ana, but the way she bragged that even if Ana tried, she would never be able to get the position of Garrison's wife and Rowan's mother was a warning that she should not keep her hopes high.

The words were like a reminder to Ana of her past life. She was indeed the fool to believe that Garrison would see his honest efforts and would love her back.

She never wanted to hurt Rowan. She was not that cold hearted. She just did not know how to take care of the child. When she got married, she was given so many tasks and was invited to so many parties that she did not get the time to check on the child.

When she asked about it, Greta told her that a nanny took care of the child in the house of nobles, and she did not need to worry about it. It would be better that she concentrate on her education as the duchess.

She should better learn making accounts first and handle financial matters that Ana could not rebut the woman.

She felt Greta was right! If she would keep making mistakes in the budget and lose money, Garrison would think that she was incompetent.

Whenever Rowan came to meet her, she could not get time and had to reject him and when she was finally better and felt that she had gotten a grip of things, she was accused of embezzlement of funds and helping her family for the recent crisis.

When she tried to defend herself, she realized no one was standing with her. She had lost friends! Those who she thought were supporting her were all standing against her.

That was when she realized.. It was all a trap she had fallen into. Garrison had hated her then.

She was not a competent mother, for which he had married her. Not a competent wife, not a competent duchess and now she was a greedy and dishonest woman.

Everyone had scorned her. To repent, she went to meet Rowan, but he only felt that she was trying to use him to please his father and improve her image. He did not rebuke her like others but he was distant.

She still did not understand why he gave his life for her then. She should be the one dying in that attack. Why did he protect her?

If not for him….

"You do not need to think too much about step relationships. As long as you will show genuine emotions, Rowan will understand it and reciprocate." Ana was startled by the sudden voice and jumped from her place.

Garrison was standing closer to her. She even felt his breath touching her nape. When she came back to her senses she realized that she had already walked into the cellar in her dazed state and the princess and princes were already sitting and chatting with each other while enjoying their drinks while she was standing on the door like a lost child.

She raised her head and noticed that his eyes were not cold anymore. Was he worried about her? No! That could not be the case. Garrison had never worried about her.

Then.. could it be that he was concerned about Rowan. Did that mean he was not a cold father but still cared about his child.

"Thank you, I will keep that in mind. Do not worry, I will love Rowan more than my child. No, to make sure that I love him only, I will never have a child."