35 Threats

"My lord, there is a messenger from the Alancaster house. We asked him to leave the message but he said that he needed to meet you." Harold frowned. He looked at Elene who was sleeping on the other side. His hair was still a mess and he could see many marks on her pale skin.

"Ask him to wait in the reception room, I will be there." maids helped him in washing up and wearing a proper suit before he went to meet the duke. The events of yesterday are still fresh in his mind though he could not see any sign of the tumultuous storm that hit their palace.

Everything was pristine and perfect. When the door was opened, the messenger stood up and bowed his head. 

"My lord!"

"I never knew that messengers had the right to demand to meet the master. I am amazed at how the duke's palace works actually." Harold mocked, his eyes digging a hole on the messenger's face but the man looked unperturbed. 

"There is a letter that could not be passed to anyone, my lord. It is for your own benefit." Harold sneered. The duke must be apologizing to him. He must have realized that taking his wife like that was a criminal act. But he was not going to let the matter go just because he had received one apology. He was going to drag the man until he realized his blunder. His eyes flickered at the thought.

He mocked the seal by tearing the letter roughly but when his eyes scanned the details of the letter, he froze.

"What did it mean?" he gritted his teeth. The letter tearing with the pressure he put on the parchment.

"Your grace said that he had witnessed and if he started digging, my lord would regret it. He even asked me not to return without getting a reply." Harold threw the letter on the face of the messenger. His eyes went dark instantly.

The man who always had control of his emotions was losing his temper since last night. The threads he had woven so painstakingly were losing slowly.

"I want to meet my wife first." he raised his voice when the messenger bowed his head again.

"I am not in a position to bargain with you, my lord. If you have any message, I would happily convey it." Harold took in a deep breath and wrote a letter. The perfect letters were all over the place for the first time. 

Once the messenger left, he punched the table with force. Elene was already standing near the door. She walked in and picked up the torn letter from the ground. Her eyes scan the content making them wide.

"You have bribed the administration department for the approval of your project?" she choked on her words when Harold gritted his teeth. "If the words go out.."

"Everyone does that, Elene. It would have taken a year to get the deal done but a little money did the task in a month." he scoffed as if she was ignorant when her eyes narrowed.

"But the letters said you have also supplied girls, Harold. Oh lord, do you not know slavery and prostitution is against the law.'' She covered her mouth with her hands as if she was afraid that someone would hear them and they would face trouble.

Harold gave her a look and then snatched the letter from her hands.

"He is the partner in this deal. Half of the money belongs to him. If I fail, he will fail. Then how dare he blackmail me for it and snatch my wife from me." Elene stayed silent. The letter only asked him to not report this matter to the royal court and the whisper would never go out.

It even offered that he and Elene could meet Evangeline if they wanted. The deal could not be better. But why was Harold so worried? Was it not better that Evan was gone? 

"Harold, do you not love me?" the voice held a hint of threat. It was not only Damien who knew this man's secret. She knew more than anyone could ever know.

"Why are you asking silly questions in the morning? Of course, I love you but it is Evangeline who is the first born. She should be in our hands or she could always claim her territory back, Elene. Evan is the key to all the power and wealth." he touched her cheeks and caressed them softly. 

She gave him a skeptical look but soon, her eyes closed and her anger melted. This man, she loves him so much to be angry with him. Of course, he was on her bed last night, there was no way he would betray her for that cold woman.

"Then what have you planned?" her voice held a hint of lust when he looked at her with disgust. This woman only thinks with the hole between her legs.

"We have to convince her to return. Even if we have to beg for her. Apologize to her if needed.." she looked at him with shock when he sighed and added, "once she is here, you can punish her all you want. But if she didn't come, she could always claim for her inheritance, Elene. Do not forget the will of her father." Elene stiffened at once. They had hidden the letter but even walls had eyes and ears.

What if there was a proof around. She nodded at once, finally understanding the gravity of the matter. 

"I have called her tomorrow at the grave of her father. That would be the perfect place to manipulate her, Elene. I have a lot of hopes for you." the girl nodded at once understanding the hidden meaning behind his words.

"But promise me, Harold. Even if your sister returns, you will divorce her and marry me soon. You can keep her as your mistress, but I will be a legal wife before our child comes into this world."