PAIN OF REJECTION (1)

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CHAPTER 20

«Hello, Lina. What troubles you?» Priscilla asked soothingly as she placed a comforting hand on Evelina's back. It was evident to her that something was amiss from the way her friend clung to her and the tears punctuating her eyes, which Evelina tried unsuccessfully to suppress. «You seem upset. What has happened?»

Evelina withdrew abruptly, averting her gaze to avoid revealing her inner turmoil. She appreciated Priscilla's presence, but divulging the conflict between herself and the Duke was out of the question. «It is nothing, truly,» she murmured.

«What do you mean nothing?» Priscilla prodded, raising Evelina's chin to meet her gaze. «You appear on the verge of tears. Has someone upset you? Is it... the Duke?» Her keen attention had caught sight of Alexander pacing restlessly in the distant gardens.

Evelina cringed at the mention of the Duke's name, immediately recoiling from Priscilla's touch. «Please, Priscilla. I cannot discuss my woes with you or anyone.» she said respectfully to her friend.

Priscilla sighed, knowing better than to press the issue. Evelina was not one to easily divulge her secrets. Nevertheless, she could not help feeling concerned and wondered about the cause of her friend's distress. As she observed the Duke's troubled countenance from afar, she sensed that something was amiss.

«To the ball, then?» Priscilla suggested, breaking the tense silence.

Evelina nodded faintly, conceding with reluctance. Her body language betrayed how uneasy she was with the idea, and Priscilla sensed that there was more to her friend's distress than what she had admitted.

—

Alexander found himself lost in tortured contemplation, watching as Evelina walked away with the brunette who had confronted him earlier. The two appeared to be friends, a realization that only fueled Alexander's anxiety. He longed for Evelina with an intensity that bordered on obsession, and her rejection had left him feeling like a fool and a failure. Despite his brooding nature, his melancholy feelings were overwhelming him.

«She rejected me,» he muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the empty gardens.

«There you are, Montague.»

At that moment, Colin appeared, snapping Alexander out of his dazed thoughts.

«I've been searching all over the world for you,» Colin said. «We need to talk.»

«What about?» snapped the Duke.

Colin retreated momentarily, seemingly taken aback by his friend's hostile reaction, but quickly recovered himself. «I recently found out something about your Cassandra that I think you should know.»

«What is it?» Alexander said, looking intently at his friend.

Colin bit his lip for a minute before saying, «I may have already found her. I think I know who she is.»

Alexander sneered at him, a reaction Colin wasn't expecting to see, and turned to gaze at the moon. «I don't want to hear that.»

«What do you mean? Why would you react like this? I thought you were eager to know?» Colin asked, a hint of concern coloring his voice.

«I was.» Alexander heaved a heavy sigh, then turned his back on his friend to view the moon instead. «I already found her and she's just rejected me. I proposed to her, Colin. I asked her to be mine, to marry me. And she...she said no.» The words came out as barely a whisper, betraying the depth of his hurt and disappointment.

Colin's eyes widened in shock. He had never seen Alexander so vulnerable, so open. «I'm so sorry, Montague. I had no idea,» he said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

Alexander shrugged off Colin's touch and faced him once again. «It's fine. I'm fine,» he said, though he forced himself to sound nonchalant. «So, did you just come to say you found Evelina, my Cassandra? Or is there something else you want to share, like a secret marriage alliance?»

Alexander's accusatory tone prompted Colin to hesitate before answering. Finally he said, «Yes, it's true. The viscountess is planning to arrange a marriage between you and her daughter.»

«Who happens to be your sister, is that right?»

Colin slowly nodded. «I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.»

«I understand,» Alexander said softly. «But let me be clear: I would never play games with your sister's feelings. We go way back, and I value our friendship too much to act so callously.»

«So, as her brother, I would like you to pass that message directly to her and let her know why,» Alexander added. «My heart can only speak one language at a time. Right now, it's speaking the language of a very strong-willed and stubborn maiden, Evelina. She's the one my heart wants, and even though she's rejected me now, I'm not going to stop until I have her.»

As Alexander walked away, Colin stayed behind, lost in thought as he watched his friend's retreating back. He appreciated how certain Alexander was of his feelings for Evelina, even determined to pursue her despite her rejection. Nevertheless, Colin felt an obligation to his sister. Perhaps she did stand a chance after all, a chance of being with the Duke once Alexander's fever for Evelina had quieted down.

This novel is exclusive to Web Novel, please contact me through the chapter comments if you find that all or any part of this publication is being uploaded elsewhere (on another site). Thank you.