Chapter 468
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Despite knowing all this…
“Still, you can’t do this to me, Uncle Will…” Noah choked out, sounding even more aggrieved.
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William had planned on remaining stoic and firm until the end. But upon seeing the way Noah was, he ultimately couldn’t bear
So instead, he changed his tone and gave Noah a less painful version of the truth. Nevertheless, it was still one that Noah had to swallow.
“We slept together by accident,” Willaim said. “Emi and I had too much to drink, and we had been drugged. That’s how it happened. Emi never liked you romantically, and now, she’s pregnant with my babies–twins, at that. Plus, we’re both at the age where it’s time to settle down.”
Before Noah could say anything, William added, “Of course, I’m not marrying Emi just because we had mistakenly spent a night together. I really do like her. That’s why I want to marry her. You know I’m not someone who gets involved unnecessarily.”
Noah had always felt his uncle’s concern for me was more than usual. Now, after hearing what William had just said, he understood everything.
William’s care for me hadn’t been an extension of how he felt about Noah. It turned out he had wanted me all along.
He continued, “Besides, I’ve given you plenty of time…”
William hadn’t finished his sentence, but Noah knew exactly what he meant. He had given Noah ample time, but Noah hadn’t been able to win me over.
Noah glanced between William and me—at the ship that had already sailed. I was even carrying William’s babies.
Noah didn’t even know what to think, let alone what to say. Completely shattered, all he could do was run out of the room.
Before I could say anything out of worry, William said, “There’s no need to worry about Noah. I’ll have someone keep an eye on him and make sure nothing happens to him.”
Knowing that William cared more for Noah than I did, I didn’t say anything more.
Pulling me to sit down, William suggested, “Let’s continue working on the guest list.”
I wordlessly complied.
William really was a man who could stay calm and composed regardless of the situation. He was never troubled.
Suddenly, he turned to me and asked, “Should we invite the Hardwells?”
I was caught off guard. Truthfully, I had completely moved on and no longer felt conflicted. Nothing would ever happen between
Irvin and me.
Still, when I thought about what we once shared, I couldn’t help feeling a little melancholic.
It was sad how things had turned out between Irvin and me, and I was now engaged to another man. But to invite him to my engagement party and subsequently, my wedding…
Deep down, I didn’t want Irvin to attend my engagement party. But the whole reason I was marrying William was to let the Hardwells know that we were together. It was also to make them believe the babies I was carrying were William’s.
So, if we didn’t invite the Hardwells, it would look as though we were hiding something. Plus, given the Hardwells‘ standing, not inviting them would be detrimental to William’s domestic business expansion.
So, after a contemplative silence, I said, “Let’s invite them.”
William studied me for a moment before replying, “Okay.”
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In his pitch–black room in Hardwell Manor, Irvin sat on the floor and leaned back against his bed. He looked like a soulless puppet with his blank expression and unfocused eyes.
He wanted to drink. He wanted to get completely wasted. That way, he wouldn’t be in such pain anymore.
However , Irvin couldn’t get drunk. Magnus would be alerted if he started drinking and would think he had lost control, which would only slow down his plans.
He thought about smoking , but he couldn’t do that either. Because the more he smoked, the more clear–headed he became. And the clearer his mind, the more unbearable the pain became.
So, Irvin could do nothing but sit there. He had no choice but to allow the pain to engulf him , rip him apart, and swallow him up.
That was until something caught his eye. There was a faint blinking light in the bookshelf across from him.
469.
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