Chapter 15: Scandal
Lucinda pointed a shaking finger at both of them, her other hand covering her mouth. Her voice was anything but muffled. In a matter of short seconds, almost everyone who stayed in the estate had hurried over, their eyes wide with horror as they stared at where Lucinda pointed.
"My cousin may have demoted you to concubine, but you're still married to him! Do you know no shame?!" Lucinda continued.
"This... isn't what it looks like," Ralph struggled to speak, propping himself up using his elbow. Even in the cold winter night, a thin layer of perspiration had already formed across his forehead, glistening under the light from the candles and the moon.
Soleia stood up quickly, adjusting her sleeve. When she had fallen just now, a portion of the fabric had snagged and ripped, causing it to slouch. The threads were barely holding the piece together― just a little more and her whole sleeve might come clean off.
"I am not blind, Sir Byrone!" Lucinda hissed, stomping her foot. From behind her, Elisa had shown up as well, her face dark as charcoal.
She stepped forward wordlessly, and before anyone could react, she slapped Soleia across the face. The latter's head veered to one side as she held her cheek, her lips parted in shock. As a sickly old woman, Elisa definitely did not have the strength Orion did, but her hit landed exactly where the old bruise was, causing pain to quickly surge through Soleia's cheek once more.
"Harlot!" Elisa yelled, raising her hand in an attempt to hit Soleia again. "Oh heavens! What crime has my son committed to marry a woman like you!"
However, this time, Soleia was prepared. She grabbed Elisa's arm before she could strike a second time, and the old woman gasped.
"Let go of me!" Elisa exclaimed. "How dare you?!"