CHAPTER 48
“Duvier! What are you doing here?” Barbara tumbled into his arms as he bumped unto her.
Chris gasped as he stared at the grinning elderly woman batting her eyes at him coyly. He pulled her up while looking around for Agnes. “Where is she---”
“Who?” Barbara stared at him confusedly.
He stopped himself from blurting Agnes' name. Instead, he collected himself and tried to smile, covering his blunder. “Lady Elizabeth, I need to see her.”
“Ah…” Barbara stared at him for a long time. She got the feeling it was not Lady Elizabeth he was looking for. She wondered if the nosy
CHAPTER 49 Agnes looked at David with eyes brimming with tears. Her beautiful green eyes looked like the misty forest of Winshord Castle moors. She was seating across from him inside a small cafe that operated twenty-four hours a day near the bus station. The cafe was deserted, except for the sleepy worker of the establishment and an aged man snoozing at a corner.Her hand was twisting the yellowed table cloth, as she nervously face David. “It’s okay if you will not forgive me,” Agnes said without preamble as the silence stretched between them.“You cause so much pain to your family and friends. I’m not sure whether I should wring your neck out of madness or just hugged you out of relief that you are still alive.”“David, I will not explain why I disappeared, only that I have a very valid reason that I cannot reveal.”David's jaw tightened in anger. “How could you say that Agnes? You of all people should know that what you
CHAPTER ONE Lady Elizabeth Walden smiled in the mirror, peering at her wrinkled powdered face with pleasure. Life was good to her. She was dreaming the same for her nieces, especially Agnes, the heiress of her estate. Worriedly, the Baroness remembers her niece constantly worming on the books of her private library. Socialization is non-essential to the young girl. When she forces her to join parties and soirees, her niece will always elude from her plans. She wanted the young heiress to have a secure future before she departed to this world. Lady Elizabeth had a strategy to bring her dream to realization. She was praying to the heavens for its success. Lady Elizabeth rang the golden bell that was hanging beside her vanity. "Smith!" she called her servant.
CHAPTER TWO The two combatants - Lady Elizabeth and Chris Duvier scrutinized each other warily. One was standing behind an oak table with the air of autocracy. The latter exudes the confidence of a well-season negotiator. Each one sizes up the other. The grand lady holds his cold, steely eyes with perceptiveness from age and experience. Graciously she asked him to sit down on the wing chair. He took his time in doing so. Deliberately, choosing the opposite chair. It was a maneuver that the lady took notice of knowingly. She was arching her brow, looking at him with disdain. "I can see that money cannot buy breeding." The lady said coldly. "I can see that age cannot curve arrogance," he replied frostily. Lady Elizabeth flashed a smile which Chris reacted in surprise. The Baroness looks at him with a meaningful smile. This situation is getting dangerous, Chris silently warned himself. He was wondering why s
CHAPTER THREE She took solace with the books she loved. Big fat tears are dropping on the pages of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Doggedly, pushing herself to read. She needs to forget what she heard an hour ago—Chris and Lea's tragic love story, cut short by her aunt's intrusion. No wonder Lea has been cold to her. Everybody in town believes she was a snitch. Once, her young sister adored her. The big sister protects her from harm and spoils her sister with love and attention. That day, Lea suddenly became sick. She asked Agnes to accompany her to the bedroom. Inside her room, Lea told her she had an important date. Agnes needs to cover for her. She agreed, even if she felt something was not right. Agnes covers her face and body, ensuring that her black hair will not peek out from the thick blanket. It would have been a good plan. Only Ann entered, bringing medicine for Lea. She screamed in
CHAPTER FOUR That was their first meeting after so many years. Agnes groaned with embarrassment when she remembered her misadventure yesterday with Chris. She needs time to think and get away from the castle. She was wearing her old white nightdress and too fragile from being overused. Her hair flowed down on her back, black and silky straight. Yesterday she wore it in a braided bun, courtesy by her aunt and their distinguished guest. Today, her carefree self was once again out. Agnes opens the glass door, letting in the morning breeze caress her skin. She can see the sun slowly creeping out. This moment is the time of day Agnes loves to step out of her bedroom and walk out to the lawn. Agnes closed her eyes and bathed from the rays of the sun. Unaware of the world around her, except her dreamland. Chris did not sleep well last night. He was re-plotting his strategy. Marriage is now part of the equation. He rearranged his chess piece to deliver
CHAPTER 5 Chris needs to get out. Agnes floored him, and no coherent thoughts came to his mind. Has he gone mad? Only one day, that woman had created havoc and made him feel like he was on a roller coaster. That woman has crafted disorder to his system--- the system that he erects for so many years. He cannot fail again. Lea was a sweet and exquisite woman. He felt madly and deeply in love with her because she was the ideal woman any man could dream of marrying. But now, why is he so attracted to this woman? Just the thought of that image at the garden sends him spinning. She was getting into his nerves. He drove his mustang out of the castle grounds. He doesn't want to tell anyone that he left very early. Escape. If he stayed another second. He doesn't know what he's going to do with that temptress. He pushed all his frustration to the car. Pumping it so hard t
Chapter SixSelf- preservation The counsel of Lady Elizabeth cleared his throat, "If everybody now is ready..." he looked at the Baroness. She nods. He cleared his throat and read in a monotonous voice. He rumbled on and on about Walden’s Edict that has not changed for decades then he paused, looked at her, and continue his reading" The stipulation of the contract is the following, that the ownership of the castle will be transferred to the firstborn, Agnes Daniel Walden only when she marries Chris Bennett Duvier." "That the Lady of Winshord Castle, Lady Elizabeth Charles Walden, will automatically give up her rights as the owner, of the castle and the land it was built and her title as the Lady will be pass on to the firstborn Agnes Daniel Walden if the marriage ceremony is performed by the priest. The priest is handpicked by the current owner of the castle. All parties should sign the marriage document to
CHAPTER SEVENJUST BETWEEN US David watched his friend silently. Something has changed in him. He has seen this before. A light glittered from the depth of his eyes. He shivered at the sheer determination of it. It is the look when he is about to take over a business. The anticipation of a conquest shone in his eyes. Chris Duvier became a billionaire for nothing. He was ruthless at times. His ways are unorthodox that sometimes it takes those companies by surprise. He was a merciless shark when he sheaths those fangs. "So that’s Agnes Walden." He queried curiously. Wanting to know more about the woman who stood defiantly at his friend. Right then, he admired her. David thought she was an avenger then. She was also beautiful. Whoever made a report about her being plain was a lazy inspector. He made a note to himself to fire that unfortunate man. Chris looked at him silently, smiling. " Ahh, I see