I Never Wanted His Child - Chapter 172

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Leah stared at him, dumbfounded.

“What… what do you mean by that?”

“I know. It’s nothing compared to my face. But what can I do? There’s only one face like mine in the kingdom, and it’s mine.”

Mikhail propped his chin on his hand and looked at Leah.

“Guess it’s better to roll around in the stables than on the grass.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Lady Chevron, you understood exactly what I said.”

Leah’s face turned pale. It seemed he was planning to claim that one of these two men had fathered a child with her.

“How could you…”

“How is that any different from what you’ve done? I just changed the target. Is that a problem? Like you said, the truth doesn’t matter.”

He smiled deeply.

“Of course, whoever you choose, there’s quite a romantic and thrilling story prepared.”

Seeing the smile on his face as if the choice was hers to make, Leah’s body began to tremble.

He was serious. Maybe he already knew and had made all the preparations.

“Wouldn’t it be a much better life to be the wife of one of these men than being a mistress and having an illegitimate child?”

Leah jumped up from her seat. She couldn’t even think about hiding her trembling and only wanted to leave the reception room.

“You have to make a choice before you go. Or perhaps you want both?”

“Duke!”

Leah screamed, her body shaking violently. She would never forget this humiliation.

Underestimating him had been her mistake.

When Mikhail stood up, the chair scraped loudly against the floor.

Screeeech.

The sound made her skin crawl. She instinctively shrank back.

“Guess you should’ve played it smart.”

Mikhail was suddenly standing in front of her, sneering. He reached out.

Leah squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath.

“What are you standing there for? You should get to it right away.”

“I—I already wrote the article! It’s coming out tomorrow!”

“That’s your problem. Do I really need to tell you everything? Why get greedy for something you can’t handle?”

His low murmuring voice sent shivers down her spine. She even thought she might die from a heart attack if she stayed here any longer.

Leah felt her mouth go dry. The Duke was far more insane than she had imagined.

Then again, considering he thought about putting his cousin Adrian on the throne, it was clear he wasn’t normal from the start.

She had been deceived by his handsome face. All the rumors about him must be lies. The whispers about his charm, his gentle smile, and his thoughtful care—those were just foolish dreams of those who didn’t know any better.

“Time’s ticking away.”

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

He checked his watch once and then whispered in Leah’s ear.

“Lady Chevron, if it were me…”

His hand slowly turned the doorknob, and the door to the reception room opened.

“I’d be running away right now.”

Through the open door, the hallway came into view. Following his words, Leah barely managed to move her stiff legs, and soon, she was running.

Her steps grew faster and faster as she sprinted down the hallway.

The eerie gaze following her didn’t leave her back.

“Hah, huff.”

Her breath felt suffocating, as if she might faint. Her trembling legs moved so fast that she barely noticed how she was running.

Lifting her dress, she ran out of the Duke’s estate like a madwoman.

“I’ve arranged for a public carriage.”

At Kartho’s words, Leah climbed into the carriage without looking back.

‘How… how should I…?’

Leah wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with trembling hands.

She had to return to the Count’s estate quickly. No, should she head to the Muven newspaper office first and stop the article from being published?

As she pondered, Leah instructed the coachman.

“To Bartsch Castle!”

What she needed was someone who could stop all of this.

And there was only one person who could do that—Lady Luther.

Arriving at the castle, Leah was stunned.

“…What does this mean?”

“Lady Luther has refused to meet with you.”

“That’s impossible. Tell my aunt again.”

Leah shook her head at the butler’s words. Why would her aunt refuse? What reason could she have to turn her down?

This situation wasn’t even her idea.

After learning that her father had fallen into the Duke’s hands, Lady Luther had suggested this method, offering her an opportunity. She had said there was nothing else to be done; for a woman like her, who had no marriage proposals left, becoming the Duke’s mistress was the best option.

After all, how could he just throw out the woman who claimed to be carrying his child? If the article were published and people believed it, she would naturally find her way into the Duke’s estate.

“Go tell her again! Tell her again right now!”

Leah felt like she was going mad. She never imagined that anyone would stop her from entering the castle in this situation.

As court members passed by, they glanced at her.

“Oh my, what’s all this commotion about?”

“Hasn’t she not even had her debutante ball yet? Maybe it’s because she hasn’t been properly taught manners.”

“I heard she was abandoned by Lady Luther. It seems true.”

“Yes. They say that even fallen nobles won’t offer marriage proposals to the Chevron family anymore… If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up in Bartsch either. It’s impressive, really.”