Chapter 26
Maeve shuddered, forcing herself to meet Arthur’s furious glare.
“Why should I p>
Arthur’s face darkened instantly as he slammed his palm onto the table.
“Because you attempted to murder a child of the Fairchild family p>
A wave of sheer outrage swelled in Maeve’s chest. Her hands curled into tight fists at her sides.
“I did not! It was clearly her p>
*Bang!* Arthur struck the table again, glaring daggers at her.
“Save your excuses p>
Arthur then snapped his gaze toward the doorway.
“Guards p>
On command, two bodyguards marched in, grabbing Maeve roughly by the shoulders, waiting for Arthur’s next order.
Maeve thrashed against their grip. “Let go of me p>
But the hands locking her down were like iron vises, immovable. The more she struggled, the harder they squeezed, drawing a sharp gasp of pain from her lips.
Arthur lifted his chin, flicking a dismissive finger.
“Drag her out to the jagged gravel path in the garden. Make her stand there in the blistering cold for half an hour! Do not let her move p>
Within seconds, Maeve was hauled out to the garden’s gravel path. The two guards shoved her forward, causing her to collapse hard onto the uneven stones. Her knees took the brunt of the brutal impact against the jagged rocks.
The jagged edges gouged into her skin like serrated knives. Blinding pain shot through her legs, forcing a cry from her lips. With red, tear-filled eyes, she looked back toward the drawing room, only to see Arthur’s cold, merciless face staring her down.
He had always despised Maeve. If Frederick hadn’t insisted on marrying her, a woman of her background would never have set foot in a family like the Fairchilds p>
When Frederick and Maeve were happily in love and she remained compliant, he had been willing to turn a blind eye to her minor flaws.
But now p>
Since she had joined the Fairchild family, she needed to play by their rules and learn to be obedient.
If she dared defy him, he had plenty of ruthless methods to put her back in her place.
Out in the courtyard, Maeve pulled her gaze away, staring blankly at the sharp gravel beneath her. Tears spilled down her cheeks, disappearing into the dirt without a trace.
At first, she gritted her teeth against the agony, but as the minutes dragged on, the pain radiating from her injured legs became unbearable as she refused to get up and give them the satisfaction of begging
She tried to shift her weight, but the guards flanking her pushed her back down, grinding her wounded knees further into the gravels. The agony spiked. She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood, refusing to cry out again, cold sweat trickling down her face.
In that moment, a hundred different faces flashed through her mind.
Until finally, only Frederick remained.
Here in the sprawling Capital, against the suffocating tyranny of the Fairchild empire, he was the only one who could save her.
Trembling from the pain, Maeve mouthed the words silently through cracked lips.
“Frederick p>
“Save me, Frederick p>
“I can’t take this anymore p>
Perhaps her silent prayers had been answered. Through her hazy delirium, she actually heard his voice.
“What the hell is going on here p>
Maeve jolted, forcing her heavy eyelids open to look toward the sound.
As his tall, imposing figure came into focus, the sting in her eyes became unbearable mayhe from the sweat clinging to her lashes. A massive lump formed in her throat, choking off her breath.
“Fred… Frederick p>
Frederick’s eyes snapped to her, and the sight left him momentarily stunned.
Maeve was collapsed on the jagged stones, her frail shoulders pinned down by two massive bodyguards. Her red, tear-filled eyes were screaming for help.
A sharp pang twisted in Frederick’s chest. He had just taken a step toward her when Arthur’s voice cut coldly through the air.
“Frederick. Inside. Now p>
Shoving down the agonizing tightness in his chest, Frederick cast Maeve a reassuring glance before turning on his heel and walking into the drawing room.
Catching that look, Maeve felt her panic begin to settle.