Chapter 149: You Have to Apologize

Margaret was filled with regret, her face contorting in sorrow as she muttered, “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have doubted Matilda.”

Pablo looked at her with disappointment. “You and I have been married for many years. I always thought, in your heart, my life came first. Isolde saved mine; she is my benefactor, and I thought you would see her as such. I guess I was wrong.”

Margaret froze. His anger was typically swift and fiery, but it always faded quickly. However, these cold words, the weight of his disillusionment—she had never heard him speak like this before.

“I never meant that,” she said hastily, trying to salvage the situation. “I just thought there were other ways to repay a favor. I didn’t think it necessary to marry her. She’s been free-spirited on the estate, and I feared the rules of the Valen family might be too much for her. I worried it would burden her.”

Pablo’s voice turned stern. “The rules are made by people. If she wanted freedom, she wouldn’t have to follow them. Do you think, after all my years of military achievements, I can’t offer her the kind of life she desires in my household? If anyone looks down on her, I’ll sever ties with them.”

Agnes sneered. “Father, you speak as if Isolde saved you, but if she hadn’t been there, you would have been fine. How can you trade your military service for her freedom? And then, you say you don’t care about what people think? Even if you gave her all the freedom in the world, she could never handle it. And don’t forget, she’s not your daughter—your true heirs are me and William. Would you trade your military service for our peace and freedom?”

Pablo’s eyes flashed with fury as he glared at William, still unconscious. “You two—if your hearts were pure and your conduct upright, what would stop you from living freely?”

He turned to Margaret and said sharply, “Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, take this ungrateful son to the Duke’s estate to apologize.”

Margaret fell silent, unwilling to go. The events had unfolded far beyond her control. She hadn’t planned for any of this, and now, a sense of betrayal simmered within her. How had it all gotten so out of hand? Who had leaked the news in the palace that disrupted her plans?

“Mother, what should we do?” Agnes pulled Margaret aside, speaking urgently. “Should we really go to apologize?”

Margaret felt utterly lost. For years, she had controlled every situation, no matter how chaotic. She could fix anything, even the most complicated mess. But now, she had no idea what to do.

The words Pablo had spoken when he first married her rang in her ears. He had promised that no matter what mistakes she made, he would never divorce her. But if he lost faith in her, if the distance grew between them, what would be the difference between that and a divorce?

She turned to Agnes slowly and said, “Agnes, tomorrow, you’ll go with your father to the Duke’s estate.”

Agnes scowled. “I’m not going. Besides, even if I wanted to, Father would insist you go.”

Margaret ignored her protest. “I’ll find a way to avoid going. This is settled. Tomorrow, you go.”

She walked over to where William was being treated by the doctor.

Ten lashes. She counted them, each strike feeling like it pierced her own heart. Tears welled in her eyes, but her mind was calculating. Apologizing would be the least of their problems. If Pablo insisted that William marry Isolde, once she entered their home, where would Margaret stand? Would Isolde ever respect her, the woman who had opposed their marriage from the start?

“Easy now, don’t be too rough, will you?” William cried out, wincing with pain as the doctor tended to his wounds.

The doctor, holding a sharp scalpel, said, “Lord Theodric, bear with it. The flesh here is damaged; we need to clean it. It will hurt, but once it’s done, you’ll be fine.”

The lashes were merciless. The flesh tore, the blood splattered. The pain was unbearable for William, who shivered with each strike.

“Bear with it? Try bearing it yourself!” William screamed, nearly breaking under the excruciating pain that seemed to spread through his entire body. He could taste the blood in his mouth, and the stench was unbearable.

Margaret, though heartbroken for her son, could not defend him when he spoke so rudely to the doctor. “A man should be able to endure such pain,” she said sharply.

William, understanding his mother had no answers left, clenched his fists and endured the pain, though tears streamed down his face. He couldn’t bring himself to face Isolde, let alone apologize to her.

After the doctor left, Margaret gave William his medication and headed back to her room, only to learn that Pablo was already in the study. She sighed deeply. After years of marriage, tonight should have been a joyous reunion… But instead, she sat alone in the quiet, her thoughts scattered.

She finally swallowed the medicine, trying to find some relief. That night, however, the pain in her abdomen worsened. By morning, she could barely get out of bed.

When Pablo sent a servant to call her, the maid reported that Margaret was too ill to leave. Soon after, Pablo appeared.

He stood by the bed, looking at Margaret, whose face was ashen and lips pale. His tone was cold and indifferent as he said, “Since you’re sick, rest well. Once you’re better, you’ll still have to go and apologize. Unless you plan to lie in this bed for the rest of your life, as long as you can get out of bed, you’ll have to go.”

After finishing his words, he didn’t spare her another glance or offer any further comfort, simply turning and walking out. Pablo was always decisive in his actions. Since he had promised to go and apologize that day, even if the whole family was sick or injured, he would go alone.

When Agnes learned that her mother had asked her to apologize to Isolde, she quickly made an excuse about family matters and secretly returned home.

Pablo had prepared an extravagant gift and, with his family retainers, set out for the Duke’s estate. Isolde had no idea that Pablo was coming that day. Though Geoffrey had been informed, he didn’t take it seriously. After all, Pablo had just returned victorious and had many matters to attend to. He wouldn’t rush to the Duke’s estate to offer some supposed apology right away.

Besides, whether or not he apologized was of little consequence to Geoffrey—after all, William was far from an ideal match.

When the doorman announced that Pablo, accompanied by several generals, had arrived at the entrance, Geoffrey realized that Pablo was indeed serious. He quickly instructed Harlan to notify Isolde and then went out to meet him.