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There was a brief moment of silence The air about them swirled with an uncomfortable tension “I would have per, anyone but her”

“But hen she made me happy?”

“Because she is rotten to her core” His irl cannot help her lineage”

Part of him wished he had not been desperate for an answer The vitriolic co from his mother’s mouth only served to make him despise her all the more “If you felt that hy take her into your home?”

“I was not given the choice Your father e The man was loyal until his last breath”

“Andrew said that our father acted in good faith, that he believed he was serving Isabella’s best interests when he took her away” The lies were falling easily now For his own sanity, he needed to believe in the goodness of one of his parents

His mother sat down in the chair “I’m sure it will please you to know that your father cared for Isabella and would have done anything to see her happy Hence the reason for the letter Hence the reason I arranged for Lord Fernall to approach him”

“But you could not have arranged anything with Lord Fernall You knew nothing of our elopement until the day we left Kempston There would not have been time”

She sneered “I was not blind, Tristan I could see what she meant to you I spoke to Lord Fernall months before as I kneas only afoolish Of course, I did not expect you to behave so recklessly I thank the Lord your brother caht else God only knohere you would be now”

He would be happy, in love with his wife, a doting father to his children

“The depth of your betrayal is sickening”

“My betrayal?” she scoffed “I am the victim of the worst kind of deceit”

“What could possibly be worse than aher son?”

“A husband betraying his wife,” she said bluntly

Tristan jerked his head back “You expect me to believe my father was capable of such treachery Are there no depths to your cruel comments and vile accusations?”