Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 33

The night she had been dreading had finally arrived.

Pauline, as always, was quick to understand. Without needing a single word, she had already prepared Lea’s finest nightgown.

Usually, Lea wore a chemise that covered her shoulders, but tonight, it was a thin-strapped silk nightgown.

It clung to her body, showing every curve. It felt a little embarrassing, but it was still something suitable for her age.

“Grace, are you going to make a baby with the mister?”

Chenera asked while munching on cookies nearby. Lea was so startled she nearly dropped everything.

“That’s not what’s happening.”

“But if you kiss, a baby comes out!”

Lea and Pauline looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Even so, Chenera had been far too busy lately, and that was becoming a real concern.

With orders flooding in from Lübeck, Galdensia, and several other countries, meeting delivery deadlines was no easy task.

“Don’t worry, miss. You should see how fast Chenera’s hands move. She even crochets lace while she’s on the toilet.”

“Really?”

That only showed how much work she was doing. If machines can break down from overuse, how much harder must it be for a human like Chenera?

“Chenera, if the lace orders are too much, please let me know. We can adjust the volume of requests.”

“It’s okay. When I walk down the street and see noble ladies wearing lace I made, I feel so happy.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and I’m glad Grandpa doesn’t hang out with those bad men anymore.”

Lea was quietly surprised by what Chenera said.

She had thought the girl was just following instructions without much thought. But it turned out Chenera felt real pride in her work.

“I’m glad. It’s good that Chenera has pride in what she does.”

“Pauline, make sure she gets one or two days off a week, no matter how busy it gets.”

“Of course, miss.”

Lea gave the instruction to Pauline, then looked over at Chenera’s hands, still moving without pause. She didn’t speak her next thought aloud.

“I’m sorry, Chenera. Your grandfather used to be a bad man.”

Of course, he had changed now and was living an honest life.

Not long ago, Lea had visited the shop and found him working harder than anyone. Even when he said he was tired, his face was full of laughter.

Most of all, he seemed proud beyond words that Chenera’s lace was in such high demand.

“You know what happened? Someone is selling fake lace. Our real trademark has a C with three wings. But they made one with four wings and stuck it on their knockoffs. Shameless thieves. Just wait until I catch them.”

“It’s not even cheap. It costs as much as a full year’s salary for a factory worker.”

“Still, how dare they make such cheap copies and drag down the name of Chenera’s lace.”

Maybe this was a case of forgetting your own past mistakes. There had to be a better phrase for it, but none came to mind.

Even if others complained, Rapa was the last person who should criticize anyone.

He had once led a group of men and committed all kinds of illegal acts. Hopefully now, he truly understood.

Just like he felt furious seeing someone counterfeit Chenera’s lace, maybe now he realized that someone else had once felt the same pain because of what he used to do.

People often only truly understand things after they experience them for themselves.

In any case, Chenera’s lace had become something every woman wanted to own. That explained why the market was full of counterfeits.

But real pride could not be ignored. A solution was needed, and fast. Chenera added a new, complex pattern to the trademark that no one could easily copy.

While talking with Pauline and Chenera, time had slipped by as Lea prepared for the night.

Pauline glanced at the wall clock and then hurried to finish the final touches.

“Miss, everything is ready.”

Pauline even sprayed perfume at the back of Lea’s neck. Only then did the preparations feel complete.

But Lea honestly wanted to run away from the night ahead.

“I can’t blame anyone. I brought this on myself.”

She couldn’t even complain to Pauline. She felt too embarrassed. Dressed in her silk nightgown, Lea slowly walked toward Terran’s room.

“My heart is pounding.”

She never thought she would spend the night with Terran before marriage. She was so nervous her teeth were chattering. Then a strange determination filled her.

“Grace would be happy. Last time I scared him by pretending I could swim, so this time I’ll give him something joyful instead.”

The only glimpse Lea had ever had of Grace and Terran together was like a dream. But she had seen it clearly. The way Grace’s eyes sparkled when she looked at him said everything. Grace had truly loved Terran.

Ever since that day in the water, since hearing Grace’s voice, Lea had found it hard to tell whether the feelings she had for Terran were her own or Grace’s.

After sending Pauline away, Lea stepped into Terran’s room.

Woody fragrance.

The room was filled with the clean, earthy scent that always clung to him. It didn’t feel like a bedroom. It felt like she had stepped into a spring forest. Just then, she heard the door open softly behind her.

“Terran?”

She turned around and saw him standing there, holding two glasses of wine.

Through the slightly open front of his robe, she could see his firm chest and defined abs.

“Try it.”

Terran handed her a glass. She stared for a moment at the deep violet wine swirling inside the crystal and then took a small sip.

“It’s sweet.”

“I figured you’d prefer this over something bitter.”

“Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.”

“This is where the thoughtfulness ends. In bed, there will be no more holding back.”

The way he offered her the wine made it feel like he was preparing to devour her.

Lea’s face turned bright red as she looked at him.

Terran drank his wine in one long swallow. She watched the way his throat moved as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple rising and falling.

It was incredibly sensual.

He was only drinking wine, but somehow the act itself felt deeply intimate.

Why am I thinking like this? Having indecent thoughts already.

When Terran’s lips were stained with the deep color of wine, Lea instinctively reached out and gently wiped them with her fingers.

As soon as she realized what she was doing, she tried to pull her hand back. But Terran caught her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, kissing each one slowly.

The shock of it made her feel dizzy. She could feel his desire travel from her fingertips and spread through her entire body.

Terran gently guided Grace to the bed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

This isn’t my own desire. It’s Grace’s feelings taking over.

Lea tried to separate herself from Grace as emotions flooded her.

Terran sat her on the bed and softly pulled her gown down. Her body trembled, and he could see how fragile she was in that moment.

He felt protective. But at the same time, something deeper and stronger was rising inside him. He wanted to make her his completely.

“Are you scared?”

“No.”

She said no, but her body was trembling. Terran took a deep breath and fought to hold back the heat building inside him.

If he gave in too fast, he knew Grace wouldn’t be able to handle it. The first thing he needed to do was help her feel safe.

He leaned in and placed a kiss on the back of her neck.

Her skin was softer than the silk gown she wore. His lips moved slowly down her neck, along her collarbone, then to her shoulder.

Even that small contact was enough to make his instincts flare. From the moment she had walked into his room, he had wanted her. Desperately.

He wanted her to smell like him. He wanted everyone to know she belonged to Terran Courtois.

He slowly pulled down the thin strap of her nightgown.

Lea flinched in surprise. Every time his lips touched her skin, it felt like a jolt of electricity shot through her.

What startled her even more was the way she enjoyed it. She told herself she was doing this for Grace, but her instincts were pulling her closer to him.

She wanted more. She wanted him to lose control. Like a gentle creature craving the bite of a predator, her fear turned into desire.

What do I do? I like Terran.

This wasn’t Grace’s feeling. It was her own. She liked his warm breath, his soft lips, the way he wanted her.

She wanted to be taken somewhere she had never been before. She wanted him to lead her into pleasure and to lose herself in him completely.

Suddenly, Lea realized something. She could not respond to Terran’s desire with calm reason. Physical desire and rational thinking did not exist together.

This wasn’t just her body reacting. She had fallen for him.

Maybe I really did like him more than I wanted to admit.

She had always told herself that he was just her protector, nothing more. She had promised herself that she would never let it become anything else.

But her heart had already gone to him.

Tears suddenly welled up and spilled over. Not just a few tears, but heavy sobs she could not stop.

“Grace?”

Terran looked completely startled as he saw her crying while he held her.

Maybe this was too much for her. Seeing her so frightened made his chest tighten.

“Did I go too far?”

He asked in a tense voice, filled with guilt. But Grace only cried like a child and couldn’t answer.

It’s happened again.

Lea was not afraid of Terran. She was afraid of love.

The heat of his touch overwhelmed her. Her body felt paralyzed, and the reason she had worked so hard to hold onto completely collapsed. That made her cry.

“Shh. Don’t cry. I won’t rush anything.”

Terran gently pulled her gown back over her shoulders and wrapped her in his arms. He held her softly, like he was comforting a child.

I moved too quickly.

He knew Grace was not someone who chased after pleasure easily. She was like a sacred place, untouched and pure.

“Terran, please give me a little more time.”

A single clear tear rolled from Lea’s violet eyes.

Terran looked at her as if the world had stopped. Then he gave her a soft smile and nodded.

“Of course.”

Lea needed time to understand her feelings. She had already fallen too deep to simply pull away and leave.

Before she could fully embrace him, she had to face and let go of her fear of love. Without that, she would never be able to accept him completely.

“It’s not because I don’t want to. I just…”

Before she could finish, Terran kissed her again. This time, it was not a kiss full of desire. It was filled with comfort.

It was his way of saying she didn’t have to explain anything. He would wait for her.

He gently laid her down beside him and then lay down next to her.

“Just being with you is enough.”

Terran believed that the fact Grace had allowed him to stay by her side was already something precious. As long as she didn’t push him away, that was enough.

He had never imagined that one woman could mean so much to him.

You have no idea how afraid I am of love.

Lea quietly curled up in his arms. Terran was not like Allen. He was someone completely different. What still remained was the part of her that had not yet healed.

Even though love made her afraid, she still liked Terran.

He gently patted her back like a father calming a frightened child.

If only she were a little less lovable.

To him, a woman who cried in fear was more beautiful than one who rushed forward with desire.

He kissed her forehead and slowly closed his eyes.

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