Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 34

When Lea opened her eyes, she found herself in Terran’s arms. The fact that she had fallen asleep in his embrace until morning surprised even her.

Shouldn’t her heart have been racing all night, keeping her awake?

“You’re awake?”

Terran’s husky voice, still low from sleep, sounded incredibly comforting.

“Did you… sleep well?”

Lea felt embarrassed even as she spoke. There were dark circles under his eyes. It looked like he had stayed up while she slept soundly.

“Grace, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Am I really a man to you?”

“Of course you are.”

She immediately understood what he meant by that question.

They had shared a bed, and yet she had slept peacefully without showing the slightest nervousness.

“Doesn’t seem like it to me.”

“That’s not true.”

Maybe she had acted that way before because she had believed he was incapable as a man. But now she knew he was perfectly healthy, and yet she had still fallen asleep so easily. That had to be a little strange.

“You were grinding your teeth, snoring, and even talking in your sleep.”

“What?”

Lea shot up in bed, completely shocked.

“That can’t be true.”

“I didn’t sleep at all last night.”

“What? That’s impossible. I sleep like a baby, quiet as a mouse.”

“A baby bird, huh? More like an eagle.”

Lea didn’t know what to say. What kind of lady grinds her teeth, snores, and talks in her sleep?

If that was really true, it was beyond embarrassing.

“I’m leaving.”

Just as she was about to break into tears, Terran gently took her hand.

“I was kidding.”

That kind of joke should never be made so lightly.

Lea never imagined he had such a mischievous side. Didn’t he realize how damaging that joke could be to a woman’s pride?

Ugh. I want to punch him.

Her fist trembled slightly. Then she began to recall her sleeping habits.

What if he was telling the truth?

If it is, I’d die of embarrassment. Seriously.

“Grace, from now on, I expect you to respect me.”

What is he saying now?

Lea gave him a confused look as he smiled and rested his head on his arms.

“It takes extreme self-control for a predator to lie next to a rabbit all night and not touch her.”

Terran looked at her with burning eyes. She had no idea how much he had held himself back that night.

When she smiled, she looked beautiful. When she cried, she looked fragile. When her hair was messy, she looked seductive. She had no idea how attractive she was. And that innocence only made it harder for him to resist.

“Did I really have bad sleeping habits?”

Lea asked quietly.

Maybe he was just being polite earlier by saying it was a joke.

Terran sat up, touched her cheek, and whispered,

“You were adorable. Like a baby bird.”

She had curled up in his arms all night and never let go.

Her breathing was so soft that he kept checking if she was okay, placing his fingers near her nose just to be sure.

He felt a little frustrated that she had only slept, but at the same time, he was glad. It meant she felt safe with him.

Even though nothing had happened between them, it gave him a strange sense of certainty. A kind of intimacy had clearly grown between them.

“I’ll wait until you’re ready. But…”

He leaned in and kissed her gently.

“Don’t push me away when I hold your hand or kiss you.”

“Alright.”

“But don’t leave me starving either. Men don’t have that much patience, you know.”

Lea’s heart pounded wildly. She had never heard words like that before, not even from Allen.

So, this is what a man says when he truly desires a woman.

Allen had often told her she was beautiful or lovely, but their kisses were always chaste.

He never took things further, and she had once believed he was waiting until marriage.

She had even been touched, thinking he was the only man who hadn’t tried to take advantage of her.

All the while, he had been with Sara behind her back.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’ll try.”

I guess love takes effort too.

That was all she could say for now.

She wished she could shake off the fear and the scars Allen had left behind.

She wanted to love Terran without hesitation, without fear.

But that was easier said than done.

Terran felt a wave of desire crash over him as he looked at her hesitating like a shy girl.

He knew that only once the excitement faded would she truly be safe around him.

This is my punishment.

He saw it as paying for all the times he had ignored Grace in the past.

Back then, he didn’t understand her worth.

Even now, it surprised him. She was a woman he hadn’t known for long, yet she made him nervous and excited.

Like a brooch he had worn every day without thinking, only now realizing its value and feeling attached to it.

To Terran, Grace was someone he could see but still longed to look at.

Like a thirst that wouldn’t go away.

“The next time you come to my bedroom, I hope it won’t be like last night…”

Lea quickly reached out and placed a finger on his lips.

“I know. I’ll try to keep only you in my heart, Terran.”

She meant it.

She knew how anxious he was to be sure of her feelings.

She had once felt that same way with Allen.

Now that she understood it, she had no intention of pulling away again.

“We’re engaged. So don’t worry, alright?”

Terran flinched a little, as if her words hit right where it hurt.

It felt like she had seen through his fear of not being enough for her.

“I should go back to my room now.”

Lea kissed the back of his hand, then stepped away from the bed.

I knew it. Gypsies bring bad luck. Ugh. This is so unpleasant.

Nancy turned and walked away without a second glance.

Allen read through the letter from Lubeck with a wide smile. It was an even bigger reward than he had hoped for.

The woman behind the famous lace turned out to be a gypsy. And even more shocking, she was the granddaughter of that wretched old man. He never would have imagined it.

This is rock bottom. A filthy, vulgar gypsy tricking nobles with lace?

There was no need to buy her off. Now he had enough to destroy the Lubeck general store entirely.

And it was also the perfect chance to bring down Terran’s reputation.

A mentally slow gypsy girl, too. What a joke.

If lace made by Rapa’s granddaughter was being sold as luxury, it was no different from smuggled goods. There was nothing elegant about it.

Once the noblewomen found out the truth, they would be disgusted.

Even the Empress of Lubeck bought that lace, didn’t she?

They had all been fooled by Terran. Allen would bring it crashing down with a single blow.

Once the article appeared in the newspaper in a few days, everyone would be shocked.

They sold it through mail order too. If people start demanding refunds, the general store won’t survive.

Still, he had to admit that whoever came up with the idea of mail order was clever.

The newspaper ads were smart. Even if people were hesitant at first, once they saw the product and liked it, they would realize how easy it was to shop that way.

And even those living in remote areas could buy trendy items from the capital. That kind of convenience made people willing to spend.

First, I’ll destroy Hamilton General Store. Then I’ll take it over myself.

He would change the name and run a proper mail-order business.

Then, for a moment, Allen thought of Grace. The lace business made him wonder if it had been her idea after all.

She looked like an airhead, but maybe she had more brains than I thought.

It was something Lea might have done if she had been alive. She had inherited her father’s sharp instincts.

Lea had grown up around business and had a remarkable eye for quality. That kind of skill was not something anyone could just learn. You had to live it.

But Lea is dead.

Allen shook off the thought, almost annoyed with himself for remembering her.

A beautiful noblewoman like Grace is more fitting for me anyway.

He had to take Grace from that arrogant Terran Courtois and make her his own.

Just imagining his revenge against Terran sent a thrill through his whole body. A slow, cold satisfaction spread across Allen’s face.

You cunning duke. Just wait. I’ll crush you piece by piece. There’s no need to rush. The one who endures to the end is the one who wins.

Allen called for his secretary at once.

It was time to begin his game of destroying Hamilton General Store.

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