Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 45
Lea inspected the Hamilton general store, now managed by one of Grandpa Rapa’s brothers. Thankfully, the man knew how to run a business. The store was doing well without any losses.
” Chainer’s lace products are flying off the shelves. Even though they’re expensive, we’re still getting steady pre-orders.”
“And you’re keeping tabs on the other branches too, right?”
“Of course.”
“A new product line will be launched soon. Print a flyer and have it inserted into the daily newspaper. Make sure the delivery boys are paid well for it too.”
“Understood, miss.”
After leaving the shop, Lea headed to a boutique she used to frequent. She didn’t have a dress appropriate for the evening and needed something decent to wear.
This boutique was where every Hamilton woman had her dresses made. A wave of nostalgia washed over her—brief, but vivid.
“The boutique is closed?”
“Seems they’re no longer in business.”
There was a sign indicating the store had been put up for sale.
Lea ended up buying off-the-rack dresses for herself and Pauline. They weren’t as elegant as custom pieces, but they would do for the evening.
She had no choice. If she was going to attend the dinner party Allen had invited her to, she at least had to look the part.
“Miss, I don’t have a good feeling about that man.”
Pauline was disgusted by how Allen had openly flirted with Grace, even with his mistress right beside him. There was something greedy and possessive in his gaze.
“He’s not just shady. He’s a bastard.”
“And you’re still going? If the Duke finds out, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“He runs the largest company in Galdensia. We might find useful information.”
After a quick round of preparations, the two women headed down to the hotel lobby.
Allen had offered to send a carriage, but Lea declined.
“No way I’m riding in that man’s carriage.”
She hadn’t wanted to go at first, but something told her there might be more to gain from it. And above all, she wanted to see for herself.
“The three devils. I want to look them in the eye. And I won’t forget their faces until I destroy every last one of them.”
Eventually, their carriage arrived at Allen’s grand estate.
This used to be her family home. She and her father had lived here. Now, it belonged to someone else.
Her chest tightened, and she had to stop walking several times just to breathe. She fought back tears. Pauline couldn’t see her fall apart now.
“Lady Vizak, I’m so glad you came.”
Allen greeted them, dressed neatly in formal evening wear.
Meanwhile, Terran was determined to leave for Galdensia the moment his fever dropped. But reality kept him trapped inside his room.
James and Luke had become guards, blocking any attempt he made to leave.
“Your Grace, instead of heading there yourself, let me present you with a full report of her situation.”
Luke handed him a set of papers.
He already knew that Grace and Pauline were staying at a hotel in Brasel.
She was doing what he expected visiting the shops and inspecting the general store.
But the problem was what came after.
“She accepted an invitation to dinner at Allen McDowell’s house?”
“Yes.”
Terran felt a chill run through him.
“At the party, she might meet another man…”
Chenera’s words rang in his ears.
“Luke, bring Chenera here.”
“What? Yes, right away.”
Even after Luke left, Terran stared at the paper like it would reveal more than just words.
What confused him most was that Grace had actually agreed to attend Allen’s dinner. Surely, she knew what kind of man he was. Surely, she understood his intentions.
He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. But one thing was clear, he felt terrible.
Chenera soon arrived, holding Luke’s hand with a bright smile.
Luke, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled.
“Chenera, why do you think Grace went to another man’s house?”
“Why? I don’t really know.”
She tilted her head and pouted.
“But you acted like you knew everything before.”
“That was just something that popped into my head.”
Terran sighed. What was he expecting? Chenera was a child.
He had been so frustrated, he had tried to get advice from a little girl. That was his mistake.
Even Luke looked at him like he had lost his mind.
“Alright, go.”
“Yes, sir!”
Chenera skipped toward the door, then suddenly stopped and turned around again.
“What now?”
Terran resolved not to believe a word Chenera said from now on. Earlier, he had lost control of his emotions, which led to that one mistake.
Chenera wore a serious expression and glared directly at Terran.
“Big sister really really hates that man.”
As much as he hated to admit it, those words were a small relief.
“But that man is really handsome. And he wants big sister. He wants to marry her.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
The frustration boiled over because he already knew it all too well. The only reason Allen McDowell had invited Grace was for that very purpose.
On top of that, Allen’s arrogance had reached dangerous levels. He believed he could take anything he wanted.
“Big sister wants to shoot that man so, what I mean is, Grace is in danger.”
Chenera’s words made Terran’s entire body go cold.
He had wanted to dismiss her as just being dramatic, but the truth was that Grace did have a gun.
He knew perfectly well she had stolen it from his desk. Still, he pretended not to notice. He figured it would not hurt for her to carry it for self-defense.
Dangerous?
That word echoed again and again in Terran’s mind until he began to imagine the worst-case scenario.
Did that bastard try to touch Grace, and she pulled the gun on him?
It sounded like a prophecy of tragedy. A struggle, a shot, and someone getting hurt or even killed.
Terran shot to his feet, his face pale. His patience had worn thin under the weight of anxiety and fear. But Luke blocked his way firmly.
“Your Grace, it is too soon for you to move.”
“Move aside before I kill you.”
He grabbed Luke by the collar and threw him aside with force. Chenera ran up in tears and began pounding her fists against Terran.
“Why did you hurt my big brother? You are a bad man.”
Terran ran a hand through his hair roughly and left the bedroom.
Chenera’s crying was loud enough to make his ears ring. He could not take it. He was already on the verge of panic over Grace, and now Chenera’s words had pushed him close to a breakdown.
“I am sorry, Your Grace.”
Luke quickly followed and apologized.
Terran is not thinking clearly. It might be safer if I go with him to bring back Lady Grace.
“I am going to Galdensia. Get everything ready.”
“Understood.”
“Luke. Before that, stop by the Metropolitan Police.”
“The police?”
“Tell the commissioner exactly what I say.”
“I am listening, sir.”
But Chenera’s wailing inside the bedroom was so loud that Terran could not even speak clearly.
He regretted losing his temper in front of her.
“Never mind. Calm her down first. Hug her or kiss her if you have to. Just make her stop crying.”
Luke ran into the bedroom. Soon, the sound of him soothing Chenera like a child drifted out through the door.
About five minutes passed before the house was finally quiet. But by then, Terran’s coughing had worsened, and his fever was rising again.
I have to find Grace.
As soon as he tried to take a step, the room spun and the floor seemed to tilt. With a loud thud, Terran collapsed in the hallway and lost consciousness.
“Grace…”
She was the only person on his mind as darkness took over.
Lea felt sick to her stomach looking at the three men in front of her.
There was Commissioner Tuazo, who had caused a scene at the wedding with gunfire. Then the freighter captain, who tried to blame her father for the poppy flowers hidden in the cargo. And finally, Allen McDowell, the man at the center of everything.
She felt like vomiting but forced a polite smile instead.
“Richard Hamilton. To think a traitor like that is still alive. His Majesty has been far too generous.”
Tuazo spoke while chewing on his meat. Lea had to resist the urge to set fire to his twisted mustache.
“His Majesty always had a soft spot for Richard Hamilton. Even if he is a traitor, it was difficult for him to order an execution.”
“Still, I am surprised that the person who bought Hamilton’s General Store is such a delicate young lady.”
Tuazo looked at Grace with a sly smile.
“I am not weak.”
“Pardon? Oh, I must have been rude. My apologies, haha.”
Lea listened carefully to the conversation between the three men. She focused on where they were planning to invest and how they expected to earn profits. They didn’t go into much detail, but one thing was obvious. They were chasing quick and risky wealth through ambitious investments.
They spoke of major ventures, like importing textiles at low cost from the Eastern Continent to build factories, or investing in railroad construction in countries behind in industrial development.
“Since you seem to have a strong interest in business, Lady Grace, why don’t we meet more often and share information?”
Allen McDowell offered the suggestion smoothly.
“I just plan to make and sell small things like Chainer lace. I am not brave enough to run big businesses like men do.”
“That is true. Business requires boldness and quick insight into the political and economic climate, which can be difficult for women.”
Tuazo spoke with an irritating smirk.
You boys really have no idea how easily money turns on you.
At that moment, Allen’s younger sister Rivette rushed into the banquet hall. She had hurried over the moment she heard a merchant selling Chainer lace had arrived.
“Miss Vizak, I have a favor to ask. I am going to attend the Crown Prince’s selection banquet soon, and I would love to have a dress made from Chainer lace. Would you accept my request?”
Lea looked at Rivette, someone she knew very well. Rivette was as shallow as her brother. Back when Lea had been seeing Allen, Rivette often visited just to borrow money. And now she wanted to become the Crown Princess?
“I don’t care how much it costs. I’m willing to pay anything.”
Rivette pleaded with Grace, her voice full of desperation. It made sense. Becoming the Crown Princess would completely change her life.
Rivette was beautiful. No one could deny that. But she didn’t seem fit for the role of a Crown Princess.
“It would be an honor. For someone who may soon become the Crown Princess of Galdensia to request a dress from our shop. I gladly accept.”
Lea had a strange feeling. Rivette’s life seemed to be heading toward a dramatic turning point.
Support Revenge Comes with Interest
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
