My Bratty Wife
Chapter 80 - Eighty

Chapter 80: Chapter Eighty

As Suzy ascended the grand staircase, her mind raced with a million thoughts. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Reaching her room, she was greeted by a pleasant surprise. The room was larger than she remembered, with a comfortable-looking bed and a sitting area by the window. Doris had already unpacked her belongings and hung her dresses in the wardrobe.

"Countess Helene has upgraded your room, Milady," Doris explained, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

Suzy nodded, a sense of unease creeping into her heart. Why the sudden generosity? What was Countess Helene up to?

Doris continued. "The Duke will be spending the night here as well," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Suzy’s heart skipped a beat. Sharing a room with Ryan? Again? After everything that had happened? It was too much to comprehend.

"I’ll leave you to freshen up, Milady," Doris said, her voice soft. "If you need anything, just call."

Suzy nodded, her gaze fixed on the imposing four-poster bed. The thought of sharing that space with Ryan was both terrifying and strangely exciting.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Count Edmund was persuading Ryan to spend the night. "It’s not safe to travel at night, my son," he said, his voice filled with concern. "You can leave in the morning."

Ryan hesitated, his mind a battleground of conflicting emotions. He wanted to be with Suzy, to spend more time with her, to understand the complex woman she was becoming. But he also knew that spending the night under the same roof could lead to complications.

"Very well, Count Edmund," he finally said, his voice resigned. "I’ll stay."

As the servant led him to the room next to Suzy’s, his mind raced.

***************

In Countess Helene’s grand chambers, a simmering tension hung heavy in the air. Senna, her young and ambitious niece, was fuming.

"Why did you give my room to Cassandra, that nobody?" she demanded, her voice laced with venom. "She’s not even a member of this family!"

Countess Helene, unfazed by her niece’s outburst, simply replied, "Calm down, Senna. It’s just for tonight. The Duke will be spending the night here, and it’s only proper that the Duchess has a more decent room."

Senna’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? The Duke?" she exclaimed. "Here? In this house?"

Countess Helene nodded, a smug smile playing on her lips. "It seems there’s been a change of plans," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

The news of Suzy sharing a room with the Duke was like a dagger to her heart.

"Aunt, how could you?" Senna exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief. "You know how I feel about the Duke."

Countess Helene, unfazed by her niece’s outburst, sipped her tea with an air of nonchalance. "My dear, the Duke is spending the night here. It’s only logical that he shares a room with his wife."

Senna scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "And what about me? Where am I supposed to sleep?"

A sly smile crept across Countess Helene’s lips. "Don’t worry, my dear. I’ve arranged for you to sleep in a room next to Cassandra."

Senna’s jaw dropped in disbelief. "What?" she sputtered, her voice rising in pitch. "You can’t be serious!"

Countess Helene raised an eyebrow. "Oh, but I am, dear. It’s the perfect arrangement. You can keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn’t try anything funny."

Senna’s anger flared. "I’m not her babysitter!" she exclaimed, her voice rising to a shout.

Countess Helene raised an eyebrow. "Senna, be reasonable. He is the Duke of Carleton. We cannot afford to offend him."

Senna’s anger flared. "But she’s just a cast away thing!" she protested. "How dare she share a room with the Duke? I’m supposed to be the one in that room with if not for you aunt telling me the Grand Duke is an old man."

Countess Helene ignored her niece’s outburst. "Language, Senna," she reprimanded, her voice sharp. "Remember who you are and who you aspire to be."

Senna bit her lip, her anger simmering. She knew her mother was right. She had to play the part of the perfect lady, the one who always got what she wanted. But the thought of Suzy sharing a room with the Duke filled her with a sense of injustice.

She had always been the one to get the best of everything, the center of attention. The idea of another woman, a nobody no less, taking her place was unbearable. A plan began to form in her mind, a plan that would ensure that Suzy’s stay at the manor would be anything but pleasant.

She turned away from her aunt, her mind racing. She would not give up without a fight. The Duke was supposed to be hers, and she would do whatever it took to win him over.

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As Suzy prepared for bed, her mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming night. Sharing a room with Ryan was a daunting prospect, but the alternative – spending the night alone in this dreadful place – was even more terrifying.

Doris helped her into her nightgown. "Who is Senna?" Suzy asked Doris, her voice barely a whisper.

Doris, sensing her unease, paused in her task. "Senna is Countess Helene’s niece," she replied, her voice filled with a mixture of pity and contempt. "She’s the same age as Lady Cassandra and has always seen her as a rival."

Suzy raised an eyebrow. "A rival?" she echoed, surprised.

"Yes," Doris continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Senna has always been spoiled and entitled. She sees everyone else as beneath her, and Lady Cassandra was her favorite target. She would bully her, spread rumors, and even try to harm her."

Suzy felt a surge of anger. How could anyone be so cruel to their family? She had always known that Lady Cassandra had a troubled past, but she had never imagined the extent of her suffering.

"She occasionally visited the manor and when she does, she makes Lady Cassandra’s life a living hell. She’s a liar, a manipulator, and a wicked soul," Doris added, her voice filled with disgust. "She was supposed to marry the Duke, but something happened, and Lady Cassandra, that’s you now, ended up in this position."

Suzy felt a surge of anger. How could anyone be so cruel? "That’s terrible," she said, her voice filled with sympathy.

Doris nodded. "I know," she replied, her voice filled with sadness. "Lady Cassandra was a kind and gentle soul. She never deserved to be treated that way."

Just as Suzy was about to respond, there was a knock on the door. Ryan, his face flushed and his hair slightly disheveled, stepped into the room.

"I apologize for barging in," he said, his voice filled with regret. "I didn’t mean to interrupt."

Doris curtsied and quickly exited the room, leaving the two of them alone.

Suzy turned to face Ryan, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t ready for this, not yet. She wanted time to process everything.

But Ryan seemed oblivious to her discomfort. He moved away from the door, his gaze fixed on her. "You look tired," he said, his voice soft. "I think you should get some rest."

His gaze fell on Suzy’s nightgown. It was a simple garment, devoid of the lace and frills that usually adorned her sleepwear. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. It was different from the usually revealing garments she preferred. This one was modest, covering most of her skin.

"Why the change of attire?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Suzy looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?" she replied, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Ryan shrugged, his expression innocent. "You usually wear something a bit... more revealing," he said, his voice trailing off.

She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I decided to cover up, that’s all."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?" he pressed, his curiosity piqued.

Suzy rolled her eyes. "Because I felt like it," she snapped. "Is there a problem with that?"

She looked up at him, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. "What exactly do you want?" she asked, her voice sharp. "You’re the one who told me to stop wearing those."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "And now you’re complaining because I’m noticing the change?" he retorted, a playful smirk gracing his lips.

Suzy felt a surge of anger. "Do you want me to stop wearing them or not? Make up your mind!" she exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. "And stop being so indecisive. It’s exhausting."

Ryan leaned forward, his eyes glinting with amusement. "So, I should take it that you’re finally listening to your husband’s advice?"

Suzy rolled her eyes. "Don’t flatter yourself," she retorted. "I’m simply trying to be practical."

Ryan chuckled, his laughter echoing through the room. "Practical, huh? Or is there something else?"

Suzy glared at him, her patience wearing thin. "For goodness sake, Ryan, can you just stop? I’m tired."

She groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "I’m going to bed," she declared, turning away from him. "And I suggest you do the same."

With that, she climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. She could feel Ryan’s amused gaze on her, but she refused to let it bother her. She was tired, and she just wanted to sleep.

As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration. Their interactions were always like this, a constant battle of wits and wills. She often wondered if their relationship was doomed from the start.