The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 144: Stuck In A Loop

Chapter 144: Stuck In A Loop

Back in the Duke’s mansion, Juliana was preparing herself to attend a Matinee as her servants crucially helped her get dressed for the event. Rising to her feet the minute they were done, Juliana looked at herself in the tall standing glass mirror to make sure she looked perfect, not willing to take the risk of even letting a single strand of her hair be out of place.

Satisfied with her appearance, she dismissed the servants with a flick of her wrist, and they bowed their heads politely before exiting her room. On their way, they met Abbot standing at the entrance and quickly bowed in greeting, which he ignored as he walked past them and stepped into his Mother’s room.

"Abbot dear, how do I look?" His mother asked as she admired herself in the mirror. "I’m attending Mr Hoogrey’s Matinee event, and I want to give my best look once I step in, since I will soon be known as the mother of a Duke." She smiled at her son through the mirror, but his expression remained indifferent as he folded his arms.

"Mother, you and I are pretty much aware of how father feels regarding the rest of us." Stated Abbot, "the reason he’s not letting go off his title just yet has something to do with you, Mother, I mean, what you had to do in order to make yourself the wife of a Duke. Sigh... you really played dirty, mother." Abbot smirked as he watched the color on his mother’s face drain gradually at his subtle statement.

Not willing to expose herself since she couldn’t fully comprehend Abbot’s words, she laughed it off as if she heard him utter a joke, but her son clearly wasn’t smiling, and that made her laughter seize as she soon realized that he wasn’t making any effort to crack a joke.

"What are you saying, Abbot?" She turned to look at him, realizing he was being serious, "how am I responsible for your father not letting go of his title? You know I’ve done what I could to help you and make sure you keep a good name in front of your father. You cannot blame me for this, you’re uttering nonsense."

"Father still has his belief on Cassian whether we choose to see it or not." Abbot made it clear to his mother. "Cassian has proven to be a tough competitor for me, he’s not someone who would back down without putting up a fight and father sees it." He hissed out his annoyance, trying to keep himself collected. "He still left the mansion and has gone against father multiple times, but he still has more of father’s attention than me."

Abbot could no longer hold on to his patience as time was starting to run out for him, and it was about time he took serious actions before he ended up in the mud, cause if Cassian takes that title before him, he’ll be stranded for good.

Looking at his mother who still thinks he was speaking in full absurdity, he said. "Mother, all I’m asking is your support to get rid of him so no one stands in my way of becoming the Duke. Let’s get rid of him forever, and make sure he takes the empty spot beside Jeremy’s grave. I know you want this as much as I do."

"Get rid of him??" Juliana’s eyes widened for a split-second, trying to process what her son just uttered before shaking her head in disagreement, already shocked he even brought such an idea before her. "That is murderer, Abbot, do you hear yourself speak?"

"Does that imply you are not in one with my request?" His aura had darkened visibly at his mother’s hesitation, and Juliana frantically looked elsewhere, turning her back against her son.

"Come up with another solution and I’ll be more than willing to offer my support, but I shall not stain my hands because of this, I can’t help you if you choose to do it this way."

"Why won’t you help me? I mean, If you can kill someone to get to where you are, then why can’t you help me do the same? I’m your son after all." Abbot didn’t hesitate to reveal one of his mother’s deepest secrets to her, and Juliana’s face instantly turned ghostly pale as she spun around to meet her son’s darkened gaze, a slow cynical smile painting his lips at his mother’s awestruck reaction.

How did he know??

"You hid the secret well, Mother." He arched a brow at her, "but unfortunately, I’m more than aware of the skeletons hanging in your cupboard. I’m not dumb, you see I dig deep as I suspected your marriage with my father, and I don’t blame you either, you were fighting for your rights, and all I need you to do is help me fight for mine."

Moving closer, he placed both his arms on his mother’s stiff shoulders, wanting to help her relax, but his venomous eyes remained fixed on her as he patted her shoulders, urging her to calm, and his mother finally let out a force breathing as she met his stare.

"How did...how did you?..." Juliana could barely complete the question. The first thing that came to mind was denying her son’s accusation, but shockingly he seems to have figured out everything concerning her past before she married the Duke.

She made sure everyone of the evidence was erased regarding what she had done that night, so how did her son...how did he get to find out about her darkest secret??

"Your heart is racing, mother, it won’t look good if you show up at Mr Hoogrey’s Matinee looking like a ghost, you’ll scare them off instead of impressing them, tone it up." He advised in a calm voice before resting his chin on her shoulder, smiling innocently, an expression that was a complete contrast to that of his mother.

"When you return from the event, we can commence planning, okay? Say hello to Mr Hoogrey for me." Was his last words before he moved back and stepped out of his mother’s room.

Juliana continued to stare at her reflection, and it took her a minute before she realized that her own son had indirectly threatened her.