The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 267: Justice Within Reach

Chapter 267: Justice Within Reach

The smile on Inna’s lips automatically vanished at the sight of an injured Abbot who had been brought before them. A look of mortification displayed on their faces, and Madeline hardly knew when she got off the bed till her legs subconsciously teetered, but Inna stayed by her side as she supported Madeline, helping her regain her unbalanced stability.

The sight of Abbot sent cold shivers down her spine, his once dignified and handsome features had transformed into a portrait of sheer horror. A gaunt, pallid complexion clung desperately to his grotty frame, emphasizing the agony etched upon his face. Deep set hollowed eyes stared back at her, haunted by the weight of unspeakable sin, and it took a lot of effort not to look away.

His once immaculate hair now resembled a wild disheveled mess, matted and greasy. The injuries inflicted upon him during his capture were evident - the bruises on his face, a chaotic mosaic of violence and retribution.

But what horrified Madeline the most was the darkness that emanated from his very being. It felt tangible, a palpable force that seeped into the room, chilling her to the core. The weight of his crimes hung heavy within his presence, a tangible manifestation of the horrors he had inflicted upon her husband, and countless others.

As the gravity of the scene hung heavily in the air, Madeline locked eyes with Abbot, her grief transforming into an unwavering resolve. She hated him so much that she felt not a single pity for the condition he was presently in, in all her life, Madeline didn’t think it was possible to hate someone to this extent, but that wasn’t the case at the moment. What stupefied her was how he was found alive.

"Should I call this good timing?" Osvaldo glanced at Abbot who remained on all fours on the ground in front of them.

The serious expression on Osvaldo’s face switched into one of pure relief when he met the gaze of Madeline. His demeanor softened as he flashed a warm smile at the mortified Madeline who was now awake.

"It’s good to see you on your feet again, please receive my hearty congratulations." Osvaldo bowed his head at Madeline as the news of her pregnancy had reached his ears.

"You Monster! Why aren’t you dead?!" Inna, who was fumed with rage by Abbot’s living presence, fisted her palms at her side, but Madeline had stopped her from going anywhere near Abbot who was smirking maniacally at their unending rage.

"Let me handle this." Implored Madeline as she still held Inna back. Looking into the eyes of Madeline whilst questioning why she shouldn’t deal with the monster in front of her, Inna was forced to give in when the pleading eyes that stared into hers had hit the right button.

Returning her gaze to Osvaldo, she asked firmly. "Where did you find him?"

"At the end of the shore." Answered Abbot, "he was still unconscious when I found him there, so I had him tied up for about two week till you regained consciousness."

"Two.... weeks?!!!" Madeline’s pupils dilated, was she out for two whole weeks? No wonder the doctor asked her to be crucial about her health. If anything had happened to her baby, she wouldn’t have been able to forgive herself for it.

"Only him?" She inquired softly, and Osvaldo sadly nodded his head, to her dismay. Not willing to shed a single tear in front of Abbot, she approached him and landed two hot slaps to the side of his cheeks. She had assumed two slaps would be enough for her to get rid of the anger and grief inside of her, but she just kept slapping till her palm sign gave his cheek a red sign.

"Where is my husband??!" Grabbing Abbot’s collar in her grip, she looked him dead in the eye. "Where’s my husband? And how are you alive?? You were the vessel so how on Earth are you still alive???"

"Your husband is dead." Abbot dropped with the same cruel smile playing on his lips, and it was Inna’s turn to land him another round of slaps. "If my brother is dead then I see no reason why you have to live!"

"I have nothing to lose. Don’t you get it??" Abbot simply answered like a crazed being, "my goal was to get rid of Cassian, which I successfully did, and I have no regrets. He claims to know everything, he had the spotlight even as a child whereas me, I performed my duties dutifully, I wanted nothing more than to have the same spotlight he always had, but what happened? I was heartlessly ignored, shoved into this darkness and the only way I could get it to the top was by making a deal with a vampire ghost! It promised me everything, in return for Cassian’s body, but then Uncle William’s had to carve that protective symbol behind his back!"

Abbot confessed in a fit of rage, "I was so close, but everyone kept getting in my way! Especially you!" He locked gaze with Madeline, "you stepped into his life and ruined everything for me!! It wanted you dead, and maybe things would have been better if I killed you myself! Like that wasn’t enough I learnt the truth that Richard was never my real Father. So you see, I have absolutely nothing to lose, I got what I wanted, so you’re free to get rid of me. You bitch--"

"Language."

"Ahh!!!!" Abbot’s agonized scream resounded in the room when Osvaldo twisted his arms behind his back. "Don’t make me get my brother here, except you have the intention of cutting off your tongue with your own two hands. He’ll make you do it in the easiest painful ways."

"What happened to Cassian?" Madeline questioned anyways, and Abbot was threatened to answer.

"The Ekiminus was quite obsessed with using Cas as his vessel, so we switched, and that’s when the light..... Cassian already gave himself to the Ekiminus at that time, it was impossible to stop it."

"I’ve never had the desire to kill someone before, but you...." Madeline couldn’t explain why she hadn’t grabbed a knife and stabbed Abbot to death, but she knew that justice was now within reach. She was fueled by her anguish and the desire to put an end to the nightmares that had plagued her ever since her husband’s life had been so brutally stolen.

"Osvaldo, I need to return to Carmarthen quickly." Uttered Madeline, "Cas’s name still needs to be cleared, and everyone, including Juliana need to realize who the real monster was amongst all of us. Keep him alive and he’ll be legally punished for his crimes. We have some deep cleanings to do."

"Nothing to worry about, I’ll make sure to break his legs so he won’t escape." Osvaldo assured Madeline before forcing the Abbot to his feet and dragging him out.

Left alone, Madeline sat back on the bed, and not even Inna’s consolation was enough to stop her from weeping.