The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 35: Elaine’s Consent

Chapter 35: Elaine’s Consent

Back in the Albrecht family mansion, Madeline sat on the bed after Cassian had brought her safely into their room. Presently, Orson has placed Roland’s house under serious surveillance, and no one is permitted in or out of it until the investigations are over. Roland’s mysterious death had come as a shock to everyone, and Cassian didn’t dare tell Madeline about the bodies in the room.

Whoever did it was technically a professional killer.

"I don’t think Auriela is capable of killing her husband." Madeline’s hushed voice finally broke the silence in the room, turning her head to look at Cassian who was seated on the dressing table, equally lost in thoughts as he unbuttoned the two top buttons on his shirt.

His Amber-brown eyes shifted to the woman who had recovered from her earlier shock. "Why would you say that?"

"Because she loves her husband." Madeline responded with all honesty. "I am not trying to save her if that is what you’re thinking. After what she has done to me, saving her is the last thing I want, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t speak what I know. Auriela is more than ready to hurt me, but not her husband."

Rising to her feet, Madeline’s face turned cryptic as she walked up to where Cassian sat. "If you noticed, Auriela also had minor injuries, and I could tell from the bloodstains on her dress. How she got them, I can’t really say, but you can tell she was only acting out of defense. She blames me for killing her husband and I think she has a reason for blaming me, so I was thinking, what if...ah! Cassian!"

To Madeline’s astonishment, Cassian had unceremoniously grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his lap, forcing her to sit on them. Her hands instinctively linked around his neck to steady herself since he had pulled her down without warning. She looked into his eyes, half-shocked and surprised by what he just did.

"You.."

"Shhhh, don’t stress." He said coolly. He understood this new wife of his would try to get involved in the murder case, but with her health condition, he plans on keeping her away from them. By that, it also includes keeping her away from anything concerning ghosts.

Madeline couldn’t hide her bashfulness after staring straight into his Amber-brown eyes. The tiny black mole beneath his eyelid only added to his alluring charms, and Madeline couldn’t help but think that he was trying to seduce and distract her from their conversation.

With his other hand trapping her tapered waist and keeping her sitting on his lap, he shoved his free hand into his pocket, bringing out three packs of tablets and showing it to the diffident Madeline.

"These are yours, aren’t they?" He asked, gently waving the pack in front of her eyes. Madeline’s dark orbs expanded in surprise as she stared at the packs of tablets in his grasp.

"My medications?"

He nodded. "I got them when I went up the stairs at your uncle’s place. I was able to guess your room due to how isolated it was. I must say it felt like a prison cell."

She unlinked her hands from his neck and took hold of the medications in his grasp, still surprised that he found her medication. These medications had helped her greatly when it came to controlling her disorder since she was a child. One of the neighboring doctors living in the upper west quarters had prescribed it for her when she sneaked out as a child.

She’s been using it ever since.

The terrible incident that occurred in her uncle’s house today had affected her mentally. She even forgot about her medications, but he remembered?

"I don’t need you to think too much about what happened. Focus on your health and leave the rest to me. Do you remember the appropriate time in taking your medication, or should I call a doctor?"

Madeline shook her head, finally smiling once again. "I remember them, I always remember them."

"Good girl."

"Thank you." Madeline couldn’t think of any other words to express her gratitude to him. "I don’t know how I can ever repay you for your kindness. No one has ever been this kind to me after the loss of my parents, and I have nothing to give you that’ll express my appreciation."

"There’s no rush." Cassian leaned back on his chair. "If you wish to repay me, then you can do that in the future. Waiting is not a problem, as long as I get to enjoy it." His eyes glinted with an unreadable mischief that threw Madeline off guard.

Is he flirting with her??

"You don’t have to think too much about me when I’m in front of you." His words made her blink questionably. "Let’s rephrase that then, you don’t need to daydream about someone who’s leg you’re currently sitting on."

"You think too highly of yourself, Lord Cassian."

"Maddie."

"It was a harmless mistake." She looked away with a revealing smile, and he realized in no time that she did it on purpose. Isn’t she just full of surprises?

"Cas, we need to..." Elaine’s scolding words instantly drifted off when she walked into the room and found Cassian and his wife in an intimate position. The sight had left her speechless and she immediately turned around.

Madeline’s eyes widened like a saucer after seeing Elaine turning around to avoid looking at them. Out of impulse, Madeline tried to get off Cassian’s legs, but the young lad’s hold around her small waist tightened, giving her no chance to stand up.

Madeline looked at him with a half-glare, but he returned her glares with a seductive stare that made her heart skitter in a good way. Is he really not going to stop despite seeing his mother around?

When he refused to let her stand up despite her struggle, Madeline tried to bite him, and he instantly let go at her unexpected attack.

Madeline used the opportunity to escape from his clutches, and Elaine quickly cleared her throat. She had to get used to knocking since her son no longer stays in his room alone now. Even so, she should have still knocked.

"Mother." Cassian walked up to where his mother stood, and the crooked smile on his lips vanished when he met his mother’s glare.

Must she always frighten him with such looks? No matter how brave he tried to be, his mother always knew how to bring him to her knees with such devilish stares.

"What have I done this time?" He asked.

Elaine looked away from him. She had come here to question Cassian about his marriage. Since Orson never knew about his relationship, Elaine couldn’t help but doubt the genuity in their marriage, but after walking in on them, what she saw had cleared her doubt to some extent.

Instead, she turned to look at Madeline who was also half-frightened by her presence. Madeline couldn’t deny that her fierceness was admirable, but it also ignited a sense of fear when one looked at her. She didn’t blame Cassian for being afraid of his mother now.

"I heard about what happened to your uncle." To Cassian and Madeline’s surprise, Elaine spoke softly to her.

"I’m sorry for your loss." Elaine sympathized with her. "My son might be a loose cannon most of the time, but I am happy to see he treats you well in your moment of grief."

Despite being uncomfortable with Madeline’s presence, it touched Madeline’s heart that she considered coming to see and console her.

"Thank you." Madeline bowed her head respectfully to show her appreciation. "The thing is I lost my parents at a very young age, but it felt like I lost the will to be loved. You have been kind to me even after getting married to your son without the appropriate consent from families. You are like a mother-figure to me, and I would really appreciate it if you could grant me the honor of calling you mother."

Elaine said nothing to her words for a few seconds. She looked at Madeline who still kept her head bowed. She was aware of the fact Madeline had gone to her uncle’s place to stand up for her husband, and that action was commendable.

"You two still owe me for getting married without coming to see me first. You’ll have to repay me for not being at your wedding by making a proper wedding this time around."

Madeline and Cassian’s eyes widened in surprise at her request. "I think everyone deserves the right to choose who they wish to spend the rest of their lives with. You two have to get married properly, and only then will I forgive you both."

"That mean you accept Madeline as my wife?" Cassian asked, unable to hide his surprise and his mother nodded.

"Yes, I’ve always known you had eyes for good things."

Madeline’s face beamed at Elaine’s words. "Does that also mean I get to call you mother?"

"Yes." Elaine returned her smile, and Cassian was tempted to kiss his beautiful mother on the cheeks.

"I keep telling people I have the best mother in the world, you are one in a million mother." He blew her a kiss, but that didn’t save him from getting his ears pulled by his mother.

"Ow ow!! Mother!" He winced. Madeline covered her mouth with her palm to avoid laughing out loud.

"Don’t think you can flirt your way out of this one young man. You’re still in trouble with me." His mother strictly warned.

"Understandable, but don’t embarrass me in front of my wife. What will she think of me?"

Elaine finally let go of his ears when he pretended to be in pain. "Inna and I are stepping out for something real quick. Since no one was able to attend your wedding, your father decided to hold a small celebration to avoid the people talking. I need to get Inna a dress. Would you like to come along and get a dress for yourself?" Elaine directed the question at Madeline who shook her head in return.

"No mother, I am fine."

Elaine acknowledged her words with a smile before turning around and taking her leave.

Cassian and Madeline exchanged silent glances before high-fiving once more.