Chapter 204
Eliza shot upright, fury blazing in her eyes. She was about to leap off the carriage and confront her oh–so–beloved father
face to face
But before she could move. Mary extended an arm to block her.
“You don’t need to go. Mary said firmly, giving her a calm yet pointed look. “Stay here. Watch over your mother. Leave this
With that, Mary stepped down from the carriage.
Hearing the commotion, Gabriel and his two sons turned their heads. They clearly expected Eliza. What they got instead….
Mary didn’t speak right away. Her eyes swept first over Benedict, then landed squarely on Matthew.
“So. Anthony didn’t come, she remarked coolly. “Not surprising. That body of his can’t handle a horse”
Matthew bristled “Whether Anthony comes or not has nothing to do with you. Where’s Eliza? Tell her to come out and face
With Gabriel by his side, Matthew’s courage had clearly swelled. He sneered and called out Eliza’s name directly. “Since when is the Holy Lady too afraid to speak for herself?”
Mary’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t spare him even a second of grace.
She turned to Gabriel with a sharp smile, her tone laced with scorn.
you forgotten how to raise your sons? This one here–no sense of respect, no
“What’s this, Gabriel? Since Caroline died, have you forgot manners. Just a brat running wild.”
Gabriel’s face darkened “Mary, don’t forget your vows. You’re a woman of the cloth. Is this how a nun speaks?”
Mary shrugged. “You’ve known my temper for years. What, didn’t get the full lesson back then? Want me to remind you what a nun’s slap feels like
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Even Benedict and Matthew were left blinking in stunned silence. Nolan, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow with mild
amusemenL
Mary–fearless, legendary Mary. Likely the only person in all of Hasen City who had ever dared slap Gabriel across the face… and lived to tell the tale.
Gabriel’s expression turned thunderous “Back then, I tolerated you out of respect for Caroline. But if you try to stop me now—if you dare to keep Caroline’s body from returning to my home–I won’t hold back”
Mary scoffed. “You? Hold back?” Her voice dripped with contempt. “Please. Don’t flatter yourself.”
The words hit like a slap, right across his face.
Under Cabriel’s withering glare, Mary didn’t so much as blink. She stepped forward, voice as sharp as a blade.
“You hid the truth about your bastard daughter and let Caroline’s child suffer in silence. Then, out of guilt, you coddled that girl and let her poison your sons against each other. You let your children–Caroline’s children–tear themselves apart. Eliza driven into the nunnery. Dylan, forced to leave home. Benedict, so muddled he can’t see straight. Matthew, blind to right and wrong. Anthony, lost in black and white. And you–you watched it all happen. Encouraged it. Enabled it. You didn’t just
Chapter 204
betray Caroline in life–you continue to disgrace her in death.”
She jabbed a finger toward the carriage. “And now, even after your mistress’s daughter stole Caroline’s body, you still want to bring her home! Your home! Tell me, Gabriel–who does the Stonor family belong to! Caroline and her children, or you and your precious bastard?”
She paused, her voice suddenly quiet, deadly calm. “Stop calling her your wife. The moment you betrayed her, you lost the
right”
Her words were like knives, slicing Gabriel down one bitter truth at a time.
Everyone turned to look at him.
And Gabriel… was livid. His face, already pale from his earlier coughing of blood, had gone ghostly white with rage.
“I said, Gabriel hissed, breath heaving, “Caroline was–is–my wife. I never betrayed her.”
His chest rose and fell in sharp, ragged bursts.
“She was my lawfully wedded wife. And she should be buried in the ancestral grounds of the Stonor family–where she belongs
“Oh?” M
“Oh?” Mary arched an eyebrow, lips curling into a mocking smile.
“And what happens next? Next time your darling little bastard throws a tantrum. she digs Caroline up and whips her corpse
“Lies!” Gabriel roared
“Outrageous!” Matthew added, face red with fury.
“You’ve gone too far! How dare you accuse my sister of such a thing?” he shouted.
Your sister? Mary turned eyes flashing like twin daggers. “What–are you blind and stupid?”
Matthew’s face contorted with rage. “You-!”
“Enough” Benedict suddenly grabbed Matthew by the arm, yanking him back. “This isn’t your place
Matthew turned to him in disbelief. “Benedict, how can you just stand there? You don’t trust Sophie anymore?”
“I used to, Benedict said coldly. “But now? I only trust what I see with my own eyes.”
Matthew’s mouth fell open
His brothers—both of them–were turning against Sophie. It was like they’d been drugged, brainwashed by Eliza. They were actually doubting Sophie.
But Sophie had explained everything when they got home. She’d cried–cried, for heaven’s sake–and told them she wasn’t the one who defiled the grave. Someone else had done it.
If that wasn’t sincere, then what wast
And Eliza–Eliza was the real liar. After all, the body was in her possession, wasn’t it?
No wonder she refused his kite. No wonder she hadn’t come out to face them.
She was hiding. Ashamed. And instead of facing the consequences, she sent out some o
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Lady Nun Vows Revenge