Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

G emma stood still in the doorway, her breath catching in her chest as she took in the sight of Frederick.

His tall, imposing figure filled the room, but it was the intensity in his eyes, the sincerity , that stopped her in her tracks. She could feel the silence between them, as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break.

It was clear that he had said something brusque to Lady Treston and Elizabeth earlier. Gemma had overheard the tail end of his defense of her. The words had come as a shock; she hadn’t expected him to speak out on her behalf, especially not in such a potent way. His fierce tone and the strength in his words had left a lasting impression on her.

She couldn’t deny it—a large part of her had wanted him to fight for her, and here he was, doing exactly that.

Frederick’s eyes lit up as she stepped further into the room, his hands clasping in front of him as if unsure what to do next. He seemed momentarily at a loss for words, but after taking a deep breath, he spoke, his voice steady but rich with emotion.

“Gemma,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “I need to apologize. I have made so many mistakes, and I have wronged you in more ways than I care to count. I was foolish, and I let my pride get in the way. But I cannot deny how I feel about you any longer. I regret every moment I spent pushing you away, every moment I did not make you feel like you mattered.”

Gemma’s chest tightened at his words, a swirl of emotions rising up in her. Regret. Guilt. Longing. She had tried to convince herself she no longer cared about him, that he had no place in her life anymore, but hearing him speak like that, with such raw vulnerability, cracked open a hatch inside of her that she knew she could never again seal.

Frederick continued, his gaze unwavering. “You mean more to me than anything else in my life. I am not asking for your forgiveness just for the sake of it; I know I do not deserve it. But I am asking you, Gemma, if you can find it in your heart to give me another chance, to let me make things right. I want to marry you and make you my wife if you will have me.”

In the aftermath of his declaration, Gemma could only stare at him in utter shock. She hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected him to be so open, so vulnerable. The man who had once been so distant and closed off was standing before her, offering her everything he had. It was overwhelming, and yet it was the most honest thing she had ever heard.

But doubt lingered at the edges of her heart. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to reach for the future he was offering, but the pain from all her years of being abandoned, of being treated as if she were an inconvenience was not easily forgotten.

Gemma’s voice trembled and she swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. “I do not know if I can forgive you. I do not know if I can just forget what happened; what you said, and what you did.”

Frederick took a step forward, his expression earnest and determined. “I do not want you to forget it, Gemma. I just want the chance to prove to you that I have changed, that I am willing to fight for you, for us. I will do whatever it takes.”

Her heart ached at the honesty in his voice and the desperation in his eyes. It was nothing she had ever expected would come from him. It was more than just words—it was a promise.

But before Gemma could respond, a voice interrupted, sharp and dismissive.

“This is ridiculous,” Lady Treston said, her voice filled with scorn as she stepped forward, clearly annoyed by the turn of events. “Gemma, you have already had your moment. You cannot expect to just?—”

But Elizabeth, who had been standing near the door, suddenly moved forward, her hands raised to stop her mother.

“Mother, please,” Elizabeth said, her voice quiet but firm. “Let Gemma speak. You can no longer treat her in this way.”

Lady Treston shot Elizabeth a look of pure irritation, her eyes narrowing. “You think you can tell me what to do now? You, who cannot even manage your own affairs?—”

“Enough!” Gemma’s voice rang out, startling them both. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she could feel the anger rising within her, the years of suppression finally breaking free. She turned to her mother, her voice sharp with years of pent-up resentment.

“I have had enough of you, Mother. You have always treated me like I was nothing. You have made me feel like I am a burden, and for what? Because you could not stand to have me around?”

Lady Treston’s eyes widened in shock at Gemma’s outburst, and for a moment, Gemma thought she might be struck down for daring to speak so boldly to her, but she no longer cared. Not about the rules, not about her mother’s anger. She was done with being silenced.

“You left me at a convent,” Gemma continued, her voice trembling with the force of her words. “You abandoned me, and I had to grow up there alone, unwanted. And now you stand here, pretending you have any right to tell me what to do with my life. You do not deserve to be called my mother.”

Lady Treston’s face flushed with fury, but Gemma pressed on. “You treat Elizabeth the same way you treated me. You try to make her into something she is not, forcing her into a mold that she does not fit. You only care about your own reputation and about how things look to the ton, and you do not care who gets hurt in the process.”

“Gemma,” Lady Treston began, her voice dripping with venom, “you are a willful child, and you always have been. There were no other options. You do not understand?—”

“No,” Gemma cut in, her voice trembling with raw emotion. “It is you who does not understand. You never cared to. You were too busy trying to climb your way to the top, leaving your own children behind in the process.”

Frederick stood silent, his eyes blazing with anger, his hands clenched at his sides. Gemma could see the fury on his face; his protectiveness, his frustration with the way Lady Treston had treated her and was now treating Elizabeth. Gemma glanced at him briefly, and he met her gaze, his jaw tight, his expression one of barely contained rage.

But before he could speak, Lady Treston took a step forward, her face contorted with fury. “You are wrong, Gemma. You always have been. I did what I had to do. You were a burden, and your behavior left me with no choice.”

At that, Frederick’s fury was palpable, his stance shifting from foot to foot as though he wanted to pummel Lady Treston. But Gemma’s voice stopped him.

“Enough,” she said, her tone final, as she turned to face her mother. “You no longer have the right to justify your actions. I know the truth, and so do you.”

For the first time in her life, Gemma felt the burden on her shoulders vanish, as if by magic.

Gemma stood there, her heart still pounding from the confrontation. Her words had cut through the pretense and lies in the room like a knife, but it wasn’t over yet. Lady Treston’s face was a mask of fury, her lips forcibly crushed together as she struggled to maintain her composure. The air crackled with the weight of their exchange, and for a moment, it seemed that her mother would retaliate with another venomous tirade.

Before she could open her mouth, Frederick, who had been watching the scene unfold with an air of patient restraint, stepped forward. His black eyes shot daggers of raw fury and his entire body stood tensed for combat.

“I have heard enough out of you!” Frederick shouted at Lady Treston. He could no longer contain his rage. His voice contained a ferocity that Gemma had never heard him use before, but in that moment it was clear that he was no longer interested in decorum. His anger was palpable; a raw force that sent a shiver down Gemma’s spine.

Lady Treston’s mouth opened to unleash another scathing retort, but Frederick cut her off with the force of a lion’s roar.

“ No! ” he said, his voice low and deadly, his fury unmistakable. “You will not speak again.”

Gemma watched in stunned silence as Frederick moved closer, his every step radiating power. He was a force to be reckoned with, and there was no mistaking his intention.

Lady Treston’s face paled as Frederick’s words hit her like a blow. She once again opened her mouth to protest, but he wasn’t having it.

“Your behavior toward Gemma is appalling ,” Frederick spat, “and I will not stand by and let it continue. You have no right to treat your daughter in such a way. You are a disgrace .”

The words seemed to land like fists, each one striking her mother’s carefully curated image of control. Lady Treston’s eyes narrowed with white-hot fury, but she knew she was powerless against him.

“I will ensure that you face consequences for your actions, Lady Treston,” Frederick said, his voice growing colder. “Your reputation will be tarnished beyond repair, and you will no longer have any influence or standing in society. The ton will know exactly what kind of woman you truly are.”

Lady Treston took a step back, her composure crumbling under his threats. Her mouth moved but no words came out, her protests dying in her throat as she realized Frederick had judged her and had handed down her social death sentence. There was no escape. She had crossed an unforgivable line and Frederick was going to make sure she paid for it.

“You will leave this country immediately,” Frederick said, his voice final. “And you will never return.”

“How dare you order this on my property?”

“I do dare, Lady Treston. Do not test me. You do not want to see the consequences.”

The command was as sharp as a sword, and Gemma could see the battle raging behind her mother’s eyes. She wanted to argue, to shout, to try and regain control, but there was no room for that any longer. Frederick had made up his mind, and there was nothing Lady Treston could do about it.

“Do you understand?” Frederick’s tone was a final warning, his gaze never leaving Lady Treston’s.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Finally, with a tight, furious shake of her head, she stepped back, her eyes blazing with defiance.

“You will regret this, Duke,” she spat, her voice trembling with fury.

Frederick didn’t flinch. He merely gave her a look that could freeze water. “I doubt that.”

With that, Lady Treston turned, her steps stiff with indignation as she made her way toward the door. Her departure was swift and filled with a strange finality. She was defeated, powerless in the face of Frederick’s unwavering determination to end her rule of terror.

When the door closed behind her, Gemma let a breath out. She finally felt free. For the first time in her life, she felt that she was no longer being held captive by her mother’s cruelty.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Frederick was still standing there, his back turned to her mother’s retreating form. When he turned back to Gemma his expression softened, though the storm still brewed in his eyes.

He took a step toward Elizabeth, who had been silent throughout the exchange, her gaze bouncing between her mother’s exit and Frederick.

“I do not know what your plans are, Lady Elizabeth,” Frederick began, his voice gentler now. “But I will not stand by and watch you suffer under your mother’s control. I would like to offer you a different life. A life away from her manipulation and cruelty.”

Elizabeth looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. She clearly had not expected this.

“I have a home at Blackridge, and you are welcome to come and live with us, under my grandmother’s care,” Frederick continued. “You will have a home where you are respected and treated with kindness. I know this is a lot to digest, but I believe it is the best option for you.”

Gemma could see Elizabeth’s hesitation, the uncertainty in her eyes. But there was something else there too—hope. Hope that perhaps someone would genuinely care about her and for her, rather than simply treating her as her mother’s puppet.

“I will send a carriage to collect your belongings,” Frederick said, turning to leave the room. “Take your time. There is no rush. But know that the offer stands.”

Elizabeth, her voice barely above a whisper, nodded. “Thank you, Your Grace. I… I will think about it.”

Frederick gave her a small smile before turning back to Gemma. His eyes were calm now, no longer filled with the fury that had driven him to defend her.

“I know this is a lot to take in,” he said quietly, his gaze never leaving hers. “But I meant every word. I will fight for you, Gemma. I will not let anything stand in the way of us.”

Gemma felt her heart swell. It wasn’t just the promise of a future, of a life together, but the understanding that he was willing to go to such lengths for her, and for them.

“I… I do not know what to say,” Gemma admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You do not need to say anything right now,” Frederick replied, his voice tender. “Just know that I am here, and I will not leave you.”

The silence that followed was thick but comfortable, and contained the promise of a new beginning.