Page 84 of Claimed By the Beastly Duke

“What is it?” Stella asked, confused.

“I have been an idiot for far too long,” Ava muttered.

“What is the matter, Ava?”

“Can you not see?” She pointed at her husband, who was now stepping into the house.

“He is entering a house, yes.”

“He is seeing a mistress!” Ava hissed.

Stella gasped, then shook her head. “You do not know that.”

“It is quite obvious,” Ava insisted, anger bubbling up inside her. “You know I told him I would not share his bed. What I did not mention is that I gave him leave to take a mistress to satisfy his needs.”

“Ava!” Her sister looked scandalized. “How could you tell your husband such a thing?”

Ava shrugged. “It does not matter. I suppose I thought that was best at the time.”

“I am afraid if you told him to take a mistress, then he is not in the wrong.”

Ava whirled around to face her sister, her eyes blazing. “Is that so?”

Stella shrank back immediately. “Uh… he is certainly wrong. He should have known that you were simply joking when you told him to take a mistress. How could he not know that you have feelings for him?”

Feelings?

“I certainly do not have feelings for him,” Ava scoffed.

She knew she was lying as soon as the words escaped her mouth.Ofcourse, she had feelings for him. If she did not, she would not be standing in the middle of the street, her heart aching, all because her husband chose to take her advice.

Stella rolled her eyes and shot her a look that said,I have eyes, Ava!

Ava sighed. “Fine, maybe I care about him just a little.”

Or perhaps a lot.

“But I certainly do not want my husband having an affair in broad daylight where everyone can see him.”

“Is that truly the reason you are so annoyed with him?”

“I am not annoyed!” Ava insisted.

She was not annoyed. Rather, she was heartbroken. All the moments they had shared… it was all a lie.

“Then perhaps you are jealous?” Stella prodded.

Ava opened her mouth to retort but then closed it immediately. Of course, she was jealous. She had just spotted her husband visiting his mistress.

“No,” she lied, “I simply feel disrespected that he did not see fit to at least warn me that he… that he has taken a mistress.”

She glanced at her sister, but Stella did not seem quite impressed by her excuse. She groaned.

Stella could see through her like a veil, and she did not quite like what her sister could see now. What example was she setting for her?

“You are right. I shall approach Edwin and express my grievance,” Ava suddenly declared.

“Ava, please don’t!” Stella sputtered.

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