Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 403

Chapter 403 The Wrong Book

Cassian looked at her, his gaze quiet but questioning.

Elowen’s face flushed instantly, color rising fast all the way to her ears. “Don’t… don’t read any more of that.”

Cassian studied her for a brief moment, then nodded like he had no objections at all. Only then did she let go of him.

At first, she had been convinced he was messing with her, making things up just to see her reaction.

But when she picked up the book and checked for herself, her breath caught.

It matched. Exactly.

And the deeper she read, the more outrageous it became.

By the second page, there was even a detailed illustration. A man and a woman stretched across a writing desk, tangled together in a way that left very little to the imagination.

Elowen’s cheeks burned, but something stubborn in her made her keep going. She flipped another page.

“Second entry. A young lady comes to stay at the estate. Johnny invites her into the garden. A newly built swing catches her interest, and she suggests a more… creative use for it. He laughs, calls her a wicked tease, then follows her lead, lifting her legs over the frame as she asked.”

Elowen froze, eyes widening.

That… that’s even possible?

She swallowed, pulse racing, then hurriedly flipped ahead.

“Sixth entry. Three days after her coming-of-age feast, the sister complains of a persistent itch. Johnny grows curious. “Take them off,’ he says. ‘Let me have a proper look.”

That was the breaking point.

She snapped the book shut so fast it made a sharp sound in the quiet room.

Now she finally understood what the title really meant. It wasn’t poetic in the slightest. Each so-called “hairpin” was just another entry, another woman added to the list, one after another, whether it was a maid, a visiting relative, or some sheltered young lady who should have known better.

Elowen pressed a hand to her forehead.

Wait, what did I even fall for just now?

And worse, she had just asked Cassian to read it aloud.

And the male lead’s name had to be Johnny, of all things.

Heat flooded her whole body. Her face, her neck, even the tips of her ears burned as if she had been standing too close to a fire.

“Ella,” Cassian said slowly, his tone thoughtful in a way that made everything worse, “I think I understand. You’ve been… curious.”

Her heart skipped.

“But you’re expecting,” he added, lowering his voice. “Hugh was very clear. It’s not a good idea.”

A brief pause.

“And honestly, you don’t need a book like that. If you want something, you can just tell me.”

Elowen went completely speechless.

Her entire body felt like it was overheating. “I… I didn’t…”

She couldn’t even finish a sentence. In the end, she grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her face, her voice muffled.

“I didn’t know what was in it. I swear I didn’t.”

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