Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 646

Chapter 646 Another Road Forward

Scarlet remained there on the floor with her head lowered, her thin frame trembling faintly while tears slipped endlessly from her face and darkened the stone beneath her knees.

Watching her like that made Elowen’s chest ache painfully.

But at last, she finally understood the source of Scarlet’s fear.

To Elowen, those years had always seemed like nothing more than cruel circumstances forced upon a helpless girl with nowhere else to go.

To Scarlet, however, those memories had become scars too deep to heal and too shameful to ever expose beneath the light.

Elowen frowned softly before rising from her chair and crossing the room.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, she lowered herself directly in front of Scarlet.

The posture was completely improper for a duchess.

At that moment, though, Elowen could not care less about propriety.

She reached out gently, lifting Scarlet’s tear-stained face between her hands before brushing away the tears with her thumb. “Sweet Scarlet,” she murmured softly, “don’t cry anymore.”

Scarlet looked up at her through wet lashes.

Guilt slowly surfaced in Elowen’s expression. “This is my fault. I didn’t think carefully enough about your feelings. I only kept thinking that Draven was a good man, that the two of you suited each other, and that it could become a beautiful marriage. In my heart, your past never mattered, so I foolishly assumed it wouldn’t matter to you either.” Her voice softened further after that. “I never stopped to realize how much pain you were still carrying because of it.”

Scarlet shook her head weakly.

But Elowen continued looking directly into her eyes. “Scarlet, none of that was your choice. The world failed you long before you ever failed yourself. You survived the only way you could, and there’s no shame in surviving.” Her fingers tightened gently around Scarlet’s hand. “Those years should never become the reason you’re denied happiness. You deserve happiness just as much as anyone else.”

Scarlet had only just barely managed to stop crying moments earlier, yet the instant she heard those words, fresh tears spilled down her face all over again.

For years, she had convinced herself that she was not truly suffering.

Back then at the tavern, she poured wine, played music, endured humiliation, smiled through mockery, and swallowed every ounce of contempt thrown her way simply because surviving mattered more than

w difficult life became, at least she remained alive.

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Chapter 646 Another Road Forward

She had always believed she could endure it.

Until now.

+5 Pearls

Until this moment, when the graceful Duchess of Duskmoor crouched before her without the slightest trace of disgust, holding her trembling hands while gently telling her that she had done nothing wrong and still deserved happiness.

The grief Scarlet had buried for years suddenly split open inside her chest.

Every humiliation she had endured, every tear she had hidden away, every lonely night she survived by forcing herself not to break apart came flooding back all at once.

This time, the tears refused to stop.

lowen hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped at Scarlet’s face, but there were too many tears. The oth became soaked almost immediately.

he turned the fabric and tried again.

That side dampened just as quickly.

Scarlet’s cheeks looked as though they had been caught beneath an endless storm that simply would not

pass.

Even so, Elowen never grew impatient.

She simply remained crouched there beside her, wiping away the tears over and over while soothing her gently, almost as though comforting a frightened child.

“All right now. Don’t cry anymore. If you don’t want to marry, then we won’t talk about marriage again. And if one day you do want it, then we’ll wait until you feel ready.” Her voice remained warm and steady throughout. “If Draven truly cares for you and chooses to wait, then perhaps the two of you will still find your way back to each other someday. And if he doesn’t…” A faint smile touched her lips. “Then there are plenty of good men left in this world.”

Scarlet nodded shakily.

J

Elowen brushed another tear from her cheek before continuing softly, “And if you’re afraid people will look down on your past, then we’ll simply make sure they have no choice except to look up to you instead.”

Scarlet blinked through tears, staring at her in confusion.

Elowen smiled faintly. “Do you remember something I told you before? I said I had an important task that I wanted only you to help me with one day.”

Scarlet froze briefly before nodding. “I remember.”

Back then, Flowen had only said she would explain properly once the matters currently occupying her

were r

time had come.

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Chapter 646 Another Road Forward

Alaric was dead.

+5 Pearls:

Cassian had promised he would place that eneroy’s head before her one day, and Elowerf trusted him completely.

That meant she could finally begin turning her attention toward other things.

Looking at Scarlet seriously now, Elowen spoke with quiet determination. “This idea first came to me the day I met you and Nikki. I’ve always hated seeing innocent women forced into places like those taverns simply to survive, but I also understand that most women in this world are given very few choices. Sometimes they endure terrible things because feeding themselves is the only thing that matters.” Her gaze softened after that. “So I started wondering whether there might be another road. Not only for you, but for countless other women too. A way to survive without placing their entire lives in the hands of men.”

Scarlet stared at her blankly. “A way… without depending on men?”

She repeated the words slowly, sounding as though she almost understood them yet could hardly believe such a thing might truly exist.

Elowen smiled. “Of course. Women are capable of far more than marriage and childrearing.”

Scarlet hesitated before asking quietly, “Then… what kind of road is it?”

Instead of answering directly, Elowen tilted her head slightly. “Tell me something first. What do you think you’re best at?”

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