Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 298

Chapter 298 Confined

Chapter 298 Confined

He didn’t even remember how he got back.

Only that he ended up collapsed in front of his desk, mind grinding, trying to find where his plan had broken.

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“Your Highness,” Tristan said solemnly, standing in front of him. “If I may… today’s outcome is likely the Duchess of Duskmoor’s design.”

Alaric turned slowly. “What did you say?”

Tristan’s voice stayed steady. “You did all of this for her. You told His Majesty about the ‘mistress’ for her sake. But looking back, it appears she orchestrated it, planned ahead, understood your temperament, and guided you step by step into a trap.”

At Duskmoor Manor, Elowen had been in a good creative spell.

After reviewing the estate accounts, she spread a fresh sheet of paper and wrote two words: Cayla.

That was the name of her new story’s heroine.

Lately she’d realized too many stories painted their heroines as nothing but innocent and sweet. Sweet wasn’t bad. It just got stale.

Elowen wanted to write a woman with ambition.

A woman with schemes.

A woman who calculated and won.

None of those things belonged only to men.

in her outline, Cayla came from the countryside. At fifteen, she had a dream: to live in a big house with multiple courtyards, to have endless plain dinner rolls, to eat meat once a month until she was full, and to have ten taels of silver every day to spend however she wanted.

And then, when she entered a wealthy household, Cayla discovered their homes weren’t just “big.”

They didn’t eat plain rolls, they ate fragrant rice and noodles, and meat whenever they wanted. Ten dollars wasn’t even enough to cover a single meal…

“Your Grace.”

Mira’s voice cut in.

Elowen didn’t look up at first, only gave a distracted “Hm?”

Then she realized, no. She’d told Mira not to interrupt unless Cassian returned.

Mira calling now meant, Cassian was back.

Elowen listened.

She heard the faint sound of the wheelchair.

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11:59 am ppp

Chapter 298 Confined

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She stopped writing so fast her hand almost smeared the ink. Without caring that the page was still wet, she folded it twice and shoved it under a stack of books, then pulled the account ledger back in front of her and pretended to read.

The wheelchair stopped outside. Cassian rose and walked in.

Elowen sat with her head lowered, expression serious, eyes on the ledger.

A few books sat by her hand. The corner of the folded page peeked out.

Cassian’s gaze paused briefly on that paper edge, then slid away. He sat beside her.

Unhurried, Cassian said, “Today the Crown Prince took Quin to the villa. He saw Warren. Then we went to the palace together and met with His Majesty.”

Elowen lifted her head.

She’d known, even before the trip to Sunspire Hill, that Cassian often went to a particular villa. She knew it grew chrysanthemums, sometimes she caught the scent on him.

At first, she’d respected his privacy and didn’t ask.

Then she’d heard the rumor he kept a mistress.

That night, when Cassian climbed into bed after washing up, Elowen had asked casually, “Cassian, I heard you keep a mistress?”

She remembered her own tone. It hadn’t been accusatory.

Cassian had immediately dropped onto his knees on the bed. “Ella, I don’t. I would never.”

Elowen had panicked too, quickly pushing herself upright. “I didn’t say I believed it. I only heard the rumor and asked what was going on.”

They had both been caught off guard.

Cassian had remained bowed as he laid out the entire matter in careful detail from beginning to end.

After Elowen understood, she looked at him and said, “I believe you. Please don’t do that again. It’s terrifying.”

Only then did Cassian straighten and take his seat properly.

Then he’d asked her, “Didn’t you say you wanted Alaric to stop being Crown Prince?”

So they’d used it.

They let Alaric believe Cassian truly had a woman outside, and that Elowen was hurt.

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