Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 302

10:56 am

Chapter 301 No Turning Back

Chapter 301 No Turning Back

Alistair lowered his voice. “You don’t have to come at her like that.”

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She glanced at him, her face perfectly composed. Then she asked calmly, “You think that was harsh? Do you want to hear what harsh really sounds like?”

Elspeth sat upright in her chair, every movement controlled. She spoke slowly and clearly, “Alistair, I’ve made up my mind. I want us to separate.”

Alistair froze. He stared at her like he had misheard something impossible.

“What… what did you just say? Elspeth, say that again?”

Elowen felt a knot tighten in her chest. She stepped forward and gently took Elspeth’s hand, speaking softly.

“Aunt, please don’t say something you might regret just because you’re upset.”

She had seen this kind of thing happen before. When people were angry, they often said things they could never take back. Words could wound deeper than anything else, and even after the anger faded, the damage often remained.

But Elspeth squeezed Elowen’s hand firmly, making her resolve unmistakably clear.

“Ella, I’m not speaking out of anger. I’ve thought this through for many days and nights.”

“Elspeth…” Alistair finally spoke again, his voice tight with strain. “Is this because I haven’t come by lately? I figured we both needed some time to cool off and think things through. I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to deal with everything, especially how to arrange things for Lydia and Nina so you wouldn’t have to keep worrying about them.”

Before he could finish, Lydia suddenly dropped to her knees as if her strength had completely given out.

Tears streamed down her pale face as she cried.

‘Elspeth! If your decades of marriage are falling apart because Nina and I have nowhere else to go, I’d never forgive myself for

that!”

She wiped frantically at her tears, her voice growing more hysterical.

‘This is all my fault, every bit of it! I’ve already decided I’ll take Nina and leave so you’ll never have to worry about us again. And if that still isn’t enough…”

Her voice trembled as she forced herself to continue.

“Then I’ll pay for everything with my life!”

Before anyone could react, she suddenly pushed herself up and threw herself toward the sharp edge of the table.

“Lydia!”

Alistair reacted on pure instinct. He rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her back just in time.

Lydia struggled in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

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Chapter 301 No Turning Back

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“Alistair, let go of me! Just let me go! If I’m gone, Elspeth won’t blame you anymore! You two can go back to the way things used to be!”

“Enough!” Alistair snapped, his voice rough as he tightened his grip.

Lydia had no strength left to fight him. She collapsed against his chest, crying helplessly.

Elspeth watched the entire scene in silence. A faint, bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

“See that, Ella?” she said quietly. “Isn’t this almost ridiculous?”

Elowen frowned. She couldn’t find anything amusing about the situation.

“Why keep putting on this act?” Elspeth’s voice turned sharp as a blade. “Lydia, you might not know me well, but you can ask your dear Alistair. When I say I want a separation, I mean it. I have never once gone back on a decision I’ve made.”

The color slowly drained from Alistair’s face.

He knew she was telling the truth. The calmer Elspeth sounded, the more serious she actually was.

After a moment, he released Lydia.

“Elspeth, we’ve been married for decades. We have two sons together. Why let Lydia and Nina, two helpless relatives, come between us? Besides, there has never been anything improper between Lydia and me. Nothing at all.”

Elspeth’s voice grew even colder.

“Maybe nothing has happened. But Alistair, your attention, your affection, and all that misplaced pity of yours aren’t with me

anymore.”

Her gaze was steady as she continued.

‘How often did you read to our sons when they were little? Did you ever sit with them patiently and teach them how to write the way you do with Nina? You remember every treat Nina likes, but do you even remember which pastry makes our son sick every single time?”

Her eyes swept across both Alistair and Lydia. “Your heart left this marriage a long time ago.”

Then she gave a quiet, humorless laugh.

‘And right now, while you’re begging me not to leave, are you still thinking about wiping the tears off Lydia’s face?”

Alistair’s composure finally cracked. He stood there, pale and speechless.

A strange calm slowly settled over Elspeth.

“I used to believe I couldn’t live without you,” she said. “But these past few days at Duskmoor Manor, without all that resentment and suspicion hanging over me, I realized something.”

She paused briefly.

“I was happier living alone than I’ve been in years.”

Her voice remained steady as she continued.

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Chapter 301 No Turning Back

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“And the more I thought about it, the more I understood something else. I’m not young anymore. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life trapped in misery, stuck between a husband who doesn’t care and a cousin who never stops playing the victim.”

Her expression softened slightly, though her eyes remained clear.

“If my mother could see the way I’ve been living, swallowing my pride, lying awake night after night because of anger and humiliation, she would be heartbroken too.”

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Chapter 302 The Final Break

Chapter 302 The Final Break

It sounded as if Elspeth were announcing something perfectly ordinary.

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“Well, it’s pretty simple. Let’s settle this right here at Duskmoor Manor. We sign the separation papers, and after that we each go our own way. Maybe we’ll both be happier once everything is over.”

The moment she finished speaking, her matron stepped forward and carefully produced two neatly copied separation papers.

Only then did Elowen realize what had been happening.

For the past few days, Elspeth had seemed relaxed and cheerful, almost unusually so. But while everyone else thought she was simply enjoying her stay, she had quietly made a decision that would change everything.

She had even prepared the separation papers ahead of time.

And Elowen had not noticed a thing.

Alistair stared at the thin sheets of paper. He stood there motionless, unable to take a step forward.

After a long moment, he lifted his head and looked at Elspeth. Desperation roughened his voice.

“Elspeth… can’t we talk this through? Please don’t end things like this. If you’re angry, yell at me, hit me if you want, just don’t walk away like this.”

He was a tall man with a solid build, but at that moment his eyes were bloodshot, the rims dark with strain.

Elspeth’s voice was cold.

‘I’m not about to slap you, Alistair. That would only make me look like some hysterical shrew. Every time you pushed me until I lost my temper, somehow I ended up looking like the crazy one. I was the one people said had a bad temper. I was the violent one. I’m done letting that happen.”

“But-”

He tried to say more, but Elspeth cut him off immediately.

“Just sign it. Alistair, don’t make me lose the last bit of respect I still have left for you.”

His jaw tightened and he stepped back.

“No. I’m not signing it. Elspeth, just take a few days to calm down. I’ll sort everything out, and then I’ll come get you myself.”

His last words came out through clenched teeth and carried the faint edge of a warning.

He gave Elowen a brief nod of courtesy before turning and walking out. Elspeth glared at his retreating back, her whole body shaking with anger.

“Pathetic. Is that really what a man is supposed to be?”

Alistair paused briefly at the far end of the hall, but he did not turn around. A moment later he disappeared from sight, with Lydia hurrying after him.

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10:56 am

Chapter 302 The Final Break

On the carriage ride back, Lydia shifted closer to Alistair and carefully studied his face.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking.

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“Alistair,” she said gently, “she made herself pretty clear today. Why won’t you sign the separation papers? Honestly, it might be better for both of you. Sometimes letting go is the only way to move on.”

Alistair looked exhausted.

“We’ve been married for decades, Lydia. I can’t just throw the marriage away like it means nothing. We have two sons who are already grown and living their own lives. If we separate now, what do you think people will say? What kind of man will they think I

am?”

ment

For just a moment, something sharp flickered in Lydia’s eyes, a trace of resentment and jealousy that vanished almost immediately.

“I know this must be difficult for you,” she said softly. “But your wife seemed completely determined today. I doubt she’ll change her mind. If she really means it… does that mean it’s over between you two?”

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