Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 103

**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 103: Raul Humbling Himself Before Margaery**

Joshua nodded in acknowledgment, his mind a flurry of thoughts. He had intended to see Tessa earlier that day, but the events of the previous night had left him feeling an unsettling weight in his chest. The realization that Tessa was not his sister had initially brought him a sense of relief, yet now it felt as if an insurmountable rift had opened between them, casting a shadow over his heart.

Oblivious to Joshua’s internal turmoil, Raul turned and made his way into the study, leaving Joshua to wrestle with his thoughts alone.

With a furrowed brow, Joshua set off in search of Tessa, his heart racing as he approached her room.

Tessa had risen early, her hopes pinned on receiving good news from Gracewind Garden. The moment she spotted Joshua entering, her expression softened, and she spoke with a gentle warmth, “Why are you here so early? Aren’t you cold?”

She stepped closer, her delicate hand reaching for Joshua’s, drawing him toward the bedside. As she did, her chest brushed against his arm, whether by design or happenstance, igniting a spark of confusion within him.

Joshua’s gaze fell upon her small, soft hand, and his thoughts spiraled into chaos. “I came to check on you. How is your stomach pain? Mr. Whitney has already prescribed a remedy; I’ll have it decocted for you by noon.”

“It’s still the same as always,” Tessa replied, offering a fragile smile that seemed to carry an unexpected allure.

This smile was unlike any he had seen before, laced with a subtle hint of seduction. She leaned slightly into his embrace, and in that instant, Joshua felt his body tense up, caught off guard by the intensity of the moment.

“Tessa, don’t worry. I promise I will find the right prescription to cure your stomach illness,” he assured her, his voice quickening with urgency.

He sat at the bedside, feeling as rigid as a statue, yet inside, an unfamiliar warmth began to spread through him, stirring feelings he struggled to contain. His voice faltered as he continued, “If it really doesn’t work, I’ll find a way to ask Mr. Eastwick for it. As long as he doesn’t beat me to death, I’ll get that prescription back.”

With each passing moment, Joshua’s tension mounted, his breaths growing shallow and unsteady.

Meanwhile, Tessa feigned indifference, brushing against his abdomen with a teasing hum that sent a jolt through him. The unexpected contact propelled Joshua to his feet, urgency flooding his system. “Tessa, you should rest well. I’ll go decoct your medicine,” he stammered, his cheeks flushing crimson.

Without another word, he bolted from Sunbeam Court like a whirlwind, stepping into the frigid air, yet the impulse he felt was impossible to suppress.

He retreated to his own courtyard, head bowed, and upon entering, leaned against the door, surrendering to the tumult of his desires.

His mind was awash with vivid images of Tessa, stripped bare and vulnerable.

He recalled that fateful day when he had stormed into Pero Cela, finding Tessa completely unclothed, her skin marred with fresh red marks left by Dominic.

For reasons he couldn’t fathom, the more he replayed that scene in his mind, the more he yearned to have been the one to comfort her in that intimate space. Slumping against the doorframe, he gasped for breath, caught between longing and regret.

Meanwhile, inside Sunbeam Court, Tessa’s brow furrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. “What does this mean? Joshua came to see me, and it wasn’t about driving Margaery away? Then why did he come?”

Unable to contain her curiosity, she turned to Sarah, her tone sharp. “Go and see what’s happening at Gracewind Garden. Has Margaery been driven out, or not?”

Sarah nodded, slipping away toward Gracewind Garden, her heart racing with anticipation.

However, with Adam stationed at the entrance, she hesitated, opting to observe from a distance. No matter how she squinted, it appeared that Margaery had not yet vacated the premises; the courtyard remained eerily quiet.

After a moment of waiting, Sarah’s patience was rewarded when she spotted Raul approaching, a bundle in his arms, hurrying into Gracewind Garden.

He hadn’t even crossed the threshold before calling out cheerfully, “Margaery, I’ve brought you what you wanted, along with your favorite walnut pastries!”

This was no attempt to drive Margaery away; it was clear that he longed to hold her close, cherishing her as he once did.

Taking the document from Raul, she met his gaze with steely resolve. “Thank you, but I won’t have the walnut pastry. My stomach has been upset these past few days; I can’t eat. Please return and rest; there’s no need to worry about me.”

Raul’s gaze fell to the walnut pastry, disappointment flickering across his features.

The daughter who once radiated innocence and joy was gone forever. She would no longer rush to him, her eyes sparkling as she begged for his attention, imitating Tessa’s playful charm, saying, “Please, Father, will you spend the afternoon with me today?”

Margaery no longer needed him in her life.

Even though he had come to terms with the fact that she was not his biological child, in that moment, Raul felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart, the pain bitter and unrelenting.

He studied Margaery for a long moment before sighing, “Then rest well. I’ve already informed Dominic; he will come soon to apologize to you.”

“If you need anything, just tell Amber to come to me, or to Joshua,” he added, his tone softening.

“Alright.” Margaery watched him leave, her lips sealed, not uttering a single unnecessary word.

Amber stared in disbelief at Raul’s retreating figure, struggling to comprehend the reality of the situation.

Once he was gone, she hurried over. “Lady Margaery, you’re not eating? This used to be your favorite, and he even got it from your usual shop. In this weather, why would Lord Chancellor remember that? What’s he planning?”

“You eat it. I don’t want any,” Margaery replied, her voice firm. No matter what Raul did now, she had resolved never to look back. She lowered her gaze, opening the marriage contract, a cold smile curling in her heart as she read each line. The contract clearly stated that Dominic could only marry Margaery in this lifetime. Yet in reality, he had already begun a secret affair with Tessa, and in her previous life, had even torn up the engagement for Tessa.

All of this, she vowed, she would return to him tomorrow.