Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 131

**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**

**Chapter 131**

Dominic’s smile, a fragile mask he wore, was on the verge of crumbling. The tremor in his voice betrayed the guilt that gnawed at him, a silent acknowledgment of his misdeeds.

Margaery, however, seemed entirely unconcerned with his turmoil. Her gaze was fixed, unwavering, on Sophia. “Even if your memory fades with age, I trust everyone here has heard my words loud and clear,” she declared, her tone cutting through the tension like a knife.

She pressed on, her voice steady as she outlined the betrayal that had festered in the shadows. “The marriage contract is explicit: Dominic and I are to be united for life, devoted to one another. Yet, he has betrayed me, clandestinely committing himself to Tessa, engaging in a secret affair.”

With each word, the weight of her accusation hung in the air, thick and suffocating. “And the rest of you in the Hadley family? You chose to ignore this betrayal, to turn a blind eye at my coming-of-age ceremony last year. Instead of addressing the matter of our marriage, you tacitly allowed Dominic to pursue Tessa! A whole year has slipped away.”

She had held back her fury until this very moment, poised and resolute, granting no one a chance to interject. In a dramatic flourish, she ripped the marriage contract into shreds, letting the pieces flutter to the floor like fallen leaves, each fragment a testament to her resolve.

“This is my gift to you today,” she proclaimed, her voice ringing with clarity. “From this moment forward, my engagement to Dominic is rendered null and void, and I sever all ties with the Hadley family for the rest of my life.”

A profound silence enveloped the room, heavy and oppressive. Then, like a dam bursting, a cacophony of astonished whispers erupted. “Is she really here to break off the engagement?”

“Oh my goodness, I had heard rumors about Lady Margaery’s transformation, but witnessing it firsthand is something else entirely!”

“What will the Hadley family do in response?”

“They’ve suffered a major blow to their reputation today!”

“Indeed, the marriage contract clearly stipulated that after Lady Margaery’s coming-of-age, the wedding would take place. Yet, at her ceremony last year, Tessa was already part of the household, and no one dared to mention the engagement.”

“The Hadley family clearly has no interest in marrying her, or else there wouldn’t have been a year’s delay!”

“Did you hear Lady Margaery? Lord Dominic has been secretly involved with Lady Tessa. It’s no wonder there were rumors swirling around, especially after that incident at Pero Cela…”

The atmosphere shifted into chaos, a whirlwind of gasps and murmurs.

Sophia, shaken from her stupor, felt her fury ignite. The smile she had worn faltered and faded. In a fit of rage, she seized the cane beside her, swinging it dangerously close to Margaery’s head, her voice a hoarse shriek. “You wretch! How dare you disrupt my birthday celebration!”

As the words left her lips, a torrent of blood erupted from her mouth, and she collapsed onto the bed, choking on two more mouthfuls that stained her palm. The weakness in her body felt insurmountable, as if the very essence of her vitality was slipping away.

Her body trembled, a mix of fury and disbelief as she glared at Margaery, who stood defiantly on the floor. How could Margaery humiliate her so brazenly on such a significant day?

With a bloodied hand, she pointed at Raul, her voice laced with desperation. “Chancellor! What is the meaning of this? Why do you allow this disgraceful act to unfold against our family? If you don’t clarify your stance today, I swear I will fight you all to the bitter end!”

The violent coughs wracked her body, tightening her throat, and she expelled another large mouthful of blood. Consumed by rage, she felt the sting of her failed attack on Margaery, and in a fit of frustration, hurled a nearby cup at Margaery’s face.

Before he could finish, Margaery raised her hand and slapped Dominic across the face. The shock of the sudden blow left him momentarily speechless, wide-eyed with disbelief.

But before he could voice his outrage, Margaery turned to him, her tone deceptively calm. “I’m sorry, Dominic.”

“Sorry? You tear up the engagement, trample on my dignity, and now you dare to hit me?” he exclaimed, disbelief coloring his voice.

Margaery glanced at Raul, her eyes dancing with sarcasm. “I have already offered my apology. One thing at a time. According to the Chancellor’s reasoning, shouldn’t Lord Dominic display a bit more magnanimity?”

Yvette, unable to contain her fury, interjected, “Margaery, if apologies were sufficient, why would we need the law?”

“Oh, so there is a law? How enlightening!” Margaery retorted, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

It was only now that the gravity of the situation dawned on Dominic. He stared at Margaery, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hurt. “Margaery, why are you treating me this way? Even if I made mistakes, how long ago was that? We’ve been childhood friends for so many years…”

Margaery’s sneer was sharp, cutting through the air. “Lord Chancellor and Lord Dominic, you both pose such insightful questions. One of you holds the highest office, while the other is the son of Hadley’s estate. Yet, not one of you seems to grasp the essence of my words. Or do you simply believe I am an easy target?”

She had endured so much, biding her time for this moment. Now, the gentleness she once embodied had vanished, replaced by a fierce, unwavering determination. “Everyone knows of the marriage contract, but what of Lord Dominic?

“The moment he laid eyes on Tessa, he was utterly captivated. Not only was our wedding postponed, but he secretly pledged his heart to her, embracing her openly in front of me. The Hadley family betrayed the engagement first, and now you question my motives?”