Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 135

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

Raul felt a deep churning in his stomach, an overwhelming sense of regret that clawed at him from the inside. The weight of his decisions pressed heavily upon him, especially after that fateful conversation with Nolan. He had been so consumed by the demands of his work that he had neglected the pressing matter of Tessa’s situation, allowing it to spiral out of control.

Only this very morning, in a desperate bid to rectify his mistakes, he had sent a messenger to summon Avery back, intending to orchestrate Tessa’s abortion in secrecy. Yet, fate had other plans. Before the messenger could even reach Lakeburgh, chaos erupted—an unforeseen turn of events that left Raul feeling cornered and powerless.

Now, as he stood amidst the hushed whispers and scrutinizing gazes of those around him, he realized there was no way out. The only recourse left to him was to shut his eyes and hope that the storm would pass.

Margaery observed Raul closely, her keen eyes assessing his every reaction. It was clear to her that he had been aware of Tessa’s pregnancy long before today’s confrontation. His anger, she surmised, was merely a façade to protect Tessa, and she was resolute in her determination to thwart his efforts.

With a mocking smile, Margaery turned to Nolan and asked, “Is my dear sister truly pregnant? Am I simply throwing around baseless accusations, or is there truth to my claims?”

Nolan’s body stiffened at her words. He released Tessa from his grip and rose to his feet, the weight of the room’s attention pressing down on him. “So, what is the outcome?” he asked, his voice strained.

Dominic, standing nearby, felt a wave of dread wash over him. “Please, say something!” he urged, his mind racing with the implications. Tessa couldn’t possibly be pregnant; if she was, he would have no way to justify his actions.

Nolan’s face contorted with worry, the gravity of the situation settling heavily upon him.

Yvette, equally taken aback, implored, “What is it? Please, just tell us!”

But Nolan’s expression spoke volumes; it was a silent acknowledgment that sent a chill through the room. The anxious murmurs of the crowd shifted to a cold silence, disappointment hanging thick in the air.

Finally, under the weight of their collective gaze, Nolan let out a resigned sigh. “Lady Tessa does indeed exhibit signs of pregnancy. Based on her pulse, she has been carrying the child for over a month.”

Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd. “She’s actually pregnant, and for more than a month! That clearly didn’t happen during the incident at Pero Cela. So who is the father?”

“Could it be Lord Dominic, or perhaps someone from the Wallen family?” The speculation began to swirl, each whisper more scandalous than the last.

The expressions of those present morphed into a mix of shock and intrigue. Tessa felt the tears spill from her eyes, and in a moment of vulnerability, she admitted, “It was Dominic…”

Instantly, the room erupted into a cacophony of whispers. “Good heavens, Lady Margaery was right; Lady Tessa truly is pregnant! Lord Dominic did such a thing and still wanted to be with Lady Margaery. No wonder he faced such public humiliation, leading to the end of their engagement.”

“Indeed. He went to the Chancellor’s estate and behaved so disgracefully with Lady Tessa. It’s as if he’s been trampling all over Lady Margaery’s dignity. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t let him off so easily today either.”

“Lady Tessa is nothing but a seductress, luring her own brother-in-law while pretending to be virtuous!”

“Those Wallen men are something else,” someone chuckled. “Lady Tessa is already undermining Lady Margaery, and yet they still rally behind her, disparaging Margaery as if she’s worthless.”

“Lady Margaery must truly have the worst luck to be entangled with such a family.”

The physician had previously assured them that conceiving was unlikely, and since he had intended to marry Tessa, they had never taken precautions afterward. The notion of Tessa carrying his child was, in fact, a plausible scenario.

But no one could have foreseen how swiftly everything would unravel. Now, the woman he wished to marry was Margaery. Yesterday, he had made bold proclamations; today, he could not allow Margaery to withdraw from the engagement, or his reputation would be irrevocably damaged.

From that moment forward, he resolved to sever all ties with Tessa. The other members of the Hadley family understood and accepted this stance without question.

Seamus, upon hearing Dominic’s declaration, turned his gaze to Tessa and said, “Dominic is correct. At this moment, both sides have their claims, and there is no evidence to definitively prove that this child belongs to Dominic.”

“If Lady Tessa remains unconvinced, let her give birth. When the time comes, we can conduct a paternity test. If the child truly is Dominic’s, we can address the matter then.”

After speaking, he exchanged a knowing glance with Raul, their silent agreement clear: they needed to navigate this crisis carefully; Margaery’s marriage was the priority above all.

Raul’s frustration boiled beneath the surface, and he thought bitterly, ‘Is it even possible for this child to be born?’

If the child came into the world, there would be no turning back. Even if the Hadley family acknowledged the child later, Tessa would only be able to assume the role of a concubine. Given Dominic’s current attitude, her future within the Hadley family would be bleak.

He had only one daughter, and the thought of losing her was unbearable. Yet now, even if he couldn’t bear the idea, there was no solution in sight. The situation had escalated to a point of no return, largely due to Margaery’s relentless machinations.

He cast a furious glance at Margaery, wishing he could reduce her to mere dust. After all, Tessa was his flesh and blood, and to witness her being so cruelly mistreated by Margaery was a torment he could hardly endure.