Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 60

**Chapter 60: Just Slap Her**

Tessa’s voice quivered like a fragile leaf caught in a gust of wind, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears that threatened to spill over at any moment. She cast her gaze downward, her voice barely above a whisper, “It’s nothing…”

But before she could don the mask of the innocent victim, Margaery interjected, her tone unexpectedly firm. “I did it.”

Joshua’s body went rigid, the shock of her admission freezing him in place. “Margaery!” he exclaimed, disbelief etched across his features.

This marked the first occasion Margaery had openly acknowledged that she was the one who had struck Tessa with such force that her face had become a swollen canvas of bruises. Her expression was unnervingly calm, her eyes steady and unwavering, devoid of any hint of guilt or remorse.

In that moment, a wave of realization washed over Joshua, making him reflect on all the previous incidents. The memories felt distorted, as if they were painted in shades of gray that no longer matched the vibrant colors of reality.

In the past, Tessa had always been seated on the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks, desperately trying to defend Margaery. Meanwhile, Margaery had played the role of the wronged party, throwing accusations at Tessa, claiming she was framing her, insisting that she hadn’t pushed her or done anything wrong.

But this time, the roles had shifted dramatically, and Margaery had stepped into the light, taking full responsibility for her actions.

Joshua stood there momentarily speechless, grappling with the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally managed to voice the question that hung heavily in the air. “Why did you hit Tessa?”

Margaery’s expression hardened as she replied, “It’s freezing outside, and instead of staying in Sunbeam Court, she came all the way to Gracewind Garden just to show off. She had the audacity to say that even if I marry Dominic, I’ll only end up in the Clan Court, while the Hadley family will soon make her the official wife. She implied I’d be banished to the Laundry Bureau or the Labor Division, left to rot away in obscurity!”

Her gaze bore into Joshua, her tone deliberate and unyielding, devoid of any trace of anger, yet it caused Joshua’s expression to darken, as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.

He glanced at Tessa, a flicker of indignation flashing across his face.

Margaery pressed on, “Do you think she didn’t deserve to be slapped?”

He shot Tessa a piercing look. “Tessa, why aren’t you recovering in Sunbeam Court? What are you doing here in Gracewind Garden, spouting this nonsense to Margaery?”

For the very first time, Joshua felt a wave of irritation wash over him regarding Tessa.

‘Of all times, why now?’ he thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

He and his father had been tirelessly working to persuade Margaery to marry Dominic, a scheme designed to keep her firmly under their control. Yet, here was Tessa, showing up at dawn and stirring the pot of trouble!

“I never said any of that!” Tessa protested vehemently, her voice quaking with emotion. There was no way she would ever admit to such things, not even if her life depended on it.

Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she continued, “I truly don’t understand why Margaery would say such things about me. I only came here to invite her to stay with me in Sunbeam Court…”

Before Tessa could finish her plea, Margaery struck her again, the sound of the slap echoing in the cold air. “Then why didn’t you come sooner? Winter has gripped us for nearly two months, and Gracewind Garden has been freezing this whole time. Now you suddenly decide to remember?”

The force of the slap was merciless.

Tessa found herself sprawled in the snow, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she clutched her face, staring at Margaery in utter disbelief.

Even with Joshua standing right there, she dares to hit me?’ Tessa thought, her mind racing in shock.

Of course, Margaery had the audacity to retaliate; she felt no fear whatsoever.

Times had shifted dramatically. Now, with Joshua and Raul so terrified she might elope with Prince Dashnell, they were practically begging her to stay.

Margaery didn’t just stop at striking Tessa; she turned her attention to Joshua, her voice laced with a chilling calmness. “Tessa’s being out of line. As her elder sister, slapping her twice isn’t too much, is it?”

Her eyes, once filled with innocence, now appeared deep and inscrutable, leaving Joshua to ponder the unsettling transformation.

He frowned, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

No matter how he sliced it, Margaery’s actions felt unjustifiable. Tessa was so fragile, having spent years in the countryside, and now thrust into the Chancellor’s estate, struggling to find her footing. That slap must have struck deeper than flesh.

But this was not the time to confront Margaery.

He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to nod. “Not at all.”

“Good,” Margaery replied, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips.

‘So it’s true. Power is a woman’s true armor. Tears and sobs hold no weight. Only when you wield power and force others to swallow their anger does it truly matter,’ she mused bitterly.

Margaery regarded him, the irony of the situation almost laughable to her.

‘Survival of the fittest—that’s the law of this world,’ she thought bitterly.

Back when she had nothing but the Wallens to lean on, they had turned a blind eye to her suffering. They allowed Tessa to tarnish her name and lay every blame at her feet.

But now, even if they felt the seething anger inside, they had no choice but to swallow it.

Years of so-called family affection had evaporated in an instant, obliterated by the harshness of reality.

Now, when Margaery looked at Joshua, he felt like a stranger.

‘Turns out, blood relations… are merely a natural bond—whether you have them or not, it makes no difference,’ she mused.

A heavy stone seemed to lift from her chest, and Margaery felt a newfound clarity wash over her, allowing her to breathe freely at last. “There’s nothing to be upset about. But please, Joshua, tell Tessa not to come looking for trouble with me again. Otherwise, I won’t go easy on her next time.”

“Don’t forget,” she added, locking eyes with Joshua. “I’m the one who’s engaged to Dominic.”

Joshua stiffened, a wave of confusion washing over him.

‘What is she getting at?’ he pondered, feeling a bit thrown off balance.

After a moment of contemplation, Joshua finally replied, “Alright, I’ll talk to her. I’ll ensure she doesn’t cross paths with you again. Even if she does marry Dominic, she’ll only ever be a concubine. She could never pose a threat to your position.”

As he spoke, he stepped closer, adopting a warm, familiar demeanor. “Margaery, at the end of the day, you’re still the little girl I watched grow up…”

‘Oh, really?’ Margaery scoffed inwardly.

If she didn’t have someone powerful backing her now, Joshua wouldn’t be saying any of this.

He’d probably just toss her back into the cellar for another month, just like before.