Web Fic
Chapter 175
Chapter 175
At the dinner party, amidst the clinking of wine glasses and the low hum of conversation, someone casually remarked, “I heard Eaton’s got some fine treats up his sleeve, just for Mr. Chadwick’s eyes. That doesn’t seem fair. I wanna get in on the action too.”
The suggestion caught on like wildfire.
“Count me in!”
“I wanna see.”
The braver souls among them began to follow, though none dared to stick too close.
Herman, observing the commotion with a frown, rose and blended into the crowd. His curiosity was piqued and he too wanted to uncover any clandestine dealings between the Peterson family and the Chadwick family.
Led by Howard, the group made their way upstairs.
Suddenly, a woman’s moans of pleasure pierced the air!
It came from the end of the hallway.
The Petersons turned ashen.
Howard quickened his pace, his footsteps urgent.
As they drew closer, the moans grew louder.
“This is Conrad’s lounge,” Valor noted, panic setting in as he spotted the nameplate on the door. Gwendolyn had been missing for quite some time.
Conrad was known for his scandalous ways. He didn’t care about status when it came to women as long as he had his fun.
“Mrs. Chadwick has been away from her seat for quite a while,” murmured voices in the crowd.
“Maybe she’s changing her dress.”
“But a dress change doesn’t take that long, does it?”
With Howard as the focal point, Gwendolyn was also under scrutiny. Man were aware of her absence, but they hadn’t paid it much mind, given that other heiresses were present
“Can’t believe Conrad would be so brazen!”
They assumed the woman inside might be Gwendolyn.
Herman couldn’t help but let out a snicker.
“She’s a real country mouse, no manners,” he sneered. “Only she could goof up and get her dress dirty when everyone else didn’t.“,
His words were laden with longstanding resentment, seizing an opportunity to vent.
Some echoed his sentiment, while others pretended not to hear.
Fearing Howard might fly into a rage, Alberta ventured, “I’ll go check on her.”
If it truly was Gwendolyn who had come to harm, it was better to shield her from exposing such a disgrace in front of everyone.
“No need!”
Howard, suppressing his anger, kicked the door open with a swift and forceful motion.
The door shook and swung open to reveal a disheveled woman in tattered clothing, her hair a wild mess, who ran straight into his arms. Like dodging a plague, Howard swiftly sidestepped, avoiding her touch.
The woman fell to the floor, revealing a delicate face beneath her disarrayed locks.
“Vivien!” Têxt belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
“It’s her!”
“She and Conrad…?”
Herman’s expression froze as he pushed through the crowd to the front, only to find that it was indeed Vivien.
“You… shameless bitch!” He yanked her to her feet and delivered a stinging slap across her face.
“Dad! I…” Vivien’s cries were pitiful, especially with so many onlookers, which only heightened her fear. She knew her reputation was ruined beyond repair.
“Vivien.” From the doorway, Conrad, now fully dressed, sauntered out with a nonchalant air.
“Love is pleasure,” he chided, “Choose your words carefully.”
He was like a cancer, always causing trouble that left young ladies at a loss for words.
At his words, Vivien’s sobs grew even more violent.
She feared the scandal breaking, especially if anyone found out the powder was hers. Howard would be furious! And she had no clue what Conrad had done with the other packet of powder.
She cast furtive glances at Howard, looking for any sign of his displeasure.
“I…”
“Vivien! Tell the truth, did he force you?” Herman was desperate to salvage what little dignity remained.
Mrs. Moore, listening from the crowd, bristled. “Your daughter gets into this mess with my son, and you think it’s all his doing?”
“Vivien!” Herman’s warning was a cold hiss.
Vivien cowered behind him, shaking her head as she sobbed, “No, he didn’t force me!”
She bore the brunt of the misfortune, yet had no choice but to swallow her grievances.