Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 248: Truth Exposed

Lydia's face turned completely pale. Tears filled her eyes.

She looked up at Alistair, her voice trembling with grief. "Alistair, she's just a child. She must have been frightened and said the wrong things. She means everything to me. I left everything behind just to give her a stable life. How could I ever harm her? That would be like tearing out my own heart. You may resent me, but how could you question a mother's love?"

Elspeth let out a cold laugh. "Keep acting."

Elowen suddenly sighed softly. "Marquess, if we look at it carefully, Lydia's words are not entirely without reason."

Elspeth turned sharply, startled.

The proof is right there, and you're still taking his side? Speaking up for someone outside the family?

Elowen continued at an even pace. "Though Lydia lost her parents and her husband, her family still holds some standing. She is not without means. If she came here, it may not have been purely for her own comfort."

A brief pause.

"And as I recall, when you married Aunt, you swore before her family that you would take no other wife. Lydia would know this. She could never become your concubine. And with Aunt in good health, she would never take her place."

She lifted her gaze slightly. "So if she insisted on staying in your household, it could only have been for Nina."

Her words sounded gentle, but each one stripped away the truth layer by layer.

Alistair's expression slowly turned cold.

He was no fool. He had simply chosen not to doubt her.

Until now. Realization struck like ice through his veins.

He had been deceived. He had nearly destroyed his own household.

Lydia trembled. "Alistair... I..."

"Go back."

His voice cut through her words, low and final.

"Alistair..."

"I said, go back."

His tone sharpened.

Lydia froze. She had never heard him speak like this.

When she met his eyes, there was nothing left there but disappointment. Fear gripped her chest.

"Guards," Alistair said. "Take Lydia and Nina back."

Two attendants stepped forward at once, lifting Lydia up as she collapsed.

"Alistair, for the sake of my parents—"

Her plea was cut short as a cloth was pressed over her mouth. She was dragged out without hesitation.

After she was taken away, Alistair turned back to Elspeth, guilt written plainly across his face.

"Today was my mistake..."

Elspeth shot him a sidelong look. "Just today?"

He paused, then corrected himself at once. "You're right. I've been wrong before as well."

He stepped closer, his tone softening. "Calm down. You can scold me, hit me if you like. I won't complain."

Elspeth rolled her eyes. "You make it sound like I'm unreasonable."

He smiled quickly. "Not at all. You've always been the most reasonable."

She let out a small huff, turning her face away, though her expression had already softened.

He read her mood carefully and continued, gentler now. "It's late. Shall we head back? I promise, I won't upset you again."