Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 403: The Wrong Book

Cassian looked at her, his gaze quiet but questioning.

Elowen's face flushed instantly, color rising fast all the way to her ears. "Don't... don't read any more of that."

Cassian studied her for a brief moment, then nodded like he had no objections at all. Only then did she let go of him.

At first, she had been convinced he was messing with her, making things up just to see her reaction.

But when she picked up the book and checked for herself, her breath caught.

It matched. Exactly.

And the deeper she read, the more outrageous it became.

By the second page, there was even a detailed illustration. A man and a woman stretched across a writing desk, tangled together in a way that left very little to the imagination.

Elowen's cheeks burned, but something stubborn in her made her keep going. She flipped another page.

"Second entry. A young lady comes to stay at the estate. Johnny invites her into the garden. A newly built swing catches her interest, and she suggests a more... creative use for it. He laughs, calls her a wicked tease, then follows her lead, lifting her legs over the frame as she asked."

Elowen froze, eyes widening.

That... that's even possible?

She swallowed, pulse racing, then hurriedly flipped ahead.

"Sixth entry. Three days after her coming-of-age feast, the sister complains of a persistent itch. Johnny grows curious. 'Take them off,' he says. 'Let me have a proper look.'"

That was the breaking point.

She snapped the book shut so fast it made a sharp sound in the quiet room.

Now she finally understood what the title really meant. It wasn't poetic in the slightest. Each so-called "hairpin" was just another entry, another woman added to the list, one after another, whether it was a maid, a visiting relative, or some sheltered young lady who should have known better.

Elowen pressed a hand to her forehead.

Wait, what did I even fall for just now?

And worse, she had just asked Cassian to read it aloud.

And the male lead's name had to be Johnny, of all things.

Heat flooded her whole body. Her face, her neck, even the tips of her ears burned as if she had been standing too close to a fire.

"Ella," Cassian said slowly, his tone thoughtful in a way that made everything worse, "I think I understand. You've been... curious."

Her heart skipped.

"But you're expecting," he added, lowering his voice. "Hugh was very clear. It's not a good idea."

A brief pause.

"And honestly, you don't need a book like that. If you want something, you can just tell me."

Elowen went completely speechless.

Her entire body felt like it was overheating. "I... I didn't..."

She couldn't even finish a sentence. In the end, she grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her face, her voice muffled.

"I didn't know what was in it. I swear I didn't."

If she had known, she would have burned it on the spot.

Cassian watched her for a second, then his expression softened. He reached out and brushed a hand over her hair.

"I know. I was teasing you."

Elowen slowly lowered the blanket, only her eyes showing.

Cassian continued, "When His Majesty ordered this book banned, I was the one handling the investigation. A few copies must have slipped through."

He glanced at the book. "Where did you get it? Selling something like this earns a few days behind bars at the very least."

Elowen thought of Finn. He probably had no idea what he had been selling.

She let out a quiet breath. "It's fine. He's just trying to make a living. Let it go."

The book still lay on the bed. She glanced at it and immediately looked away again, her cheeks turning even redder.

"I can get rid of it," Cassian said.

Elowen hesitated. "Not... not yet."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

She pulled the blanket back over her face, her voice small and embarrassed. "Maybe... after the baby is born... we can read it together."

Cassian stilled.

Something in his chest tightened, heat spreading fast and sharp. Under the same blanket, Elowen clearly felt the change.

She shifted slightly and turned her head. "Cassian... are you...?"

There was a brief pause.

"...Yes."

Her face went even redder. "Then I... should I do something?"

His voice dropped, rougher now. "You don't have to. Give it a minute."

But she didn't move away.

After a moment, she gathered her courage and spoke softly, almost whispering, "Hugh said we shouldn't... but he didn't say we couldn't... do anything at all, right?"

Cassian looked at her.

Restraint was slipping.

Elowen lay half-hidden in the blankets, her hair spread loosely across the pillow. Her skin was pale, but now warmed with a soft, flushed color that made her look even more vivid.

She looked... inviting in a way that was impossible to ignore.

Cassian swallowed.

Since her pregnancy, he had been careful and gentle. He had kept his distance, limiting himself to brief kisses at most.

He could usually keep it under control, but not tonight.

He held her gaze for a moment longer, then reached for her, pulling her into a deep, urgent kiss.

Elowen didn't pull away.

But the intensity caught her off guard. She raised a hand and smacked him lightly.

Cassian blinked, then eased back slightly, his movements noticeably more controlled this time.