Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 550: No Way Back

Alaric smiled faintly. "If you refuse, then you've chosen him. That's fine. Once I deal with him, I'll take you back anyway."

His voice remained gentle, but his words were merciless. "Don't worry, Ella. I care about you. I'll make sure you're safe. But that child..."

His gaze dropped briefly to her abdomen.

"If it's born, I'll make sure it doesn't live. If not, I'll have it taken care of before it ever has the chance."

The cruelty in his words was plain, stripped of all pretense.

Elowen's brows tightened, and she instinctively placed a hand over her stomach, as though shielding the child from hearing.

Alaric watched her closely, something dark and obsessive in his eyes. He stepped closer, his voice softening again. "Ella, come on. Take my hand."

Before he could finish, a sharp blow struck the back of his leg.

Alaric's leg gave out instantly, and he dropped hard to the ground, pain shooting through his knee.

Shock and anger surged as he looked up and saw Cassian standing there.

Cassian stood slightly to the side, relaxed, looking down at him.

"You—"

Alaric's expression twisted as he turned toward Elowen. "I said no one else was allowed!"

Elowen shifted slightly in her seat, settling more comfortably. "That's my personal guard. He's responsible for my safety. You didn't say I couldn't bring a guard."

Alaric faltered, then turned back to Cassian.

Today, Cassian wasn't dressed in noble attire. Instead, he wore a fitted black riding outfit, a leather belt at his waist, boots built for movement. At a glance, he looked exactly like a guard.

Only then did Alaric realize Cassian had been there all along, just outside the carriage. He simply hadn't noticed.

His expression darkened.

He had been played.

"Fine," he muttered through clenched teeth.

Cassian spoke calmly, "Your Highness, the ground isn't comfortable. If you've got something to say, you might want to stand first."

The tone alone was enough to make Alaric's face flush.

The guards behind him rushed forward to help, but Alaric shoved them aside, his gaze turning sharp again as he fixed on Elowen. "So you're just going to ignore Josh? I know who he is to you. You wouldn't let anything happen to him."

Elowen did not answer.

At that moment, footsteps approached.

Elowen looked up to see an attendant from Kaelan's side leading Josh over. "Your Grace, Your Highness."

Only then did she turn back to Alaric, a faint smile touching her lips. "I knew you'd be waiting here to make a show of things. But Kaelan placed among the top ten this year, and his people are all here. I have some connection with his family, so getting Josh out wasn't difficult."

Her tone remained calm. "I'm taking him home now. If you have anything else to say, you can say it to my guard."

Cassian moved at once, his arm coming up casually as it rested across Alaric's shoulder.

"Your Grace's right," he said. "Anything you want to say, say it to me. I'm just the guard."

Alaric tried to pull away.

It didn't work.

Cassian's grip looked loose, but it carried precise control. His thumb pressed at just the right spot, and a wave of numbness spread instantly through Alaric's arm, locking half his body in place.

"Your Highness!" one of the guards called, stepping forward.

Cassian turned his head slightly and looked at them.

That single glance was enough.

There was no raised voice, no overt threat, yet something in his presence carried the weight of battlefields and command.

The guards froze.

Some of them had once served under him.

Even now, without his title, that instinctive fear remained.

They didn't dare move.

Alaric could only stand there, helpless, watching as Josh climbed into the Hale Manor carriage, watching as it rolled away.

Only then did Cassian release him, giving his back a light pat.

Alaric stumbled forward, nearly losing his balance.

"Take care," Cassian said casually. "We won't be staying for supper."

He turned and walked toward the carriage.

When he reached it, he didn't bother with the step. With a light motion, he vaulted up smoothly, landing with effortless control.

The carriage rolled toward the side gate.

Only then did Alaric snap out of it.

He straightened abruptly, his chest rising and falling, his eyes bloodshot as he stared after them, his expression twisted with anger.

"Elowen!" he shouted. "Don't think I need you!"