The smile he bestowed upon her was a grim one, to say the least. How the little thing could still respond pleasantly through this travesty was beyond his reasoning.

He noted ironically that not a single one of these elders stepped forward to help the poor girl, as she swayed back and forth, still reeling from the blow so cruelly dealt her.

The Duke was quick to help steady Mirai, offering his arms for support. Yet he fought with himself not to pounce on the Earl and beat the wretched man to a pulp. So enraged was he!

The old prune deserved far worse than that for abusing a child under his care!

Regardless, Ainsley realized that he needed to get the poor girl out of there. A twisted scene such as this was no place for a proper young woman.

Nothing about this mess smelt of decency.

And since neither of the elders had demonstrated that they had their best interests at heart, it was best to leave and cut ties.

Even young Ainsley knew that one can choose their own destiny, but not their own family. Such was the cruelty offered to him from a young age.

“Come, my dear. Let us leave them behind us,” he murmured gently to the girl while steering her towards the door.

Even though his words, spoken as softly as they were, were intended to soothe her—they created yet another stir amongst the group, as some moved to block their path!

A cousin or perhaps an uncle protested their leaving. “Where do you think you’re going with Mirai?! You have some nerve to take her—She belongs with her grandfather! Have you no respect for anyone else?!”

Ainsley could honestly give a rat’s ass about what they thought. And he sure as hell wasn't going to hand the girl back to her grandfather—that scoundrel!

With his free hand, the Duke shoved the fellow aside and continued to move towards the door. His other arm wrapped tightly around his wife, shielding her from anyone who dared step into their view again.

It was the Earl’s voice that set them on pause again. His cryptic words floated hauntingly from the back of the room. “Lord Ainsley—you have no idea what that girl is capable of. If you take her, there will be unimaginable consequences for you. Her soul is black! She will destroy your life!”

Gasps were unleashed around the room, echoing ominously—an indication that many had no idea what the old Earl was forewarning them about. Nonetheless, a few of her “relatives” instinctively retreated a step back, as if the girl harbored the Black Death.

Ainsley could feel a jolt from the young woman in his arms—as if her grandfather had struck her once again. Had the Duke examined the lady closely, he would’ve seen that the pain in her eyes was not due to the swelling of her face.

Frankly, this silly rakehell was growing rather tired of this conversation.

He didn’t bother to spare the Earl a glance as he bit out menacingly in the man’s direction, “Then may she destroy my life, rather than you destroying hers! Since you’ve all so thoughtlessly forced us into a marriage—by law, she belongs to me now. What happens to her from this moment on is none of your damn business! Now bugger off!”

The young Duke could feel the Earl’s silent resentment, blanketing over him like a thick curse. Yet he knew it wasn’t worth entertaining the old man’s delusional words any further.

With a soft tug, Ainsley navigated his young wife towards the entrance. He did his best to shield her from the awkward stares projected by bystanders, who were still lingering awake at this god awful hour. Each person desperate to get a glimpse at what would no doubt be the scandal of the season.

Surely sacrificing a bit of sleep for this juicy piece of morsel was well worth it when one could share it with their friends over tea on the morrow.

His jaw was set tightly, but he remained silent, not wanting to frighten his young bride further by engaging in needless confrontations with others.

Despite the alcohol still coursing through his veins, he barely restrained himself from plunging into a senseless brawl with the vultures surrounding him. However, an excited conversation snagged his attention, and his fist clenched involuntarily.

He overheard a young girl, her voice dripping with social ambition, exclaim to Aunt Chelsea, “Mother, are we now related to the Duke of Savannah? But I wanted to marry him! Wait—will we be invited to every ball from now on?”

‘Parasites,’ the young duke thought severely.

Fate's lessons, much like bitter medicine, are often hard to swallow, yet necessary. This was no doubt a punishment that Ainsley would not soon forget.

While waiting for his carriage to be fetched, he draped his coat around his wife, noticing that she was still shivering violently. The early morning chill was rather unforgiving.

He would indeed have to purchase new clothes for her now.

For if not he, then whom?

The rakehell cursed himself further, realizing that her whole life would now be his responsibility.

She was his dependent now. Practically his ward!

‘Oh, stupid Ainsley,’ he thought morosely, as dread settled firmly into his stomach. ‘You’re an absolute idiot! Just had to play the hero, didn’t you?!’

As the truth of the night’s consequence began to make itself clear, a sense of panic began to set in, accompanied by a measure of loss.

His bachelor card had been thoroughly rescinded.

He was married with a wife, of all things!

How will he ever show his face at White’s again…?

As he lamented the bleak future ahead of him, Ainsley wondered if he could perhaps offload the girl at Moonstone, a manor owned by his family in the countryside, a few days’ ride outside of London.

He would ensure that the chit was well taken care of with a generous monthly allowance, and a house full of staff and clothes.

Lots of clothes.

He glanced at the little thing, huddled in his large overcoat. The garment was so big it made her look like a child playing grown-up.

A child.

His stomach knotted tightly.

He cringed, lamenting to himself, ‘Don’t be cruel to her. It was your piss poor decisions that got you into this mess. Leaving her at Moonstone by herself would be foul indeed. She deserves better.’

It was then that she looked at him. And what he saw written on her face scared him senseless.

With her soulful eyes, Mirai conveyed her admiration for him, accompanied by her deep gratitude and respect.

But worse of all, she relayed her trust in him.

‘Oh blessed hell, Ainsley! What did you get yourself into…?!’

What, indeed.