Chapter 35

The 'meeting' took place in a hall filled with portraits . Carina could recognise most of them to be Thomas's works . The anxiety she previously contained had somehow subsided . She was almost ready to face her ill fate . The Belle family had taken seats while Carina , Sophia and the rest of the relatives abruptly stood like lambs waiting to be slaughtered . Carina's eyes were fixed on Lyanna's cold ones . Whatever accusations , insults or lies came her way , Carina would swallow them . She would strip her gown of pride down and let the demons claw at her bare skin . Then , she would leave all of this pain behind .

"I will be as straight as possible", Lyanna began , focusing on Sophia . "I am disappointed , mrs. Howards . I can't believe you would keep this information from me ." Sophia remained silent . "Though I don't know the whole story , I have heard a big revelation . That your daughter had eloped with my son-in-law , Thomas Ainsworth ."

"When they were very young", Sophia turned all heads towards her . "They didn't know what was right or wrong . And they made a mistake ."

"Forgive me for interrupting mrs. Howards but 'they' ? We have all heard things and we can certainly tell , 'your daughter' was the one who committed the crime ." Thomas shifted in his seat .

Lyanna was about to throw more accusations when a loud coughing noise interrupted . The sound was...horrid . Carina's eyes followed the sound . Charles was coughing up gallons of blood .