Chapter 20: Midnight Confessions and Unwanted Guests

The candlelit dinner, the soft starlight, the accidental hand-holding—all of it should've ended there. Verbena planned to sleep in a guest room (far, far away from Theodore) and reset her brain in the morning.

Unfortunately, the villa had other plans.

The moment she stepped into her designated room, a terrifying scream echoed through the hall.

"What now?!" she shouted, grabbing a candlestick like a weapon.

Theodore appeared beside her, sword already drawn, looking like he'd been expecting trouble.

"Ghost?" he asked casually.

"Please don't say that."

Together, they pushed open the creaking door to the supposedly empty master bedroom—only to find… a noble lady sitting dramatically on the bed, sobbing into her lace handkerchief.

Verbena blinked. "Who the hell are you?"

The woman lifted her head, revealing a familiar, tear-streaked face.

Lady Estella Von Brink. Theodore's ex-fiancée.

"Oh no," Verbena groaned.

"Oh yes," Estella said dramatically, flinging herself toward Theodore. "I've come to win you back, my love!"

"Pardon?" Theodore looked genuinely baffled.

Verbena, however, wasn't having it. She stepped between them, arms crossed. "Lady Estella, I know you and your delusions have history, but this man is my husband now."

"Temporarily!" Estella shrieked. "Everyone knows you're aiming for divorce."

"Well, jokes on you," Verbena shot back. "We just had a romantic dinner under the stars and I'm pregnant."

The room went silent. Theodore choked on air. Estella's jaw hit the floor.

"…You're not pregnant," Theodore whispered, trying not to laugh.

"Shut up and play along," Verbena hissed under her breath.

"You evil witch!" Estella wailed. "You stole my man and trapped him with a baby!"

Verbena smiled sweetly. "All's fair in love and war."

While Estella was still screaming into her handkerchief, Theodore grabbed Verbena's hand and dragged her out of the room.

"What was that?" he asked once they were alone in the hall.

"Defense mechanism," she shrugged. "She shows up, I escalate. It's survival."

"You're insane."

"And you married me."

Before Theodore could argue back, the butler suddenly appeared—suspiciously cheerful. "Your Graces, a midnight snack has been prepared for you both."

Verbena narrowed her eyes. "Why are you smiling like you're about to ruin my life?"

"No reason."

They were led back to the dining room, where the table was set again—this time with a heart-shaped cake and two glasses of suspiciously sparkling wine.

"Where did this even come from?" Verbena muttered.

"It's a gift from the servants," the head maid chimed in. "For the health of your future baby."

Verbena's soul left her body. "You told them?!"

Theodore, meanwhile, was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.

"Congratulations, Your Graces!" The staff clapped enthusiastically.

"Stop clapping! There is no baby!" Verbena screamed.

The clapping got louder.

And then, because fate had a cruel sense of humor, the crown prince himself—Lance Auther Kalix—barged into the villa, dramatically ripping off his cape.

"Verbena!" Lance shouted, "I've come to rescue you from this villain!"

Theodore's smile vanished. Verbena stared at the ceiling, begging any god who'd listen to just strike her down already.

"Who invited him?!" she yelled.

The butler discreetly slipped into the shadows.

"I'm not being held captive," Verbena tried to explain, but Lance wasn't listening. He dramatically unsheathed his sword (which got stuck halfway) and pointed it at Theodore.

"Fight me for her hand!"

"Oh for the love of—" Verbena grabbed Lance by the collar, yanked him down, and whispered harshly, "We are married, you idiot! And I'm fake-pregnant with his fake-baby, so go home!**"

Lance blinked. "Fake baby?"

"Long story. Just leave."

"…So you're really staying with him?"

"Against my better judgment."

Lance sighed dramatically, stuffed his sword back into its sheath (still stuck halfway), and turned to leave. "If he breaks your heart, I'll be waiting!"

Verbena collapsed into a chair as soon as the door closed, utterly exhausted.

"Are you done creating chaos for one night?" Theodore asked, sitting beside her.

"I didn't create it. It found me."

He leaned in, voice soft. "Still… you defended me back there."

"Don't get cocky."

"I'm already cocky."

Verbena turned to glare at him, but he was closer than expected. Too close.

"Are you falling for me already, Lady Hellgrave?"

"Shut up," she muttered, but her face was burning.

And outside the window, the butler and head maid high-fived.

End of Chapter 20