Chapter 30: Morning Scandals and Sweet Spoils

Verbena woke up to the scent of something sweet.

For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming — that the warmth beside her was just a figment of her imagination, and the soft sheets cocooning her were part of some luxurious fantasy.

But the arm draped over her waist was real.

Theodore Hellgrave, her husband, her villain, her… whatever he was now — lay beside her, his face half-buried in her hair, his breathing slow and peaceful.

Verbena's heart stuttered in her chest.

What had she done?

Oh right. Kissed him senseless. Let him touch her like they were lovers instead of an awkwardly married pair pretending to hate each other. She had broken every single rule she made for herself in this second life.

"Good morning, wife."

His voice was husky with sleep, his grip on her waist tightening slightly as if he could feel her trying to slip away.

"G-Good morning." She squeaked, feeling her face heat up.

"You're blushing already." Theodore propped himself up on one elbow, his smile wicked. "Should I take it as a sign you enjoyed last night?"

Verbena kicked off the sheets and scrambled to sit up, her hair an absolute mess. "Don't you have work? A villain duke like you should be drowning in evil paperwork!"

Theodore chuckled and leaned back against the headboard, watching her with a gaze far too soft for someone with his reputation. "I canceled my morning meetings."

"Why?"

"To have breakfast with my lovely wife, of course."

She didn't trust that smile. "You're plotting something."

"Always," he admitted easily. "But this time, my plot is simply to spoil you."

Before Verbena could process that absurd statement, the bedroom door swung open, and the head maid, Beatrice, marched in with a bright smile and a tray loaded with food.

"Good morning, Duchess! And good morning to you, Your Grace!" Beatrice's eyes sparkled with the kind of mischief only a head maid who had seen everything could possess.

Verbena turned redder than a tomato. "B-Beatrice! Knock next time!"

"Oh, my apologies." Beatrice set the tray down on the table beside the bed, completely unapologetic. "But it's such a rare joy to see our dear Duke and Duchess enjoying proper marital bliss. The whole household is celebrating!"

"What— celebrating what?!" Verbena sputtered.

"Word travels fast, my lady." Beatrice's smile only grew. "The servants heard everything last night."

Theodore, the shameless devil, stretched lazily and yawned. "Let them hear. I have nothing to hide."

Verbena wanted to crawl under the bed and disappear. "What exactly did they hear?"

"Enough to believe the Duke and Duchess are finally—"

"Don't say it!" Verbena threw a pillow at Beatrice, who dodged effortlessly.

Theodore, enjoying every second of his wife's meltdown, reached for a piece of pastry from the breakfast tray and held it out to Verbena. "Eat, before your mind spirals into a full panic."

"I'm already panicking!" She snatched the pastry and took a furious bite, chewing aggressively to cover her embarrassment.

Theodore leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear. "I could help calm you down."

"Stop it, you shameless villain!"

Beatrice, still standing nearby, sighed dramatically. "Ah, young love. It's like watching a romance novel come to life."

Verbena almost choked on her pastry.

Theodore smirked, but there was something softer behind his usual amusement. "You should eat properly, Verbena. You'll need strength."

"For what?!"

"For tonight," he answered, his smile all devilish charm.

Verbena hurled another pillow at him, but Theodore caught it easily.

Beatrice excused herself, humming happily as she left — no doubt eager to spread even more gossip throughout the mansion.

Alone again, the room felt smaller — heavier with the air of everything left unsaid between them.

Verbena wiped her hands on a napkin, her voice quieter now. "Theodore… about last night…"

His playful expression faded into something gentler. "No regrets?"

She bit her lip. "I… I don't know. My plans—"

"Forget your plans for once," he interrupted softly. "Just for today, let me spoil my wife. No schemes. No running. No pretending."

His hand covered hers, warm and steady.

Verbena's heart, foolish traitor that it was, skipped in betrayal.

She was supposed to leave him. Supposed to secure her freedom. But when his fingers laced through hers like this — like they were made to fit — she didn't want to think about leaving.

Maybe just for today, she could forget.

Just for today, she could pretend she belonged here.

"Alright," she whispered, squeezing his hand back. "Just for today."

And for the first time, breakfast at Hellgrave Manor became a meal for two.

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End of chapter