From Its Roots!

Penny was sure that she would regret telling him that she knew everything. But her chest had burnt with fury when she had heard his voice. She had not approached him just because he was a duke.

She had known him from her childhood. When her parents were still alive, she remembered him coming to her house and going to the royal palace with her father.

They have played together! Shared a memory! 

"I remember giving you my lucky stone! Why did you do this to me?" the man finally blinked as if he had left his body for a while and had only returned now.

His eyes narrowed and a dark light flickered in his eyes.

"You were in the corridor!" she nodded, her eyes stung and blurred but she raised her head and blinked a few times. She would not see this man cry! 

He wanted to kill her! Not directly but a slow painful death. She would not accept it. Even if she could not fight him, she could hurt him!?

As if determined, she brought her heels closer and stood on his feet. Once, twice, thrice. As they danced, she danced on his feet. Each time with more force as she kept staring into his eyes as if challenging him.

She could see it hurt him despite no reaction on his face. But it only infuriated her more. She was not someone who played tricks. She was a woman who spoke her heart. 

"My father liked you too." she hissed as if she had tarnished them. He had hurt their souls. He had broken her trust. "I have always waited to meet you again. I thought you would help me." her eyes started to stung again. The pain or betrayal clenched her heart in her ribcage and suddenly she was not able to breathe.

The man looked at him appalled. His eyes widening and then narrows at her actions.

"You…"

"Shut up!" he hissed before she could dig more memories from her past. "I am giving you a chance to live, woman! Or your uncle would have killed you for that wealth of yours." he spat with force as his grip on her hands tightened.

The force was too much and her hand stung. She was sure his grip would leave a bruise. But her uncle wanted to kill her? No matter how greedy he was! They were still family and it was a crime?

No! He was spinning a web of lies but then why did her heart accept it so easily. She felt the room spinning or it was her! He had twirled her with much force that she was spinning.

When she stopped, he leaned to her ears.

"Now be good and follow your aunt. Or you would not see the morning." Before the words could sink in, he let her go. She twirled and a strong pair of arms held her again.

The man smiled at her with a crooked grin.

"My lady, I have been waiting for my chance." he told her with a smile. All she could see were dark yellow teeth. Did the man even wash his teeth ever? 

Wow Penny! You were told that your uncle wanted to kill you and a man from the past was only selling you because he wanted to keep you alive so that you die a slow and miserable death! And all you care about is a stranger's teeth.

She must have lost her mind! Penny took a step back to breathe! Surely it was a nightmare. She did not mind waking up in the cold attic to save herself from this pain.

"My lady, the song is about to start. Where are you going." Penny paused when the man held her hand. She wriggled but he did not let her go.

Instead, he grinned looking at her as if she was a piece of meat. Penny felt repulsed. But she felt a lot more! Betrayed, angered and helpless.

 Her aunt and uncle were never good to her. They ignore her most of the time and sometimes treat her like a servant. But it was not to the limit where she could not endure.

She did not get etiquette classes like other nobles or she did not get the chance to attend social events. She did not have friends she could rely on but she still endured everything only to know that she was going to have a bleak future.

The man tried to pull her again while Penny swallowed her misery! Her anger was burning and before she knew it, she pushed the man with force. He was not expecting her to use force, he was using all his force in pulling her, so when she pushed him, he lost balance and fell on the ground.

The couples took several steps back to make sure he did not bump into their partners. Now he was sitting on the floor on his ass staring at her as if he was spellbounded. 

Penny rubbed her wrist and stared at him. 

The man was shocked! He only came to his senses when he heard laughter around him. He blinked and looked around only to see everyone was looking at him as if he was a joke. His face burnt and he snapped his head toward her. This woman! She was the cause of this insult.

He stood up with force and glared at her. Penny took a step back but she did not shrink in fear,

"I have told you I do not want to dance with you, sir. You are forcing me and I only pushed you to protect myself. I am sure you understand the meaning of refusal next time to not end up like this." she spoke in a calm and clear voice as she watched the man.

The man looked stunned. Surely he had not expected her to open her mouth and speak to him. The man took her as a pushover because of her uncle and aunt. 

She had to solve this issue from its roots!