I was pregnant, and the child wasn’t my husband’s. I should have felt guilt, but I didn’t. Not after I found out Declan had been betraying me for months. I drowned my sorrows in wine that night and stumbled into the wrong room.
I never learned the stranger’s name. Then, at today’s family banquet, I discovered the man I’d slept with was Julian Graham—my husband’s uncle, the most powerful lord in the Northern Territory. And he was hunting for the woman from that night. I slipped into the garden to escape the suffocating crowd.
Then I heard a scream. “Talk. Who entered the Duke’s tent that night? ”
Julian’s personal guards were interrogating a servant.
I watched them snap the man’s finger. I clamped my hand over my mouth, terrified. “Someone’s here. ”
Before I could flee, I was dragged before Julian.
He lounged on a long chair, black tunic clinging to his frame. “Look up. ”
His eyes were cold as ice. “Why are you here?
Did Declan send you to sniff around? ”
“No, I just got lost. I didn’t see anything. ”
Then the sickness hit.
I meant to lean toward the flower bed, but my foot slipped and I fell straight into Julian’s arms. “I’m Declan’s wife. I wasn’t feeling well. I’m sorry.
”
He let me go. But just as I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist, his eyes sharp. “Haven’t we met somewhere before? ”
My heart stopped.
He couldn’t know. I broke free and ran. That night I couldn’t sleep. The man from that night—Julian.
Declan’s uncle. I couldn’t keep this baby. The midwife’s words crushed me: “Your womb is fragile. If you force an abortion, you may never conceive again.
”
If I wanted to keep this child, I had to end my marriage to Declan. I confronted him, but he refused. “If you can’t secure the Northern Duchy’s trade covenant, forget the annulment. And forget getting your mother’s manor back.
”
He’d taken Cooper Manor from me. To get it back and divorce him, I had to go to Julian. At the tavern, Julian wasn’t pleased to see me. “Get out.
”
Then his attendant entered with my stepsister, Cesily. She wore a gleaming brooch—identical to mine. I recognized it. My father had ordered two, one for each of us.
“The woman from that night wore this exact brooch,” the attendant said. Julian ripped it off her. He looked at the scar on her right hand—the same scar we both got in a fight years ago. He was convinced.
She was pretending to be me. I couldn’t expose her. If I told the truth, Julian would know I was the woman that night. I couldn’t afford that.
I left the tavern, the covenant forgotten. The next day, a nun sent word: my grandmother was sick. My stepmother Margaret had cut off her medical funding. Cesily and her mother weren’t just cruel—they wanted her dead.
When I arrived, Cesily sneered. I slapped her. “That slap is what you owe Grandma. If anything happens to her, I’ll hold you accountable.
”
But the conflict reached Julian’s ears. At a banquet, Cesily played the victim in front of him. I was disgusted. The greasy smell turned my stomach.
As I walked out, Cesily stuck out her foot. I tripped, crashed into a servant, and knocked Julian down, injuring his arm. Back in his chamber, I found him struggling to bandage his arm with one hand. “Let me help you.
”
He gave me a silent look of permission. I wrapped the bandage carefully. “Why didn’t you call a servant? ” I asked.
“I don’t like strangers getting too close. ”
My hands paused. Then the door swung open—Declan appeared. The moment shattered.
Back at Cooper Manor, I knew my only path was Julian’s territory. I offered him 30% of Cooper Manor’s grain yields for the trade covenant. “Perania isn’t worth 30% of the Northern Territory’s strength. Why would I want your yield rights?
”
“You know exactly the value of this cooperation. ”
I placed a pot of soup in front of him. “I made this this morning. Consider it an apology.
”
Then Cesily appeared, carrying an identical pot. She peeled an apple for Julian, her eyes glinting with malice. The scent turned my stomach. “Ariana, are you pregnant?
” she asked sweetly. “Just a stomach issue,” I said, keeping my voice calm. Julian’s gaze fell on my hand. The scar.
“The woman from that night. ”
Cesily knocked over the hot soup. It splashed onto my hand, burning it bright red. “I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean it. ”
The burn made the scar impossible to see. For once, I was grateful. Days later, Julian invited me to an archery hunt.
His arm hadn’t healed, so when his friend made a bet, Julian looked at me. “Do you know how to shoot? ”
“A little. ”
“Give it a try.
If she loses, it’s on me. ”
I stepped to the line. My mother was an expert archer; she’d taught me as a child. I drew the bow and released.
The arrow landed in the bullseye. I won. Julian owed me a thousand gold coins. Afterward, Cesily brought ale and placed it before Julian, but he swapped it with my cup.
“If your stomach is upset, don’t drink alcohol. ”
Half an hour later, he was sneezing. Red rashes spread across his neck. “Lord Julian is allergic to certain spices,” his attendant said.
Cesily had tampered with the ale. She meant to harm me—but Julian drank it instead. I heard screaming from the next room. A woman knelt on the floor, holding a little boy whose face had turned purple—he was choking on hard candy.
“Let me try. If we wait for the physician, it will be too late. ”
I rushed over, wrapped my arms around him, and thrust upward. After the third try, the candy shot out.
The boy cried, color returning to his face. As thanks, Count Zayn Campbell gave me a ring—the same style as the one Julian wore. Soon after, Julian signed the covenant. It was time to end my marriage.
I placed the parchment before Declan. “You promised. Once I secured this covenant, we’d end the marriage. ”
“Ariana, does it have to be this way?
”
“Tomorrow morning, we go to the bishop. ”
“I won’t agree. ”
“You promised. ”
“I said I’d think about it.
Ariana, the land needs you. I need you. ”
He looked like he was begging. But I wouldn’t be fooled.
“I helped you manage the land. Cooper Manor was my mother’s legacy. You took everything from me, and now you want to keep using me. ”
He fell silent.
Not because he loved me—because I was still useful. “I’ll figure something out about the manor. Give me time. ”
“No need.
I’ll get it back myself. ”
I turned and left. Behind me, a goblet shattered. Back in our chamber, I packed.
I shoved my clothes into a trunk, moving like I was escaping something. Declan rushed back, blocking the staircase. “Ariana, don’t go. ”
During the struggle, the ring fell out of my luggage.
The green gemstone rolled to his feet. He picked it up, frowning. “This is Uncle Julian’s ring. How do you have it?
Did you trade your body for that covenant? Did you sleep with him? ”
His words stabbed like knives. He betrayed me first, yet he questioned me.
“You’re insane. ”
I snatched the ring back and dragged my trunk away without looking back. Behind me, things smashed. I didn’t look back.
At the church the next day, Declan didn’t show. Just as I was about to leave, his carriage pulled up—with Grandma. “Ariana, are you annulling your marriage? ” Her voice trembled.
“Grandma, you don’t know. He betrayed me. ”
I looked at Declan. “Do you want me to show Grandma the proof with the maid, Tessa?
”
His face went pale. Grandma looked at him with pain in her eyes, then slapped him. “End it. ”
The annulment petition was submitted.
Thirty days of church review. The countdown began. Declan caught me outside. “Ariana, are you really doing this?
”
“What else? Wait for you to betray me again? ”
“I told you it was just a moment of foolishness. I’ve changed.
”
“A moment? How long have you been with Tessa? Six months? A year?
”
He didn’t answer. I turned to leave. He grabbed my wrist. I broke free and slapped him.
“That slap is what you owe me. ”
“Ariana, I won’t give up. ”
“Suit yourself. But the annulment is non-negotiable.
”
I joined Newton Trading Post. The reason was simple: Cooper Manor was mortgaged to them. Lord Archibald Newton interviewed me personally. “If you can secure three major trade covenants for me within one month, I’ll return Cooper Manor to you.
”
It was my only chance to get back my mother’s manor. Then I’d leave this city with Grandma. At a nobles’ banquet he brought me to, a woman screamed. Her earrings were missing.
A servant pointed at me. Everyone’s eyes turned. “This lady was near the bench earlier,” the servant said. The woman walked toward me.
“Did you take my earrings? ”
“No, I didn’t. ”
Then Tessa appeared, holding Declan’s arm. “Ariana, if you didn’t take them, just let them search you.
”
“How much are the earrings? I’ll pay for them. ”
“No need. I didn’t take them.
”
The woman grabbed my satchel. Just as she tugged at it, Julian walked over and grabbed her wrist. “I can testify that Ariana didn’t touch anything. ”
Everyone was shocked.
Julian never vouched for anyone. The woman slunk away. Tessa’s face was white. After the banquet, Declan dragged me onto his carriage.
Tessa sat beside him, smug. “What’s going on between you and Julian? Why did he help you? Are you seducing him?
”
“You’re insane. ”
He cracked the whip. The carriage tore through the streets and stopped in the outskirts, pouring rain. He pushed me out.
I walked in the rain for a long time. No one passed. Just as I was about to collapse, an umbrella appeared above my head. Julian.
“Get in. ”
He pulled me into his carriage. “Declan left you out here? ”
“Yes.
”
He took off his cloak and put it over my shoulders. The rain blocked the roads. Edmund found an inn—one room left. I didn’t want to share it, but I had no choice.
“You look nervous. ”
“No. ”
“Go take a hot bath. Don’t catch a cold.
”
When I came out, Julian was sitting at the table reading documents. “Don’t worry. I’ll sleep on the bench. ”
I lay in the unfamiliar bed, remembering that night we spent together.
My heart raced. Late at night, morning sickness hit. I rushed to the washroom. “Are you okay?
”
“I’m fine. Just a stomach issue. ”
The next day, the rain stopped. Julian had Edmund drive me home.
A few days later, I delivered documents to Julian’s study. A servant walked in carrying ale—but there was something hidden under the tray. A dagger. “Just leave the ale on the table.
”
“Look out! ”
The man lunged at Julian. Without thinking, I threw myself in front of him. The dagger slashed my arm, blood streaming.
Julian kicked the man away and caught me. His expression was panicked. “Don’t move. ”
He bandaged me himself, his touch surprisingly gentle.
“Why did you do that? ”
“You helped me before. I’m returning the favor. ”
“Don’t ever do that again.
”
“Are you worried about me? ”
“You’re my nephew’s wife. I can’t let you get hurt. ”
His tone was harsh, but I saw his ears turn red.
When he drove me home, he insisted on watching me go inside. We met eyes through the window. He froze, then got into his carriage and left. That night, I dreamed of him holding me, whispering my name.
Tessa sent me letters after that. She’d moved into the house Declan and I had shared. She bragged about how comfortable my nightgowns and bed were. I smiled, genuinely amused.
Everything she had was what I’d thrown away. I burned her letters and told her messenger to stop bothering me. Then my spy reported: Declan was going to sell the family cemetery. Where my mother rested.
“The buyer has been found. They’re signing next week. ”
I rushed to Perennia and slammed the contract on Declan’s desk. “You’re selling my mother’s grave?
”
“Ariana, I have no choice. The territory’s funds are cut off. ”
“That’s your problem. But you can’t touch my mother’s grave.
If you dare sign that contract, I’ll make your life a living hell. ”
He had crossed the line. This time, I wouldn’t hold back. At a family gathering, old patriarch Johnny tried to push Cesily onto Julian.
Julian stood firm. “I’ll take responsibility for what happened that night, but my marriage is for me to decide. ”
Everyone thought he meant Cesily. Only I knew differently.
But he didn’t know it was me. Later, Julian found me in the hallway. “You and Cesily are sisters. Do you know her well?
”
“We’re not that close. ”
“Do you think Cesily could be the woman from that night? ”
His question made my heart race. “I don’t know.
Why are you asking me this? ”
“Nothing. Just curious. ”
Declan started noticing something was off.
“Ariana, are you pregnant? Is that child his? ”
I slapped him. “Declan, don’t you dare say another word.
”
He didn’t know the child wasn’t his. It was Julian’s. Tessa soon claimed she was pregnant with Declan’s child. But the physician told her the truth: she didn’t have morning sickness—she had a stomach condition.
Fate had a sense of humor. Old Johnny personally stepped in to stop my annulment. “Ariana, the Graham family’s reputation cannot be ruined. Put the annulment on hold.
”
“When Declan was betraying me, why didn’t you talk about the bigger picture then? ”
“Cesily is your sister. Help bring her and Julian together. ”
“I won’t help Cesily.
You should find out for yourself what kind of person she is. ”
I hired a spy and gathered evidence of Declan’s infidelity—letters, records, witness statements. I waited for the right moment. At Newton Trading Post’s celebration banquet, a man named Isaac Brewer got handsy with me.
“Ariana, come on. Have a drink. ”
“Juice is fine for me. ”
“What’s the fun in juice?
Come on, have some red wine. ”
“Please stop this. ”
“Stop acting so high and mighty. Why do you think Archabald hired you?
It’s because of your face. ”
I was about to explode when a goblet of red wine was poured onto him from the side. Julian stood behind me, holding an empty goblet. “Julian, what are you doing here?
”
“Passing by. Saw someone bullying my person, so I came to check. ”
My heart skipped a beat. After that, I often represented Newton Trading Post in meetings with the Northern Duchy.
Our work together grew smoother. When he spoke, I understood. When I acted, he trusted me. Cesily noticed.
She stopped me at the stairwell. “Ariana, are you clinging to Julian every day? He’s your husband’s uncle. Have some shame.
”
“I’m here representing Newton Trading Post for work. ”
“Work? Do you need to dress like that for work? ”
“Are you jealous?
Jealous that I can work with Julian and you can’t? ”
Her face went pale. She knew he’d never publicly acknowledged her. Declan came to me again, kneeling outside my manor.
“Ariana, I was wrong. I swear I’ll only love you from now on. ”
“If you’re done, get lost. ”
“If you don’t forgive me, I won’t get up.
”
“Then stay on your knees. ”
I threw the evidence of his infidelity in front of him. “I’ll take these to the bishop. ”
He begged frantically, but I was done.
Before the annulment was finalized, I was going to ruin his reputation. I posted copies of Declan and Tessa’s letters and records on public notice boards throughout the city. Overnight, the whole city exploded. “This man is such scum.
”
“Lady Cooper is so fierce. Support the annulment. ”
Declan completely lost it. Tessa was cursed by everyone.
His business collapsed. At an emergency Graham family meeting, Johnny’s face was ashen. “Ariana, did you do this? ”
“Yes.
”
Declan’s mother slammed the table. “Who do you think you are to be compared to the family? ”
“I’m the wife your son betrayed. ”
“What do you want?
”
“Annulment. No negotiation. ”
They begged Julian to help Declan. Everyone thought he would.
After all, he was a Graham. “Why should I help him? ”
“Julian, he’s your nephew. ”
“So what?
”
Julian stood up and looked at me. “I support Ariana’s annulment. What Declan did doesn’t deserve forgiveness. ”
Everyone was stunned.
Julian had never taken a stance on family matters. This time, he was on my side. Under Julian’s pressure, Declan finally agreed. We signed the papers before the bishop.
“The annulment petition has been accepted. After the 30-day church review, the marriage will be dissolved. ”
“Thank you, Your Grace. ”
“Ariana, you’ll regret this.
”
“I do regret something. I regret not seeing what a scumbag you are sooner. ”
Thirty days, and I’d be free. But Tessa and Cesily had found each other.
They formed an alliance. “We have a common enemy,” Tessa said. “Ruin her reputation. Make sure she never recovers.
”
“How? ”
“What would happen if the world found out that Ariana seduced her own husband’s uncle? ”
They were plotting to destroy me. I didn’t know yet.
At an important Newton Trading Post meeting, Cesily burst in with merchants. “Everyone, I’m here to expose Ariana Cooper. She seduced her husband’s uncle and ruined my relationship with Julian. ”
She held up letters—business correspondence between Julian and me.
“You stole my letters. That’s illegal. ”
“Don’t change the subject. What’s your relationship with Julian?
”
“We have a working relationship. You can show these letters to anyone. I haven’t done anything shameful. ”
She was thrown out.
Her scheme failed, but she wouldn’t give up. Julian, meanwhile, was investigating. He asked Cesily what she wore that night. What perfume she’d used.
She stumbled over every answer. “What perfume were you wearing that night? ”
“I don’t usually wear perfume. ”
Julian’s expression changed.
The woman that night had a faint floral scent. He discovered the inn’s room records had been tampered with. “Keep investigating. Don’t stop until you find the truth.
”
Cesily panicked. She paid the innkeeper to keep her secret, but Julian’s suspicion deepened. Declan’s business completely collapsed. He begged Julian for money, then mentioned me.
“I still have Ariana. ”
“Ariana? You still have the nerve to mention her? When you betrayed her, why didn’t you think about the consequences?
”
Julian refused him. Everything was over—his business, his marriage. I helped Archibald secure key covenants, and he kept his promise. “Ariana, here are the deeds for Cooper Manor.
From today on, it’s yours again. ”
I touched the parchment, my hands trembling. Mother, I got it back. But there was something more important.
I had to leave this city—take Grandma and my baby and start over. Then Cesily saw my pregnancy record. Shock turned to rage. The child was Julian’s.
She finally understood why Julian was so different toward me. That night, the woman wasn’t her—it was me. She asked to meet me. “Ariana, if you don’t leave Julian, I’ll tell him the woman from that night was you.
”
“Go ahead. Tell him. The only thing that will happen is he finds out I was the woman that night. Your impersonation will be exposed too.
I’ll make sure everyone knows who you really are. ”
Her face went pale. She didn’t dare take the risk. Then Edmund discovered the innkeeper’s tampering.
He confessed. Cesily had made him do it. “The person who stayed that night may not have been Cesily. Someone is helping her impersonate.
”
Julian confronted Cesily again. “What was in the tent that night? ”
“There was a bed, a table, a candlestick. ”
“What was on the bedside table?
”
“There was a candlestick. ”
“What else? ”
“I don’t remember. I drank too much.
”
“Enough. You can go. ”
She was full of holes. Cesily knew she was about to be exposed.
She decided to strike first. “Mother, I can’t hold on much longer. Julian is investigating. ”
“Then make Ariana disappear before he finds out.
”
“You mean an accident? A fall from a horse or a carriage? ”
“Yes. An accident.
No one will suspect. ”
They hired someone to cause a carriage accident. On my way to the convent, a runaway cart rushed toward me. I tried to dodge, but it hit my horse.
Everything spun. I lost consciousness. When I woke, I was in the convent infirmary. Julian stood by the bed, his expression grim.
“A carriage accident. Someone tried to kill you. ”
I froze. Then the nun came to examine me.
“Lady Ariana, you are pregnant. About 12 weeks. ”
My heart sank. It was over.
Julian’s expression changed. Two months ago—the same time as that night. “Everyone out. ”
The room emptied, leaving just us.
“Who is the father? ”
I closed my eyes. Tears slid down my cheeks. “You already have the answer in your heart, don’t you?
”
“I want to hear you say it. ”
“It’s you. The woman that night was me. The child is yours.
”
He was silent for a long moment. Then he reached out and gently wiped the tears from my face. Julian called Cesily to the convent. In front of everyone, he exposed her lies.
“Cesily, was the woman that night you? ”
“Yes, it was me. ”
“Then tell me: what was on the bedside table? ”
“I don’t remember.
”
“It was a book. The Falconer’s Manual. But you didn’t know that, because the woman that night wasn’t you at all. ”
“Julian, let me explain.
”
“Impersonating someone close to me. Do you know the consequences? ”
Cesily collapsed, confessing everything—taking my brooch, altering the records, impersonating me. “I’m sorry.
I just love you too much. ”
“You don’t deserve to say that word. Besides, I’m going to marry Ariana. ”
He looked at me.
“Ariana, I will marry you. Take responsibility for your child. Take responsibility for what happened that night. ”
“You don’t have to.
”
“It’s not because of responsibility. It’s because I love you. ”
Declan rushed in, kneeling, begging me to take him back. “Declan, we’re over.
We’ve been over since the day you slept with Tessa. ”
Cesily and Tessa were ruined. Declan’s business went bankrupt. Janiah never appeared in high society again.
I touched my belly, feeling the tiny life inside. Warm sunlight streamed through the window. Julian stood beside me, his hand gently resting on mine. He didn’t say anything.
But I knew a new life was beginning. My name was Ariana Graham. I was pregnant.
This time, the child was my husband’s.
