In the opulent hall, the clinking of glasses and the mingling of guests created a symphony of revelry. The sound of a tray crashing to the floor was jarringly out of place.
Lisa, feeling dizzy and with a sour taste rising in her throat, ignored the fallen tray and turned away to dry heave. "Lisa, youve been dry heaving a lot lately. Youre not pregnant, are you?" Sarah, a maid, approached with a scornful glance, her voice carrying like an amplifier. "If you are, its better to confess sooner rather than later. Maybe Old Mr. Spencer will go easy on you."
Sarahs words drew a crowd of onlookers, and Lisa just wanted to avoid the scene. "Im not pregnant. For the past two months, Ive been taking care of Old Mr. Spencer at home. I havent gone out or interacted with anyone. How could I be pregnant? Sarah, you know my situation; you cant just say things like that."
Lisa was chosen from St. Marys Orphanage to be the child bride for William Spencer, the second son of the Spencer Family, in hopes of bringing him luck. Unfortunately, William passed away before he could benefit from the marriage.
Thus, the Spencer Family treated her as a servant, and the other servants didnt treat her as a master, often speaking to her with sarcasm and disdain.
It didnt matter usually, but this was Mrs. Spencers birthday banquet, with countless guests. If this became a scandal, it would be the Spencer Familys face that was lost.
"Youre using your position as a young mistress to pressure me?" Sarah sneered, her voice growing louder, eager to make a scene. "Who are you trying to fool? If youre not pregnant, why are you dry heaving? If you havent been messing around, how could you be pregnant? Could it be that youre trying to pass off your illegitimate child as Charless?"
For the past two months, Charles was the only young man who had stayed overnight at the Spencer Mansion.
Lisa, the child bride of the late William, and Charles, his half-brother and the absolute heir to the Spencer Family, had a world of difference between them in status.
In terms of their relationship, she was Charless sister-in-law.
So no matter whose bed she might have climbed into, it certainly wasnt Charless.
The name Charles Spencer carried enough weight that the moment it was mentioned, the crowd grew larger.
No one noticed that Lisas face turned pale the moment Charless name was mentioned.
Sarah grew even more brazen and pushed Lisa.
Lisa stumbled from the push, nearly falling, but a hand reached out from behind to steady her.
The broad palm grasped her shoulder, and with its support, Lisa managed to stay on her feet.
The hand was strong and hot, seeming to burn through the fabric and into her skin.
"Thank you," she quickly turned to express her gratitude, only to find that the person was none other than the subject of the gossip鈥擟harles Spencer.
Charles had a handsome face with deep features, so good-looking he was beyond reproach. He was a child of privilege, every movement exuding the innate nobility of the aristocracy.
With her shoulder still in his grip, Lisa stiffened, unsure whether to move closer or step back.
At 56", Lisa wasnt short, but Charles was so tall that he towered over her. Standing in front of him, Lisa felt utterly overpowered, both physically and mentally. She could only keep silent, her head bowed, waiting to see what would happen next.
No one expected Charles to show up at this moment.
If they had known, they would never have dared to joke about him.
Charless presence commanded the room, silencing the murmurs and even the breathing of those around him.
The maid who had started the trouble paled when she saw Charles, her鍤ｅ紶姘旂劙 disappearing as she began to play the victim. "Mr. Spencer, why are you back? Lisa is being unscrupulous; I was just questioning her, I didnt mean anything else."
Charles didnt even spare her a glance, focusing instead on Lisa, who stood before him.
He had heard most of what was said, and it was partly true and partly not.
Because this girl, who had been raised in the Spencer household for five years, had never managed to get into his bed.
But he had, in a drunken stupor, taken her to bed.
Just over a month ago.